If you are coming to be a volunter at CAASAH, please read about their daily Schedule.

1- GET STARTED
Set up activities for older kids
Sweep the floor if needed (janitors usually are cleaning, but it´s easy enough to jump in)

2- GO TO BABIES ROOM AND GET THEM READY.
Baths if needed ( start with oldest to youngest)
Change diapers (still dirty from the night)
Get dressed and w/shoes (clothes and shoes in room across the hall)
Once the older babies are ready you can bring them with the older kids.
The babies (1yr and younger) get a bottle and put back down for a nap. If babies act up you can put all down for nap around 10:30 - They like singing.

3- PLAY TIME

3.1 - OLDER KIDS:
Kids love the crayons and paper (lots of paper)
Love clay
Puzzles are good
They enjoy legos and dominos
They love ballonsgirls like to have nails painted

3.2 - TODDLERS
Toddlers love the legos and dominos ( mainly to chew on)
Wooden hammer and peg game is a hint.
Mainly love to run around - mostly entertain themselves.Soccer balls just get hidden, so you do not need to bring them.
Only bring durable toys. Kids will destroy them.If you ask the staff (specially Antonia) for toys (brinquedos -in Portuguese) they will sometimes bring them for you.

4 - CLEAN UP
We get picked up around 11:30, so at about 11:20 start cleaning up and turn TV on for them. The guards from CAASAH will tell you when the CCS car comes. Sometimes the car is late and you will be there for lunch time, so jump in a grab a baby to feed.

DAY IS DONE!

TIPS:

1 - Just jump in and take the initiative - the kids and staff rely an us for activities, so just get them started.

2 - Staff may come off as cold at first, but if you show them you are consistent with the children and try to include them they will warm up quickly.
* make an effort to talk to them.

3 - Do not be afraid to move around and help with new things ( changing babies, giving babies bath, nap time, feeding, spending time with adults.

4 - You are not supposed to take pics of kids in CAASAH, but every other Friday is a "Passeio" (trip) day and you can take pictures then. (thay are pretty strict on the no pictures rule, so respect that).

5 - Only one of the doctors speaks English, so it may help to bring your English/Portuguese dictionary to work.

6 - Spend as much time with them as you can because you can learn so much from each child.

7 - Have patience at times it will be hard, but handle it calmly the staff yells at them enough they do not need it from us too.

8 - Please show them love, they deserve it !!!

9 - Have fun !!

(Tamarin - 11/01/2006 - still here working at Caasah)