R.Dis.No.197/11
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Parent Circle Volume 1 Issue 3 July 2011 Price ` 40
THE BROADER SCOPE OF EDUCATION The C’s Beyond the R’s Mindset
PRACTISE AND PERSPIRE TO INSPIRE! Teen Circle
TEEN LINGO RECIPES, TRAVEL, LEISURE & MORE...
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Sports Special
Ready, Steady, Go...
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Parent Circle
Relationships I Health I Nature I Culture I Learning I Activities
editorial
For the Parent in you To know, to understand, to connect
T
oday, in this education world of exams and high stress, it is time that we pause, question and rethink the true meaning of ‘Learning’ and ‘Education’.
As I was researching and investigating this topic, I came across this quote from our very own Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore, “The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence. We rob the child of his earth to teach him geography, of language to teach him grammar. His hunger is for the Epic, but he is supplied with chronicles of facts and dates…” I humbly realised that our country has been blessed with such great seers and thinkers, who years ago understood what true education meant. We only need to listen to our forefathers on what they have to tell us about children and learning. In our Cover Story ‘The broader scope of education’, we urge you to explore this idea further – to
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look beyond the three R’s – Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic. We invite you to look at ‘The C’s of Education’, that we have introduced, as a vital part of the holistic development of the child. No education is complete without the physical fitness of the child – a sound body helps build a sound mind and a sound intellect. Our special story on sports and fitness provides a lot of insights on how you can encourage your child to participate in some physical activity. Successful athletes and their parents share their experiences with you. What does it take to transition from being good to becoming great? Focus, dedication and practice, practice, practice. Writer Aruna Raghavan gives you tips on how practice makes perfect. This magazine is a platform to bring together parents, child experts and educators to share their ideas and suggestions in support of each other. Please write in with your comments. Our children are back in school immersed in learning, but remember: “Whatever they grow up to be, they are still our children. The most important thing we can give them is unconditional love – a love that depends on nothing at all except that they are our children.” Rosaleen Dickson Love your children!
Nalina Ramalakshmi PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nalina Ramalakshmi
CREATIVE HEAD Rangashree Srinivas
HEAD - OPERATIONS Neeta Kamath
MANAGING EDITOR Nitya Varadarajan
VISUALISER G Swarupa
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Gemmarie Venkataramani
GRAPHIC DESIGNER M Ravisankar
AD SALES TEAM R Balakrishnan S Visalam V Rajesh Babu
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Parent Circle is published by Nalina Ramalakshmi, Shri Harini Media Pvt. Ltd. All editorial material including editorial comments, opinions and statement of facts appearing in this publication, represent the views of its respective authors and does not necessarily carry the endorsement of the publishers. Information carried in Parent Circle is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed. The publication of any advertisements or listings is not to be construed as an endorsement of the product or service offered.
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SPECIAL 30
Ready, Steady, Go…
COVER STORY 20
The Broader Scope of Education
MINDSET 8
Practise and Perspire to Inspire!
The C’s beyond the R’s
REGULARS 6 IN FOCUS 10 LEARNING Write Away Math in Everyday Life
14 HEALTH CIRCLE Choose to be Healthy Mindful Eating for Active Kids
18 TEEN CIRCLE Teen Lingo
RESOURCES 44
HANDS ON Flower Pens
46
PARENT CHEF Sports Nutrition
50
CHECK IT OUT Board Games
54
EVENTS Chennai this Month
55
CLASSIFIEDS
28 CENTRESPREAD Lunch Menus
FORUM
38 ROOTS Rediscovering Puppetry 40 CIRCLE OF LIFE The Tao of Vegetable Gardening 42 DESTINATIONS A reporter’s blog on Palakkad On the cover: Aarathy Kasturi Raj, International Roller Skating and Ice Skating champion
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Parent Circle / July 2011
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PARENT EXPRESS One of Each Kind
48
VIEWPOINT Children & Chores
49
DISCUSSION POINT Household Chores
56
LIGHTER VEIN Arith-mom-tic
your word
Letters to the Editor I read the June edition of Parent Circle. I was
The magazine is highly informative for parents,
amazed by the variety and quality of the articles. I am
especially on child-related issues. Growing up in
benefited by the magazine both as the mother of a
today’s scenario is different from the way we grew up.
school-going son and as the head of an after school
It requires a lot of effort from mothers to keep children
activity centre. I should thank and congratulate Mrs.
on track because of technological developments.
Y G Parthasarathy for packing information worth a
Lakshmi Nayaranan, Kasturba Nagar
whole book in her half-a-page article. Understanding
Anxiety, Peering through Peer Pressure and Organise School Work-Avoid Stress made for excellent reading. On the whole, the magazine brings in a breath of fresh air to the parent community! Keep up the good work! Nirupa M. Prasad, T Nagar
Parent Circle is a must read for every parent as it offers valuable guidelines to strengthen their relationship with their wards. VP Girinarain, Besant Nagar Your magazine Parent Circle has been launched at
A must-read for today’s parents! The magazine will
the right time when parenting is a very difficult job.
surely go a long way in making parenting less chal-
The issue is a treasure trove of information. The way
lenging and less daunting in this modern world!
you have edited it, the presentation of articles, the
Binitha Rajeev, Thiruvanmiyur
photos and the page layout are all awesome. Jaya Shankar, Rajapalayam
The magazine is very informative and carries information on children and their behaviour at different stages
My mother is a Parent Circle subscriber. Browsing
of life. In today’s hectic life, both working parents and
through the June issue, I came across the article, ‘Or-
home makers can have a balanced approach towards
ganise School Work, Avoid Stress.’ I found the tips on
the child and bring about better bonding.
studying, note taking and mind mapping very useful
AK Raghunath Rao, Besant Nagar It gives me much pleasure to read Parent Circle. I
and I am going to use them. Kavya Venkatraman, Class IX student, Omega International School, Manapakkam
was struggling to sort out a particular problem with my child. The magazine has given me a clear understanding and viewpoint. I dealt with the situation appropriately. I am grateful to Parent Circle. V Lakshmi, Sivasami Salai, Mylapore I am pleased to read the magazine as it deals with situations that are very familiar to us as parents. It intelligently handles and comes up with solutions for every dilemma that parents of today face. I am looking forward to reading the forthcoming issues.
letters t s r The fi in will w
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es! z i r P ng ack soon! i t i c x E eedb your f n i d n Se
Soma Mehdi, Valmiki Nagar
Please send in your letter with the subject line “Letters to the Editor”, before July 15, 2011, to editorial@parentcircle.in or send them to PARENT CIRCLE, 3rd Floor Shri Renga Vihar, 8/14 First Cross St, Karpagam Gardens, Adyar, Chennai 600020, India.
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Parent Circle / July 2011
cover story
The
B r o a d e r Scope of Education Nalina Ramalakshmi
Y
ou want the best education and the best school for your
sions? Are they confident citizens and responsible members
child. But have you ever paused and pondered the ques-
of their families, capable of positive social interactions and
tions, “What is the purpose of school”, “Why do I want to
relationships?
send my child to school?”,“What is education?”
In the race for marks we forget what true education is about.
In general when we think ‘Education’ we are thinking the three ‘R’s: Reading, wRiting, aRithmetic. We are happy if our children learn to read, write, do math and score good marks in all the subjects. We think that the school has done a great job. Now they can go study in a good college, earn a degree, get a
The real purpose of education should be about preparing the child for adulthood, getting her ready to take on the challenges awaiting her in this turbulent world with confidence, courage and responsibility.
good job and earn good money – Life is made.
“An educational system isn't worth a great deal if it teaches
However, are they prepared for life’s challenges? Are they
young people how to make a living but doesn't teach them how
emotionally strong? Are they ready to make their own deci-
to make a life.” ~ Author Unknown
The C’s Beyond the R’s (Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic)
C’s of
Education
20 Parent Circle / July 2011
scaling the Himalayas The Vajpais blend the C'’s and the R’'s
A
17-year-old Noida boy, Arjun Vajpai, who had climbed
Today, the Vajpais are seeing their beliefs paying dividends.
Mt.Everest last year, has become the youngest person
Arjun who was an introvert earlier, has become a confident per-
ever to reach the summit of Mt.Lhotse, which at 8,516
son motivating other students in their tremulous steps forward.
metres is the fourth highest peak in the world.
“He has become very strong internally. He has also learnt
This would have been impossible for Arjun if he did not have
through experience what he would never have learnt otherwise.
his parent’s backing and encouragement. They in turn, would
Often, screaming out well-intentioned advice does not work.
not have supported their son, if they were solely interested in
Children need to imbibe their world-lessons in a manner best
his academic achievements.
suited to them,’’ Priya says.
In fact, Arjun got the support of his parents at critical times, when he was in his tenth standard and again in his twelfth – not just for his studies, but also for his mountaineering initiative. They stuck to their belief in him despite some apprehensions. Most parents would have balked at the thought of having him miss school fifty per cent of the time. Many would not have agreed to a ‘mountaineering’ training for their child, because of the perceived risks – physically and career-wise. Not that father Captain Sanjiv Vajpai or mother Priya dismissed studies altogether. Arjun managed to get through school with some prodding from his father and great help from school and friends. Even now, his parents insist that he get his basic graduation degree in a subject that would add value to his innate trekking interest, while keeping up with his adventure pursuits.
Encouraging the potential “Learning happens when the potential in every child is encouraged. Often, real education goes beyond the classroom,’’ Priya says.
22 Parent Circle / July 2011
special
ti acho y a R ao
ha R
Sarit
C
hildren being children, their primary interest is to have fun,” says Saumil Majumdar, CEO
of Edusports, a sports consultancy company. When apartment spaces are too constricting for physical games, children turn to virtual sports for their entertainment. Virtual play has a lot of the attributes of an actual playing experience, like winning and losing, but without the benefits. “Unlike real sports, virtual sports do not develop any worthwhile quality that could assist in real life. Indulging in them could actually create a false sense of accomplishment,” says Dr. Kannan Pugazhendi, sports physician and consultant. If we want to ensure health, fitness and socialising benefits, we need to help children enjoy the playing experience on the ground.
The Role of the School PHOTOGRAPH BY ARJUN DOGRA
Although the emphasis on sports varies
30 Parent Circle / July 2011
from school to school, children ARE being provided some physical exercise during the Physical Education (PE) class at minimal or no additional cost. While some schools have PE time every day for some classes, others have it twice a week with specialised coaching for specific sports after school hours. The PE class itself may either be a
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