Most of our sessions start with circle time, where the entire group plays energisers or activities in a circle along with the facilitator. Circle games are acclaimed to create inclusion, build trust, safety and togetherness amongst their participants. The circle time is followed by some purposeful activity, with reflection.

At times during the initial sessions, there will always be those two or few who can’t contain themselves to a space in the circle. They are either running from one position in the circle to another, or making faces at their friends, or tickling them, poking them and the many things they do to distract themselves and their friends. 

Afnan and Amjed, the two 8^th graders from Homebegowda Boys High School are like the ones described above. They are always moving in and out of the circle, shifting positions, rocking their friends, to whacking them or throwing pebbles to rockets to get their attention. This frivolous play continues even during the team building activities, too. They are usually not a part of any group, but hop from one group to another, doing one or the other kind of mischief, or meddling with occasional periods of participation in each group.

It was the 6^th session recently, where the class was split into small groups, where they had to build the tallest tower possible with a fixed number of newspapers for each group. Afnan and Amjed were involved in their usual roundabout visits to each group passing comments, slapping backs and chasing their friends out and about, inside the room. After a point, I called both of them and asked them to sit in the corner, as time-out for 5 minutes. They sat and their naughty eyes scanned the room and their friends working to build their tower.

Five minutes passed with some giggles and glares. They were asked to go and join any of the teams. They didn’t, and I was not surprised. But, something unusual happened – they picked up scraps of paper fallen on the ground, picked up a water bottle and a paper cup lying down in the same room, and sat in the back of the room. They were doing something there. I was curious to see what they were up to, but I didn’t get closer because I didn’t want to disturb them. I had never seen them so engaged and involved in any activity, so far. Within a couple of minutes, they came with their tower; standing firm with the support of the bottle and plastic cup and placed a beautiful origami paper star on the top. I was speechless and smitten by their creativity and innovation. I was humbled…

Personally, some interesting learnings transpired to me. I would like to share a few here:-

1. Every child is always motivated. It is in my capacity to find that out and create and cater to their motivation.
2. Not all behaviours are naughty, unruly, mad etc., etc., etc., It is just that the current activity they are involved in is not challenging them enough, or matching their competency or energy.
3. To be open to outcomes and don’t be stuck to fixed, pre-planned outcomes. And, some outcomes always come unplanned and un-thought of. Have an eye for that! They are magical.

I am looking forward to the next sessions to see if this was a breakthrough, or just a one-off thing. Nonetheless, I am open to different outcomes…