HUGS Service Learning



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|HUGS Service Learning |

|Reflection Paper |

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|Mel Toledo, Jr. |

|12/1/2014 |

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Volunteering for the HUGS event on November 21, 2014 was my first experience with children with ailments besides clinical experiences. I tried to be very objective and not to stereotype or judge the children by the stigma of their particular ailment. I had the mindset that they were children and this was a time for them to be children. I let the child decide what he wanted to do and participated like any other child would. The child I was assigned was very active and an avid soccer participant. We ran and kicked the soccer ball and built rapport. After building rapport, other activities were easier to do. Other activities included planting a tomato, cookie decorating, and physical play like soccer and dodgeball. Other boys joined in and had myself and another KCC student running around and sweating. My assigned child had the appearance of a ten year old with expected physical and cognitive growth. Compared to other ten year olds he was a little taller and heavier. He was very coordinated physically and displayed good cognitive function and growth. He liked to say jokes and was very inquisitive. He conversed with another KCC student about the same video game they both were playing and enjoyed.

The activities planned for the children were appropriate for all ages. All of the volunteers made a pleasant and positive environment for the participants. I enjoyed helping and playing with other children also. The memorable word of the night was “bacon.” My assigned child used the word as a verb, “You’ve been baconed” and as noun “bacon.” Other children started to say bacon and this word seemed to draw some of the children together for their mutual love for bacon.

After the activity, I had time to reflect on the activity and the participants. I felt that I could treat the children as children and not someone or something with a disease. I could laugh and smile with the children not at them. I remembered what being a child was like and let go of my fears and inhibitions about children with ailments. I became a child again and enjoyed the time I spent at the HUGS event.

I think that the activity is beneficial to all parties involved. I think it is important to let the children be children regardless of their ailment. Having peers with similar situations can help the coping process. Parents also need time for themselves to strengthen their resolve and care for their child or children affected by ailments.

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