ABOUT ME

My name is Shivali Khaitan. I am currently studying in class 10 in Step By Step School, Noida. I am studying the CBSE curriculum which provides knowledge in 2 languages, science, social studies and math. my hobbies keep changing, my current favorites are baking, singing and watching movies in every genre.

I suffer from mild cerebral palsy which got diagnosed when I was 18 months old primarily because I was unable to sit. I had many delayed milestones. When I was about 2 and a half years old my parents discovered the Bobath center. I had to do a lot of exercises when I was younger. The Bobath center made me do these exercises in such a way that they felt more like. Fun activities rather than exercises. From making snowmen to decorating cookies to giving dolls baths to playing with balloons, magnets and a lot of board games.

Under the specific guidance and supervision of my physiotherapists I learnt how to sit, walk, climb stairs and do all kinds of functional activities which could be simply tying my hair with a rubber band to as large as riding a bike. My peer play which I lost out on tremendously was replaced by exercises through play where my therapists tried to retain my childhood. I remember the awe and wonder I felt when they introduced me to giant sized bubble which would not burst and could bounce. Sometimes they worked me so hard that I had to sit straight for a long span of time just for a bite of a banana. They taught me early that hard work, setting goals, achieving them systematically and fun could all go hand in hand. My occupational therapy had many colours, glitters, crafts, shaving foam and putty. All of which amazed me as a child.

When I got the opportunity last year in 2023 to teach children of class 4 and 5 in an MCD school. I initially thought that I would teach them English and so my initial methodology was to do it the conventional way with sheets and word games and more sheets and more word games. As I was framing it, I realized that I could not relate to it. The fun element was missing. I then thought of creating activities that involved giggles, laughs and a lot of joy. I integrated activities with vocab building skills and bilateral skills to increase concentration, persistence and development of both sides of the brain. These activities required controlled responses, team work and creativity. All the activities have specific aims and objectives. I intend to put together age appropriate material with easy instructions for toddlers to children upto 10 years of age which can be used across various classrooms by teachers to create happy spaces.