editorial
For the Parent in you To know, to understand, to connect
L
egend has it that Tansen, the famed musician in the court of Emperor Akbar, was once ordered to sing the raga ‘Deepak’. On the day of the performance, as Tansen sang, the lamps lit up, the air got hotter and hotter and there was a burst of flames all around. Anticipating the power
of this raga, Tansen had trained his daughter and her friend to sing the raga ‘Megha Malhar’, and as the notes of this raga flowed from the damsels, the skies darkened and rain pelted the ground below. Such is the magical power of music! Music has the power to set on fire our joyful energies; it has the power to cool the stresses of the mind. As the famous English composer Edward Elgar says, “There is music in the air, music all around us; the world is full of it, and you simply take as much as you require.” We may not all be composers or singers or musicians, but we all still enjoy music in some form or the other. In the month of December, in Chennai, the sounds of Carnatic music fill the air, with hundreds of
Find us on
concerts performed all around the city, by both the stalwarts of music as well as up and coming musicians. Our cover story ‘Classical Music: The hidden notes that will appeal to your child’, talks about instilling the joys of music in our youth and Kalaimamani Dr S Sunder gives us an overview of what to expect and how to appreciate Carnatic music concerts. The month of December brings along with it the joys and festivities of Christmas. Our special Christmas story talks about Christmas traditions, both local and global. Not all children are born the same. Our article, ‘Autism: Rewiring our Perspective’ talks about the challenges and options for families with an autistic child. With understanding, love and care it is possible to provide a good quality of life, not only for the affected child but also for the entire family. Why does our loving, adorable child, suddenly as a teenager, turn into this stranger you can no longer understand or relate to? Neurologist, Dr Prithika Chary explains to us the nuances of the development of the adolescent brain and how it affects teen behaviours. With these ideas, I leave you to read this issue and give us your feedback.
Nalina Ramalakshmi
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1
SPECIAL P.10
Joy to the World COVER STORY P.20
Classical Music REGULARS 6 14 38 19 30 36 40 42 46 56
IN FOCUS FEATURE Autism: Rewiring our Perspective Playthings for your child from a Toy Library
LEARNING An Easy Approach to Learning Science
HEALTH CIRCLE Salutations to the Sun: Surya Namaskar
MINDSET Slow Learners
46 50 52 53 55
From Waste to Art
TEEN CIRCLE
4
The Tantalizing Teenage Brain
ROOTS
8
Ancient Indian Mathematics
LIGHTER VEIN
9
Tooth-fairy Tales
Parent Circle / December 2011
PARENT CHEF Baked Goodies
CHECK IT OUT Interesting Books and CDs on Carnatic Music
EVENTS Chennai this Month
KALEIDOSCOPE Happenings in the City
HANDS ON Stars for the Xmas Tree
FORUM
CIRCLE OF LIFE
ON THE COVER YOUNG MRIDANGIST R NARASIMHAN PHOTOGRAPH BY ARJUN DOGRA
2
RESOURCES
54
YOUR WORD VIEWPOINT Reading Resurrected
PARENT EXPRESS A Broken Puzzle
DISCUSSION POINT School Bags Getting Heavier
your word
Letters to the Editor
o ys t a w st nce o c ow audie l e v t vati r targe o n In you h reac
I have a son aged 7 and a daughter aged 12. I’m a regular reader of your magazine. Every issue of Parent Circle gives us very useful information. In the month of November 2011, it was interesting to read about the History and Development of School Boards. All the articles were well presented. I congratulate your team and I expect more such articles in the forthcoming issues. S RAMESH Parent Circle gives quantitative and qualitative articles relevant to people working in the field of child development. We welcome
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articles that examine the effects of social and environmental factors on a child's health and development as well as those dealing with specific issues. Your magazine surprises every time. The topics are very interesting and different from what other magazines offer. PRIYA ANAND, MOTHER OF A FOUR-YEAR-OLD Every month, I look forward to reading Parent Circle. There
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is always something in the varied topics, that helps to clear a doubt or a query for me as a parent. This month's cover story on the school boards and the curriculum dilemma has been very informative and has not only cleared my dilemma about it but helped me do a comparative study too. Thank you for having done such a precise but completely informative article on the topic. S J SUMATHI RAJA, RAJAPALYAM Parent Circle magazine is terrific. The presentation of the articles, photos and the construction of the pages is awesome. Kudos to the Editor and the team for bringing out such an informative
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Parent Circle / December 2011
in focus
The Harikatha Prodigy
it several times till she learnt it. It was a small verse. Then, while on a train journey to Varanasi, we were stunned
CBSE to promote culture and heritage
when Varsha recited the Ramayana in
The Central Board of Secondary
the form of a Harikatha all by herself –
Education (CBSE) has decided to
Born into a house which
nobody taught her this. Varsha was then
reinforce the promotion of Indian
resonates with music
five years old,” explains her mother.
cultural heritage in schools affiliated to
around the clock, it was
it, in collaboration with the Society for
apparent that Varsha
Acknowledging her talent in Harikatha,
Promotion of Indian Classical Music and
Bhuvaneswari would
Kalaimamani Thanjavur Smt T R
Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY).
develop a facination for
Kamalamurthy (of the lineage of
A recent circular issued by the Board
music. Varsha’s parents
Thiruvaiyaru Annaswamy Bhagawathar)
has said that schools would have to
are both Carnatic concert performers.
accepted Varsha as her disciple and
hold music and dance programmes.
Her other passion was to listen to stories,
her Arangetram was arranged on
willingly recited by her mother. “I would
April 26, 2010. Sangeetha Vidwan
As a suggestion, the CBSE has asked
finish all my work by the time she returned
Padmabhushan P S Narayanaswamy
schools to set up Heritage clubs, with at
from school. We would start at 1:30
was present at the Arangetram along
least one teacher and five students in the
pm with the Ramayana as I wanted the
with Prameela Gurumurthy, who has
beginning. At least three SPIC MACAY
stories to add some value to her learning
a doctorate in Harikatha, and Crazy
events will need to be held every year. In
process. She would make me repeat the
Mohan, the famous dramatist.
addition, the weekly club meetings should
stories over and over again,” says Gayathri
feature presentations by students on
Sreyas, Varsha’s mother. The story-telling
After that, Varsha has given a number
process would go on from the afternoon
of performances, including one in
till late in the evening, without a break.
Mumbai in Shanmukhananda Sabha
Select students would be sent to
where she performed to a packed
participate in SPIC MACAY's conventions
That was when Varsha was four years
audience. Her Harikatha on Valli
at a national, rural, state and zonal level,
of age. Now she is eight years old and
Thirumanam and Parvathi Kalyanam has also been featured on Star Vijay.
which would inspire them to take this
is very proficient in Harikathas. This interest was kindled in her through her
the various aspects of Indian heritage.
movement forward.
maternal grandfather. “He once recited
The mother attributes the girl’s talent in part
a Harikatha to her from the movie
to her father Sreyas Narayanun, from
Deivapiravi, and she asked him to repeat
whom Varsha continues to learn music.
Children’s Day event held at Odyssey
practising only for the past four months.
EVWR Learning
This school was started only in June.
Centre conducted
Though they did not win at the state level
a fun-filled
finals held recently, I am proud of my
Children's Day
students for having come this far. With
Event on 13th
sustained practice, I am sure the school
November, 2011
The District Roller-Skating Association
will have a visibility at the state level next
at Odyssey.
of Ariyalur conducted the District
year,” says a confident Ram Prasath,
Children between
Level Roller Skating Tournament. The
Principal of Vidya Mandir, Ariyalur.
the ages of 3 and
Students of Vidya Mandir, Ariyalur shine at Rollerskating Competition
competition had around 100 students participating from various schools.
12 years Three other students from the school,
participated in
Sethu Mukil, Prasanna and Gowtham
various programmes that included a
Of the 21 students who were selected,
Babu were honoured for winning the third
Treasure-Hunt, Quiz, and a unique
15 were from the Vidya Mandir
place in the State Level 12th Dragon
colouring competition. In this event,
School, Ariyalur which won the overall
Shito-Ryu Karate Tournament -2011 held
younger children coloured story-books
Championship. “The students have been
at Thanjavur.
and learnt the story along the way.
6
Parent Circle / December 2011
viewpoint
Reading Resurrected BY AISHWARYA M
discussions and narrations around the book. Make this an interesting ritual which they will love and look forward to. The next stage – get them to write! Set
I
f you ask a child which book he or
shift gears to …neutral! It completely
a topic– it could be about the recent
she read recently, you may well be
unwinds and relaxes the mind, giving
book they read, a vacation they took, or
baffled with ‘Facebook’ in reply.
it its much needed soul food.
their plans for the summer. Urge them to research if needed. Not only does
Welcome to Gen Z. Today’s generation
A good reader is a good writer. From
this help the reading cause, but it gets
of children do the same things as their
the brass tacks of spelling to the more
them to think and express themselves.
parents did – work and play. Yet how
complex parts like language, styles and
differently! Work is about 40 hour school
clarity of thought – those who read,
Finally, when was the last time we read a
weeks, with tuitions, tests and special
undoubtedly have an edge over the rest.
book? Uh-oh. While we talk the talk, we
classes thrown in for good measure.
need to walk the talk as well.
And ‘play’? Notwithstanding the stray
And now my favourite argument. Reading
game of cricket or tennis, today’s time
sets you free. You could be at a boarding
Some kids may argue,
grabbers seem to be the television,
school in Cornwall, a stone cottage in
‘But it’s not cool to do
the Internet and the gaming world
Prince Edward Island or through the
what my parents are
of Playstations, XBoxes and Wii.
nine and three quarter platform on
doing!’ Well, here’s
your way to Hogwarts. You could be
a fact. The iPad can
And books are the casualty. Peeping
a hitchhiker in a galaxy, a detective
hold a million
through the shelves. Wondering
solving crimes with Watson by your
books. At
when their time will come.
side or Shiva in the land of Meluha!
least.
Sadly, today, reading has been
“Reading a book is like re-writing it for yourself. You bring to a novel, anything you read, all your experience of the world. You bring your history and you read it in your own terms.” Angela Carter
Today, be it the iPad,
pushed to the back of the closet. It is important, but not urgent. In fact, some argue that today’s exposure to the plethora of other media negates the need for actual reading.
the Kindle or the multiple tablets in the market, a touch is all it takes to throw up bestsellers. Just add them to your shopping cart.
So the question really is, how does one
Before you know it, you
get children involved in reading, when
are looking at the glossy
r Why read up on whales when you can
there are so many other things which
cover of your favourite
watch a National Geographic documentary
compete for their time and attention?
book on your device, ready
on it?
to flip to the first page.
r Why read Harry Potter books when
Here are some things which might work:
you can see the 3D movie, Daniel
From when children can grasp, let them
The very technology
Radcliffe et al?
hold books! They may be chewing toys at
which gets blamed for
r Why read anything else,
that age, but it will get them used to the
the decline of reading
when there is YouTube?
touch of books.
habits, could well be the
Clutter the house with books, so that
reason for its resurrection.
Here’s why. Reading makes you smarter.
the child subconsciously knows, ‘Inside
That is a given. The more you read, the
this house, this is important.’
Gen Z could well give way
more you know. It explodes vocabulary
Read a book at bedtime to them – an
to Gen A. Where reading
and language like nothing else can do. It
obvious yet undoubtedly effective way to
is …cool.
makes you articulate, expressive and, let’s
kindle a lasting interest in reading.
face it, more interesting to be around.
For the older children, you could set
AISHWARYA M IS A
up a routine, where they finish reading
MUMBAI-BASED PARENT
a book in a week. You could have
AND BLOGGER.
After a stressful day, reading helps
8
Parent Circle / December 2011
parent express Stone-Paper-Scissors so joyfully, but kept a remorseful face when the teacher walked out at the end of her class…” I don’t realize that the cats are climbing out of the bag one by one ... till in the midst of our trip down memory lane, I chance upon BY SHYAMALA RAJA
a dagger look sent in my direction. Oh! It’s from my little one who had earlier painted in his mind, this almost perfect image of his
M
mommy. This painting is now blotched up oms paint a beautiful and almost
But what do you do when you come
and smudged into myriad shades. All
perfect picture of themselves
across an old friend from school? Such
because, in my excitement, I missed the
when nurturing and instilling
meetings are rare and you loosen
silent backdrop of the little watchful eyes
yourself and make the best of it.
and sharp ears. It will now take me
good etiquette and habits in their children. ‘You know when I was your age, the
countless days and innumerable ways to
instructions given by my parents and
Predictably, I get excited and giggle and
restore that ‘perfect’ image and rebuild the
teachers were final and were expected
laugh and reminiscence about the good
pieces of the broken puzzle.
to be followed. We never muttered or
old days. We get to talk “Remember the
grumbled blah... But you children, the
times when we used to bunk class to
minute we ask you to do something,
run and pluck guavas from the orchard;
there is an immediate ‘No!’ There was
the days of incomplete homework when
SHYAMALA RAJA, MOTHER OF TWO YOUNG
never a single day when we went to
the fed-up teacher threw us out of the
BOYS RUNS A CHILDREN'S LIBRARY
school with incomplete homework...”
class and we played Tic-Tac-Toe and
‘‘SHREE BOOKS', RAJAPALAYAM.
special
Shopping is an integral part of the festival. Gifts have to be bought and homes have to be decorated. A visit to Thomas Rodrigo & Sons in Broadway, Chennai is a must for the traditional items.
BY SHASHWATHI SANDEEP
H
This 132-year-old shop is open throughout the year and sells
o! Ho! Ho! Bells are jingling,
with 100 kgs of dried fruits and include
all the religious items that a Christian
cribs are being readied and
candied ginger and orange peels. We
household might need. It was started by
Christmas trees are being
outsource some of the ingredients from
Thomas Rodrigo in 1878 and is now run
brought out of closets!
countries like England. Spices go into the
by 81-year-old Pius Rodrigo, his great
Christmas is here and it is
mix as well, as the Three Wise Men were
spreading joy everywhere. So, hunt out
carrying spices.”
your Santa dresses and start rehearsing those carols…
These hotels also hold cake mixing ceremonies where a group of people
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of
get together and mix all the ingredients
Jesus Christ. It is celebrated with as much
together. This is an event by itself. “Every
fervour in India as it is overseas. In India, it
year, we invite a set of people for the
has become a national festival, where not
cake-mixing ceremony. We had invited
only the Christians but other communities
people from an old age home last
too celebrate Christmas.
year and this year we invited celebrities,” he says.
THE PREPARATIONS Christmas is only a daylong celebration, but for many, the preparations for it start as early as September. The all-important rum and raisin cake can be eaten within seconds but it takes months of preparation to make this delicious cake. While many families buy it from shops, there are some who continue the tradition of baking it at home. Flavian R, a 42-year-old who owns a shop on Broadway, celebrates the occasion with all family members and friends. He says, “My mother soaks the dry fruits in rum and whisky for about two and a half months prior to Christmas. The taste is great!” Hotels in the city also follow the tradition without fail. Chef Johnson of Radisson Blu explains the whole process, “We soak the dry fruits in rum, a 100 days before Christmas. We generally make the cake
10 Parent Circle / December 2011
Eugene Nelthropp, a guitar master at one
the business by initially making candles
of the music institutes in Chennai, says,
and selling them to the churches. Now,
“I still remember that my granny used to
we sell everything, including the nativity
make special black puttus. They used to
scenes. We make rare statues like the one
be shiny and were cut out in the shape of
of St Arius, which not many people make
diamonds. We unfortunately don’t make
these days,” says Pius Rodrigo. (St Arius
those anymore. But we make rose cookies
was a Christian leader during AD 325 who
at home and buy the cake. The favourite
emphasized the Father’s divinity, and that
part is the carol singing. We go from house
God and his son were one.) Christmas
to house and set aside at least three days
trees, nativity scenes, stars, lanterns,
for this. We start at about 8:00 pm at night
angels, stars, Santa dresses - you name
and go on till 3 or 4:00 am in the morning.
it and the shop has it. Pius invariably
And of course, there is the exchange
Eve in all the churches. The community
starts getting orders from September
of gifts on Christmas day. I put up the
first goes for the midnight mass where
onwards, and makes specific articles at his
Christmas tree by the 10th of December.”
a special prayer service is offered and
workplace in Velachery.
carols are sung. “This mass finishes at 12
THE DAY Yet another family in Chennai opens a
81-year-old Pius Rodrigo in his shop Thomas Rodrigo & Sons, Broadway, Chennai
Midnight masses are held on Christmas
midnight on December 25. We then go home, cut the cake and have 8
Christmas store only during the season! They rent out a place next to their bridal collection shop just for these two months.
Some fun facts about Christmas
“We opened the store 15 years ago as there were not many shops dealing with
The word Christmas is Old English, a contraction of Christ's Mass.
decoration items for the festival. We now
The first president to decorate the White House Christmas tree in the United
have branches in other cities as well,”
States was Franklin Pierce in 1856.
says Anthony PS, the owner of the store.
Germany made the first artificial Christmas tree. It was made of goose
The shop houses varieties of Christmas
feathers, dyed green.
trees, wreaths and cribs. “We have
Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895.
imported cribs from Israel. The materials
The first Christmas cards were vintage and invented in 1843, the Victorian Era.
used to make them are a little different
‘Rudolph’, the red nose reindeer, was actually created by Montgomery Ward in
from the ones that we normally use. We
the late 1930's for a holiday promotion. The rest is history.
have Christmas trees as tall as 20 feet,”
The ‘Nutcracker’ is the most famous Christmas ballet.
says Anthony. This year, Anthony has
‘Jingle Bells’ was first written for Thanksgiving and then became a popular
introduced Christmas hampers which
Christmas song.
include wine, cookies and other items
If you have received all of the gifts in the song ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas,’
related to the festival.
you would have received 364 gifts. The poinsettia plant was brought into the United States from Mexico by Joel
The next step is to decorate the house
Poinsett in the early 1800's.
and that is done with a lot of enthusiasm
Holly berries are poisonous.
by various families. Says Marcia Ann,
Contrary to common belief, poinsettia plants are non-toxic.
an entrepreneur, “We set up the tree
Christmas became a national holiday in America on June, 26, 1870.
three weeks before Christmas, and start
In Greek, X means Christ. That is why the word ‘X-Mas’. Not because
decorating it with all kinds of accessories.
someone took the ‘Christ’ out of Christmas.
We use special lights to lend colour to the
Traditionally, Christmas trees are taken down after Epiphany on January 6.
interiors and exteriors of the home. All
In the USA, more diamonds are sold around Christmas than at any other time
the members of the family come together,
of the year.
forgetting all the other work for the
In Mexico, wearing red underwear on New Year's Eve is said to bring new love
moment, and help in decorating the home.
in the upcoming year.
It is a lot of hard work but it is also a lot
Source: http://www.christmas-celebrations.com
of fun.”
www.parentcircle.in 11
Photo courtesy Sandeep Rao
grandson. “My great grandfather started
special some wine. We keep our houses open
the festivities in their hometown, but they
throughout the day and family and friends
continue to follow some traditions. Corinna
ParentSpeak
join us in the celebrations. This is also the
Ybarra Arnold, Cultural Affairs Officer at
Leena Joseph is a mother of two
time when we connect with long lost family
the American Consulate General, Chennai
daughters, a 4-year-old and a 13-year-
and friends,” says Marcia.
says, “Back in the US, it is a fun festival.
old. Christmas season is a favourite
The whole family would get together and
with both her children as they get
The celebrations continue with the
have a nice feast. The men would watch
‘secret’ gifts from Santa who leaves
exchange of gifts. The gifts are kept under
football and the women would chat away!
them under their pillow! Each morning,
the Christmas tree and are only opened on
We would offer our prayers first and
the children are surprised to see a new
Christmas day.
exchange gifts. Since, I am a Mexican we
gift and also look forward to the next
would make Tamales, a kind of sweet like
day’s gift. Leena gives gifts everyday
The tree is dismantled exactly three
a Samosa, which was always a part of our
for a month for her children.
days after the festival. “The three days
feast.” In India, she adds a ‘desi’ touch
represent the three kings who visited
to the Tamales. “Some of the ingredients
Though Leena is working, she still
Jesus during his birth,” explains Marcia.
we need to make those food items are
finds time to bake the rum and raisin
not available here, so we make do with
cake for her family. “I soak the dry
whatever we can get. We still have a
fruits for about two weeks before I bake
Christmas tree and exchange gifts,”
the cake. We also play the Secret
she says.
Santa game during this time, which is
CHRISTMAS ACROSS THE WORLD People from all over the globe
extremely popular during Christmas.
celebrate Christmas in their own unique way. This is one
For Karl Pechatscheck, the Director of
People usually play it in their workplace
day when the whole family
Goethe Institute, Chennai, it is a quiet
but we also play the game with our
gets together taking time
family affair with minimalistic rituals. “I
family. In this game you make chits
out of their busy work
fly back to my hometown in Germany
with the names of the family members
schedules. Expats
since my mother is by herself. My wife
written on them and put them in a box.
living here do miss
and her mother, and my brother join us.
Then you pick up a chit.
I cook something special for my mother
The Spirit of Xmas: FIGURE IT OUT YOURSELF!
every time. My father who passed away a
The family member whose name is
couple of years ago was very fond of the
picked, is the one who gets a gift
Christmas tree, and we choose to keep
from you and you become their secret
one in his memory. I also send gifts to my
Santa. The names of the gift-givers
SHOULD I make a long list of gifts I would
three grandchildren, something Indian, as
are revealed only on Christmas day,”
like under my tree, or, can I gift my maid’s
they love them,” he says. At the institute
explains Leena. This game sometimes
children with a school bag and a pencil
too, they have a very quiet celebration.
goes on for a week in the office.
box that they could proudly take
“We have some German interns who sing
to school?
German carols and play the guitar. Our
SHOULD I decorate my house with tinsel
staff gets together and enjoys these carols.
Chennai. At the Russian Culture Centre
and tree or light up a child’s life with a toy
Some cookies are passed around,”
in Chennai, a decked-up Christmas tree is
that I would love to give my own child?
he says.
put up on the 31st of December and
SHOULD I slave over my Christmas
the famous Russian pancakes
cakes and a grand lunch or should I feed
The Russians celebrate Christmas on the
are distributed to all the staff
all the children in an orphanage, a meal
7th of January according to the old Julian
members.
they would never forget?
calendar, as they are Orthodox Christians.
SHOULD I buy myself party wear that I
“This day happens to be my sister’s
Whether in India or abroad, there
would probably use twice, or, gift a child
birthday, so it is a double celebration for
is the same grandeur with
two sets of clothes that he would be
our family. We offer prayers and then
which the festival is
delighted to wear the whole year?
celebrate the festival with the feast and
celebrated; the same happy
SHOULD I gift my children, nephews and
exchange of gifts. We set up the Christmas
feelings that get shared. The birth of
nieces more pocket money, or, start a
tree only on New Year’s eve,” explains
Jesus Christ is remembered with
savings account for a girl child?
Galina Zagumennova, a Russian living in
honest prayers from the heart!
12 Parent Circle / December 2011
feature In India there are approximately 1.4 million individuals with Autism and many are still unidentified or misdiagnosed. Autism affects the person throughout his life, in all aspects of his day-today living, and in the way he communicates and relates to people. It affects each individual differently and in varying degrees. Hence an accurate diagnosis and an early identification can provide the basis for an effective BY REKHA SUPRIYA
treatment programme. Some similarities and
My brother’s son had Autism. He grew up completely under my care. The experience was profound. I learnt something about Autism practically everyday. I understood his needs and helped him with it. I helped greatly with his education. He managed to finish his B Com and landed a job in accounting, in the Gulf. It is a simple job, which does not tax him into decisionmaking. He can tally columns, ensure the total is right and double check the process. If anything more is needed, you will have to tell him. But he is managing, which is a great thing! Dr A Jalaludeen, Consultant Special Educator, who has been creating a public awareness on Autism.
autistic person. Parents have to face grave
differences between Autism and Aspergers
challenges both in their personal and
Disorder are listed below:
professional lives.
THE SIMILARITIES: Absence of pretend
play, intolerance to a change in routine, However research suggests that despite
lack of interest in other people, sensory
this being a stressful experience, it need
issues and poor eye contact.
not have a negative effect on everyone. In fact, many say that seeing the world
THE DIFFERENCES: Aspergers Disorder
through the eyes of an autistic person has
children can have relatively normal
a very positive and enriching effect on
early speech. They would however tend
them, making them more tolerant towards
to interpret language literally, and not
others and to life in general. (Read books
understand nuances. The child’s motor
testifying to this by Temple Grandin and
milestones are normal, social interactions
Donna Williams, who are themselves
are slightly better than those with Autism.
autistic).
He can go to mainstream schools though he may appear odd and talk oddly (in
SO WHAT IS AUTISM?
a high pitched monotonous voice, long
he journey of making an autistic
It is a developmental disorder usually
monologues etc). With age, the child may
child ‘manage’ is not easy, because
appearing during the first three years in
become more interactive, have little or no
the entire environment has to be
a child’s life. It has a triad of impairments
commonsense and may realize that he is
managed. It begins with the grief and
in the following areas: Information
different and excluded by his peers
despair of parents when their child is
Processing, Communication and
and society.
diagnosed as autistic. Autism affects
Socialization.
T
activities such as visiting places or inviting
According to research, a neuronal excess
BRINGING UP AN AUTISTIC CHILD
friends home, turn into nightmares.
in the pre-frontal cortex of the foetal brain,
Reaching out: Since many children are
Siblings of children with Autism often
results in the development of Autism.
nonverbal, parents have to give them
every single member of the family. Simple
bear the brunt; they are often teased by
some tools for communication. Parents
their friends and peers, they lack privacy,
Autism falls under the Pervasive
can use either high-tech devices like
their life at home is disrupted and they
Developmental Disorders which also
have a feeling of resentment that the
include Asperger’s Disorder. It is also four
whole focus of the family is always on the
times more prevalent in boys than in girls.
Avaz (a tablet with a touchscreen and voice output), computers, and the like, or low-tech devices like picture charts, letter
14 Parent Circle / December 2011
Understanding Autistic children It is not that autistic children have no
directly, or talk adequately), they look
common sense, it is just that they have one
away, go/run from room to room.
Some early signs and symptoms of Asperger s disorder No eye contact
which is more suited to their condition. We need the ‘common sense’ to
As many have a sensorial problem, even
understand theirs.
an affectionate clasp can bring about an undesirable reaction. A sudden hug rattles
For instance, many autistic children do not
them and disorients them completely. They
make eye contact, because simple eye
need to be prepared very slowly for these
contact is distracting for them. In order to
‘touches’. The parent could try a non-touch
maintain that contact with the speaker and
approach to convey affection, like a smile
to hear what is being said, they have to
followed by a ‘thumbs up’ signal. Autistic
actually look away.
children can understand affection and
Does not look at fac es Does not respond to name calling Delayed milestones No shared attention Does not pretend pla y Constant crying Sleep disturbance Limited food prefer ence No babbling
be affectionate. Again for some, getting them to dress can be a challenge, even during extremely
A loud noise could trigger pain in some.
behaviour – but
cold weather conditions. This is because
Children go into long periods of recluse
there can be no generalization. It is a
of acute texture sensitiveness and the
when they feel great discomfort or pain.
step by step discovery for the parent
far greater agony this brings them,
That ‘shell’ is their protection.
and the therapist to get into a common
compared to the cold weather. We may
ground for just that one child. With practice
not understand why they throw away their
Autism is usually associated with behaviour
and time, the parent can build a special
woollens and risk pneumonia. It is not that
such as hand flapping, tantrums, etc. But
communication with his child and the
they love the cold, but the cold is a far
if the parent understands that the child
bonding follows! And yes, this language,
lesser evil.
is not deliberately adamant or stubborn,
which has been painstakingly de-codified
rather that it is the way he is processing
by the parent, also has to be practised
Some children need constant inputs or
information through his senses, half the
by the siblings and other people in close
feedback on their activity, to stay focused.
battle against Autism is won.
contact with the special child.
attention (since they cannot look at you
Some therapists do de-mystify autistic
(INPUTS BY PARENT CIRCLE)
charts, word charts, to help their children
much like normal children, learn best from
from them as they do with their typically-
communicate. The aggression comes
their siblings. The autistic child should learn
developing children.
down substantially, if children are able to
to empathize with the sibling. He should
communicate their wants and difficulties.
also be taught not to look upon the sibling
Focus on the basic skills: Many
as his ultimate caretaker after the parents’
autistic children can do puzzles, skate,
demise.
do mathematical calculations, remember
To get that feedback and to draw your
It is crucial to cater to the senses of an autistic child for his well-being. For this,
dates better than most. While parents
occupational therapy needs to be done by
Teaching values: Parents when faced
can hone these special skills, they should
the parent, and not just by the therapist.
with the daily challenge of bringing up a
not lose focus on making the child self-
When their sensory craving is satisfied or
special child, forget to teach him certain
dependent day-to-day. An all-round
their needs met, autistic children become
responsibilities. Autistic children have to
development is desirable. It is unfair to
calm and repetitive to learning.
be taught the right values and priorities. It
make the autistic child dependent on a
may appear that they neither understand
caretaker for his basic needs.
The role of the sibling: It is very
nor care, but we must never underestimate
important for the typically-developing
their intelligence. From early childhood,
TIPS FOR PARENTS
sibling to have normal relationships with
irrespective of the level of disability,
1. REMAIN EMOTIONALLY STABLE.
friends and peers. It is also important that
every child should be taught to face the
Educate and seek the co-operation of the
the sibling helps his special brother to
consequences of his behaviour. Every
extended family and social circle. If you
be a part of group games, enabling the
parent should push the child in the right
get agitated, you will not be able to help
learning of social skills. Autistic children
direction demanding the same things
your child. 8
www.parentcircle.in 15
feature 2. PROVIDE A CALM and relatively stress-
Autism is doing a grave injustice to
Finally, as normal people, we have
free environment at home where the child
the child.
many abilities: the ability to know, to
is a part, but not the centre of the family.
9. THE EFFORT has to be made everyday,
perform simple everyday tasks, to
3. SET CLEAR HOUSE RULES, with one
in a consistent and committed manner.
communicate thoughts and feelings, to
designated ‘leader’ who enforces them,
The change will be gradual but definite.
adapt to situations and circumstances
and modifies them as and when required.
10. CONSTANTLY LOOK for new ways
as needed, to make multiple decisions
This is especially important in a joint
to improve the child’s situation and use
regarding diet, appearance, education
family situation.
solutions everyday based on
and choice of profession. We can take
4. MAKE EXERCISE a part of the daily
common sense.
care of ourselves and others, and be a
routine. Ensure that the child gets
11. MINIMIZE DRUGS used to tackle
part of the community. But to children
adequate sleep.
inappropriate behaviour, as they have long
with Autism these abilities and choices
5. USE SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS, even as
term health implications. Consider safer
are not available, seriously compromising
simple as two words.
alternative therapies.
their quality of life. So our goal and duty
6. GIVE THE CHILD nutritious food to build
12. PARENTS ARE THE BEST TEACHERS.
as parents is primarily to improve their
general immunity. Take your therapist’s
Their time and involvement is a must with
quality of life, so that they may lead a full
advice and avoid food that causes
the child. Open communication between
and independent life having meaningful
restlessness.
school staff and parents can lead to better
emotional and social relationships.
7. CONVERT REPETITIVE behaviour
programmes and evaluation of a student's
patterns into an opportunity and make him
progress.
We all want recovery! With some
learn his lessons.
13. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR SAVINGS
dedication, this can be achieved. As
8. UNDERSTAND that no intervention
and financial investments. Have a nest
Gandhiji said “In the midst of darkness lies
can work in isolation. Parents, teachers,
egg for the child to provide for his future.
light”. Have Faith For Faith enables.
doctors and therapists must act as a team
Special schools and therapy have their
to impart holistic therapy so that the home
costs. Even if autistic children can lead
and school become one continuum, with
independent lives with early and sustained
a single goal: the genuine improvement
intervention, they may need the assistance
REKHA SUPRIYA IS A PARENT OF AN AUTISTIC
of the child. Constant ‘shopping’ for new
of an adult/guardian/sibling in some
CHILD. SHE HEADS A SCHOOL, RUN BY A
miraculous cures/remedies for treating
matters, for which money may be needed.
TRUST, FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN.
Autistic children may exhibit some of the following traits aInsistence to sameness; resistance to change aImpaired cognitive skills aDifficulty in expressing needs; pulls adult’s hand or points, instead of using words
aRepeats words or phrases instead of normal, responsive language
aLaughs, cries, shows distress for reasons not apparent to others
aPrefers to be alone; aloof in manner aThrows tantrums aHas difficulty mixing with others aMay not want to cuddle or be cuddled aUnresponsive to normal teaching methods aSustained odd play aSpins objects aInappropriate attachment to objects 16 Parent Circle / December 2011
aApparent over sensitivity or under sensitivity to pain
aNo real fears of danger aNoticeable physical extreme under-activity or over-activity
aUneven fine/gross motor skills aNot responsive to verbal cues; sometimes appears deaf even though hearing tests are normal
aIn some cases, aggressive/self injurious behavior may be present And also
aOccasionally shows efficient performance of functional activities such as learning to operate electronic gadgets, reading logos, balancing skills etc
aThere is a lot of incidental learning which is generally not expressed
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learning
BY NITYA VARADARAJAN
W
hat is white colour composed of? I remember
INSTRUCTION
cartoon characters
Spin them both and see if you find any
– Labcoat and Net.
that as a child I was taught,
difference.
Labcoat is the scientist,
that white could be broken into seven
The hard-boiled egg spins easily for
but he has no head
colours. I learnt after 40 years, that white
awhile. The raw egg is slower to spin,
and limbs and Net is
could be broken into even three colours
owing to the viscous liquid inside and stops
an empty-headed one
and that the correct answer is that it
very quickly.
who wants to become
is not tied down by a finite number. I
as clever as Labcoat.
an easy experiment that got me to think,
OR Can you thread a needle with one eye closed? After trying this out,
and made me as curious as a child!
we learn that the brain receives a slightly
quote. For instance,
would not have learnt it, if I did not do
Every page also has a very interesting
different image from each of our eyes;
Under the experiment ‘How can you cut
We are never too old to learn – never
its interpretation of these differences is
through an ice cube with a thread’, there
mind if people tell you that the brain at
the basis of our perception of depth.
is a quote by Auguste Detoeuf ‘‘A judge
50 plus has gotten into an obstinate
has to split the difference between two
groove from where it refuses to budge.
There are 365 experiments to kindle one’s
parties as if he were cutting butter with
Nicole Ostrowsky’s awesome workbook
curiosity – How to draw an impossible
a thread.” There are other wisdom-filled
is one of the best examples of how
triangle; How to ‘see’ sound; and
quotes, “Don’t waste time inventing things
science can be taught to the old and
According to you what does a banging
that people would not want to buy” by
young alike, from the age of 7 to 107!
hammer and a playing radio have in
Thomas Edison or “Look at life through
common etc. etc. At the bottom of every
the windshield, not the rear-view mirror”
‘The Agenda of the Apprentice Scientist’ priced at ` 425, distributed
page is a small explanation to help the
by Byrd Baggett. These provide an
parents or teachers understand the
impetus to read through the instructions
by Orient Blackswan, is a bargain for
phenomenon of the experiment better,
and get along with the experiment!
its singular contribution to children and
so that they can guide a young child. The
adults – that is inculcating a love for
aim of the book, Nicole says, is to help
Ask Nicole, why she got interested in
science. Or should I say, encouraging a
one to discover the answer for oneself.
teaching science rather than actually
budding curiosity about how things work
pursuing a lucrative course in the
and why they work that way. We are not
She is also planning to bring out a
field that she loves. After all, she has
talking about the Knowledge series mini
very comprehensive website that
come from a family of scientists.
encyclopaedias that have been published
would provide additional resources
in the past. This book is more experiment-
to satisfy the increasing curiosity
She quips with a quote from Montaigne “I
oriented; we can use simple knick-knacks
of the ‘apprentice’ scientist.
do not teach, I tell stories.” On a more
available at home, make observations and
serious note, she ends, “It was the love for
arrive at interesting conclusions.
How does Nicole enhance interest in the
learning. I learnt so much more about
FOR INSTANCE How do you tell the difference between a raw egg and a hardboiled egg.
learning process through her book?
science by actually teaching it! My greatest reward after I finish teaching children is
Her very clever illustrator has brought in
their question “When are you coming
a lot of humour in the book through two
back?”
www.parentcircle.in 19
cover story
The hidden notes that will appeal to your child
BY SUDHA RAJA
Y
ou like listening to classical
How then, to make a child appreciate
sound, and hence music. No child is
music, though you may
and take to music with readiness and
really tone deaf, or pitch poor. As it is with
never have had any formal
enthusiasm? How should music be taught
the learning of any subject, the pace of
training. Or you may have
to him? At the moment we are restricting
learning may vary due to reasons in the
had formal training, but
ourselves to the appreciation of Carnatic
external environment. For instance, the
somehow you did not quite enjoy your
music, but the basic tenets apply to
child may have too much of school-work
music classes when you were young and
Hindustani music and other styles of music
to do, and may focus less on music. The
did not pursue the journey further. Or you
as well, whether vocal or instrumental.
teacher thus, has a great role in identifying
may have enjoyed the learning and even
the need of the child and catering to it
now, enjoy going to concerts. Perhaps you
You should identify an appropriate teacher,
appropriately – and your child will soon
also play the veena and can sing very well.
who not only understands music, but
love this initial ‘distraction’ of music.
understands children and handles them Whatever your background of music has
sensitively. You may also need to be
been, you may want your child to learn
objective about your own attitude and
WHEN CAN THE CHILD ENROLL FOR MUSIC CLASSES
music, because you understand that
ideas, so that the child as an individual, is
If a child can talk, she can surely sing. We
learning and listening to music brings
finally benefited.
never question whether the child is too
definite benefits, tangible and intangible.
young to start going to school at age three. And he does learn his alphabets and
a different environment. You may have
UNDERSTANDING THE CHILD’S CAPABILITY
been unquestioning in your childhood, but
As a parent, you need not worry about
in music and its reproduction in children
today, your child needs to be taught music
this as long as your child is like most
as little as three and four years invariably
suitably, to get adequately interested, and
other children. There is a Sanskrit verse
comes as a pleasant surprise to the
develop a lifelong love for it.
which states that every living creature
teacher and parent. The parents should
in this universe can recognise aesthetic
however give time to the tutor and the
But the child of today is growing up in
20 Parent Circle / December 2011
nursery rhymes. The level of assimilation
student. A certain amount of trust in the
Says Lalitha
teacher is necessary.
Sivakumar,
Teaching music theory innovatively: some ideas
a Carnatic Children are innocent. They do not have
music
adult-like prejudices. They are ready to try
teacher from
The theory of music should
out anything new. This gradually changes
Chennai, “I
commence simultaneously
as they grow older into their pre-teens,
conduct only
with practice to make the
but when they are young, they are quite
one-to-one
learning wholesome.
adaptable. They start with the idea of liking
classes for
music, particularly when they observe
students, but
people around them appreciating it. So go
I take them
ahead and send your young one to a tutor.
on, only when they show a passion for
Here are some tips on Lalitha Sivakumar
music. Indeed, only such students should
introducing theory in a comprehensible way:
IDENTIFYING A TEACHER
be sent for formal learning.” Lalitha gauges
Identify a suitable teacher, with references
their levels of interest in about 15 minutes
if possible, based on her style of teaching.
of interaction and whether they have a
Teachers have the moral responsibility to
sense of thalam (rhythm) and sruthi (pitch).
A small song can be taught with the ragam and thalam; and the rudiments of that particular thalam, with the terms laghu and dhrutam, their symbols, aksharas and the like.
They should never use a harsh word,
Radha Ramji of TKG Gurukulam feels
Unravelling the origin of the seven
undermine the child’s efforts, or criticize
that individual learning does not give the
formal notes from birds and animals,
them in front of their peers. Any correction
student the exposure of listening to other
makes it interesting for the child. They
has to be done gently, persuasively and
students who are at their own level or
absorb the names of the notes if the
without hurting the feelings of the child.
their seniors. “Children benefit from group
lesson is taught in such a ‘fun’ way.
bolster the self-esteem of their students.
classes. If a child is unable to grasp,
DO NOT PUSH YOUR AMBITIONS ONTO YOUR CHILD
she learns in no time by listening to co-
A song featuring the major ragams
students and hence does not develop a
can be taught easily to children who
Yes, you want your child to learn and
complex. When the students are equipped
have not even begun to read, much like
appreciate music. But does it stop with this
enough to give concerts, they need
how the multiplication tables are taught.
altruism? Or are you dreaming of the first
individual attention,” she says.
This way, they can also remember the names of swaras and thalams, even if
stage appearance (Arangetram) of your child, visualizing the dress that she will
For parents who still doubt their children’s
wear and the applause and appreciation
inherent musical abilities, group learning
that she (or is it you) will get?
is better. There is a popular consensus,
they do not understand it completely.
It may just happen that by pushing for the
when the child is young, it is better to have
Even something as complex as the Melakartha Raga chart (a table of 72 Raga names, which has to be uttered
Arangetram, the pressure of learning gets
shorter sessions with smaller groups of
and remembered in the exact manner)
transferred inadvertently to the teacher and
children. The attention span of the child
can be broken up into segments
student, and your child may be building
between three and eleven years, is usually
or Chakrams of 6 ragas, or 3 ragas
up an inner resentment. So instead of
limited to not more than twenty minutes.
each. These can be memorized in
that in the initial learning stages, especially
appreciating music, she could lose interest altogether.
successive classes. The class typically begins with initiating the sruthi or pitch. It takes a student
The Jantai Varisai, which is the
ONE-ON-ONE TUITION OR GROUP LEARNING
a week or more to settle down to a
second chapter for the beginners
comfortable pitch and then the children are
dealing with pairs of swaras, is rather
Some parents insist on ‘individual
divided into groups of four or five.
long and monotonous. Weaving in a
attention’. A one-on-one tuition may work
story like the Ramayana to match these
out for some children. Certainly, focus
When the group is small, the teaching is
lessons makes it interesting to learn. It
on an individual student helps during
definitely more effective, and the children
then becomes a game and the children
advanced learning.
are more enthused to give their best than
want to learn the next verse to get on
when they are taught individually. 8
with the story.
www.parentcircle.in 21
cover story HOW GROUP LEARNING CAN PROCEED
waiting for years till the first composition
Different teachers can have their own
Director of Sundram Fasteners was
approaches.
astounded when her daughter Samira
is taught. Arathi Krishna, Joint Managing
started singing chaste slokas and bhajans One way for the teacher, is to start with
within a month of starting music classes.
a simple song on the elephant God
She on her part, had to wait for years to
Ganesha. He could then gauge the new
learn the first semblance of song, namely
student’s ability and tailor sessions to the
the Geetham.
child’s benefit.
Sowbhagyalakshmi Srirambharathi Arathi, taking a cue from her daughter,
By teaching small Slokas and Bhajans, the
teacher, who also becomes a child for
has been incentivised to re-start music
student is taught melody, Ragam (tune),
the duration.
lessons, despite hectic work schedules.
Thalam (beat), compositions, languages, pronunciations and diction-all rolled into one. Even the tiniest of them can belt out a couple of small songs within the week, much to everyone’s delight. It is important to explain the pronunciation and the meaning to cut the monotony and make the learning wholesome.
Her own interest and appreciation in music Simple songs in Tamil and Hindi have
has been given a ‘rebirth’. If a teacher can
been composed in a way that the child
inspire parents to revive music from the
easily internalizes the correct pronunciation
back-burner, she has done her job well.
and the exact emphasis of vowels and consonants. This gives a firm grounding
There is another major advantage
for budding singers on the nuances of
in learning these kind of complex
sound. Voice modulation and voice culture
compositions. Apart from learning the
is also brought in through the songs. This
language and pronunciation, it eggs the
To inculcate Laya Gnanam, or the
experiential and ‘joyful’ learning was first
student to participate in various thematic
sense of rhythm and thalam to children
introduced by Professor V V Sadagopan
concerts, that are either based on
with different learning capacities within
several decades ago, who called his novel
compositions of a particular composer, or
a group is a challenge. This can be
music education mission ‘Thyagabharathi’.
based on a specific genre -Varnams, Kritis,
done by making each child perform the
A child who has had a Thyagabharathi
correct thalam individually and later
experience can be very skilled in using his
in groups.
voice not only for formal music rendering,
Keerthanams, Bhajans, Shlokas and such compositions. In fact, the early morning devotional music in all the major sabhas during the December season, gives slots to young students and music schools, with such themes.
but also in theatre, public speaking and Regardless of how they learn (individually
other related areas.
or in a group), the important idiom sruthir
maathaa laya pithaa, (melody is the mother and rhythm is the father) should be borne in mind. The importance of both the melody and rhythm going hand in hand to make good music should be ingrained in the child.
COMPLEX SONGS FOR THE NOVICE Some teachers would be aghast at the
WITHDRAWING A CHILD FROM A PARTICULAR MUSIC TEACHER
thought of teaching complex compositions
There has to be a sound reason for this
to recent entrants.
and not an action taken on account of prejudice. A child should not be removed
This is just a mindset and has little to
because somebody from the peer group
Sowbhagyalakshmi Srirambharathi,
do with the child’s aptitude. Children
has left and you are more inclined to listen
Director, STD Pathasala Trust, gives the
do not perceive any piece of music as
to the mother of that peer; or because
child a free hand in exploring his singing
‘easy’ or ‘complicated’. They are first
you feel that some other teacher is more
and does not force him into any particular
imitators, and will parrot their teachers,
famous and that your child will do better in
way. She says “Through stories and
whose responsibility is to teach them
her classes.
songs we invoke this joy in the child who
what is correct and proper in the best way
responds to music, first by nodding, then
possible. Children also like variety.
Question the child on whether she is enjoying the classes, even if, according
clapping, and then tapping to the rhythm which merges with his inner rhythm.
The Carnatic music system is very rich in
to you, the learning may be a little
Sessions are always held in a group with
compositions and the seemingly difficult
wanting. In enjoyment lies the budding
the children forming a circle around the
pieces can be taught quite early on without
sprout of appreciation. Often, there is a
22 Parent Circle / December 2011
certain amount of sensitivity and bonding
The 26 year old YACM (Youth Association
Teens could also be taught about the
between the teacher and child, which will
for Classical Music, www.yacm.in) is
tremendous benefits of learning classical
only enhance learning. This gets unduly
totally run by youngsters. This is one such
music. Reputed research institutes have
disturbed if the child is moved.
organization spreading awareness about
documented the extent to which it expands
music, where youngsters think innovatively
intelligence and sharpens thinking skills.
When a child goes to yet another teacher,
and spread the message of music in
Music brings about an ability to learn
she may not develop the attitude of
schools. We also know that teens are
languages in a person faster than others,
Gurubhakthi and empathy, which is essential for the learning and appreciation of music. So, don’t treat the teacher as a commodity. If you have any reservations about your child’s learning, try addressing the problem directly with the teacher, instead of removing your child from her tutelage abruptly.
susceptible to peer influence, and YACM
expands his vocabulary, makes him excel
is a good example of teen motivation.
in mathematics. In short, music learning
Teens can emulate the YACM, to do their
and practise makes a person brighter by
bit for the cause of music within their
at least 30 per cent, than if he were not
sphere of influence.
learning it. 8
CHOOSE a teacher who is in your vicinity, as
travelling long distances makes it very difficult
CAN TECHNOLOGY BE USED TO TEACH MUSIC?
to sustain the activity for long.
One has to move with the times. Today’s
CHECK with your child after the initial week, if
youngsters have no objection to the idea.
she is comfortable with the teacher and the methods, if not, try to iron out the child’s
Some may feel that using technology may
difficulties, however small. Make sure that you are aware of what is being done in
not work for beginners, but others feel that
class by asking or probing your child.
it can be effective at any level of instruction if executed properly. Emailing of audio
DEFINITELY reiterate practise at home from day one, even if it is for a few minutes,
files and uploading videos is becoming
so that the child gets into the habit of singing everyday.
commonplace, especially if the child is located in a different city or country.
DO NOT excuse the child from classes on account of a birthday
party or any other similar issue, for it sets precedence and There are students who make an
lowers the importance of the activity. Alternatively, explain
occasional appearance at the tuition
that the class has to be followed up before or after the
centre, and happily follow up on Skype.
function, so that the child understands your commitment
The empathy between the tutor and child is
and will follow suit.
more important and should be established; either directly or through Skype.
CHECK with the teacher and spend useful time with the
children by playing music-related quizzes and games. Also it
CARNATIC MUSIC AND TEENS
is a good idea to purchase CD s and play it to them. Listening
A slightly different approach may be
is also a part and parcel of tutelage.
required to get teens to appreciate music. There are organizations and dedicated
For all the above, you as
individuals who go to schools and acquaint
a parent, need not be
higher classes about this great heritage
well-versed in music and
and why it should be supported by teens.
need not feel inadequate
Teens like to be treated as responsible
because of your lack of
people and this idea goes down well
knowledge. By dedicatedly
with them. You could persuade your
following the above practices,
child’s school authorities to conduct such
you can see your child
awareness programmes and start Teen
blossom into a good
Clubs for classical music, where teens will
performer and
be involved in various activities
musician.
promoting it.
www.parentcircle.in 23
cover story interactive for them to sustain interest.
video-conferencing, the cause of music
P Unnikrishnan, a renowned Carnatic
appreciation and learning would be taken
vocalist says that if this is not done, they
further.
would only be attracted to the popular
(WITH INPUTS FROM PARENT CIRCLE)
music that are flooding TV channels and
SUDHA RAJA HAS A DOCTORATE IN INDIAN
reality shows.
MUSIC. SHE RUNS HER OWN MUSIC SCHOOL.
Sunder suggests that simple, enjoyable songs, having a nice rhythm could be taught at first, so that they develop a Dr S Sunder, Convenor, Music Forum
favourable opinion about classical music. Then, following their growing interest, other songs could be taught.
HOW CAN MUSIC BE INTRODUCED TO TEENS?
If a teacher is truly innovative and capable,
My daughter Harshini, who used to
Dr S Sunder who has written an easy-read
he could even teach a movie song and
be an introvert has improved a lot in
FAQ book on Carnatic music for the novice
explain its raga, to first get the teen
her communication as well as in her
has this comment to make. “The repertoire
interested.
studies after joining music classes.
of Carnatic songs taught today are mostly
She is now much more confident
composed by saints, belonging to a
Teens need a little pampering and a lot of
and has learnt to juggle between
different era when those languages were
flexibility to make them learn. Convenient/
her dance, music, and Hindi tuition
in common use. Children (read teens)
flexible music timings, teaching through
classes. She likes her teacher a lot
find it difficult to relate to some of them.”
technology (as this is cool), might help. As
and is eager to attend her music
Teens and pre-teens (bearing in mind their
mentioned earlier, peer pressure is an
classes. As a parent, I am happy to
stage of growth) would find such music
important factor for teens to get interested
see this change in her.
‘uncool’. Lessons therefore, should be
in anything. So if they can be brought
LAKSHMI MEKA
made innovative and enjoyable, and highly
together as a group, even if it is through
of the Lord. Initially practised in temples, music became an art to be relished in concerts only in the last couple of centuries. Earlier, there was one panIndian system of music.
understanding and appreciation of
What are the origins of Indian music, in particular Carnatic music?
classical Carnatic music. Even if we
The origins of Indian music can be traced
developed two distinctive systems:
do not know much about this great art
back to the Sama Veda, which is regarded
Hindustani music and Carnatic music. In
and its nuances, we can still derive
as timeless, but estimates date it to 4000
South India, music continued to develop
great entertainment value and at times
BC. The first full scale of seven notes and
without external influences, while the
lose ourselves in it. Kalaimamani Dr S
the concept of the octave were developed
Hindustani music came to be influenced by
Sunder explains in a simple way, a few
from here.
Persian and Sufi music.
for the novice and what we can expect
Our music grew out of our religion
from a concert performance.
Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma, and being
What does one see on stage in a Carnatic concert?
composed by great saints, is in the praise
The main performer is a vocalist or 8
Attending concerts is an important mechanism to enhance our
Following the Islamic invasions and the concurrent cultural amalgamations, Indian music
of the technicalities of Carnatic music
24 Parent Circle / December 2011
cover story Why is the violinist given a separate chance to play? The violinist is also an artiste that needs to give expression to his ideas. He or she is therefore given a time slot to express his musical ideas on stage. Generally, it is for a shorter duration and ideally covers a territory in the musical expanse not explored by the main artiste.
The Mridangist seems to be playing very intricate rhythmic patterns. Is he playing composed music or not? Carnatic music has some of the most intricate mathematical rhythmic patterns amongst all music systems in the world. Percussionists generally try to bring these
Choir performance by children
patterns or korvais in an improvised an instrumentalist playing the veena or
its ability to negotiate the peculiar gamakas
flute, accompanied by a violinist and a
(embellishments) in Carnatic music and
mridangam (Carnatic drum). Sometimes, there is more than one main artiste when people perform as a duo or trio.
also produce emphasis on a single note by virtue of it being a bowed instrument.
manner during the course of the song.
There seems to be a period when the percussionist alone plays. What is this? This is the Thani Avarthanam, where the
Often there is a ghatam player tapping
Why are there sometimes more than one percussionist?
on a clay pot or a kanjira player providing
For purposes of enhancing the
highly developed mathematical formulae.
percussion accompaniment. Of course,
entertainment value, stage presence,
He uses his imagination only in this period
there is a person strumming the tambura
enthusiasm or even sometimes the
and in the interludes between the pallavi
(a vertical stringed drone accompaniment),
quality of the program, the upapakka
and anupallavi or between the anupallavi
which provides the basic sruthi for the
vadhyam (additional percussionists) are arranged. These include instruments such as the ghatam, ganjira, morsing and the gottuvadhyam.
and charanam.
performer. If the musician is a senior artiste, some of his students too sit on stage and sing along.
percussionist plays rhythmic patterns with
Why is it that I see the same artiste with different accompanists? The performer does not necessarily
Can an instrument, other than the violin be used as a melodic accompaniment?
Are the main artist and the violinist playing the same tune or different tunes?
rehearse together with his accompanists,
There have been instances where the
Carnatic music is essentially melodical,
player is incomplete without mastering the
flute or the veena has been used as an
which means there is a continuous single
art of accompaniment. He practices with
accompaniment. Some concerts featuring
tune. However on a concert dais, the main
various musicians to develop his skills as
the veena or chitra veena do not have any
artiste needs some support, especially
an accompanist.
melodic accompaniment, and the main
when he needs to take some deep
artiste plays along with just
breaths.
since Indian music is essentially solo. The training of the violinist or mridangam
So there is an accompanying instrument,
What to expect in a Carnatic music concert? Though a typical concert or kutcheri lasts
Why is the violin the preferred melodic accompaniment?
usually the violin, which follows the main
around three hours, today some of these
tune. Veteran violinists therefore give
don’t last half as long.
The violin, even though it is a western
innocuous but positive supporting phrases
instrument, has become the preferred
during the main artiste’s phrases, so that it
The musician usually starts with a fast
instrument for accompaniments because of
does not interrupt the general flow.
paced Varnam, that serves as a
the percussions.
26 Parent Circle / December 2011
warm-up piece for the ensemble to synchronize and set the mood for the concert. This is followed
pallavi is sung in the beginning and after the anupallavi and charanam. It is usually in the charanam that one finds the mudra (signature) of the composer. For example, Tyagaraja used his own name, while Muthuswami Dikshitar adapted Guruguha and Syama Sastri, Syamakrishna.
by a song about Vinayaka, in a medium paced ragam like
Hamsadhwani or Nattai. The singer next performs a variety of songs, choosing them appropriately so that he has the right mix and order of ragam, tempo and audience appeal. He would choose to express his creativity at appropriate parts of the song by performing alapana (development of raga through improvisation) or neraval (a composed line from the anupallavi or charanam sections of the krithi or song, is sung repeatedly, each time with a fresh idea) or Kalpana Swaram (singing of swara patterns, presenting the performer’s version of the raga).
Can you explain what you mean by Ragas and Gamakams?
The three frequently used parts of the
talam are: Anudrutam: a beat, which represents one count Drutam: a beat followed by the wave of the hand, which represents 2 counts Laghu: a beat followed by finger counting starting from the little finger, representing 3, 4, 5, 7 or 9 counts.
We know about the seven notes: Sa, Ri,
As an example, the Adi talam is one of the
Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni. Of these Sa and Pa
most popular talams in Carnatic music.
are prakruthi swaras that are constant
It consists of eight beats – a four count
notes whose frequencies do not change
laghu, followed by two drutams.
for a given pitch. The others Ri, Ga, expand to include two or sometimes three
How can we encourage our children to attend Carnatic music concerts?
frequencies.
First of all, we must attend the concerts . If
Ma, Dha, Ni have variable values and
we know something about what is going on A raga is a combination of these
on-stage, we can share it with them. We
swarasthanas with embellishments called gamakas. In Carnatic music gamakams are the chief identifying features of the ragas, and if omitted or reduced can change the very complexion or even the identity of the raga.
must teach them to respect the artiste, and
The gamakams are of different types. Some notes my be rendered plain, while
What type of concerts will be of interest to them?
others sound like the note is being shaken
Music with a lot of rhythm appeals to
or oscillated. Similarly a few notes may be
children. Community participation in the
elongated while others may be shortened.
form of nama sankirtans is also a good
Some are sung two or three in a row while
entry point. Bhajans and choral music in
some swing from one swara to the other.
schools encourages their participation.
Towards the end of the concert, the
A few notes may require sharpening or
Special concerts where children alone
audience request their choices, generally
flattening depending on the context. Thus,
attend and are encouraged to ask
honoured by the musicians. Finally the
many microtonal variations are seen in the
questions of the main artiste, enhance
concert ends with a brief performance
frequency of any given note from one raga
their listening experience.
of the mangalam usually in ragam
to another. These are the distinguishing
Madhymavathi or sometimes ragams like Surati.
features of the raga.
After this, he will perform the ragam,
thalam, pallavi, if time permits or he will sing another major piece. This is followed by several short, light numbers that could be a tillana, or bhajans, or popular recent numbers or ‘trademark’ songs of the performer or even yester year classical movie songs.
Please tell us about the songs that are sung in the concert. The commonest songs sung are the kritis,
Do talam and layam mean the same thing? Laya means speed or tempo. The performers should maintain perfect laya,
most of which are in praise of God, since
meaning that they should neither speed up
our composers are mainly saintly.
nor slow down the tempo of a song. Tala
the art, even if it is a marriage concert. We must set an example by not talking loudly, avoiding walking in and out of the concert at odd times, and generally appearing indifferent to the music.
is the expression of the laya expressed Generally the kriti has three sections:
physically by the beats and finger count or
pallavi, anupallavi and charanam. The
a wave of the hand.
www.parentcircle.in 27
centrespread
Satyanarayana
aka Keyboard Satya
K B Satyanarayana is only 16 years old but his list of achievements far outnumber his age! A student of Padma Seshadri, he created a record which has found a mention in the Limca Book of Records. In this, at the age of six, he became the youngest Indian ever to pass the 4th grade in western keyboard from the Trinity School of Music, London. He passed the 8th grade when he was just 10 years old. Satyanarayana has given more than 815 performances till date. He is a student of Dr M Bala Murali Krishna and A Kanyakumari, the renowned violinist. Currently, Satyanarayana is disseminating keyboard carnatic music to other children. He chooses to call his unique style and technique 'KBS Inculcation', where KBS stands for his name.
Shravanthika Lakshmi Shravanthika Lakshmi is a second standard student of PSG Public School, Coimbatore. This seven-yearold has been consistently winning
Melodies by the young
the Tirukkural competition held in her school right from her LKG days to Std II. She has also won the junior music competition in school.
Nanditha Nanditha K can grasp any song as soon as she listens to it. Now she is a six-year-old with a very keen interest in music. She started training when she was just four years of age. A first standard student of Padma Seshdari, Nanditha has participated in various competitions and won awards. Among them is the first place in the talent hunt organized by Little Angels in the 6-8 years category. She has also won the Sai Ganesh memorial all rounder award for excellence in studies, music and sports.
28 Parent Circle / December 2011
Ram & Visveshwar aka flFlute Visveshwar
Brothers N Ram (17) and N Visveshwar (15) started off on the same note. One took to Violin and the other took to the Flute. Both the brothers excelled at music. Their first concert was in 2006, where they accompanied with their instruments, Ram’s classmate, who was giving a vocal performance. In 2009, after having performed more than 75 concerts, Ram preferred to concentrate on his studies. He is now back to his violin classes and hopes to make it big in the music circuit someday. His brother Visveshwar on the other hand, chose to continue with his music. He has performed in over 350 programmes and was the recipient of the prestigious Central Government (CCRT) Scholarship for talented child artistes in 2009. Flute vidwan Dr N Ramani, who inaugurated
Visveshwar
Ram
the Balabruhmam programme on Jaya TV in 2008, commented after listening to Visveshwar, that his guru Flute maestro Mali would have probably played like Visveshwar as a child. Visveshwar has won many prizes including the Best Instrumentalist in the Spirit of Youth Festival 2010 held at the Music Academy and the Rotary Club of Nanganallur Award for Vocational Excellence as a Child Prodigy in March last year.
Maanasa Kirthivasan Maanasa Kirthivasan is all of eight and a half years old and is studying in Grade 4 of Kindergarten Starters, Dubai. She has been learning music since she was three and a half years old and the veena, from five years of age. She has learnt the first two pancharathna keerthanais in vocal and small keerthanais in veena. www.parentcircle.in 29
health circle
to the
SURYA NAMASKAR BY KHARDEKAR SUBHASH BHAGWANTRAO
Surya Namaskar is a combination of
over, lie down in the Shawasana pose
some useful yogasanas performed in a
(the corpse pose) for some time.
sequence. It gives us physical health and sharpens our intellect.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR SURYA NAMASKAR
Only 35% to 40% of our muscles are
While performing the Asanas, keep your
used in daily activities. Surya Namaskar
belly and hip partly loose. Feel only
ensures that 95% to 97% of our
the stretch and strain at the particular
muscles are switched on to the active
part of the body that is involved in the
mode. The body is filled with vitality
particular exercise. The rest of the body
owing to the pranayama (breathing in
should be free of muscle tension. When
rhythm) that gets done as part of the
you relax after the exercise, if you feel
exercise, it makes the body restful.
the muscle tension getting released from other unrelated places, you will
It is said that twenty-four Surya
have to improve upon your practice.
Namaskars, if done properly, are
After you acquire some skill in doing the
equal to five hundred sit-ups / pull-
Surya Namaskar, set aside ten to fifteen
ups. This may be an exaggeration,
minutes for the practice of Pranayama,
but 24 rounds of Surya Namaskars
(specifically Bhastrika and Kapala Bhati)
burns up 2.3 KCL without making you
which should be learnt from an expert.
perspire. It builds your muscles without any increase in the heart beats.
For the performance of asanas: Take a clean piece of cloth (yoga mat). The width
The early morning hours are the best for
should be equal to the breadth between
Surya Namaskar and you should not eat
your shoulders and the length should be
for five hours prior to doing the exercise.
60 inches, approximately. Each Asana is divided into four stages. Master it stage by
Follow the body postures in each step
stage, devoting a fortnight for each stage:
very scrupulously and aim for the
STAGE 1: Focus on the Posture. Start
perfect position. Initially some laxity is
each asana by chanting the related Surya
allowed till your body becomes flexibile.
mantra. After attaining the maximum
Maintain a slow and steady progress.
position, hold for five seconds. Then relax all your muscles. Move to the next Asana.
Eventually, one complete Surya Namaskar
STAGE 2: Focus on breathing and rhythm.
can be done in a little more than a minute
While the goal is to complete the entire
(about five seconds for each asana).
Surya Namaskar in four breaths, a novice
This speed ensures a deep cleansing
can follow a simple rule in the beginning.
of the body and a steady progress
Whenever the body is bent downwards,
in overall health and happiness.
exhale. When you stretch upwards, inhale. Start the first exercise with an exhalation.
Persons suffering from slip-disk,
STAGE 3: Focus on the related Chakra
arthritis, heart problems and pregnant
and its main objectives. Feel the vibrations
women should get a medical opinion
of the Chakra involved in the Asana.
before they start the practice of
STAGE 4: Focus on the related Mantra.
Surya Namaskar. Otherwise, even
Say the mantra slowly and loudly.
a 90-year-old person can do it.
Be conscious of each and every step outlined in the earlier stages. Match
If you start panting while practising Surya
the rhythm of the exercise to the
Namaskar, either take rest or stop doing
rhythm of the breath and mantra and
it for the day. Once Surya Namaskar is
be aware of the chakra activation.
THE ASANAS
Pranamasana
position, with palms and fingers closed and at right angles to the Anahat Chakra
ground. Thumb to touch the middle part of the chest. Forearms parallel to the ground. TIPS: ] Initially apply a light pressure to the palms. Feel the
USEFUL TO TREAT AND PREVENT: Nervous
pressure in the muscles of the palms, wrists, forearms, arms,
breakdowns, fits, sensory
shoulders and importantly, the chest.
deprivation etc.
] The pressure of the palms results in a slight expansion of
The chest cavity is enlarged to inhale more oxygen
the chest.
owing to the posture. The supply of additional oxygen
] After attaining the maximum position, wait for five seconds.
to all the cells activates the muscles. The practitioner
] Release the muscle tension from the chest, shoulders, arms,
experiences greater energy and happiness.
forearms, wrists, and palms.
THE POSTURE: Chant the Mantra: Aum Mitraya Namah.
FOCUS ON the Anahata Chakra, located in the region of the heart.
Stand straight. Bring the toes and heels together.(No strain on either knee or calf; heel or toe.) Put your chest
THE MAIN OBJECTIVE is to increase the elasticity of
out. Move your shoulders back and pull them down. Fix
chest, and to make use of palms, elbows,
your eyes to the tip of the nose. Hands in namaskar
shoulders as levers to expand the chest.
Urdhwa-Hasta-Asana USEFUL TO TREAT AND PREVENT:
Swelling (Internal and external); knots in
TIPS: ] Remember that sight is tied to the palms, so Vasudha Chakra
the muscles; infected wounds; discharge from
bend the head backwards to look at the palms. ] After the exercise, remove muscle tension from the hands, shoulders, chest, stomach, backbone, waist,
eyes, pimples; and freckles. Relieves pain in the
thighs, calves and ankles.
neck, shoulders, arms, ankles, wrists. Respiration
FOCUS ON the Vishudha Chakra at the base
becomes strong and healthy resulting in the increase of body
of the neck. The chakra is activated when you
height and health.
push your head back to look at the palms.
THE POSTURE: Chant the Mantra: Aum Ravaye Namah. Bring
your palms together. Lift your hands upwards. Keep hands and
MAIN OBJECTIVES: To give an upward stretch
legs straight. Bring the palms together. Heels to be fixed to the
to all muscles in the body, from ankles to the
ground. Bring toes and heels together.Give an upward stretch to
index fingers; to massage the muscles of the
your body and hands. Look at the palms. Bend your head backward
stomach; and to give strength to the backbone.
slowly, gracefully. Form an arch of the body above the waist.
Hasta-Pada-Asana
Swadhistan Chakra
of 8-10 inches between the legs.
USEFUL TO TREAT AND PREVENT: Urinary
] Take a side view in the mirror to check your standing
problems, urine stone, sleeplessness, general
position. Or stand, with your back to the wall and bend.
debility (weakness). Relieves muscle pains in the
] Keep your palms on the knees.
back, shoulders, throat, chest, stomach, and cough.
] Place chin on the chest. Keep neck, shoulders loose.
Increases appetite. Helps remove gases and toxic material. Sound sleep is a result. THE POSTURE: Chant the Mantra: Aum
Suryaya Namah. Bend at the waist. Fix your palms flat on the ground. The big toes and the palms should be in line with each other. Hands forward and parallel to each other in line with shoulders. Keep your legs and knees straight. Try to place your forehead on your knees. TIPS: ] While standing, keep a distance
] Bend slowly without giving jerks to the body. ] Keep the stomach loose. FOCUS ON the Swadishtana Chakra, (just below the belly,
located in the backbone). The seventy-two thousand nerves spread across the body start criss-crossing from this area. MAIN OBJECTIVE: To stretch the muscles of the
waist, back and shoulders; to press the muscles of the stomach and massage the belly.To give flexibility and strength to the backbone.
www.parentcircle.in 31
health circle Adnya Chakra
Ardha-Bhujanga-Asana or Ashwasanchalan Asana
the thigh and knee are raised slightly inwards towards the body, to give you the alert position of a horse ready for take-off. ] After the asana, relax the muscles of the legs, hands, right side
USEFUL TO TREAT AND PREVENT: Respiratory diseases, hypertension. Relieves muscle
of the stomach, the neck, the upper back, rest of the back.
pains in thighs, knees, calves, ankles are relieved. Leads to clarity
FOCUS ON the Adnya Chakra in the middle of theforehead.
of thought, better concentration.
This is the antenna to receive cosmic energy. Face the Sun.
THE POSTURE: Chant the Mantra: Aum Bhanave Namah. Stretch
the left leg backwards.
MAIN OBJECTIVES: To give a downward stretch to
Allow the left knee and toe to touch the ground in the stretched
the left leg; to apply pressure on the muscles of the
position.
right leg. To lift and keep in a ‘ready to run’ position
Fold the right knee. The heel and the toe should completely rest
the knee joint and the hip joint of the right foot. To
on the ground. (The top of the thigh and the last rib of the right
stretch the backbone upward in a convex curve. To
chest should touch each other). Keep both the hands straight.
massage the muscles in the right side of the belly,
Put your chest out. Lift up the shoulders. Drop your head back, to
including the liver. To push the head as far
touch the neck. Look at the sky.
back as possible.
TIPS: ] Though the bulk of the body weight is on the right foot,
Vishudha Chakra
Makara-Asana
should be stretched without bending. Heels to be arched.
HEALTH BENEFITS: The health benefits
Eyes to look through the legs.
are the same as the second asana
TIPS: Check the body slant position in the mirror if you
can, or ask somebody to guide you. After the asana, relax
Urdhwahastasana. THE POSTURE: Chant the Mantra: Aum Khagaya Namah. Keep
the muscles of the legs, hands, stomach, upper back and neck.
both the hands in the same position as in the earlier asana,
FOCUS ON the Vishudha Chakra at the base of the neck.
but take your right foot back and keep it in position much like the left. The hips and knees are now
MAIN OBJECTIVES: To press the hands down on the ground
lifted up,and the weight of the body is on
with all the body weight and lift the shoulders at the same time.
the hands and the shoulders.
The rest of the body from the hips is in a downward stretch.
In short, the legs, knees, arms and elbows
This stretch is unique - the starting point of activation is the Vishudha Chakra and the end points are the ankles.
Sashtang-Namaskar-Asana
Manipur Chakra
USEFUL TO TREAT AND PREVENT:
Asthma, piles, arthritis, digestion problems etc.
and then press the chin to the chest. Now lift the hip.
Results in bright eyes, glow on the face, dark hair,
TIPS: Remember to keep the elbows close to the body, and without
stamina and a strong body, aids decision-making.
disturbing the eight points, lift your body up. After the exercise relax the
THE POSTURE: Chant the Mantra: Aum Pushne
muscles of the stomach, chest and backbone.
Namah. Don’t move the palms and the toes from the previous position. Take the body weight on your hands, and bend the arms at the elbow. Press the chin to the chest. Make your toes, knees, elbows and palms (eight points) touch the ground, while resting the body on the stomach. Then push both the elbows inside, towards each other. Rest chin and forehead also on the ground
FOCUS ON the Manipur Chakra, in the region of the navel.
32 Parent Circle / December 2011
MAIN OBJECTIVE is to massage the muscles of the entire belly.
health circle
Bhujanga-Asana
Swadhistan Chakra
USEFUL TO TREAT AND PREVENT: Urine problems, urine stone, sleeplessness,
general debility (weakness), relieves muscle pain in the back,
and knees should touch the ground. ] While the backbone is in a convex curve, the chest is puffed up. FOCUS ON the Swadhishtana Chakra.
shoulders, throat, chest and stomach. Helps remove gases and toxic material. Health and sound sleep is the result.
MAIN OBJECTIVES: To inhale as much cosmic
THE POSTURE: Chant the Mantra: Aum Hiranya Garbhaya
energy as possible, by giving a convex shape to the
Namah. Don’t disturb the previous position of the palms. Lift the shoulders and elbows and straighten the arms slightly. Throw the head and the shoulders behind. Look at the sky. Lower the waist (solar plexus region) to the ground, midway between the palms. Don’t disturb the position of the feet. Lower the knees to the ground. Form an arch-like posture. TIPS: ] While lifting the shoulders, make use of the ankles to give a forward push to the belly and position the stomach. Then the toes
backbone and puffing up the chest.The point where the body is lifted up is the Swadhistan Chakra.‘The hood of the cobra’ is your chest. Enlarge it, amplify it.
Vishudha Chakra
head towards the knees. Chin to touch the chest. Eyes to be fixed on the nose-tip.
ParvataAsana
TIPS: ] After lifting up the body, adjust your
shoulders to enable the heels touch the ground. ] The body should be pushed up first from feet to waist and
BENEFITS TO THE
then from the neck to the waist.
BODY: The same as
] After the asana, relax the muscles of the hands, legs,
Urdhwahastasana, the
stomach, backbone.
second asana.
FOCUS ON the Vishudha Chakra.
THE POSTURE: Chant the Mantra: Aum Marichaye Namah. Don’t
move the position of the feet and the palms. Raise the stomach
MAIN OBJECTIVES: To give a mountain / parvat like
and hips. Form a triangle with the palms, waist and feet. Heels
shape to the body. All the body muscles are pushed
to touch the ground. Straighten your elbows and knees. Pull your
up towards the belly / Swadhistana Chakra. Adnya Chakra
Ardha-Bhujanga-Asana BENEFITS: As stated earlier under Ardha-Bhujanga-Asana,
Throw your head backwards. Look towards
the fourth asana.
the sky.
THE POSTURE: Chant the Mantra: Aum Adityaya Namah. Don’t
FOCUS ON the Adnya Chakra,
change the position of your palm.
to receive cosmic energy.
Refer to posture number 4. Keep the left foot and the palms firm on the ground. Stretch the right leg backwards. The right knee
MAIN OBJECTIVE: To give a light massage to
and toe should touch the ground. Now fold the left knee. (The
the intestine and other organs in the area.
calf, the front of the thigh and the last rib of the left chest should touch each other.) Keep both the hands straight. Stick out your chest. Lift the shoulders to touch the head.
34 Parent Circle / December 2011
Swadhistan Chakra
Hasta-Pada-Asana Earlier, while performing this Asana, the act of bending was downward. Now you have to lift the hip, straighten the knees, and try to make the forehead touch the knees. The rest is the same as described under the head HastaPadaAsana, the third asana. Chant the mantra Aum Savitre Namah.
Pranamasana Benefits and posture stated as the first asana. Chant the mantra Aum Arkaya Namah.
Anahat Chakra
Sahasrara Chakra Adnya Chakra Anahata Chakra
Namaskar Mudra THE POSTURE: Hands continue to be folded, and lifted on top of the head, and then similarly
brought down to the forehead. Chant the Mantra: Aum Bhaskaraya Namah. This is the final prostration to the Sun God, a complete submission of body, speech, mind, heart. Be at ease. A Mudra and not an Asana, this activates the Anahata Chakra, Sahasrara Chakra, Adnya Chakra.
KHARDEKAR SUBHASH BHAGWANTRAO IS AN ACTIVE PROPONENT OF SURYA NAMASKAR FROM NASHIK. HE IS CURRENTLY PUTTING TOGETHER A 400-PAGE-BOOK ON THE SUBJECT.
mindset
BY SRITHI R KANNAN
U
ntil the last year, Revathy Ganesh’s
child of rich Marwari parents. The father
in the primary and upper primary levels,
son Krishna, was among the top
sent his son to school more to maintain
where the child is promoted to higher
ten ranking students in his class.
prestige, and wanted the boy to pass in
classes despite loss of attendance and
But then, the entire family had to relocate
class. Prem was a slow learner because of
low marks. The heterogeneous mix
to another city. Krishna had to join a new
his illness, while his father’s attitude made
of students in over-crowded classes
school midway during the year. He found it
him defiant. (See details in the case study)
also produces slow learners.
the syllabus and method of teaching was
Many children, for no fault of theirs,
A lack of exposure to activities that
different. He did not socialize easily as he
become slow learners. Sometimes, the
enhances a child’s thinking skills can
was shy, and missed his old friends. It was
child may have poor cognitive abilities.
also lead to slow-learning. When
but natural that he became a slow learner.
He may be unable to express his ideas
parents force their ideas on the child,
and feelings correctly. He could have
not allowing him to follow his dreams,
Mallika Kishore, mother of Prem,
social problems or family problems. He
the child turns into a slow learner.
complained that her son was not scoring
may dislike the teacher or lack fluency in
Defective vision, health problems,
marks even though she regularly spent
the language in which the lesson is being
illiterate parents, transfer of teachers,
time helping him with his homework. Upon
explained. The influence of poverty and
fear complexes, and other behavioural
detailed questioning, Mallika said that
malnutrition also cannot be undermined.
problems also can lead to slow-learning.
berated by his father for scoring low marks.
Sometimes children become slow
Barring health reasons, a slow
The child was also an epileptic patient
learners owing to the ‘No detention
learner is largely a product of the
and often had seizures. He was the only
system’ that the government has started
environment, at home or in school. If
difficult to cope with the lessons because
Prem was constantly being demeaned and
36 Parent Circle / December 2011
the environment is modified, the child
help reinforce the lessons taught.
enhances his innate capacity to learn.
AWARD finished chores and appreciate
Prem Kishore, a fifteen-year-old
him when good work has been done.
boy studying in the 9th standard
IDENTIFYING SLOW LEARNERS
CHALLENGE the child with a higher
in a matriculation school came for
Slow learners look and behave normally.
standard of work only when he is ready
counselling at the end of the first term
They have adequate memory and possess
for it.
(September). He had failed and was
common sense. These qualities often
EXPLAIN to him the need to
repeating his 9th standard. He was still
make it difficult for parents to understand
do well in academics.
failing in all his subjects. He would not
how their child can be a slow learner and
sit still for more than half an hour, was
why he scores low marks in the exams.
HOW TEACHERS CAN HELP
very unsocial, arrogant and adamant.
Parents should understand that despite
DO A psychological analysis of the child’s
His mother was having problems, both
being normal, the child might still not have
condition, to find his problem area.
with his studies and his behaviour.
the ability to understand lessons and do
GUIDANCE should be given in line with the
He underwent counselling for some
his schoolwork at the required level.
child’s ease of grasp; basics should be
sessions where he was taught the
taught well before moving on to advanced
importance of concentrating on his
Slow learners
lessons.
studies and improving his behaviour.
w have poor concentration and poor recall.
ENCOURAGE his small successes.
Slowly he started co-operating.
w find it difficult to solve complex problems.
FIX a goal and prescribe a time-table for
w cannot visualise a long-term goal.
the child to follow.
He had difficulty understanding the
w have a poor sense of time-management.
GIVE the child memory tips to enable him
lessons. He could not give even
w have a low self-esteem, and often
to remember the answers. Teach him how
short answers/one-word answers. He
to recall, how to write answers
struggled and wrote around ten lines
become loners.
systematically; teach him when to learn,
for essay answers, which were all
Handling these children should be done
and what to learn.
completely mixed up. His papers were
with great care and patience. We must
A SLOW LEARNER should be made to sit
often incomplete. His class-work and
refrain from labelling them as ‘blockheads’,
in front, and close enough to the teacher to
home-work were seldom done. Teachers
‘stupid’, ‘day dreamers’ and so on. An
get sufficient attention from him.
complained that he was distracted and
earnest attempt should be made to find out
AS classes have a large student strength
that he distracted others in class.
the real cause for slow learning by talking
and the teachers are under pressure to
to them. Then we have to systematically
complete portions, they often run through
I started explaining all the lessons and
plan out strategies to achieve our goal of
the lessons very fast. Even then, the
helped with the question and answers.
‘better learning’ for the child, without the
teacher should check with the slow learner
At first only small portions of a single
child thinking of it as an additional burden.
whether he has understood the lesson.
subject was taken up. Gradually I
ENCOURAGE a reading habit in the child
included more subjects. He had to
HOW WE CAN HELP OUR CHILD AS PARENTS
by taking a personal interest in this.
learn by rote and write the answers.
ASK the same questions and make the
Essay answers were split into points
ACCEPT the fact that your child has a
child repeat the answers. Rote has a value.
that he could remember. Sentences
problem and decide to help him regain
LOOK OUT for any physical or mental
were made short and simple. He best
self-confidence. Be a friend to him.
problem that the child may be having.
understood the lesson when it was
DO NOT berate your child in private
FIND OUT his other areas of interest and
explained in a language he was familiar
or in public.
encourage him to build self-esteem.
with. Simple examples, drawings and
HAVE a quiet place in the house to work
ENCOURAGE him to learn from peers
audio-visual inputs helped some more.
with your child.
where possible.
He improved gradually and was able to
KEEP teaching and homework sessions
THE TEACHER should inspire trust and
pass in all those subjects that I handled
short, with short breaks in between.
friendship for the learning to happen.
by the second term. In the third term
ASK relevant questions when he is working
(February) he passed in all the subjects
on a specific chapter or assignment.
and also secured the sixteenth rank
BE patient and consistent in your method
SRITHI R KANNAN IS A SPECIAL
out of forty students in his class. He
of teaching.
EDUCATOR AND COUNSELS STUDENTS,
got promoted to the tenth standard.
REPEATED reading, explaining and writing
PARENTS AND TEACHERS.
www.parentcircle.in 37
feature
BY SHASHWATHI SANDEEP
T
oy Libraries are hugely popular in
Bambaram is an online toy library based
to discontinue the service. There is also a
the western world, the oldest dating
in Chennai. Santosh Kumar, who started
monthly membership fee that needs to be
back to 1935. In India though,
it recently, says “When I first started the
paid, which is fixed according to the plan
compared to the developed countries, it is
toy library, parents actually mistook it for a
you have chosen.
still taking its baby steps.
playschool. It took them a while to realize the concept of a toy library.” The average
You can order the toys online from an
Says Vrinda Sanghvi who started a toy
number of members in a toy library in
available catalogue of the concerned
library in Mumbai called Unnati in 1999,
Chennai is around 200.
library and have it delivered to your doorstep, or you could go to the library
“It was very hard for me to convince the parents here that this concept would
According to the Children Toy Foundation,
with your child and choose the toys. “In an
benefit them and that it would be lighter on
Mumbai, there are about 287 such toy
online order, we check the availability of
their wallets. It took me a year and a half
libraries in India. “This is the count that
the desired toys. Before the delivery, we
just to sell the idea.” Today, toy libraries
we have. But, there are many more toy
call the customer and confirm the order.
are more widespread, though not rampant.
libraries springing up in nooks and corners
Whenever they want to return the toys,
Unnati’s membership has grown and
of the country,” says Devendra S Desai,
they can inform us through the website or
there are five other branches of this library
the Founder and Managing Trustee of the
by calling us. This is very convenient for
across Mumbai.
Children Toy Foundation.
parents,” says Santosh.
The same was the case in Bangalore.
CONCEPT
Some of the toy libraries even do
“This being a new concept, parents had
The library stores toys from all the branded
baby-sitting; children are left under the
some initial reservations on renting toys.
toy manufacturers much like a general
librarian’s care till the parents complete
Now through word of mouth of our existing
library that stores books of various
their errands.
members, our membership is expanding
publishers. You need to pay an advance,
rapidly," says Manoj Kumar of Rentoys, an
which varies from library to library, and this
ADVANTAGES
online toy library based in Bangalore, that
amount can be anywhere between ` 500
A toy library option works out cheaper for
started in 2009.
to ` 1000. This is refundable if you want
parents, if they want to provide a good
38 Parent Circle / December 2011
variety of toys for their children. Lokesh
appropriate cleansing and disinfecting
PARENT SPEAK
Lingaiah of Toyz Dayout, one of the earliest
techniques to keep the toys clean,”
My seven-year-old
Chennai libraries, says “We have to be
says Santosh.
daughter Janane enjoys
customer-focused, and provide variety.
playing with new toys
Before we started, we conducted a survey
What if the child gets very attached to a
every week and we
to see how many parents were willing to
toy and would like to own it?
cannot afford buying
spend on a concept like this and the kind
toys very often. The
of toys they preferred. With increasing
You could always buy that particular toy
membership is not that expensive and
membership, we need to keep updating the
from the library at a rate lower than the
she gets to play with the best of toys.
toys on a monthly basis."
actual market price. The toys purchased
Our house looks cleaner as there are
are of fresh stock (and not the ones that
not many toys strewn all over.
It also makes sense if a parent wants to
get circulated) and the libraries sell these
JOSHILA NARAYANAN
avoid expensive purchases. “For example,
toys at a discounted rate. Thus the child
take a toy train. There are cheap options
can try out the toy first by renting it initially
My son Siddharth is seven
available in local markets, which do not
before you actually buy it for him.
years old and he rapidly
cost much but at the same time do not
loses interest in toys. In a toy
last long. The branded ones are very
TOY USAGE TRENDS
library, we have the flexibility
expensive. This is where the toy libraries
A decade ago, boys used to play with
of choosing different kind
come in handy,” says Alka Muthukumar,
racing cars while the girls preferred
of toys on a weekly basis.
who runs a toy library, Funtazy in Anna
‘Barbie’ and ‘Dora’ dolls. They still like
I asked them for a month’s
Nagar, Chennai.
them, but surprising favourites are
free trial and the library responded
emerging! “It is kind of unbelievable but
positively. Now I am a member.
When homes do not have enough space to
the boys these days are more into the
Siddharth is also very careful with
store toys, renting them becomes a
kitchen sets. So are the girls,”
the toys as he gets bonus points for
good option.
says Lokesh. This could be due to the
handling them with care.
influence of Master Chef programme on
KAVITHA MADHAVAN
At the toy libraries, a systematic process
TV or working parents sharing
is followed to ensure that the toys are
kitchen responsibilities.
selected carefully and maintained well.
mini kitchen, roller coaster and more. The children learn from practical play.
“We focus on the physical safety of every
Many toy libraries are also promoting
product in the library. Toys with sharp
educational toys. Bambaram for example,
Many toy libraries also have books for
edges and the ones that make a loud noise
keeps multiple-intelligence suitable toys.
children and CDs. The membership plans
are not included. We keep branded toys
These could be word-related games, logic-
are such that one could even pick up a toy
and try out every product in our library at
related games, music-related games, or
and a book together.
least once, to see to that they are sturdy,
puzzles. Unnati in Mumbai also houses
before renting them out. We also use
an 80 : 20 mix of educational and fun
Today, toy libraries rent out toys to
toys. “Parents are now
schools, for birthday parties and even
interested in the brain
weddings. “We recently set up a toy library
development processes
for a day at a wedding. We put up some
of their children,” says
WII games and other toys and the children
Vrinda.
were thoroughly enjoying themselves,” says Lokesh.
Some libraries believe in
Pirate Ship at Toyz Dayout
letting the children explore
RESOURCE
the toys by themselves.
Bambaram
9962387624
Toyz Dayout has a
Funtazy
9840890785
separate Pretend Play
Toyz Dayout
9840324074
Area in their premises.
Rentoys
09886714431
This contains a mini
Unnati
09322597951
market, mini police station,
Children Toy Foundation
09987754555
www.parentcircle.in 39
circle of life
1 Plastic bottles
flowerpots
The next time when you are about to dump a plastic bottle, a plastic bag or a newspaper, just pause for a moment and think if you can recycle them by doing any of the things listed in this article. 1 Turn the bottles into flowerpots,
2 Plastic
Earrings
vases and flowers. BY SALMA BANU 2 Make fashionable earrings and bangles
W
using the plastic bottles. (Plastic Bottles, cut
e have all heard about recycling but
into the shape of leaves and painted with glass
how many of us actually practise it
paints. Fevicol is used to stick the beads).
in our day to day lives? Only a few
would answer in the affirmative. Polythene bags,
3 Egg shell artworks. (Mosaic done with
plastic bottles, newspapers, empty cans, snack-
eggshell and clay dough. On a handmade
wrappers and packing cartons are the most
paper base, the centre structure (clay
common items finding their way into a trash can.
dough) is pasted with fevicol piece by piece.
Trash can be put to better use, as I found out.
Egg shells are stuck (with fevicol) all around).
One morning several years ago, I just could not find
4 Discarded CDs can be turned into various
anything to put the roses in. Just then, a shining
artworks. (An old CD painted with acrylic
empty plastic bottle caught my attention. I slashed
paints and polymer clay, Kabah placed in the
the top part neatly and used it as a vase. It occurred
centre, decorated with glitter and beads.)
3 Eggshells
4 CD
Artwork
3D Artwork
to me that this was one way of reclaiming trash and saving nature from such a harmful invention.
5 Make toy gadgets using packing boxes. (This is a Laptop made by my
It disheartens me to see plastic bottles floating in the
son Zayd. He calls it Gamebox 2).
sea, lying in public places or even in the refrigerators of some homes. I have always had a passion for
6 Design colourful brooches, mats and key
Art. I became aware of the spectrum on the glittering
chains using paper. (Newspaper rolled into
surface of the white plastic bottles. The plastic bottles
this shape and wooden beads in a thread
resemble glass and glass paints work well on them.
sewn through the newspaper coil).
5 Cardboard
Toys
I took to this ‘art’ possibility with great fervour. 7 Hang a bottle in your lawn or balcony in the shape Today, this is more than just a hobby
of a Birdfeeder. (Acrylic paints used for this).
for me; it has become a cause. 8 Pencil shavings pasted on Pepsi bottle I use all the trash I can and convert it into a thing
pieces. (No paints applied. Earring hoops,
of beauty. I preserve plastic bags and bottles,
a safety pin, and some thread used).
newspapers, milk packets, egg cartons, all types of packing material, vegetable and fruit peels, dry
9 Pebble turned into a tortoise paper-weight. (Clay
leaves and flowers, kids toys wrappers, cosmetic
and beads used to cover and decorate it. Good
cans and sweet boxes - you name it and I have it!
brands of clay dough last longer. Heat and humidity
40 Parent Circle / December 2011
6 Newspaper
Brooch
7 Bottle Bird Feeder
8 Pencil shavings
Earrings
affect these artworks, but if preserved well,
of the plastic bags which contain leftover food
they could last more than two years.)
that get mixed up with other garbage are eaten by animals, resulting in harmful effects.
10 A picture made of clay. After applying fevicol on a handmade paper, clay shapes are pasted. (Literally stretching the imagination to fill in the details)!
Because of the non-biodegradable and impervious nature of plastics, if disposed in the soil, they could arrest the recharging of ground water aquifers.
11 A collage, 25 by 23 inches original size, this picture has eggshell clouds, a plastic bottle sun, plastic bag trees, fruit packing – hay roof house made up 9 Pebble
Paperweight
Turtles consume plastic bags in the sea, thinking that they are jelly fish. They choke and die.
of egg cartons, plastic bottle and clay bushes, milk packet grass, pencil shaded hills and sky.
Plastic bottles also contain chemicals that can be harmful to human health.
12 A flowervase (Twirl newspaper. Fevicol is used for sticking. The flower is also rolled-up newspaper).
As plastic bottles are made of fossil fuels, their production results in greenhouse gas emissions, which is the main culprit in man-made global warming.
13 Plastic carry bag with a sunflower and
10 Clay shapes
Picture
carbon footprint design. (Yellow coloured poly-
OTHER WAYS OF RECYCLING
bag cut into petals, stuck into an old magazine
Plastic bottles can be reused and recycled in the
page cut into a round shape. Thread for the
following ways:
stem and fruit-packing material for leaves
Use them for gardening: The lower half can be used
and painted with acrylic paint. Feet cut and
to sow seeds and grow saplings till they are ready to
stuck from black paper or black polybag.
be transferred to the soil. A large bottle with holes in the lower half can be used for watering the plants.
14 A peacock shaped seedpod
As toys: Collect similar bottles and paint them for a
rattle (acrylic paints used).
set of skittles. My sons make boats and whales out of them and believe me it’s a wonderful water game.
11 Egg shells, plastic, clay Collage
You could make wall decorations, wreaths,
As Artworks: Cut them down and paint them with
Christmas stars and more with an old magazine.
glass colours to decorate your home with flowers,
Brighten up your kitchen with colourful patterns
vases, wall hangings and paintings.
on the cabinets, pots, jars, shelves, and windows with plastic bottles. Make your own paper tote bags and say ‘No’ to plastic bags. Give a 3D look to a picture by using the pet bottle chips. Make showpieces using any junk and boast about your creative excellence.
Parentspeak My daughter Shruti is nine years old and has a mind of her own. After she learnt how to make nice things out of waste, she has been
12 Newspaper flowervase
The list is endless and you can add your creativity
collecting waste materials. She preserves them
to it. Join hands in saving the globe by recycling!
in her cupboard and later makes something out of them. She does not allow me to throw away
THE HAZARDS OF PLASTIC Plastic bags if not disposed properly may find
even the vegetable peels. She tells me that even these can be used to make something
their way into the drainage system resulting in the
nice. She has always been this way. Some
choking of drains, thus bringing about an unhygienic
time ago, she had made a stethoscope out of
environment and causing water borne diseases.
a tube. I am very happy that she is interested in recycling at such a young age. MEENA S
13 Plastic 14 Seedpod
Design
Recycled/coloured plastic bags contain certain
Peacock shaped rattle
chemicals which can leach into
SALMA BANU IS A FREELANCE ARTIST, A RECYCLER
the ground and contaminate
AND A ‘GO GREEN’‘' PERSON’. SHE CONDUCTS ART
soil and sub-soil water. Some
WORKSHOPS ON RECYCLING WASTE CALLED ECO-ART.
www.parentcircle.in 41
teen circle
BY DR PRITHIKA CH
ARY
T
he onset of puberty marks the occurrence of a diverse set of physical, cognitive,
emotional, behavioural and social changes. Adolescence also brings up several new concerns for the parents about their teens – their propensity for risk-taking, accidents, sensation-seeking, depression and substance use. Teen behaviour is confusing and irritating, often aggressive and sometimes terrifying for those around them. Why they take stupid risks, why they reject parental wisdom and guidance in favour of advice from friends and why they seem hell-bent
they grew up during the 1990s—
on destroying their lives, is often very
showed that our brains undergo a
difficult to fathom for adults.
massive reorganization between our 12th and 25th years.”
Science may have some answers. The fact is that teen brains are actually ‘tween’
The brain completes 90% of its
brains transitioning between quick learning
growth by the age of six years,
children’s brains and the wiser, mature
but during adolescence, it
brains of an adult.
undergoes extensive remodelling and stabilization to enable it to
Teens have the easier-than-adult
mature into an adult brain.
learning abilities but lack the judgment
BRAIN CHANGES DURING ADOLESCENCE
brain. Neuroimaging studies and other
HOW MESSAGES GET TRANSMITTED
scientific experiments of brain function
The brain consists of nerve cells or
connections between the brain cells, and
have demonstrated that the teenage brain
neurons that transmit messages through
newer pathways are formed. The dendrites
function is uniquely different from children
an electro-chemical process. The
get denser, and the synapses become
and older senescent brains. It is only in the
neurons have extensions called dendrites
stronger and more numerous. Also, the
past 10 years that these research findings
and axons. The dendrites are multiple
junctional tissue between the two cerebral
have emerged. The October 2011 issue of
branching processes which convey or
hemispheres (the corpus callossum)
National Geographic which carries a cover
bring information to the cell nucleus, while
gradually thickens.
story on the subject says:
axons are single long processes covered
and discernment of the mature adult
1 There is an increase in the number of
with a fatty sheath that carry information
2 The pathways get stabilized. The axons
“The first full series of scans of the
away from the cell body. The junction or
undergo a process called myelination,
developing adolescent brain—a National
the meeting point between the axon and
where they are wrapped with a fatty
Institutes of Health (NIH) project that
the dendrite of other neurons is called
insulation called myelin. This speeds up
studied over a hundred young people as
the Synapse.
the transmission of impulses several fold.
42 Parent Circle / December 2011
The pathways thus become more ‘set’, and
earlier believed to be complete during a
That is, the frontal lobes perform what are
easy to access with minimum effort.
child’s life in elementary school. Modern
known as executive functions: like sifting
neuroimaging studies have revealed
and evaluating various options; possible
All these changes are influenced both
that the process continues through
directions of response; and the impulse to
by internal bodily changes (nature)
adolescence.
set into motion a plan of action.
(nurture). Pathways are well-established to
In addition, the direction and location of
The hippocampus, which is the seat of
literally last a lifetime and those synapses
the maturation has also come to be known.
memory, is a structure that connects
or nerve cells which are idle or have no
Essential functions like vision, hearing,
the emotional brain with the ‘executive’
role to play, undergo self-destruction
motor skills, sensory awareness which is
brain. This connection gradually grows
(apoptosis) and disappear. This process is
protective in nature, lie in the rear part of
stronger during the adolescent phase, and
called synaptic pruning.
the brain and towards the central portion. It
particularly so with the frontal lobes. This
appears that these mature earlier.
results in a better integration of memory
and external environmental influences
There is no place for redundancy in
and experience into our decisions, and
nature. What remains is the very efficient,
Myelination proceeds from back to
enables us to weigh a larger range of
but thinner grey matter with which we
front, the frontal lobes being the last to
variables before taking action.
do a lot of our complicated functions - a
complete maturation. The frontal and
highly functional brain. This process was
prefrontal lobes control the advanced
David Dobbs, a science journalist, in the
brain functions including insight, judgment,
aforementioned National Geographic article
axon
dendrites
axon after myelination
impulse control,
states “When this development proceeds
planning,
normally, we get better at balancing
strategizing,
impulse, desire, goals, self-interest, rules,
cognitive
ethics, and even altruism, generating
flexibility and
behaviour that is more complex and,
problem-solving.
sometimes at least, more sensible. 8
increased number of branches
Some TEENAGE BEHAVIOURS and how to deal with them THRILL SEEKING: Sensation seeking is actually a yearning for
in the adolescent actually arises from a higher consideration for
learning something new. But teenagers take risks to do it, because
reward. Measured risk challenges with attractive social rewards
they do not have the integration from past experience, nor are
could be a way to get around this, but parents and teachers need
their inhibitory judgment pathways fully myelinated. Therefore
to use their creativity on this one.
we should not assume that all such behaviour is impulsive and uncontrolled; instead we could bring in frequent novelty into
PEER PRESSURE: The apparent lack of respect and regard to
our interactions with teens and get them to agree to some adult
the older generation (usually parents and teachers, sometimes
supervision on new ‘thrilling’ experiences.
grandparents) and the unconditional obsession with peer blending, guidance and advice is a trait of teenage behavior which is also
RISK TAKING: Teenagers are more prone to die from various
confusing to deal with. It is important to realize that it is more a
types of accidents. They are easily persuaded into risky habits like
matter of peer acceptance than a defiance of adult guidance. As
alcohol, smoking, abusive drug taking, etc. Adults feel that they
mentioned earlier, teen to teen interactions are more interesting,
are just being stupid or willful. But Science shows that teenagers
offer more novelty, build social ties, and are often what is useful in
actually ‘overestimate risk’. Their brains are capable of evaluating
our lives in future interactions.
risk and knowing its consequences, it is just that they interpret risk versus reward differently and hence take more chances.
Dealing with this requires adults to ‘get down’ to the teen and befriend them rather than take the ‘wiser than thou’ attitude of
During this adaptive period, risk-taking actually has some
strict discipline and punishment. This does not mean condoning
advantages, because the more exploratory one is, the more he
offensive or irrational behaviour.
will learn and the better he is likely to be in adulthood. Risk-taking
www.parentcircle.in 43
teen circle But at times, and especially at first, the
processes going on in their brains.
risk is not adequately developed.
get all those new cogs to mesh.”
Another interesting physiological change
Knowing thus, we should empathize,
Likewise, Beatriz Luna, a University
is the increased sensitivity of the brain to
guide and mould teen behavior to face the
of Pittsburgh professor of psychiatry,
the neurotransmitter Dopamine during the
challenges of a complicated world outside
through neuroimaging studies showed that
teen years. Dopamine primes and fires
the home. Adolescence is a unique, highly
“Compared with adults, teens tended to
reward circuits. It enhances learning and
functional period of development.
make less use of brain regions that monitor
our ability to make decisions. This might
performance, spot errors, plan, and stay
explain the teens’ quickness of learning
This article has attempted to bring complex
focused—areas the adults seemed to
and eager receptivity to rewards and
brain facts into simple understandable
bring online automatically. This allowed the
perhaps even their melodramatic response
terms as I feel this knowledge is of no use
adults to use a variety of brain resources
to defeat.
if we cannot apply it on a day to day basis.
teens used those areas less often and
Increased levels of Oxytocin, a neural
It is our duty as adults to guide our young
more readily gave in to distraction.” She
hormone involved in social bonding and
folk along the path of personal growth and
also showed that ‘when offered a reward
social interactions, helps explain yet
fulfillment in a wise and caring manner.
their performance improved’.
another trait that marks adolescence.
We have to appreciate the uniqueness and
Teens prefer the company of those their
plasticity of the adolescent brain so that
own age more than ever before or after.
this window of opportunity is not wasted.
brain does this work clumsily. It's hard to
and better resist temptation, while the
Given this information, teenage behavior moves from a vexing inconsistency of
We have to understand that the
haste, impulsiveness, recklessness and
At one level, this passion for same-age
adolescent is having a ‘hard time’ just
selfishness, to a highly adaptive work in
peers merely expresses itself in the social
going through these psychological and
progress. They ultimately learn to detect
realm, in the teen's general attraction to
physical changes; that he needs love,
and discern from the various internal and
novelty: Teens offer teens far more novelty
tolerance, and a firm but a helpful hand to
external cues, to correctly judge situations,
than the family does. At a second level, the
cope with this phase of life.
to act with caution, and thus move on to a
effort that happens to get peer recognition
more mature behaviour.
and acceptance, is actually an ‘investment for the future’ which is what growing up is
If we are confused by their behaviour, we
all about. The fear however for adults is
need to realize that they are themselves
that teens could offer each other ‘wrong’
DR PRITHIKA CHARY IS A NEUROLOGIST AND
confused by the various remodelling
advice as their judgment and evaluation of
NEUROSURGEON FROM CHENNAI.
Some TEENAGE BEHAVIOURS and how to deal with them CONTRADICTORY BEHAVIOR: Teen behavior is all about
This manifests as indecisiveness, extremes of behavior, seeming
contradictions. The following excerpt from the National Geographic
defiance as it challenges adult concepts of behaviour and honestly
article, as stated by Dobbs, sums it up:
makes it ‘really hard’ to be an adolescent
“These studies help explain why teens behave with such vexing
Spending time with the teenager, objectively analyzing the
inconsistency: beguiling at breakfast, disgusting at dinner;
situation without blame and accusation is one way to deal with
masterful on Monday, sleepwalking on Saturday. Along with
this. Instead of ‘I told you so’ or ‘when will you ever get things right’
lacking experience generally, they're still learning to use their
ask the young person gently:
brain's new networks. Stress, fatigue, or challenges can cause a misfire. Abigail Baird, a Vassar psychologist who studies teens,
“Why did you do this? Did you realize the risks involved to yourself
calls this ‘neural gawkiness’ – an equivalent to the physical
by doing this ? I care for you and worry about your welfare and
awkwardness teens sometimes display while mastering their
want you to be happy – how can I help you?
growing bodies.”
44 Parent Circle / December 2011
roots
Ancient Indian Mathematics BY DR SITA SUNDAR RAM
1
46 Parent Circle / December 2011
0
0
0 0 0 0
0
1
n{ü_ n{ü_
n n
−3 −3
−3 −3
n n
−2 −2
−1 −1
0 0
1 1
2 2
−2 −2
−1 −1
0 0
1 1
2 2
ny ny
−3 −3
−2 −2
−1 −1
0 0
1 1
ny ny
3 3
Fig. 1 Fig. 1
3 − (+2) = 1 3 − (+2) = 1
n n
ny d© ny d©
3 3
2 2
− 3 − (− 2) = − 1 − 3 − (− 2) = − 1
ny ny
3 3
Fig. 2 Fig. 2
2 x = √b –4ac–b 2a
www.parentcircle.in 47
parent chef
Eggless, Ovenless Cake BY UTHRA GOPALAN
INGREDIENTS:
1 tablespoon curd
250 gm maida
4 tablespoons milk
1 tin condensed milk
150 gm white butter
4 tablespoons sugar
2 drops vanilla essence or 2 tbsp
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
cocoa powder
1 teaspoon soda
Tutti frutti or walnut pieces (optional)
M E T H O D : Sieve maida, baking
cooker for 10 min.
powder and soda together. Cream
Place the cake tin in the cooker.
together butter and condensed milk.
Cook on simmer for 30 min. Do not
Mix sugar, maida mixture, curd and
use gasket or weight.
milk mix - and make a thick, pouring
Switch off the heat and insert
consistency batter. Add vanilla
a toothpick into the center of the
essence/cocoa powder; add tutti frutti
cake. If the batter doesn’t stick to the
or walnut pieces if desired.
toothpick, your cake is done. Else
Grease and dust an aluminium cake
keep on low flame for 5 - 10 min
tin. Preheat aluminium pressure
more till done.
Christmas Cake BY RAMANI SINGARAVELU
INGREDIENTS:
350 gm flour
200 gm glacé cherries
15 ml baking powder (3 tsp)
200 gm chopped dates
2.5 ml salt (1/2 tsp)
200 gm black currants
200 gm soft brown sugar
200 gm raisin
200 gm melted butter/ oil
100 gm chopped cashew nuts
3 eggs
60 ml brandy
M E T H O D : Chop cherries and
oven at 170 C for one to one and a
raisins. Mix with dates and place in a
half hours. The cake is cooked when
bowl. Pour brandy over this mixture,
a fine skewer inserted in the centre
cover and allow it to soak overnight.
comes out clean.
The next day, take a large mixing
Leave to cool in tin for 30 minutes,
bowl and add the flour, butter/oil,
then turn it out onto a wire rack and
eggs, brown sugar to it. Beat until the
leave it to cool completely.
mixture is well blended. Fold in the
N O T E : *This cake can be made
soaked fruits and cashews.
some months ahead and stored. To
Grease and line a deep 8 inch cake tin with butter paper. Transfer the mixture into the prepared tin and bake in a preheated
48 Parent Circle / December 2011
keep moist, sprinkle with brandy once a week. *If consistency is a little too thick like chapathi dough, you may add a little milk.
Jam Tarts BY VIDHYA JAYARAMAN
INGREDIENTS:
2 tablespoons cold water
200 gm maida
¼ teaspoon baking powder
100 gm butter
2-3 tablespoons jam
¼ teaspoon salt
2-3 teaspoons powdered sugar
M E T H O D : Sieve maida, baking
mould without stretching. Prick all
powder and salt. Rub in butter till the
over with a fork.
dough resembles breadcrumbs. Add powdered sugar. Gradually add enough cold water to gather the dough into a rolling consistency. Lightly flour the rolling board
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes at 200 C till light golden brown. Fill with jam. Decorate with thin strips of tart dough. Bake again for 5 to 10 minutes
and roll out the pastry into 1/8-inch
at 150 C. Makes approximately 12
thickness. Cut out shapes with a
pieces.
circular biscuit cutter to fit your tart
Chocolate Chip Muffins ADAPTED FROM A VEGAN MOCHA CHIP MUFFIN BY ISA CHANDRA
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup refined oil
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons yoghurt
1/4 cup + 2 teaspoons baking cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon salt
M E T H O D : Preheat oven to 375 F or 190 C. Prepare 12 muffin tins by rubbing
yoghurt) until well blended. Pour wet into dry and combine until the dry ingredients are
with butter and dusting with cocoa
moistened.
powder or by lining with paper liners.
Fold in the chocolate chips. Fill muffin
In a large bowl, sift together the dry ingredients (flour through salt). In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients (milk through
tins almost to the top. Bake for 18 – 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
If you are interested in cooking and have interesting/original recipes, share them with us at editorial@parentcircle.in with the subject line "Recipes".
www.parentcircle.in 49
check it out interesting books and CDs on
COMPILED BY DR SUDHA RAJA
Pictures of Melody is a series of
Books
books on yester-year musicians. Both the books currently available are a must read for children and adults.
Sri Muthuswamy Dhikshitar Exploring the Six Facets of the Genius BY GEETHA RAJAGOPAL, ` 100/
Printed by Kalpana Art Printers, Mumbai, and published by Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts & Sangeetha Sabha, Mumbai, this book on Dhikshitar is readerfriendly and tells us the various facets of the musical genius, his life and work. It contains photos of all the shrines associated with him, neatly captioned. A good book for teenagers and adults.
The Queen Of Song
Speed Thrills
BY LAKSHMI DEVNATH, ` 125
BY LAKSHMI DEVNATH, ` 125
M S Subbulakshmi
G N Balasubramaniam
Written in simple English, the Titled ‘Speed Thrills’ and
Nada Vinoda
Music Fun
first in the series, Pictures
released as a Centenary
of Melody, the book is in a
special, this book in the comic
comic-book format. It has
format, by Lakshmi Devnath
colourful artwork by G Sekar, is the second in the series, BY LALITA RAMAKRISHNA
and a message by
Pictures of Melody. It has a
PUBLISHED BY
M S Subbulakshmi’s
message by
TATTVALOKA, ` 40
daughter Radha
G N Balakrishnan, the
Vishwanthan on the back
younger brother of GNB
This is a music education
cover. The story of the
and G B Bhuvaneshwaran,
book showcasing facts in
‘Nightingale’, from her
GNB’s son on the back
a fun way making classical
childhood days, has been
cover. A leading maestro of
music more meaningful
made interesting with select
our times, who left behind
for beginners. If you
incidents from her life.
the popular GNB ‘Baani’or
wonder ‘Who is singing? What is he singing? Why does he
The book comes with an
stamp, Balasubramaniam was
attract such a crowd? How can I enjoy it? Then this book
autographed photograph of
an erudite and handsome
is for you. To make it more invigorating, there are puzzles,
MS. Released by Heritage
musician. This book has all the
quizzes, clues for phrases, explanation of musical forms,
Publishing House and
major and important incidents
stories about singers and how some ragas got their names.
distributed by Swathi Soft
in his life. The Art is by Oviyar
Solutions, Chennai, it is
C Thangavel. It is distributed by
available in all book stores.
Swathi Soft Solutions, Chennai.
50 Parent Circle / December 2011
CDs Thuvakka Paadalgal Of D Pattammal BY STUDENTS OF SUSWARA MUSIC SCHOOL
Tyagaraja’s Pancharatna Kritis For Children ` 295
The five golden gems of
Kalaimamani D
Tyagaraja are made easy
Pattammal has composed numerous groups of songs. In
for children, as this set of two CDs comes complete with a
this group, the ‘Thuvakka Paadalgal’ are a simple set of
small handbook of lyrics. Tyagaraja’s virtues are given on the
songs on the gods of the Hindu Pantheon, to be taught
back cover. The songs are sung by various popular Carnatic
to children along with the beginning exercises of Carnatic
vocalists like P Unnikrishnan, Sikkil Gurucharan, and Mahathi.
Music. All of them are in the Tamil language with available
Orchestration has been arranged by S Jayakumar.
notations. A song on Swami Vivekananada and one on
Each piece has a lead performer, followed by a children’s
inculcating good manners is included in this repertoire.
chorus, for easy enunciation and learning. The CDs are marketed and distributed by Virgin Records.
The family of D Pattmmal has brought out this CD. Recorded at Charsur Digital Workstation, the songs are sung by groups of students of Dr Sudha Raja, with ace accompanists like Padma Shankar on the Violin and B Sivaraman on the Mridangam. The icing on the cake, is that this CD is up for grabs, and
Tyagaraja For Children
is produced for free circulation to interested students and
BY P UNNIKRISHNAN, ` 295
parents. It has already been circulated to all the city schools.
A set of simple Tyagaraja Krithis for children, it is sung
For your copies please contact: Thejus Creations,
by noted Vocalist,
18, G N Chetty Road, T. Nagar, Chennai-17.
P Unnikrishnan. The songs
Essential Krithis For Children Carnatic Classical Music Made Easy For Your Child ` 295
are rendered without many frills for easy learning. It is produced and published by Virgin Records, Mumbai and is a must-hear for young learners.
TyagaBharathi Songs for Children Vol.2 BY PROF V V SADAGOPAN, ` 125
This CD featuring
Tyaga Bharathi Music
multiple artistes like
Education was evolved by Prof
Unnikrishnan, Sikkil Gurucharan, Anuradha Sriram, Binny
V V Sadagopan to introduce
Krishnakumar and Mahathi, is a compilation of popular songs
rhythm and melody, song and
like Maha Ganapathim, Krishna Nee Begane, Venkatachala
dance, drama and mimicry to the children with a spirit
Nilayam, Sudhamaye, Giriraja Sutha, Sri Chakraraja. The
of joy or 'ananda'. This joyful learning process aims at
orchestra - music is by S Jayakumar, with a chorus by
character-building. Moral values are gently introduced
some children. Marketed and distributed by Virgin Records,
without pedantic preaching. The lyrics and music are
and recorded at Krishna Digidesign, this CD is aimed
composed by Prof V V Sadagopan and sung by his children
at motivating young minds towards Carnatic Music.
and grandchildren with orchestration by L Krishnan.
www.parentcircle.in 51
events Dec 26 to 31
Story Trails and Cold Camps British Council, 737, Anna Salai, Chennai - 2 Story Trails would include creatively crafted activities peppered with visual cues, role-
Dec 1 to 25
Christmas Exhibition
Horizon Programme
plays, games and a bundle of stories.
Time: 6:30pm (044-24460767)
Cold Camps would include Wildlife
DakshinaChitra, East Coast Road, Muttukadu Christmas Celebration
photography, Theatre, Street
Dec 24
Play, Environment Conservation,
Time : 10:00am – 6:00pm
Marghazi Tree Walk
(044 27472603/27472783)
Panagal Park, T Nagar
044 – 42050600
The walks will last for about an hour, and
chennai.enquiry@in.britishcouncil.org
participants will be introduced to different
Age group: Story Trails: 7 – 12 years,
trees, common in our city, as they stroll
Cold Camps: 13 – 17 years
Dec 10 & 11
Icing Class Artisans Baking, 2nd Avenue, Anna Nagar
through and enjoy the December air in
Learn to design and
Time: 4:00pm (9840016872, 9003011372)
Chennai.
Leadership and Management.
At School of Success
Time: 2:00pm –
79, Kamaraj Salai, RA Puram, (Opp to Sangeetha Hotel)
5:00pm (9841057422)
Dec 24 & 25
decorate cakes.
Young Leaders Boot Camp
Dec 11
A two day residential leadership program
Raga & Rhythm
filled with learning and fun.
Sir Muthu Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall, Harrington Road, Chetpet
Age: 8-14 yrs (9789906146) Price: `1500 (includes food,
Dec 24
and Violin.
Winter Carnival
stay, field trip)
Time: 7:00pm, duration: 150 Minutes
Bamboola, 73, VK Road, RA Puram
Dec 26 to 31
Soul stirring music of Tabla, Percussion
Dec 17
The Bring and Buy Bazaar
Lots of games, jumping castle,
Baby Leaders meet Baby Heroes
pony rides, stilt walkers, face
An awesome way of learning leadership
painting, food stalls, 20 game stalls,
from 'bal ganesh; baby krishna; chota
Bishop Garden, 89 Greenways Road, RA Puram
over 30 product stalls by women
bheem; baby hanuman'.
entrepreneurs/ NGO and lot of
Age: 3-5 yrs
A great way to recycle the toys, books,
prizes and vouchers to be won.
Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm
clothes, accessories, baby products,
Time: 3:00pm – 7:00pm (9840394190)
Price: ` 2000 (9789906146)
decorations. Call Vanilla to reserve a
Dec 26 to 31
stall. Stall Rates: Garage sale products only - `400; New products only - `600; Mix of Old and New products - `600. Time: 10:00am - 7:00pm
Dec 26 to 30
Camp at Hansel and Gretel - Trip to the Zoo
Leadership through Short Filmmaking Program includes theatre, acting,
Hansel & Gretel, 11 Jagadambal Street, T Nagar
script writing, prop-making,
Introduce children to a variety of animals
TV channel, edit studio and more.
that live in different habitats, their
Age: 6-14yrs
K N Shanmugasundram Hall, 16, Karpagambal Nagar, Mylapore
behaviour, eating and sleeping habits
Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm (9789906146)
through stories, songs, books, videos,
Price: ` 2500
Tala Vadya Programme by Shri T R
craft, games, puzzles and much more
Sundaresan hosted by Indian Council for
Age: 3-8 yrs
Cultural Relations and Sri Ariyakudi Music
(9840431549)
(044 42066660/9940012785)
Dec 23
Sur Lay Tarang
Foundation under the monthly
52 Parent Circle / December 2011
storyboard development, visit to a
For event listings contact us at PARENT CIRCLE, 3rd Floor Shri Renga Vihar, 8/14 First Cross St, Karpagam Gardens, Adyar, Chennai 600020, India. Ph. no. 24461066/67/68. Email info@parentcircle.in with the subject line ‘Events’.
Tulika's new bookstore Tulika Publishers, a children's publishing house based in Chennai, has recently opened a one-stopshop for just their books. Tulika publishes picture books in English and eight other Indian languages: Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam and Bengali. The bookstore has enough space for the parents and children to sit and browse through the books for as long as they want. It is located at 24/1 Ganapathy Colony, Third Street, Chennai 600 018. Ph: 24331639/1117/1118. Timings: Mon-Fri: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Sat: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
A Memory board game in Tamil A new board game in Tamil called 'Jodi' has been launched in Chennai at Vanilla Children Place on November 26, 2011. The idea of this Tamil Memory Game has been conceived and designed by Meera da Condappa. Meera is a Sri Lankan who grew up in Germany and now lives in Pondicherry. With time, she plans to introduce different variants. The aim of the board game is to increase Tamil vocabulary in a fun-way. The game is manufactured by Pondicherrybased company Neelamayil. Priced at ` 550, it is available at the Vanilla Children Place No.89, Bishop Garden, Greenways Road, R A Puram, Chennai 600 028.
Funskool Brings Beyblade Metal Masters to India The Japanese phenomenon that has won millions of fans, numerous awards and rave reviews is launching the next generation of battling tops based on the internationally successful cartoon series BEYBLADE: METAL MASTERS. The new range comprises of Battle Tops, Face-Off Packs, Stadiums and a host of accessories and is distributed nationwide by Funskool India Ltd, India’s leading Toy Company. The products are priced affordably from ` 349 onwards. Launching a new product or service? List it in ‘Kaleidoscope’. Send in the information to editorial@parentcircle.in
www.parentcircle.in 53
discussion point Yes, school bags are getting heavier. Teachers
safekeeping. Children need to carry only the books
can plan their sessions in advance and tell the
they want to study at home. The schools should
students to carry only what is required for the
upgrade their security system so that nobody will
next day. There are test books, revision books,
touch the books or belongings of others.
class work note books, all of which can be kept
K Aasa Jyothi, Mother of two children
at school. Only what is required can be given to the students to carry. Each student should have
Our bags are heavy because the books are too big.
a separate school box in his classroom where he
We also have to carry many assignment sheets
can keep the books not required for the evening.
and project works. I feel that schools can tell us to keep our heavy books in the classroom and give
If there is a test or homework, those books can be
it to us during exam time or when a class test is
brought back. Alternately, separate shelves can be
to be conducted. I also think that E-books can be
organized in all class rooms where the students can
introduced in more schools.
arrange their things - it will also cultivate in them a
Sneha S, 10 years
good habit and practice of maintaining their things independently.
In the long run, I feel that schools should go digital.
Kalpana Rajiv, Mother of an 8-year-old
Recently, Kapil Sibal actually came up with the idea of a tablet for college students, costing ` 1500.
Some schools have lockers to keep books and
This could be implemented for the school students.
workbooks. My child’s school has this concept of
Recorded lectures can be downloaded into these
files and loose-leaf papers - so there is no carrying
tablets and the syllabus obtained online. There
of multiple notebooks, or wastage of paper at the
would be no need of books or bags then.
end of the year, with some pages left in
Kannan Ganeshan, Father of an 11-year-old girl
each notebook.
Are tuitions necessary for your child? Please send in your responses before December 15, 2011 to editorial@parentcircle.in with the subject line ‘Discussion Point’, or send them to PARENT CIRCLE, 3rd Floor, Shri Renga Vihar, 8/14 First Cross St, Karpagam Gardens, Adyar, Chennai 600020, India.
Vidhya Satagopan Srinivasan, Mother of
Schools can follow a system where only a couple of
a 9-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl
subjects are taught in a day. In other words, more time can be allotted for one subject. This way there
Bags should be eliminated totally for children,
will be focused learning and school bags will never
except to carry water and food. Books can remain
be heavy. In my experience, children grasp subjects
in the school. Let them study while in
better when the classes are not broken up unduly,
school, and engage in outdoor
distracting them just when they are getting to learn
and recreational activities
something. Such a method is also useful for slow
after their return from school. This will enhance
learners and children with learning disabilities. Dr A Jalaludeen, Consultant Special Educator
their creativity, and broaden their outlook. Nadheem Mohamed
Children end up carrying all the text books and notebooks related to a subject. For example, in English, there are three textbooks – the course
School bags are
book, work book and literature. As the teacher
really becoming
herself is not sure what she will be teaching for the
heavier. Schools
day, the child ends up taking all the three textbooks
can provide
for that one class. This happens with every subject.
lockers for children starting from a specific class and the children should be taught to take care of their locker keys. The lower
what she will be doing the next day. She has to set up a detailed time-table (perhaps on a weekly basis) and stick to that schedule. This way, only relevant
class children can be asked to keep
books will be taken to school.
their books in the desks allotted to them
Rohini Manoharan, Mother of an 11-year-old
and the school should ensure their
54 Parent Circle / December 2011
The subject teacher has to be clear in her mind on
hands on
Stars for the Xmas Tree
MATERIALS REQUIRED Coloured chart paper, chalk, glue, scissors, thread, needle, beads
BY SALMA BANU
1.
Cut out at least
6.
String a sequin/bead/
six square pieces
button through a length
of coloured chart.
of embroidery thread;
With a piece of
fold the beaded thread
chalk, mark the
and pass the double
lines as shown.
stranded thread through the hole in the centre.
2. Cut along the
7.
String the next flower face down,
lines just a
one over the
little more than
other. Stack all the
half way to
flowers and string
the centre.
them together in this manner.
3.
Apply glue at
8.
one edge of
Take the needle
each square.
off the thread, string a bead on top of the stack.
4.
Roll each slit
9.
section into cones to make it look like a flower. Make at least six such flowers.
5.
Take both ends of thread, loop them Take a thick
together and pull from both ends. Your star
needle and
is ready to be tied to the Christmas tree!
poke a hole in the center of each ‘flower’
SALMA BANU CONDUCTS ART WORKSHOPS
as shown.
ON RECYCLING WASTE CALLED ECO-ART.
www.parentcircle.in 55
lighter vein
BY CAROL BAND
I
thought the jig was up. My daughter, Perry, lost a tooth - not her first tooth, not a front tooth, just an
ordinary, bottom row, baby tooth. Before I went to bed that night, I found an
“Besides,” I
appropriately ethereal pink pad and a
added
purple glitter pen in Perry’s room and
triumphantly, “I
dashed off the obligatory note from the
never sign your report
Tooth Fairy. I slid it under her pillow along
cards with a purple glitter
with a shiny, gold Sacagawea dollar. The
pen.”
teeth and give kids money?”
bank. My advice is: Don’t bother. Your kids
“Mom,” she countered, “I have a pen that
“Sweetie,” I explained with fairy-like
will think it’s a big quarter.
writes just like that. You probably stole it
patience, “you know how I’m always
from my room.” It was obvious that she
dashing off to all those PTO meetings?”
“But how come I never see you going out at night to collect
golden dollar required a special trip to the
The next morning, the household was
was on to me. She knew the truth. “Mom,”
awakened by an announcement from
she glared at me with steely determination,
“Tooth-Fairy business?” she asked
Perry’s room that the Tooth Fairy had,
“you are the Tooth Fairy!”
solemnly.
I was cornered. There was no way out. My
“Yep. And you’re next in line. Just like The
mind raced as I tried to think of some way
Princess Diaries.”
By the time she came to the breakfast
to save her innocence, to preserve her
“Wow,” she said. “I guess that’s kind
table, my daughter had forgotten the
imagination and retain the last vestiges of
of cool.”
money and turned her attention and her
her precious childhood. If you believe in
uncanny eye for detail to the Tooth
fairies, clap your hands!
indeed, landed. “Hey! Rip-off! She only left me a quarter!”
She seemed a little shook up, a little overwhelmed by having so much to think
Fairy’s note. “You’re right,” I finally agreed. “I am the
about before breakfast. She was strangely
“The Tooth Fairy’s handwriting looks a lot
Tooth Fairy.” She looked skeptical. “I never
silent. Perhaps she was mulling over her
like yours, Mom,” she probed.
told you because I thought that it wouldn’t
destiny, or maybe she was mentally poking
“Really? That’s interesting,” I
be fair if the other kids in the neighborhood
holes in my story. Then, she pocketed the
feigned surprise.
knew. They’d be jealous.”
gold dollar and smiled. Genealogy is
“No, Mom, really. The way she makes her
“Mom, come on,” she pleaded. “Tell me the
R’s looks exactly the same as yours when
truth.” I knew I had her.
powerful stuff. Wait until Christmas when
you sign my report card.”
she figures out that her dad is Santa. CAROL BAND IS A JOURNALIST BY TRAINING
“I am telling the truth,” I explained. “The
AND MOM BY CHANCE. THIS ARTICLE WAS
I began to feel defensive. “They don’t look
women in our family have been the Tooth
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN HER COLUMN
the same to me,” I said. “See, her “i’s” are
Fairy for many generations. Do you think
‘HOUSEHOLD WORD’ BY DOMINION PARENTING
all dotted with little teeth and her
it’s a coincidence that Grandma Helen is a
MEDIA. PLEASE SEND YOUR FEEDBACK TO
handwriting is way fancier than mine.” I
dental hygienist?” That was the clincher.
EDITORIAL@PARENTCIRCLE.IN WITH A CC TO
tried to keep the panic out of my voice.
She was a believer.
CAROL@CAROLBAND.COM.
56 Parent Circle / December 2011