Back after the winter break

At the beginning of March the children returned after a three-month winter break. It was wonderful to see some familiar faces again and to welcome several new ones. A few of the children have now transitioned to school and are taking part in a SEN (Special Educational Needs) programme, which is a big step for them.

The first day back had a festive atmosphere. Each child was welcomed to ABS with a traditional scarf, and afterwards we all shared a welcome cake together. Over the past two weeks I’ve had the chance to get to know the new children a little better. Last Friday I also held two teaching sessions for parents on Qigong massage—one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Now that the parents have learned the basics, we will start practicing the massage with the children this week. I’m very happy to have more therapy sessions again.

A three-month winter break is quite long, and this can be noticeable in therapy. Some of the children have regressed a little during this time. Many families spent the winter in other districts visiting relatives or going on pilgrimage, so they were unable to come to therapy regularly. For the few families who stayed in Thimphu, I offered therapy sessions during the break, but only a small number made use of the opportunity.
The encouraging part is that children usually regain their skills quickly. Even after just two weeks, many of them are already catching up again.