Toddlers and Early Years Programs
TODDLERS PROGRAM
Age of Student 2-4
1 x week
2 hr daytime session
Our Kids:
We create happy memories for toddlers living in Children’s Welfare Homes with loving adults and individual attention. We prepare them for pre-school through purposeful activities that encourage language, social, inter-cultural, sensory and motor skills development. ‘Free choice stations’ give them the opportunity to make their own decisions and foster independence.
Our Volunteers:
Patient, fun, and warm-hearted, our volunteers visit their designated welfare centre to play with the children once a week. During this time they form close relationships with the children, developing language skills, dressing up, playing games and making things together.
"In order to lead a toddler education program, a personal and constant relationship must be based. Education is broad in its meaning but we aim to prioritize a personal relationship. Our programs not only provide cognitive training but extensive personal development from the personalized bond between the volunteering educator and the child. The interactions are fundamental practices that initiate the child to spout their social skills and linguistic ability."
Sue, Educator of Toddlers Program
EARLY YEARS PROGRAM
Age of Student 4 - 11
1 x week: 1 hr evening session (Tuesday / Thursday)
2 x month: 3 hr Saturday morning session
Our Kids:
Learning English in a fun, loving and safe environment. Receiving supportive and positive learning experiences through play, and engaging activities. The key concepts involve communication and creative expression through verbal and non-verbal messages. The program aims to exemplify healthy ways of receiving, interpreting and responding in the course of interactions with one another. We hope that the interaction would allow expression of personal choices and making individualized decisions.
Our Volunteers:
Professional teachers and volunteers who love kids work together to provide each child with individualised attention in a fun and very active English learning session. Volunteers need plenty of energy and enthusiasm, and enjoy having fun with children, helping with English, joining in games and participating in a variety of activities together. Story-telling, crafts and snacks are all part of the fun!
'My name is Samantha and I started volunteering with Open Arms since 2018. I will never forget my first experience volunteering at one of the welfare homes that Open Arms sponsors. The kids looked at us like we were aliens but as soon as we started the program, their curious faces turned into bright smiles. We danced to songs, made fun crafts, read books together, and much more. Saying goodbye to the kids at the end of the day is always hard, but knowing that we are able to see them again the next week makes the sadness temporary. While some might see this as a way to just play with kids and teach them English, it goes beyond much deeper. Open Arms is contributing to the developmental growth of these children physically and more importantly emotionally. I highly recommend volunteering at Open Arms if you are in Seoul and want to volunteer at an amazing organization with an amazing purpose.'
Samantha, OA Volunteer since 2018
