“As soon as I heard about the ‘Play-Based Learning training course’ for university students, I signed up straight away.”
Mỹ Hằng was one of the university students who attended Understanding the Behaviour of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, a sharing session organised by saigonchildren last April for parents and professionals working with children. Inspired by the expertise, dedication and genuine care demonstrated by both the speakers and the Special Needs Education Programme team, she did not hesitate to register when she learnt that a Play-Based Learning training course was being offered exclusively to university students through the programme’s partner organisations and network of specialists.
Alongside more than 30 students studying Psychology, Social Work and Special Needs Education, Hằng completed two training courses that equipped her with valuable knowledge and practical skills, helping her feel better prepared for a future supporting children with additional needs. As the next generation of professionals entering the field, these students will go on to work directly with children in the years ahead.

The next stage of the initiative took the students beyond the classroom and into residential care homes and intervention centres across Hồ Chí Minh City, where they put their learning into practice. By turning theory into meaningful play sessions, they created opportunities for children to learn, develop and express themselves through play.
After more than a month of working alongside the children, the students came together in early August to reflect on their experiences and the lessons they had learnt.
Thắm, another trainee, shared:
“One of the children I worked with has auditory hyper-reactivity. Before this experience, I knew that children with autism could have sensory sensitivities, but I had never fully understood what that looked like in practice. One day, we were simply singing together. At first, the child was really happy, but then became overwhelmed and burst into tears. That was the moment I truly understood how sensory sensitivity can affect them. Through this programme, I learnt about the principles behind play-based learning and realised just how important play is in helping children express and process their emotions.”
Alongside the reflection session, the Special Needs Education Programme team organised a series of interactive games to help reinforce the students’ learning. Volunteer certificates and commemorative display boards were also presented in recognition of their dedication and commitment throughout the initiative. As a special reward, the winning team also received places on an upcoming field trip with saigonchildren on 8 August, where they will continue supporting children taking part in the programme’s early intervention project.

This marks the first time saigonchildren’s Special Needs Education Programme has delivered a Play-Based Learning sharing specifically for university students. By combining professional training with hands-on experience, the initiative aims to nurture the next generation of practitioners in psychology and special education while strengthening the capacity of the local workforce. Just as importantly, the students’ own reflections demonstrate that the experience not only deepened their understanding of play-based learning and its practical application, but also strengthened their empathy, compassion and passion for supporting children with additional needs.

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