Excerpts and Bonus material from Volume 3 No. 8: Teaching Children

Pages 26-32

Blending Alexander Into a Child's Life
An account of the work of Gal Ben-Or with special children

The mother’s description of her son was, “The child doesn’t allow anyone to touch him, not the caregivers, not the nursery school teacher, not his friends in the nursery school, not his grandmother, even me, his mother––he won’t let me touch him.”

After the obstacles of fear, suspicion and lack of trust melted, we continued to work together for about a year. He ran, he jumped, he turned somersaults and he played.  He discovered the simple pleasure of touch with his parents, his friends and the people surrounding him.

Dr. Sarah Spitzer, Director of the Pediatric Ambulatory Clinic at Geha Medical Centre in Jerusalem:

I saw that the technique gives the children tools to cope with stress, violence, restlessness, lack of sufficient physical activity and other problems.  Its goal is to reach a state in which the children can keep themselves balanced, leading to the discovery of the natural, personal functioning suitable to each one. 

Ben-Or is diligent in his inclusion of the role models with which the child associates. He explains his process, the changes and the reasons via separate, personal lessons. When parents are included in the process of communicating with their lost child in this new way, it gives them immense relief that the changes can evolve or be directed by the child himself.

Audio Interview with Gal Ben-Or
Recorded 23rd February, 2010

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Click Here to Download How Does a Good Teacher Become a Successful Teacher by Gal Ben-Or