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Myanmar: Day 2 in Yangon for Play for Peace Training (Part 2)

Children can gain greater self-confidence with the Play for Peace games because it encourages them to think critically and develop new ideas in a safe environment.

After lunch, the participants were introduced to a game called “How To & Get To” where the facilitators asked each group to make a shape using their bodies. Shapes for this exercise can range from letters in the alphabet to objects like a chair with armrests.  The exercise is designed to demonstrate that learning is a journey of exploration and that teachers must allow children the freedom to explore “How to” and “Get to” their objective. By this point, the group of teachers had played nearly thirty games and it was time for them to lead in the games themselves. For 45 minutes the participants played many of the games that they had learned, especially the ones they thought were challenging. The evening session brought yet another new game. Swati and Agyat laid thirty cardboard pieces on the floor before the arrival of the participants.

Each one had a number between 1 and 30. With no instructions, the participants were asked to “play” with the cardboard pieces. Most of them scrambled the pieces while others picked them up and used them as toy 'weapons' or as fans. They were then asked to put the pieces back. They were told to create games with the pieces without touching them. For 45 minutes the participants came up with many ideas and offered their ideas to others for discussion. The exercise demonstrated that the same process could be used for other subjects like science and history.

At the end of the day, everyone reflected on the day’s session. Some of the thoughts shared included (1) that the Behavior Agreement framework could be used at school and work; (2) with the right attitude and environment, work can be fun too; (3) most games are competitive but with the Play for Peace attitude they can become more co-operative; (4) children can gain greater self-confidence with the Play for Peace games because it encourages them to think critically and develop new ideas in a safe environment.

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