GUIDES:
(Any age group)
Game:
Divide the children in two groups. Make the groups sit in straight lines facing each other. Draw a medium sized circle between the two groups. You will be placing a small piece of paper in this circle only when the game begins.
Eg.
Group XX Group AA
XX AA
XX AA
XX O AA
XX AA
XX AA
Steps to play:
• Ask each team to choose 2 players.
• All other players have to be perfectly quiet during the game and watch carefully.
• Each team will blindfold one chosen player and the other becomes his partner and guide.
• The guide cannot touch the blindfolded person, but has to give only verbal directions to guide him towards the center and pick up the paper from the circle.
• Make the blindfolded player stand far away from the circle you’ve drawn.
• Place a folded paper with a value or a value quote written on it, in the circle. (egs. Be Good, See Good, Do Good that is the way to God or the ABC of life is Always Be Careful)
• Each guide from the 2 teams will walk next to their blindfolded team mate and verbally direct him to the value paper in the circle. They can give directions like, “turn slight to the left, bend towards the right, and stretch your left hand forward, touch the floor, and so on…” to lead them to the value.
• You have to tell the teams that the one who picks up the value from the circle first will win. Let the winners read the value to the rest of the class.
• The teacher makes no comments about the players’ behavior during the game, unless you observe the guide frustrating the blindfolded player. Request the other children to remain silent.
Play the game till all the children get a turn to be either the blindfolded player or the guide.
Analysis:
Ask everyone questions.
1. You can ask the blindfolded persons how they felt about their guide. (some will tell you that they felt the guide getting angry and frustrated and made them feel anxious… ) You will analyze it further and lead them to the value of patience and tolerance with further questioning.
2. Ask the guides how they felt whilst giving directions and what did they do when the blindfolded person did not follow them correctly.
3. Observe if the children who played guides, put more emphasis on being first and winning the game or being caring and careful with the blindfolded person even when it cost them the game. Ask specific questions on the behavior you observe.
4. Question to make the children aware that even in stressful situations like competition, which was introduced in this game, PATIENCE IS ALWAYS REWARDED. Hurry is Time Wasted as as Swami says, “Time waste is life waste.”
5. Question and bring out the value of LISTENING PATIENTLY WHEN SOMEONE IS TALKING TO YOU.(THE BLINDFOLDED PERSON HAS TO LISTEN TO ONLY THE GUIDE AND NOT THE OTHERS OR FOLLOW WHAT THE OTHERS THINK IS RIGHT)
6. Finally, ask who the blindfolded person in life is and who is the guide?
Extract this answer from the children- We are the blindfolded and anyone who leads us to God is our Guide. God Himself is our guide and He comes in the form of parents, family, teachers, friends and sometimes even strangers to show us the way to goodness and Godliness.