Exercising means being physically active, learning something new, working in a team, learning to respect materials, yourself and others. It also means going beyond your social limits, showing perseverance, challenging yourself, and seeing that you are capable of something new again. What are our activities?

Hockey

Not so well known in Brazil yet, but ASAS brings the children in touch with it. Some children are already participating with the local team from Florianopolis and that way also go to other places such as Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul. A trip with such a team gives great learning opportunities. In addition, the children play against and with hockey players from other social classes.

Capoeira

The Brazilian sport that originated in the slave era. You are not allowed to touch each other and that requires an extreme level of self-control. Every year, children from ASAS participate in a national Capoeira day.

Triathlon

Extremely popular in Florianopolis. The children swim, run and cycle. Running and cycling is done on site or nearby. During the last Iron Man in Florianopolis, the children were also allowed to participate in a running race. The idea of being able to participate in a competition gives them an extra incentive. It is not about winning or losing, it’s about participating!

Art classes

Good for the fine motor skills and for ‘looking to things in a different way’! In addition to learning the manual skills such as working with colors and different techniques, the children also learn to, while drawing, put their emotions on paper. A beautiful book has been made with the drawings of the children themselves: “Room with a view”, which makes the dreams and the reality of the children visible. Besides that, we regularly pay attention to Dance and Music.

Nature project: gardening

All children go weekly to the garden that ASAS is allowed to use on a site within walking distance. For the younger children, this often means planting plants that have already been prepared by the supervisor or repotting a plant to take home. The older children learn how to plant cuttings, to cultivate them and to eventually actually plant them out. It is a green manicured environment where care and peace shines all over it. A wonderful addition to the activities.

At ASAS, the children learn that attention is paid to them, and that they must also pay attention to their environment. That is learned from the orthopedagogue, the ASAS team, the cook, the teachers, and a social worker. ASAS also involves the parents and the school in some cases for joint activities and presentations.

The orthopedagogue

A child must feel safe, seen and heard before it can really develop itself. ASAS responds to this with the orthopedagogue who joined the team last year: she observes and then discreetly searches for the reason why a child is unable to perform certain basic skills. She works 1 on 1 with a couple of children and where possible in small groups. She plays games to foster logical thinking, reading, writing, and arithmetic capabilities. There are various games for the different age groups. The pedagogue and the team share their observations. The orthopedagogue has a work plan and tries to see the children at different moments during the week so that they don’t miss the same activity every time. Literacy is done at the pace and within the capabilities of each child.