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THE BROADER SCOPE OF EDUCATION The C’s Beyond the R’s Mindset

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Relationships I Health I Nature I Culture I Learning I Activities

editorial

For the Parent in you To know, to understand, to connect

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

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HEAD - OPERATIONS Neeta Kamath

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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

PARENT CHEF Sports Nutrition

CHECK IT OUT Board Games

EVENTS Chennai this Month

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

Parent Circle / July 2011

PARENT EXPRESS One of Each Kind

VIEWPOINT Children & Chores

DISCUSSION POINT Household Chores

LIGHTER VEIN Arith-mom-tic

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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

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.

Parent Circle / July 2011

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in focus

Mother…

I cannot remember my mother

Food Pyramid, now a Nutrition Plate

only sometimes in the midst of my play a tune seems to hover over my playthings, the tune of some song that she used to hum while rocking my cradle. I cannot remember my mother but when in the early autumn morning the smell of the shiuli flowers floats in the air the scent of the morning service in the temple comes to me as the scent of my mother. I cannot remember my mother only when from my bedroom window I send

Healthy eating is made easier with a simpler design of how the basic food groups are classified. USA's First Lady Michelle Obama, as part of her anti-obesity campaign has unveiled ‘My Plate’, an easy to visualise representation of how much of what we should be eating. The plate is split into four sections, for fruit, vegetables, grains and protein. A smaller circle sits beside it for dairy products. This is a quick, simple reminder for all of us to be more mindful of the foods that we’re eating,” she said. “We’re all bombarded with so many dietary messages that it’s hard to find time to sort through all this information, but we do have time to take a look at our kids’ plates.” If the filled plate looks like the symbol, with lots of fruits and vegetables, she said, “then we’re good, it’s as simple as that.” The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has created a website, http://www.choosemyplate.gov that elaborates more on choosing the right foods for a healthy lifestyle. In summary, enjoy your food but eat less, let half your portion of grain be whole grains, and half the plate filled with vegetables and fruits. Switch to low fat milk. Eat less of sodium heavy foods and cut down on sweets.

Parent Circle / July 2011

my eyes into the blue of the distant sky, I feel that the stillness of my mother's gaze on my face has spread all over the sky.

Rabindranath Tagore

School for Alternative Learning Srihari Vikasam is a new school in Adyar that offers holistic education to children of various abilities and interests. It admits children of varying IQ levels including those with learning difficulties. The school attempts to understand the individual requirement of every child and offers a need-based curriculum. The staff and teachers are specially trained by experts in inclusive education. For more information, please call 94453 66057 or 98844 58040, or visit http://www.sriharivikasam.org

Random Questions answered “I wish I had such a book when I was a boy seven decades ago”, says Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, former president of India, during the recent launch of ‘Random Curiosity’, a compilation of 274 questions asked by children of all ages. Some of the questions are as simple as, ‘Why does the poori balloon when fried in hot oil?’, or as complex as ‘What are stem cells?’ When children ask these questions, they are met with impatience by their parents or get rebuffed by their teachers. Often, the elders do not know the answer and are afraid to admit it. Written by Professor Yash Pal and his biologist son Dr Rahul Pal, the book is priced at Rs 140. It is a book not only for the curious children but for the adult who failed to get answers to the many questions he had as a child.

parent express

one each kind of

Smita Shenoy

visit to the park brings out my feelings of jealousy to the fore. I envy women who have two daughters, more so when I see the sisters playing ‘Housie, Housie’ with per-

fect contentment while their mother catches up with her friends on the cell phone. I am equally envious of women with two sons. As the boys play around with their ball or car, the moms just relax with their Sidney Sheldons on the park bench. But what does a mom with a boy and a girl do? How does she set a pattern? For a simple visit to the park or the beach I have to take along a doll, a kitchen set, a ball, toy cars, change of clothes, water and snacks. Phew! People look at my bulging tote and direct sympathetic looks at me. Do not get me wrong. I am not promoting gender bias. I am all for my daughter playing with cars while my son plays with dolls but my kids simply do not comply and hence the elaborate preparations. Maybe it has got something to do with the future arrival of testosterone and progesterone. I had given up the situation as hopeless until a small incident forced me to change my opinion. The stage: the sand pit at the park. The scene: my six-yearold daughter is building a beautiful sand castle and arrang-

Then, as I watch with the same amazed expression, she turns to him, wipes his tears and says in her elder sister tone, “No problem Babu! Just be careful in future.”

ing her tea set and her dolls to have an imaginary tea party.

He also nods in a grown-up way and says, “Okay Didi. Can I

Nearby, my son, all of two, is playing with his ball. I sigh with

play with you?”

contentment and settle down under the shade of a friendly tree to catch some shut eye. Just as I am drifting off to the Land of Nod… Boof! Waah! I am up like a shot trying to grasp the situation. Between sobs and sniffles, my daughter complains

“Sure Babu,” ‘Didi’ responds magnanimously and soon they are immersed in playing ‘Tea Party, Tea Party’ (don’t ask me why they repeat the words) while I feel like an outsider.

that her brother purposely aimed his football at her castle and

Suddenly, my daughter looks at me and continues in her adult

ruined her celebrations (I am impressed by her repertoire of

tone, “I know you are tired. Please take some rest. Don’t worry

words but appreciate that now is not the right time to praise her

about Babu. I will look after him.” Then she goes back to play-

expanding vocabulary). I glance at my son who is nonchalantly

ing while I feel my eyes moisten.

continuing with his football game.

As I relax against the tree and watch the two kids playing

My mind darts to the future of its own volition and conjures up

blissfully, oblivious to their surroundings, my mind conjures up

stark black and white images of sibling rivalry, of disputes over

some fresh images, this time in Technicolor: pictures of her

property, of accusations and counter accusations between my

playing the elder sister, protecting him and giving him sane

two precious moppets, and I decide to intervene.

counsel; of him supporting her through thick and thin and of

I call my son and give him a piece of my mind. As tears well up in his eyes my daughter pipes up, “Mummy, he is only a child. Why are you scolding him? You should just explain things to him in a proper manner.” (This time I am too stunned to even notice her vocab). Wasn’t she the one who had complained to me in the first place?

both of them just being there for each other. All is well! n Smita Shenoy is a freelance writer and full-time mother from R A Puram Write to us on parenting experiences in 600 words, with the subject line ‘Parent Express’ 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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mindset

magine a young adult of sixteen doing two hours of yoga-mantra at dawn, followed by three extensive sessions

of taalim (education) and riyaaz

(practice) till nightfall of just three ragas: Todi in the morning, Multani in the afternoon and Poorvi at night. And this, for three years! This was the making of Bhimsen Joshi. A seven-year-old requested that his

Aruna Raghavan

riyaaz be done in a room at the Balaji Temple. Bolting the door from the inside, he practised for four to five hours a day. At seventy, he said that the secret of practising just one strain, one chosen bandish, (a firmly constructed musical composition) at precisely the same time every day without fail, helped in the making of a true musician. That was Bismillah Khan. Only a genius will practise or concentrate, you might say.

your child is a potential bismillah khan Just watch your child concentrate. The expressions are innumerable: a small pink tongue peeping, a repressed giggle, complete silence, brows together, mouth moving in tandem with the work at hand. Those are Kodak moments. You wonder at your child’s ability. Watching quietly will give you a clue: if your child comes out of the task fully satisfied, he will put away the stuff even without being told. If he has not finished his work, he will leave his work ‘on the table’ and get back to it after a while. The interim time has been spent in subconsciously unravelling the intricate knots. He will go back to the task frequently until he completes it. Then he will move on and never go back to it again. He has finished learning all that he wants. Every child intuitively knows that the essence of setting oneself a task is to take on one aspect at a time and finesse it, to get a sense of PHOTOGRAPH BY ARJUN DOGRA

Parent Circle / July 2011

accomplishment.

joyous learning Suppose we cut down a job to bit size? Suppose we set stations on the way to the terminus? Stations that are themselves exciting and interesting. A child is incentivised to practise only if the learning is fun. Take an example. All children love stickers. The first pack is all about peeling stickers, placing them on a blank page and slapping them down, and looking up for approval. Smile. It takes a pack before the peel-place-whack rhythm is satisfied. It really does not matter how many stickers there are. The first pack is always pure excitement. You can plan the second pack. Suppose they are animals, you might sort them in any way you wish: wild / domestic / herbivore / carnivore. Then taking only one lot at a time you might have your child repeat his peel-place-whack routine. To add to the excitement, you

What your child shou ld know about perfect prac tice Myth about talent Talent alone does no t glide one comfortab Practice, even witho ly to greatness. ut talent, does. Child prodigies have been away during adultho known to fade od with insufficient pra ctice. Practise more often Twenty minutes of pra ctise each day is bette ing for an hour and a r than practishalf once a week. Is he an amateur or a professional Defin e your child’s ‘intere Amateurs can do wo st’ in the task. rk for fun; for them it is a release of tension. instead, increase int Professionals ensity of concentratio n and practice – it is serious business! Practise with Focu s Instead of setting as ide the time for practis target for each practis e, set up a e session. For exam ple, instead of playin in a half hour practic g an entire song e session, the child ca n select one small se that she is struggling ction of the song with and practise it till it is mastered. Focus on the desti nation Sometimes the mind can get tired of thing and would like doing the same to move on. It needs to be motivated sufficien repetitive practise. Ca tly to do n it be made more fun by making it a game child’s passion/aspir ? What is your ation? How is this cu rrent activity helping the journey? him focus on Learning to improve All tasks can be impro ved, from the simple most complex ones. st ones to the Feedback helps. The ch ild should understan doing and why he is d what he is doing it that way.

can make him colour the rest of the sheet with thick wax crayons. You could put them up like a wall paper. For the third set of stickers you could draw suitable sized rectangles on the sheet. Have him peel and place the

the next level and repeating the entire

warmly and sincerely.

process all over.

~ Embroidery An eight-year-old may find the initial learning lessons of tacking

sticker within the rectangle before he

setting up stations

whacks it. He will figure out that he need

By setting up stations for each task

However, the simple back stitch and

not whack a sticker.

we can ensure that the child learns

satin stitch is enough to capture the

It will take another set of stickers before

one step at a time, even as the

learner. The pleasure lies in seeing a

he understands that there are other

practice remains continuous.

flower come alive under one’s fingers.

ways to classify them; then he will

~ Handwriting The stations could be

The faster we can move to that, the

suddenly move from the old routine.

well formed letters, neatness and finally

Now he will want to classify the stickers.

speed. The excitement could be in using

Do not delay the ‘aah, so good’ moment.

Again, the first lot will be so wild that you

colour pencils instead of normal ones.

The more frequent the ‘aah, so good’

will wonder if that little mind works at all.

~ Dance The stations could be rhythm

moments, the better the chances that

Later, as the sheets go up and you look

and expression. The excitement lies

at the ‘wall paper’ objectively you will

in blending the two. Teach dance a

actually see a pattern emerge.

stanza at a time or a taal (beat) at a

You are now ready to move to the next

time so that the learning is continuous.

Genius, they say, is one percent

step: to space out the stickers.

The joy comes from having mastered a

inspiration and ninety-nine percent

movement.

perspiration. The trick is to convert the

the process will invariably follow a

~ Drama It could be learning the lines,

hours of work and perspiration into

standard. There will be the excitement,

learning to say it with expression, the

the becoming aware of a learning

expression on the face and body and

possibility, actual learning, completion

finally getting on to the stage. Appreciate

of the immediate task, moving on to

the child's arrival at each of the stations

In any task that you set for your child,

and hemming – ‘eee sooo tacky’!

better.

your child will become ready to do ‘taalim’ and ‘riyaaz’ for four or five hours at one nuance, at one ‘bandish’.

hours of joyous discovery. n Aruna Raghavan is an eminent educationist who runs a school in rural India called Shikshayatan.

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Write Away Usha Venkatesh

Writing is a skill we all want our children to develop as they progress through school because we believe that as good writers they will have great opportunities in life. Good writing doesn’t just happen; it is a learnt and carefully crafted process. Most of the writing we are called upon to do in life falls under two categories – creative writing and critical or analytical writing. In the previous issue, we looked at having Fun with Creative Writing. In this issue, we will talk about ways to encourage Critical or Analytical writing.

Everyone is a Critic : Developing Critical Thinking Through Writing

Analysis begins with questions Allow your child to ask that annoying ‘why?’ Yes, they can drive you crazy with it, and yes, you have to sometimes resort to the classic ‘because I say so.’ Still, the child who asks the question is encouraged to seek a response; she is the one who develops the ability to think and write critically. You do not

The ultimate purpose of education is to develop free-thinking

always need to give the answers. You only have to get children

individuals who will be able to create a balanced life for

on track to explore and seek.

themselves and a better world around them. In order to do this, they must develop the ability to examine the world around them critically; they must be able to ask the right questions and discern the truth in the answers they find. At every stage of development a child watches and learns – from peers as well as from adults. Very often, critical questions arise when there is a discrepancy in what they are told and what they observe in reality.

What is Critical/Analytical Writing?

You must be prepared to let them find the answers too. The answers they find may not always be to your liking. Letting your children grow and develop into independent thinkers means that you are allowing them to have ideas, opinions and even values that are different from yours. You may influence them with your rational arguments, but you must finally allow them to draw their own conclusions. The temptation to tell them that they are wrong and that you are right because you know better can get strong and sometimes impossible to resist. Let common sense be your guide. If your child’s analysis and conclusions lead her on a path to

What creative writing does to develop creativity, analytical

danger or self destruction, pull her back. You are the parent

writing does to develop critical thinking. Whether it is the simple

and protecting your child from harm is your responsibility. Even

book report or the multi-layered argument paper, school as-

as you lay down the rule, keep explaining why you are doing

signments call for the ability to examine the text, figure out the

what you are doing.

sub-text and come to a conclusion. Schools teach your children the various elements of good analysis – observation, evaluation and conclusion – and give them the means to bring these into effect through comparison and cause analysis. However,

Critical writing activities at home

analytical writing is not a stand-alone skill. It flows from con-

Writing about books, movies, TV shows: Books,

stant analytical thinking, and as a parent you can provide your

movies and TV shows present slices of life in compact pack-

child with the opportunity to make it automatic.

ages that can be unpacked and analysed easily.

10 Parent Circle / July 2011

PHOTO CREDIT SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGES

learning

Watch or read with your child and write

When they ask for permission to do

comments jointly or separately about

something, have them write a short

the piece. Use a simple response format

piece on why they should be allowed to

Here are some effective prompts to

like “what I loved or hated about this

do whatever it is that they want to do.

help you encourage your children in

book/ movie/ show was …because ….” This allows you to give your opinions while asking you to give a reason. It also makes you think about your preferences. Read more than one article and watch more than one movie about the same subject and analyse the differences

When they do not want to do something

critical writing:

you want them to do, ask them to write

Why should I …

a short piece on why they should not be

Why shouldn’t I …

required to do the same.

Why do you suppose he/ she…

When you disagree about something, each of you write out your arguments and see if you can compromise.

Ethical dilemma – who is right? Should he/she have …

skill because it takes the child beyond

Writing about others and the world in general: What books, mov-

analysis into assimilation. It is important

ies and shows have packaged for us exists all around us in our everyday lives.

You could also see it as …

to learn how to get the best from several world views and form your own view of

Your child’s real questions are about

the world, which is more than the sum of

the world around her. You can use that

its parts.

curiosity to spark critical thinking by

in perspective. This is an important

Writing about ourselves: We ourselves are always our most fascinating

getting her to write about what she sees around her. n

What would happen if … Engaging in writing critically with your child will also make you think critically about things that you have taken for granted for a long time. Do not be surprised if you find yourself changing some of those long-held opinions and ideas! As always, have

subjects! There are many ways you can have your children reflect on reasons

Usha Venkatesh is an English professor, social

fun with your child. If it is not fun it is

and motivations.

worker and mother of a teenager.

not going to happen often!

www.parentcircle.in 11

learning

Math in everyday life Lakshmi Saravanan

The essence of mathematics is not to make simple things complicated, but to make complicated things simple. Mathematician S. Gudder

Time Management

athematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty – a beauty cold and austere, like that of sculpture,” says famous Mathematician and historian Bertrand Arthur William Russell. However, this su-

preme beauty is feared or dispelled by most people. This series focuses on how to remove this fear in both children and parents, and gives examples of some simple Math that can be done at home to make learning an enjoyable experience. Most adults did not like Math when they were in school and many still don’t. Sometimes, this negative attitude is passed on to the child. Your child’s fear and

For Math, time management is very important. Whether it is finishing the homework or preparing for tests, saving up work for the last minute results in poor performance. The focus should be on understanding the concept, rather than just completing the work. Teaching children to apply Math in every-

anxiety can be wiped out by building a strong foundation in Math.

day life can be started early on. Here are

Make Math enjoyable

child’s age:

Children generally do not like Math because they think that it is complex, monoto-

For toddlers: Count the number of

nous and boring due to repeated practice. Using hands-on material to teach a concept helps break the monotony and makes the topic exciting. Children will actually

some ideas for parents based on their

cookies or candies you give them. Tell them, “Let’s count the cookies together,

feel and enjoy learning Math.

one cookie plus one more makes two

Relate Math to everyday life

finish off with “so you have 3 cookies in

Math concepts need to be relevant to the everyday life of children and they should

to numbers.

be able to see its practical purpose. Optimum learning is achieved only when children are able to apply what they have learned.

cookies.” Then hand them one more and total.” This helps them to get used For pre-school children: While playing, have them count the number of toys, or

Make Math fun

the number of spoons or cups the girls

Math is retained longer when it is infused with fun elements. Games like Yahtzee,

check if they have all the pieces. This

Life, Tangrams and other card games aid memory retention.

teaches them how to count the number

12 Parent Circle / July 2011

have in their toy kitchen. Ask them to

Math, math everywhere! Ages 2-4 Ages 5-8

During bath time, make the child count the different parts of the body: 1 nose, 1 mouth, 2 eyes, 2 ears, 2 hands, 5 fingers, 5 toes.

Have the child count his toys. Or ask him to fetch 3 plates, 2 spoons, 4 cars and so on.

of items they are playing with and are responsible for. Now your children are learning Math and responsibility at the same time – wow! For elementary school children: Have them count the different kinds of animals they see on the road while travelling. After reaching the destination, have them tell you how many more of one animal they saw compared to the others. This teaches them how to compare using

more than and less than. For upper elementary school children, you could have them express the numbers as a fraction, and then compare. For middle school children: When you go shopping, have them mentally estimate the sale price after the discount. This teaches them the concept of percentage. When in a grocery store, based on the price per kg, have them calculate the amount for the quantity you

Give her 5 pieces of Gems candy, have her eat one and count the rest, till there are none. This makes the child understand the concept of subtraction.

Give the child cups, a large bowl, and some water. Ask him to count the number of

etc.) on each square while counting. This helps the child to relate the written numeral to the counted number. Make

Give the child some money for the piggybank every month. Tell him that you will add 10 percent of what’s in

an odd number or even number. If the child gets it right, she gets what’s in

your hand, else she has to give you some. Measure each other’s height, and prepare a height chart in inches/cms. Or, measure the height in terms of pencil height and calculate total height.

Give the child some coins and make him count. When he is a little older, make him exchange the coins

Let the child keep track of the statistics

Involve the child in the measuring of ingredients for a recipe. Make her calculate the measurements if

you have to cook for more people.

PHOTOS CREDIT SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGES

for rupee notes. Cut whole fruits into pieces to make the child understand the concept

of fractions, and show her how putting them together

shelf. Chalk out a design, have them do

needed to paint your car or house. n

teaches them addition and subtraction.

of sportspersons from the newspaper.

needed to build a TV cabinet or a book

make them calculate the amount of paint

some money to spend, make them purchase within the given amount. This

Split beads or seeds in half. Take a few of them in your hand, cover and let the child guess if it is

them to give an estimate of the material

they cannot go wrong. You could also

When you go shopping, give children

there if he tells you the correct amount.

‘make-believe’ carpentry game, and ask

the calculations, and let them know that

Throw up some beans and see who picks up more. Make the child count the piles and add them up.

On a flash card write a number and draw that many squares. Ask the child to place a counter (toy, stone

order.

For high school children: Play a

numbers and count to find out who has more.

missing.

deposits and withdrawals, and teach a cheque.

Have the child play Go Fish card game to match

When playing with toys hide 2 or 3 of them; ask her to count the toys in hand, and guess the number of those that are

to banking, have them keep track of the them to write

them count.

cups it takes to fill the bowl.

the child arrange the cards in ascending and descending

are purchasing. Introduce your children

Sort animal biscuits and make the child count each lot. Group them into sets of 2’s, 5’s or 10’s and make

Ages

makes a whole.

Lakshmi Saravanan is a Maths teacher from the US, currently teaching in the American International School, Chennai.

www.parentcircle.in 13

health circle

To channelise childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energies in

Why should parents encourage

nourishment is a primary responsibility

a positive manner, we need to guide

sports in children?

for parents. But many parents do not pay enough attention to the physical

them through sports and fitness, and

well-being of the child by way

the discipline that goes along with it.

By the year 2020, India is all set to gain

Gemmarie Venkataramani interviews

the distinction of becoming the heart

Sports Medicine Consultant

disease capital of the world. The World

Dr Kannan Pugazhendhi, on how parents can instill in children, the

Health Organization estimates that of those people under 30 years of age worldwide, suffering from cardiovascular

of exercise. Often, children are not allowed to play because they have to study. They are not given any household chores because they have homework to complete. Parents are often reluctant to let the

importance of exercise in their

disease, sixty percent will be Indians.

formative years.

Our children could become one of

them and make them lose their ability

those Indians. We need to help them

to concentrate in class. Fast foods and

understand that sitting in front of the TV,

junk foods are often offered as bribes to

munching on chips and drinking soda is

children to entice them to study harder.

not the ideal way to spend leisure time.

This attitude has to change.

children walk to school since it might tire

Children who play sports are stronger and more independent. They find it easy to work in a team and they learn how to manage their time. Though not all chil-

Can you recommend agewise fitness activities for children?

dren want to play sports, parents should encourage them to participate in some

For Ages 2-5

physical activity.

Start them young. Flexibility and coordination are developed as soon

How do sports and exercises help the cause of education?

as the child starts playing with a ball. Rolling, throwing and catching a ball will improve the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s motor skills. Children should not be introduced to any sports

There is a link and it is a vital one. Only if the child is physically fit will he have the ability to study well. Children need physical activity to keep their bodies in shape. I agree that giving children intellectual

14 Parent Circle / July 2011

at this age as their sense of balance, strength and coordination are not yet fully developed. Allowing them to play and discover their physical abilities and capabilities will encourage them to take up a structured physical activity when they are older.

Only by trying out different sports will

Ages 6-9 The jungle gym days! Climbing ladders, hanging from monkey bars, moving back and forth in the swing, descending from the slide and going through the hurdles - all these help develop the child’s motor senses. Their agility and endurance are best tested at this time. They learn the ‘hang’ of the games. They begin to formulate strategies which would be useful to them later in life. A game of tag or Frisbee toss with the family is also a good way to help

children discover what suits them best.

Ages 14-17 Focus. This is the stage when the child is ready to choose the one particular sport of his calling. He should learn everything about the sport. He may choose to become competitive and excel. Just because the parents like a sport, they should not force their child to take it up. At this stage, the child needs parental support the most. n

develop strength in their muscles. Walking and running can be introduced at this age but not of the competitive kind. Three kilometres is the safest distance a child can run at this stage.

Work with your child Practise what you preach; be interested

Ages 10-13 Offer a buffet. Children are exposed to various sporting activities and are eager

in fitness yourself. Work out regularly or take up some sporting activity. Eat healthy foods. Avoid processed foods. Your child will not take to sports if he

to try out each one of them. Encourage

sees you portray yourself as a couch potato, forever munching snacks.

the child to explore the different sports;

Commit yourself Once the child has chosen a sport, commit to

they offer a variety of health benefits. Concentrating on one sport at this stage

taking the child to practice sessions and games. Take care of her sporting

limits the development of the child's

needs by providing the proper uniform and equipment.

movement and creativity.

Provide proper nourishment Ensure that your child is

Most sports are 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical. The mind does most of the work and instructs the body

getting proper nutrition to meet the physical demands of the sport. Make sure he drinks enough fluids during practice sessions and matches. He should get

on how it should move. The movements

sufficient rest and sleep to take on the added physical stress. If you support

offer a workout that speeds up metabo-

your child's efforts he will be able to concentrate on his sport more and enjoy

lism and promotes strength, endurance,

the experience.

speed, agility, flexibility, coordination and balance.

Understand the game together Attend some practice sessions. Get to know the coach if there is one. Ensure that the child under-

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stands the rules of the sport as well as specific team rules. This will make you aware of the strengths and weaknesses of your child and you will be able to support him accordingly. Your child will also feel more confident and be inclined to do his best.

Encourage, do not push When the child competes, parents must encourage him and his teammates, and not pressurise him to become the best player of the game. Allow him to enjoy playing and set his own goals. Having fun while playing the game is as important as winning it. Allow your child to reach his maximum potential without the compulsion to be number one.

www.parentcircle.in 15

health circle

ome children are very active with lots of energy. To encourage them to remain energetic and maintain a healthy body weight, educate them on the importance of eating a balanced diet. While training for sports, children’s

athletic performance, development and growth depend largely on the intake of proper foods before and after an activity.

Nutrition tips Water, a life source

should be preferred over sugary cereals

While sweating, water is

burst of energy but this dissipates

lost and must be replaced.

quickly, leading to fatigue. Do provide

Plain, cool water is the best way to fight dehydration. Children lose

and drinks. Sugary foods give an initial

a pre-competition meal for fluid and additional energy.

more water than adults through sweat.

Subashini Vivek & Shoba Natarajan

Flex those muscles with Protein

Small sips of water every 20 minutes will keep them hydrated instead of full

Proteins are the building

glasses of water every couple of hours.

blocks of our body, needed

PHOTOGRAPH BY ARJUN DOGRA

Eight glasses of water is the minimum requirement per day and this can go up

for muscle growth and quick recovery.

to three litres during summer.

Diets heavily focussed on protein are

Water can be supplemented with sports and energy drinks when children are engaged in high intensity and long duration sports activities. Effective sports drinks contain 15 to 18 grams of carbohydrates in every 8 ounces of fluid which provide energy and electrolytes to fight dehydration.

Fuel up with Carbohydrates Carbohydrates, the body's main source of energy, are obtained from sugars and starches, found in foods such as breads, cereals, fruits, pasta, milk, honey, syrups and table sugar. Starch is broken down by the body into glucose, which is used by the muscles for energy. For peak performance, half your child’s daily calories should come from carbohydrates. Start your child’s day with a high carbohydrate, moderate protein breakfast within half an hour of waking up. This will increase the Basal

provide energy only when carbohydrates are inadequate. A growing child needs one gram of protein per kilogram of body weight. Meat, beans, pulses, soya and dairy products are good sources.

Limit those Fats Fats are a concentrated source of energy, important for the development of the brain and other vital organs. Include a variety of fats in the diet. Avocado, almonds and olive oil contain Monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) while fatty fish, flaxseed, walnuts, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds contain Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). Use Trans-fats (synthetically produced unnatural fats) sparingly and limit the usage of saturated fats like butter, ghee and margarine, and foods fried in them.

Energise with Iron Iron supplies working muscles with oxygen. Low

Metabolic Rate (the number of calories

iron levels result in reduced stamina,

you would burn if you stayed in bed all

causing one to tire easily. The best

day) and keep the body active

sources of iron are animal products,

throughout the day. Whole

but fortified breads, cereals, beans and

and unprocessed cereals

16 Parent Circle / July 2011

unnecessary, as proteins step in to

green leafy vegetables also contain iron.

Calcium for Healthy Bones Calcium is needed for

Plan your menu

taken only with a doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advice, owing

Growing children need carbohydrates,

to possible side effects.

strong bones and proper

proteins and fats roughly in the ratio of

A Matter of Weight

muscle function. Its

40:30:30. Small meals such as fresh,

A childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s caloric needs depend on

deficiency can lead to

seasonal fruits and vegetable salads,

the age, body size, sport and training

dry fruit milkshakes, multi grain kanji,

programme. If he is maintaining an ideal

sources of calcium are dairy products,

fruit smoothies mixed with nuts also

weight range it means that he is getting

but other foods such as salmon with

provide the needed nutrients. Over the

the right amount of calories. n

bones, sardines, tofu and greens also

counter protein powders, calcium, iron

contain calcium.

and vitamin supplements should be

stress fractures. The best

Subashini Vivek and Shoba Natarajan are nutrition consultants for children.

Recommended Dietary Allowance* NUTRIENT

VALUES/DAY (age group 4-10 yrs)

VALUES/DAY (age group 10-16 yrs)

Calories

1600kcal

2500kcal

Protein

30g

1.6/kg body weight (around 50-60g/day)

Fat

25g

40g

Calcium

600mg

800mg

Iron

15 mg

28 mg

*values are an approximation based on the RDA of National Institute of Nutrition, 2010.

teen circle

teen

LINGO

nderlying the teenage years is the

If you have a teenager in the house, this

“We understand each other very well”,

need for personal space and time.

may be all too familiar. To some extent,

15-year-old Kavya grins and explains

Teenagers draw the line on how

teens talk their own language (written,

the ‘intricacies’ of the lingua franca

much information they would like to share

spoken and signs) to keep parents in the

exchanged in the session. She affirms

with their parents. They define their own

dark. They want to converse without the

that some of the words are coined

social circles, away from the usual set of

fear of mother intruding and correcting

by their group while many are used

family and friends that they were meeting

their manners (and grammar) or father

by characters in television series and

and interacting with from childhood.

giving them the look that says, ‘stop it’!

movies, personalities like VJs (video

Hence, teenagers come up with their

Teen lingo is their way of reaching out

jockeys) and talk show hosts.

very own language understandable only

and becoming part of a generation that

to them and their peers. Teen lingo is a

seems difficult for adults to comprehend.

growing trend, and to the untrained ear, sounds like Greek and Latin.

sounds familiar?

teens' lingua franca, explained In an effort to get a firsthand experience

“Is it a way to look or sound cool”, I ask. “No aunty, this is just the way we are! If we don’t talk this way, then we may be out of the league!” is the reply from 14-year-old Anirudh, who is cheered by his friends. I do not bother getting the

“Wazzup dude? You in crib? Mokkai?

of teen lingo and its nuances, I sit

Boo-yah...just got some cheddar. It’s

down with a group of youngsters aged

sick! Let’s escape and go chillaxin @

14 -17 years, as they get ready for a

EA!” Fourteen-year-old Shravan is on

‘chillaxin’ afternoon at a resort in the

the phone with a friend. His mother,

East Coast Road. These boys and

overhearing the conversation, wonders if

girls, from four different schools in the

the friend in question is a sick baby who

city, use a pot pourrie of words that I

loves eating cheese. “And why will they

cannot understand. For two hours, I

right back), LOL (laugh out loud).

escape? They are not prisoners. And

am bombarded with a vocabulary that

what is ‘chillaxin’?” she quietly asks her

seems to have come from a different

husband who replies with a big shrug.

planet. The noise hurts the ear.

"They are always finding ways of making shortcuts and (creating) a sense of conversation," says Amanda Lenhart,

18 Parent Circle / July 2011

definition of the ‘league’, as it is obvious that I am not part of it. What about those initials, I enquire. I am told that they are abbreviations for things that are to be conveyed ‘discreetly’. Commonly used initials are: BRB (be

PHOTOGRAPH BY ARJUN DOGRA

Gemmarie Venkataramani

senior research specialist at Pew

my sons and their friends”. She feels

it suspiciously, parents should speak

Research Centre, Washington D.C.,

that listening to these youngsters is

the lingo during informal conversations

USA, in a published interview.

an experience in itself. “An outsider

and small talks with their children to

parents bamboozled!

would question their familiarity with

build closer relationships, says Brinda

Shakespeare when they call their friend

Jayaraman, a counsellor. However, if

“Thank God they do not talk to me that

Macbeth (which, by the way means

a parent overuses teen lingo, it would

way. I would be lost”, says D Krishnan,

‘trusted ally’)”, she laughs.

result in a loss of stature and respect

referring to his two boys, ages 17 and

effect in school

from the teen, she explains.

12. “My wife, in order to relate to them better, learnt their language,” he added.

As a teacher, her view is not so

the good news

conciliatory. “The lingo has great

Fortunately, boys and girls do come to a

implications on the way children

point when they realise that they are too

write. They start writing with a lot

old for it.

S Mohana, mother of 15-year-old Praveen feels that there is a limit as to where and when this language can be used. She says, “There are times when Praveen uses words that are completely new to us. We are not amused, we are bemused! I forbid him to talk this way to us, particularly in front of the elders in the family as I find it disrespectful”.

of abbreviations and slang,” Hema explains. According to her, parents should work with the child when it comes to writing. “Rules such as grammar, punctuation and spelling have to be followed”.

English teacher Hema Sivakumar

here to stay

and a mother of two says “Barring

“Teen lingo can be related to the

‘unparliamentary’ words, I allow this

changes happening in our society and

type of oral communication between

is here to stay. Instead of looking at

K Desikan, father of nineteen-year-old Siddharth says, “When my son was younger, I had a tough time trying to understand his conversation with his friends. They conversed in monosyllables and lots of lettered-words. He addressed me as ‘pops’. Suddenly, he stopped talking that way. When I enquired, he said, “I am done with it!” n

TEEN LINGO DICTIONARY Sup what’s up! My bad my mistake Sick cool or awesome Tight close (relationship) Tool stupid or a geek Chillaxin chillin' and relaxing Crashy Crazy and trashy

duddu/dabbu money StAtUez_Single currently Single En aalu my girlfriend/boyfriend Sight trying to impress a girl Gethu impressive Kadi poor joke

CU see you l8r later LOL lots of love or laugh out loud LMK let me know 2MORO tomorrow

Machan man, friend

Head weight has too much ego and attitude

Kalaykkare make fun of someone

Bucks money

Dabba waste

ADR address

Watever I don’t care

Escape leave the place

ASAP as soon as possible

Loser failure

Peter someone who always speaks in English

TBC to be continued

Hot extremely attractive

TMI too much information

Sucks not good

YTTT you telling the truth?

High hyper or acting extremely weird

LYL love you lots

Dubbakuru good for nothing Semma figure good looking girl Attu figure plain girl Mokkai/Blade boring Thukalam to hit someone Pottu thallidlam to kill someone (joke) Saraku alcohol parupu someone who is the best

Commonly used abbreviations/ acronyms

J/C just checking

LMAO laughing my ass off GTG got to go

PAW parents are watching

PS post script

MOS mom over shoulder

ROFL roll on floor laughing

CD9 ‘Code 9’, when parents are around.

TTFN tata for now

OMG oh my gosh or oh my god!

BTW by the way

BRB be right back

WTF what the fish

www.parentcircle.in 19

cover story

The

B r o a d e r Scope of Education Nalina Ramalakshmi

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

www.parentcircle.in 21

scaling the Himalayas The Vajpais blend the C'’s and the R’'s

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

Arjun’s book co-authored with Anu Kumar called ON TOP OF THE WORLD: MY EVEREST ADVENTURE, and excerpted with permission from Penguin Books India, explains how he applied the C’s as he scaled mountain summits.

Critical Thinking, Creativity and Common Sense 7500 m

Ability to quickly analyse a situation and come up with practical and creative solutions is essential when faced with sudden unexpected challenges.

It always helps to be sensible while climbing. You must also take control of your own gear and climbing decisions.

Communication

On the way to the summit I realised that I was becoming weaker and weaker with every step I took. The same thing had happened as before my (oxygen) mask had frozen up again! At least I had learnt from seeing Daju clear my mask the last time, and despite my growing exhaustion I took out my mask and blew through it, and then moved on.

It is important to keep the lines of com-

Collaboration and Cooperation

munication open with the accompanying guides and team members to ensure the safety of all.

7000 m

On the way to camp IV Daju soon caught up and saw I had fallen on my knees. He gestured to me asking what was wrong, but of course being an experienced man of the mountains, he guessed what it was as well. I remember vaguely that I had replied, “I can'’t breathe, I am going to die!”

Climbing these daunting peaks requires one to collaborate and

Courage

cooperate with his guides and team members for the mission to succeed.

It takes courage to overcome the fear

Mountaineering also depends on a lot on teamwork, an ability to trust and empathize. Tales of Everest climbers told me how spectacular achievements were possible when teams worked in perfect unison and understanding. Once you take part in various sporting events, and in team games, you learn a bit of this as well. This your your your

was one of the many rules I learnt once on Everest territory. With Sherpa, you work as a team and do not take unnecessary risks on own. You have to trust your Sherpa totally, as I did Daju; he is 6492 m guide, friend and counselor.

5182 m

that grips one during the gruelling climbs. The night of the summit climb

The cold, scary darkness outside is anything but inviting, but as soon as you start out on the climb you will feel much better. Fear is always worse than reality. The wall towards the summit is steep and dark. In the death zone, I couldn’'t help thinking that within the next forty-eight hours there was a very real risk that I might not live.

Confidence

Commitment and Perseverence

Conquering Mt.Everest gave him the confidence to

It is the determination to complete the task despite adversity.

attempt new challenges and adventures.

Reaching the summit of Mt.Everest is not merely an achievement, but an experience to be savoured, to be relived, cherished, and it has become an inspiration for all that I will do next.

While ascending the Lhotse Wall

The vast big wall was never-ending. I was so tired I was unable to take another step; it seemed next to impossible. There were moments when I just wanted to go back to bed. I felt like running away from the mountains forever. But then it was the same hunger, the thirst for adventure that had drawn me to the mountains in the first place. So I had to pep myself up by talking to myself like a mad man. There was no one else to urge me on. “Come on Arjun, You can do it! This is your dream…..Such small things should not stop you. ”

www.parentcircle.in 23

Citizenship, Care and Concern Care and concern for the environment and other members of the team is essential.

The mountain may look very remote and unshakable but I returned aware of their fragility. We live in a symbiotic relationship with nature–. The more we take care of it and respect it, the more secure our lives are, and also those of our future generations. The effects of global warming can still be stemmed. We need to be responsible, caring and concerned citizens of the earth. Looking down from the Everest summit, I felt as though the earth belonged to me and I belonged to it, and was a part of it. It’s an overwhelming feeling. 8000 m

8690 m

Continuous learning Learning never stops during the climb. Every step is a new experience. For Arjun conquering Mt.Everest which is the tallest peak in the world, is only the beginning. He has continued to learn from the new experiences of his Mt.Lhotse climb. There is no stopping Arjun. His next stop is the South Pole, where he aims to go this winter.

Being on Everest is the experience of a lifetime, and yet, it has fuelled my ambitions like nothing else. Once on top of the world, you think of all the other mountain peaks to be climbed, all the other adventures yet to be experienced. 8516 m

Challenges surmounted There is no questioning that Climbing Mt.Everest and Mt.Lhotse are challenges to be conquered.

In these difficult conditions, you have to start playing games with your mind. The Everest not only tests your physical fitness, but also how tough you are mentally. After walking for more than five hours, the pain and exhaustion can be unbearable. Taking the next step seems nearly impossible. So you carry on by giving your mind short-term goals; such as, will I be able to take the next three steps? 1…..2….3 steps more. Yes I did it!

Character building Strength of character, faith, values, determination and responsibility are all required for the success of this endeavour.

While my parents never pushed me into doing anything, they were always encouraging about whatever challenges I wanted to take up. My parents taught me that any job is worth doing with dignity, but one should always put in one'’s best efforts and enjoy doing it too. During his descent all by himself down the Lohtse Wall, half way down, Arjun realised he had picked the wrong rope and was on the wrong way down. He needed to climb back up but had very little energy left in him and no one was around.

Below me, I could see the big black hole that stretched away at the very bottom. I was slowly losing my gri p on the rope. I remembered my Mom giving me her prayer book, the Hanuman Chalisa. I just touched my bag and prayed to God. I wanted to be saved. I started to sing, and was interrupted by a voice from behind! I was so happy to see Sherpa Lakhpa.

24 Parent Circle / July 2011

8850 m

Concentration The ability to focus and concentrate on the given task without distractions is very essential for the successful completion of the job on hand.

Climbing the Yellow Band took more than normal climbing skills because it is a huge rock structure. It’s difficult to get a gri p on the hard rock with spikes on. You keep slipping all the time and hold on to the ropes for dear life while trying to keep scary thoughts away from your mind. All this really drains out your energy but I thought only of the goal ahead.

This band rocks! Strumming in the C's and R's Harish Raja

Concert organisers from American International School, Chennai

June 11, 2011 marked the three-month

but most of all we are proud that we

anniversary of the earthquake and

could make a difference in the lives of

tsunami that devastated Japan. On this

others. We raised fifty percent more than

day, Chennaiites enjoyed a band con-

our original monetary goal!

cert ‘by the children of Chennai for the

Looking back, I am even more surprised

children of Japan’. Conceptualised and

at the number of things that I learnt

organised by a group of 10th and 11th

from the organisation process. My mom

standard children from the American In-

has always stressed that education is

ternational School, Chennai, the concert

much more than just learning facts and

raised money for the child victims of the

being able to regurgitate them. It is also

Japan disaster. Six youth bands and five

about learning how to work together as

soloists from around the city entertained an audience of over 800 people. Harish Raja, one of the student organis-

a team and how to face challenges. That is exactly what we learnt through the organisation process!

Once the organisation stagnated, leaders emerged to complete much of the work. I now realise that without team-

We started the project as an enthusiastic

work nothing will ever get done. Beyond

group ready to work together to make

a point, people need to start compromis-

this concert a success. However, we

ing so that the team can stick together

few days ago, a couple of friends

were not prepared for the challenges

and make the final product better.

and I sat down to finish the final

ahead. Agreeing to be a 100 percent

accounting for the charity concert

democratic committee, every decision

ers talks about what he learnt from this experience.

that we organised for the child victims of

was to be decided as a group. This

the Japan Tsunami.

seemed very possible and logical, but

It all began when we saw the pictures and videos of the devastating tsunami

we soon realised that this was an idealistic decision.

that ripped through Japan on March

There were differing ideas about every

11th. We could not rest idle as the

detail of the concert. Much of the time

Japanese struggled to get back on their

we spent together was lost in arguments

feet. The idea of “Concert for Japan”

that switched from genuine attempts

was born.

to make the concert the best it can be,

Our goal was to bring together the youth of Chennai to try and make a small

to more egotistically and emotionally charged moments.

I always knew that challenges get in the way of every goal, but never realised the extent to which they do. At the end of the day, we must live with them and work around them. The experience of the Concert is one that I will never forget. It has taught me more about real life than I have ever imagined. At school, we are isolated from many of the things that define the work place. I understood what it takes to be a boss and a team player: the sacrifices, the challenges, and the

difference in the lives of the Japanese.

Some of us realised this and tried to

commitment. The Japan Concert made

Today, as a group, we are proud of the

bring everyone back together, but this

me proud of what I can accomplish, but

success of the concert and the compli-

turned out to be easier said than done. A

more importantly, it prepared me for the

ments that we got from the audience,

rift formed between team members.

real world.” n

www.parentcircle.in 25

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Parent Circle 1 Week am

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Mini Idli & Sambar

Oothappam with tomato & onions

Aloo Paratha & Boondi Raita

SautĂŠed Veggies & Garlic bread

Lemon Sevai & Vatthal

Tomato Rice & Appalam

Curd rice & Poriyal

Veg Noodles

Veg Pulao & Onion Raita

Apple

Chana (dry and spicy) or fried moong

Banana

Boiled Peanuts

Grapes

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Rava Idli & Tomato chutney

Chapathi roll with paneer, onions & tomatoes

Cheese Tomato Sandwich

Macaroni & Cheese

Puri Bhaji

Pudina Rice & Chips

Lemon Rice & Ladies finger roast

SpinachPaneer Rice

Sambar Rice & Potato curry

Jeera Rice & dal

Grated Carrot salad

Rajma & Onions salad

Sapota

Pattani Sundal

Pomegranate

Tamarind rice h c n & Potato curry Lu

nack Bus s

2 Week k t brea Shor nch

Lu n o no

nack Bus s

week

Monday

k t brea Shor

noon

Tasty. Easy. Healthy.

x of cut Pack an extra bo school nded cucumber on exte nger and hu f of e av days to st hed feeling. es fr re provide that

Use more of seas onal and locally grown pr oduce. They are less likely to be spra with preservative yed s.

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omoto or Mono Avoid using Ajin sg). Research e (m Sodium Glutamat rmful and shows that it is ha t noodles. an widely used in inst

Lunch menus 3 Week am

k t brea Shor

noon pm

h Lunc

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Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Sabudana Kichdi

Pizza Dosai

Pasta & mixed peppers Salad

Mooli Paratha & tomato chutney

Bread & peanut butter

Veg Biryani & Raita

Roti & Mattar Paneer

Curry leaves rice

Semiya Bagala Bhaath

Veg Fried rice

Orange

Channa Dhal sundal

Karamani Sundal

Mango

Sprouts Salad

nch

Lu n o o n

nack Bus s

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Veggie + Sprout topped Idlies

Egg Sandwich

Aloo Poha

Aloo Tiki & Sauce

Peas puris

Moong dal Kichdi & Kadi

Paneer Paratha & Onion chutney

Pasta with tomato sauce base

Raw Mango Rice

Sprouts Pulao

Papaya

Chick Pea Sundal

Boiled corn Salad

Sweet Lime

Aloo chat

Avoid using p r packaged chips. ocessed foods like H shop-bought fr ome made chips or eshly fried ch ips are preferable.

This is done by bles before cutting. ta ge ve lad sa ur yo then plunging Blanch ter for a minute and wa t ho ng mi ea st in ur and nutrients soaking u wll retain the colo Yo r. te wa ld co ice chew. them in making them easier to ile wh e bl ta ge ve e th of

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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

free-play session where the children can

Dr. Pugazhendi says, “Many educational

pretty much play any game they want,

institutions do not encourage sport par-

or they may participate in an active sport

ticipation for the sake of fitness and fun.

like Basketball.

They make parents believe that it would

Is this enough? Chandra Nagarajan, Senior Vice Principal of Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan T.Nagar branch says, “Besides the Physical Education Class and the sessions organised by Edusports, we have made swimming mandatory for our students from Class 3 upwards. Swimming is also a survival skill.” Many schools do encourage their students who are achievers in sports. For instance, for the swimming siblings, A.V. Jaywant and Jayaveena, their school, Chettinad Vidyashram has relaxed the mandatory attendance requirement. The children study on their own and their teachers enable them in every way possible. Kamala Ravindran, the Headmis-

only be a distraction for educational ambitions, which is untrue.” EduSports, a Bangalore-based company addresses this very need. The organisation's objective is to equip children with the right skills at the right age, so that they get a head-start to many forms of active sports that they could play for life.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is one of the key indicators of overall fitness of an individual. While a high BMI is related directly to obesity-related malaise, low BMI ratios have a direct correlation to immunity-related malaise, both of which are not desirable. The recommended BMI

Edusports partners with schools which

for children between the ages of 5

believe that education is incomplete

and 14 is in the range of 19-25.

without sports. It runs for the school, the entire PE period in the timetable with a planned curriculum - complete with lessons, props, assessments and parent interactions. Says its CEO Saumil

In a study conducted by EduSports in 2010 among 4098 children surveyed across India, 42 per cent did not possess ideal BMI ratios.

Majumdar, “How would you expect your child to be taught maths? That's exactly what we do with physical education.”

importance of sports to their children. The child may show great promise in a

tress says, “When some of our students

Children are taught basic skills that are

sport, but could be tempted to switch

have to travel abroad for sports coaching

age-appropriate and non-competitive.

over to an easier sport because of his

during the school term, we explore meth-

This could be crawling, learning to walk

peers or because he is being trained a

ods like online teaching.” In fact, most

sideways, jumping over small obsta-

little harder to achieve more. Any child

schools in Chennai boast of alumni who

cles or dribbling a ball. This equips a

would like an easier choice - nobody

have gone on to become National level

child much better at a later stage if he

likes controlled training.

sportspersons.

chooses to take up a sport with a serious

Schools and basic sporting skills What about the child who is not an achiever just yet, who is still trying out different sports and has not yet reached a high level of proficiency? In some cases, if the school is focussed mainly on the competitive sports or on academic prowess only, the sedentary ones and the mildly sport-interested ones may

intent.

But the training teaches the child in the long run that you have to go through

Parents and Sports To press the sports button How does one even begin to influence a sedentary child or a child who has not played active sports?

some pain to reap some benefits. This is where parents have to be firm and guide the child to put in that little extra effort. Parents should also assist the child in balancing time between academics and sports.” Krithika Mouli, a parent, says, “One way to find out what sport suits the child is to enroll her in some classes and see if

lose out on some basic age-appropriate

B Girish, a swimming coach says, “At

she takes to it. Usually, the first recogni-

physical skills.

the outset, parents need to explain the

tion among peers is a defining 

Fitness for the family, with fun

If children do not take to organised sports, certain things can still be done together as a family for fitness, fun and bonding. For example, activities like hiking, cycling, running, swimming, badminton, frisbee on the beach and others. Even playing games like Hide and Seek, Catch, Hopscotch, Jump rope with younger children would be great, if the parents could cope up with these activities without getting breathless. You can even play music and dance together as a family!

www.parentcircle.in 31

Sports Training Resources While there are private clubs for specialised sports and many academies for cricket coaching across the city, here are some more resources. Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT)'s website has a list of Sports Associations and Stadium Officers. Visit http://www.sdat.in/stad_off.html or call 044 28364322/28361011 to get details of classes. For instance, there are classes in sport forms like Track & Field, Kabaddi, Table Tennis and Boxing at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and hockey at the Mayor Ramanathan Stadium. YMCA College of Physical Education – The College has a Basketball Academy and a Cricket Academy. Their Triangle Tennis Trust handles the Tennis coaching. Classes for outsiders are only during after-college hours, summer holidays and on weekends. Swimming – Every other club and hotel in Chennai has a swimming pool. Some schools with pools also conduct swimming camps. The other options are swimming clubs like Turtles and the Velachery Aquatic Complex. moment as to whether the child will

ing in a sport is the inevitable changes in

keep their equipment organised. These

pursue it or not.”

his lifestyle. Girish says, “Your children

habits conveniently fall into place.”

learn to get up early. For this, they have

Other than the regular coaching and

The making of achievers: Some Myths and Truths

to sleep early at night. They learn time

summer camps that clubs and associa-

management. For instance, when they

tions provide, there are a plethora of

wake up in the morning, they have very

options available to pursue most sports

little time to come to the pool; they have

in Chennai.

to get ready quickly. Automatically, they

The rewards of taking up sports

Parents speak:

Myths

One of the main benefits of a child train-

v Sports achievers are en-

dowed with superior genes. v Parents know how to spot the child’s

innate talent or have influential sports

s Benefitsl leOvefl spSorpotsrthelps a child to: At a menta

v Children of sportspersons have a

definite edge.

intments

cope with disappo

spite of victory ndle criticism in

contacts who do this.

v Lucky breaks make for achievers.

or loss in a gam

e or understand

the right tim the right way at a particular skill

learn to do nces minimal conseque

ople ordinate with pe cooperate and co to play fair

end appreciate the fri t or sp other than

es eir likes and dislik

32 Parent Circle / July 2011

rn to spor ts again

e fear and retu en to conquer th

s and failure and foe in succes

Reality

v Parent commitment is

very important, to face daunting

irrespective of th

d suffering. Th

ury, pain an to get used to inj

so, with the failure to do

attitudes that

by anything cannot be taught

challenges. v Parents who are physically active,

know the value of fitness. v Parents provide a supporting home-

environment. v The child’s hard work is very impor-

tant.Invariably, siblings of achievers also do well in sports.

Sports & the girlchild

Seven pointers on children and sports a chievement

Achievers start learning their first

They are exposed to many kinds of

Although they may begin to learn a

sport early.

sports in order to find their passion.

sport at the behest of the parents,

they choose the sport they want to pursue. The first medal or win is usually a major motivator.

sports as readily as boys? Some reasons we hear are I will get tanned and don't want to look dark. I will get injured and will have bruises all over. I am a girl and cannot compete with boys.

They become self-starters in pursu-

How much of this is com-

ing the sport they love. They align

ing from the child's own

their lives to the sport.

Why do girls not take to

They learn to manage their time

Benefits Of Sports In the long term

physical fitness estab lished through constant participation in sports from school to college, vanquishe s the need to visit a ho spital prematurely in life except for an inj ury. the police force of the body, the white blo od cells, are well equip ped to fight disease and speed up recov ery. Injured tissue he als faster too. the pursuit of excelle

nce in sport demand s ciplines the mind an d body, and develops an absolute aversion to alcohol, smoking an d drugs. commitment and dis

assumptions and how much is coming from our social conditioning? Dr.Kannan Pugazhendi says, “Parents/the society feel that a girl who is a player,

between academics, sports and

dancer, or even NCC participant will not be an ideal housewife. Or that the girl's mar-

hobbies.

riage alliance would be rejected on the basis of an imagined poor character. These

They believe that it is perfectly natural to be a national level sports

person AND get above 80 percent in ex-

are the main reasons for condemning girls' participation in any other activity besides education.” One common but rarely-expressed reason is that the girl is simply not comfortable sharing playing space with boys. To address this, some schools have segregated

ams AND learn to dance/sing/paint. In

games where boys and girls learn swimming at different times; girls can play basket-

fact, they believe that physical exercise,

ball by themselves while boys go in for what is considered a more aggressive

especially sport, improves academic performance by increasing concentration and these children are known to train right through their Board Exams.

Their parents spend a lot of time and resources on nurturing their

talent, not to mention the sacrifices that they are happy to make. At least one parent has a 'never-say-die' attitude to somehow finding and funding the best resources for the children.

sport, football. Krithika Mouli, a parent, suggests, “I believe that schools should do more to get girls to play sports. They should take them to sport events with women participants and get them to interact with successful sportswomen.” Dr. Pugazhendi says, “For girls, physical fitness ensures the reduction in the pain during the monthly cycles.

Regular exercise would ensure optimal weight and body composition, bone mass and mineral density. The bone mass in girls must be increased from the day of menarche 

until menopause through weight training or optimal axial loading of the long bones and the spine. Girls require the fitness to cope with demands made not only at school but thereafter in real life”, he says. But when it comes to specialised sports training, parents are not comfortable in sending the girl to class by herself in the early morning or late evening from a personal safety perspective. Some parents worry that she will 'befriend' boys there. Dr Pugazhendi insists that it is a failure of the parents and society if girls are not allowed to participate in competitive sport. He also suggests that sportsshy girls could take up classical dance, which also provides benefits like any other active sport.

Indigenous Games It is a fallacy that India never had a sporting culture. India is home to some fascinating sports forms like Silambam, Kalaripayattu, Kho Kho, Kabaddi, Mallakhamb, Mushti and a sport that many Indians may not know exists today indigenously - archery from Meghalaya! Many of these forms are being taught right here in Chennai. Indian sports have their own benefits, but they lack students. Many of these are getting swamped by the more ‘glamorous’ and expensive sports. Kalaripayattu for instance, has been taken to other countries,

Parent Speak Roshini Gopinathan, a mother, has struck a happy balance of being fit herself and ensuring that her children learn a sport. Along with her children Rohit (14) and Rishi (8), she has

accepted, adopted and adapted by them, though we are yet to give it the recognition it deserves. Kalaripayattu: Shaji K. John conducts classes in Kalaripayattu at Besant Nagar for students from 7 years of age. He says “Kalaripayattu is a martial art taught primarily for self-defence. Children become fit and supple. Among children, seven is the right age to initiate training because at that age, the bones are more supple and the mind is free from unnecessary clutter.” n

been learning Kalaripayattu for a little over a year and a half. The family was earlier in New York. Roshini says, “I have been fascinated by Kalaripayattu since I was a kid, but never had the opportunity to learn it until now. It is quite an intensive martial art form with 3-4 classes a week, for over an hour. My endurance and flexibility have improved. Although Rohit already has a lot of endurance, his flexibity and posture have improved significantly. It's still too early to speak for Rishi.”

34 Parent Circle / July 2011

f Sports Benefitsne O skills Sports ho

n coordinatio - hand-eye s rt po S et n Racqu coordinatio by - foot-eye ug alities R & l al tb Foo s - motor qu 0 meter race 40 to 0 10 s/ Sprint Event y d tion, flexibilit such as spee ise, coordina po e, nc la - ba lar strength Gymnastics ing - muscu w ro d an ng, kayaking Rock climbi er w and po

s e i r o t s s s e c c u s e h T Medicine. She also plays basketball. Aarathy's father, Kasturi Raj believes that his children should not miss out on the encouragement that he never had for sports. He accompanies her wherever she competes. As there

d parents

th her sister an Aarathy (in white) wi Rohini Rau with her father When

Rohini Rau was eight

When

are no facilities to learn competitive ice-skating in India, Kasturi Raj ensures that Aarathy visits Korea

Aarathy Kasturi Raj

regularly for training.

was seven years old, she visited Tower

years old, her parents enrolled her

He says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;When Aarathy was 10

Park in Anna Nagar where she saw

in a summer camp on sailing. That

years old, every weekend, for nearly

a roller skating class in session. She

same year, she participated in her

a year, she went to Mysore to train

attended a camp. She went on to win

first Nationals.

under a National Coach, Srikan-

in subsequent years, 81 gold medals in

tha Rao. Aarathy gave up all her

Rohini Rau is the National Sailing

roller skating and ice skating, including

holidays for her training. But I ensure

3 international championships. She is in

that every year our family goes on a

her 12th standard and intends to study

holiday for 25 to 30 days.â&#x20AC;?

Champion (Laser Radial - Women for the last 7 consecutive years and 420 Class - Women - for 3 years). She is training hard to qualify to compete in the Olympics even as she is pursuing her studies in Medicine. Among other things, she also dances the Salsa and has learnt to play the piano and violin. Rohini's family supports her completely despite the huge financial outgo for the sport which includes the cost of training, equipment, the boat,

Arjun Vajpai became the youngest Indian at 17, to scale two peaks Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse. He is now trying to attempt the crossing of the South Pole all by himself, and has lined up a few other difficult peaks like K2 and Manaslu, to conquer one after the other. He was already a district level player in volleyball, football and basketball and had earlier planned to get into football. But that was not to be, because of age barriers. Mother Priya Vajpai encouraged him to take up trekking and mountaineering instead, where he could carve out a niche for himself.

berthing fees for the boat, ongoing

Arjun had to maintain a grilling routine from dawn to dusk for weeks, when he

maintenance and consumables. And

was in the mountaineering institute, away

the prizes are non-monetary.

from his hometown. Again, he had to get into

Due to attendance stipulations at college, Rohini has had to request for a Government Order to be passed

a grilling routine for studies and school to make up for the lost time when he was back. He did both without complaining.

so that she is on official leave from

On their side, the parents spent

college till August 2012. When she

tens of lakhs of rupees of person-

returns to college, she has to redo

al funds for his treks, as sponsors

her third year and then move on to

are hard to get in this field.

the fourth.

36 Parent Circle / July 2011

Arjun with his parents

At the 34th National Games in Ranchi this February, , an 8th standard student, created a record by becoming the youngest swimmer to win a medal in the history of the National Games in India. She went on to win 6 medals in the 6 events she participated in. Jayaveena and her sibling get up at 5 a.m in the morning and finish at 9 p.m, with five hours in the pool and two hours in the gym. They do home-schooling, and

AV Jayaveena

Jayaveena (between her parents) and brother, Jaywanth

the only friends are the pool friends. Jayaveena's parents, 'Thalaivasal' Vijay and Rajeshwari chose to move houses to be closer to the pool that their children train in. Rajeshwari says “As individuals, we have our own wants like watching movies and going to social gatherings. But if we invest that time in our children, they will have a good future. We can prioritise ourselves later. We should never regret later that we could have done more for our children.”

What the mothers say Charu Saikumar: When we were in the USA, I had read a lot about Karate and also attended a seminar. I asked Kaushik, then four and a half years old, if he would like to learn it. He was quite excited as he had seen many movies showing Karate and did not need any additional motivation. He began in the Gōjūryū style and became very interested in it. Parallelly, he was also playing basketball. After we moved to India, we found a Gōjū-ryū instructor. Through him, Kaushik (now 13 years), got his blackbelt and has won many medals. Now under 'O' Sensei Ayyappan, he is learning IsshinKaushik Saikumar

ryu and going for the Isshinryu World Karate Championships in Indianapolis, USA.

Shalini Hudson: My three daughters, Sharon (16), Beryl (15) and Rachel (10 ) are into Track &

Mamatha Rao: Bharath (7 years) is a

Field training. Both my husband and I are not sportspersons. We are still

child who is always on the move. If he is watch-

able to encourage our daughters. I

ing TV and he hears children playing in the com-

accompany my daughters twice a

pound, he would much rather join them. When

day on most days for their athletic

he was five years old, I enrolled him in roller

training. I have given up watching

skating. My husband used to play hockey and

television so that I can assist the

believes that sports is important. I take Bharath

children with their studies in the

for tennis lessons and my husband, being a swimmer, takes interest in his swimming.

Sisters Beryl, Rachel and Sharon with their mother

Bharath with his parents

Mala Rao Anirudh (14 years)

evening, after their training.

plays squash and Manasa (10

years) learns Kalaripayattu and both have started learning archery. The competitive spirit is slowly developing in them. When there is failure in tournaments, they are able to take the loss. They are learning that in life, there will be ups and downs. Sports also gives them the perspective that if you haven't won, it doesn't mean you are not good at it, it only means you have to work harder. This helps them view life in a calmer manner without taking things personally.

Anirudh and Manasa with their parents

Saritha Rao Rayachoti is a freelance writer.

www.parentcircle.in 37

roots

Rediscovering Puppetry P

uppetry is an ancient form of thea-

string puppets. The size is around 4 – 4

tre or performance which involves

½ ft. in height and many weigh around

the manipulation of inanimate dolls.

8 to 10 kg. The joints at the shoulders,

It is believed to have originated from

hips, knees, ankles and wrists give good

India, thousands of years ago. In the

movement during the puppet manipu-

Srimad Bhagavatam, the epic of Lord

lation. String puppet plays are based

Krishna, God is compared to a puppet-

on episodes from epics and Puranic

eer and the entire universe to a puppet

literature. There are only 2 to 3 families

stage. God manipulates each object in

practising this art form in Tamil Nadu.

the universe as one would a marionette.

The shadow puppets in Tamil Nadu are

The earliest reference to puppetry in Ta-

much smaller than the ones from Andhra

mil literature is found in the ancient Tamil

Pradesh. The puppets are made of goat

epic ‘Silappadikaram’ written around 1st or 2nd century B.C.

Traditional Puppetry in Tamil Nadu Two forms of traditional puppetry exist in Tamil Nadu. These are Bommalattam (string puppetry) and Thol Bommalattam

skin without any perforations. In 2007, ‘Paavai Koothu’ or ‘Thol Bomalattam’

according to reports, there were only 27

performance

people involved in the art, a decline from

pets behind a translucent screen. Light passing through the painted puppets allows a coloured shadow to fall on the screen, which is viewed by the audience.

(shadow puppetry). In Thol Bommalat-

The string puppets are the largest and

tam, the puppeteer manipulates the pup-

the heaviest of all the traditional Indian

1200 a decade ago. Cinema, television and other modern entertainment have led to a decline in puppetry, even in villages. The puppeteers are settled in Madurai, Kanyakumari, Kovilpatti, Theni districts and near Chennai.

A traditional puppeteer still wants to pull strings Selvaraj comes from a family of puppeteers

shows would begin at 9 p.m. and go on till

who have been carrying the art forward for

4 a.m. Today I have shortened my themes. I

more than seven generations. His grandfather

create stories and the shows do not exceed

Govinda Swamy and father Arjunan, hailing

ninety minutes,” he says.

from Thanjavur, mastered this art through

Selvaraj has performed in Italy, Germany and

private tuitions. Selvaraj himself, not formally

Australia. He makes his own puppets with a

educated, was trained by his uncle and he

special kind of goat leather and dyes them

specialised in ancient lore. He migrated to

with natural colours. If outsourced, the cost

Chennai in 1975.

works out to more than Rs 3000 per puppet.

Selvaraj uses his own voice for performance

Monetary aid is hard to come by. Selvaraj’s son

and not the tape-recorded version. “I can bring

would trace the evolution of puppetry across

has a job in the IT sector, and earns a steady

in seven voice tones at a time,” he says with

generations. He wants to be a curator, with just

income to support his father.

a little income from the Government to sustain

Fifteen years ago, Selvaraj owned a thousand

this activity. “I have the ideas and material,

puppets. Financial stress made him sell 300,

but don’t have the money. I also want to teach

while the Tsunami of December 2004 wiped out

orphans the art and craft of puppetry. It should

his house with the remaining puppets. Today

not die with me,’’ he says.

pride. He has seen the transformation of puppetry from mythology to contemporary forms of story-telling and has adapted to that. “During my grandfather’s time, the puppet

38 Parent Circle / July 2011

he is left with only 25. His ambition is to set up a museum which

PHOTO COURTESY DAKSHINA CHITRA

Malavika Lakshman

Puppetry today, for parents and children Puppetry is slowly getting back in orbit, through contemporary formats. For instance: Concept teaching: The Pavai Puppetry Centre focuses on varied educational concepts. These could be topics like nature conservation or as in science, the differences between dinosaurs and contemporary animals. A minimum of ten students are needed for a batch. Founder R Bhanumathi says that puppetry is not a craft but a conceptbased art form and even speaking through puppets is an art. Capturing the imagination: Padma Nagarajan, a freelancer, says that puppetry involves production, much like a play. To capture the imagination with attractive themes, she has taught children to stage shows on ‘Going to the moon’, ‘Three Little Pigs’, and ‘King Lear’. Children use socks, sticks and other simple raw materials for the shows which have a minimum turnaround time. In Mythology: S Sita Lakshmi, a working professional, conducts puppetry workshops at Dakshinachitra almost every weekend. She makes her own puppets using goat leather and her shows use mythological themes. In Comedy and in short contemporary tales: A Selvaraj, a freelance puppeteer, looks at comedy, mythology and stories relating to everyday life. He teaches children to make puppets using cardboard. He allows them to colour the puppets and shows them how to manipulate the strings. To teach languages: The Tejaswi Foundation founded by NS Yamuna, focuses on students from vernacular schools who need familiarisation with the English language. Puppets are used here as a powerful medium to counter the attractions of the visual media. Future potential as a therapy: Puppetry has great potential to heal traumatised children and to facilitate communication among the disabled, says Aruna Sankaranarayanan, a doctorate in Psychology from Harvard and Founder of Prayatna (Centre for Educational Assessment and Intervention). n Malavika Lakshman is currently a freelance writer-cum-editor interested in culture and heritage.

Parentspeak: Sharda Raghuram Puppetry is a unique methodology that can be employed to teach diverse age-groups. It is creative. The whole process involves making the puppet, communicating an idea and enacting the idea. Aditya, my three-and-a-half year old son who learnt this art at Hippocampus, really enjoys it. He teaches us how to conduct a puppet show. Schools should promote puppetry on a larger scale. It is a fun and interesting way to learn concepts.

www.parentcircle.in 39

circle of life

the

tao of

vegetable Rangashree Srinivas

he podalangai poriyal (snake gourd

spend quality time as you would with

mug, just enough water to moisten the

curry) you made for lunch tastes

your child; use your hands as much as

soil thoroughly. Stop when water seeps

fresh, luscious and melts in the

possible; have everyone in the family

through the little hole in the pot. A pool

love them.

under the pot indicates over-watering.

Once you have internalised these funda-

Between 45 and 50 days you will get

mental principles, work on the practicali-

your first crop. Gently clip the edible

ties of vegetable gardening!

portion from the stalk with scissors, for your day’s requirement.

contain pesticides and chemicals that

SETTING UP A BALCONY GARDEN

are used to hasten growth. Home-grown

Find a spot which gets four to five hours

fresh vegetables are flavoursome and

of direct sunlight every day.

healthier. Many city residents are opting

Buy a minimum of 12 clay flower pots

mouth. Your teenage son gobbles it up with great intent! Impossible? Entirely possible - this vegetable has been grown in your own garden patch! Vegetables bought in city markets, tend to be wilted and are tough to eat. They

for roof-top and balcony gardens.

of roughly one and a half feet diameter,

Lakshmi Sriram, a veteran home-garden-

depending on the space available. You

er of 20 years and a gardening consult-

can expect 10kg of harvest per pot from

ant, shares her experience and wisdom

every cycle.

on how to grow vegetables all year round

Set aside at least five pots for the

in a little space within the confines of your home.

EVERYONE HAS GREEN FINGERS! “There is a philosophy to gardening”, says Lakshmi. People who are unsuc-

of sand, one portion of red soil, half portion of organic fertiliser and ten tablespoons of neem powder. sprinkle water every day.

They can calm you down and bestow their bounty if you let them. For this you have to be gentle in your gardening;

40 Parent Circle / July 2011

Lakshmi Sriram with her teenage son, Kameswaran

Prepare each pot by mixing two portions

not possess the gift of ‘green fingers’

nicate with you if you are willing to listen.

gardening expert.

quantity every third day.

Leave the pot to stand for a week and

Plants are living things that can commu-

in ten to twenty days as advised by a

greens alone, to get adequate cooking

cessful gardeners think that they do because they do not understand this.

Spread fertiliser mixed with sand once

Then plant a few seeds – a handful for greens and three or four for vegetables like brinjal, ladies fingers, gourds, cauliflower and cabbage. Twice daily, sprinkle or pour from a

Your children and the vegetable patch Children feel excited about growing their own vegetables, a real-time lesson in science. Encourage them to help out with little chores such as planning the planting. Gardening instills a nurturing attitude in children. They will gladly eat the very same vegetables they had shunned before!

The first harvest will last roughly three

end of the balcony to the other and link

months. When plants get smaller in size,

them to the plant. You can grow them as

it is time to change the crop. Uproot the

shrubs too with careful pruning. n

plants and plant fresh seeds, even different vegetable seeds if you wish. Let

Costs A pot costs Rs 100. Each pot

the sand, soil and fertiliser mixture dry

requires 1.5 kg sand, 750 gms red

completely before the next planting. Add

soil and 350 gms organic fertiliser.

some fertiliser mixed with sand before

This is available as a pre-mix in

planting again.

standard packs costing Rs 63 at

Climbers like cucumber and snake gourd need vertical space. Plant these seeds in the pots near the wall or the balcony grill. They start climbing after growing 4 feet in height. When they overshoot the height of your wall, tie three rows of thin jute ropes from one

Chennai Horticultural Gardens,

The Urban Horticulture Development Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University frequently conducts one-day training programmes on roof gardening and kitchen gardening. For dates and details contact 044-26263484 / 42170506.

Rs 30 – Rs 50 and last for five to six plantings. Neem powder is available in 1 kg packs costing Rs 20 each.

Cool weather/shady patch

Non-rainy season

Ladies fingers, Brinjal, To-

Carrot, Cabbage, Cauli-

Greens – Keerai,

matoes, Snake gourd, Ridge

flower, Capsicum

Spinach, Corian-

gourd, Bitter gourd, Radish,

(preferably November to

der, Mint, Ginger

Onion, Cucumber, Chillies,

February)

(Karamani)

Call Lakshmi Sriram at 9444412111 or email: sriramlakshmi@hotmail.com

100 gms of seeds will cost around

All year round

French beans, Cow peas

EXPERT advice?

enough to fill five pots. A packet of

Vegetable growing season

Cluster beans, Broad beans,

Need

In Lakshmi’s experience, potatoes, small onions, tinda and chow chow do not grow well in Chennai.

Organic fertiliser and seeds Insist on buying organic seeds and fertilisers. The seller may persuade you to buy the regular chemically treated seeds and fertilisers claiming that they aid faster and fuller growth. Do not succumb; organically-grown produce is full of nutrients, tastier and healthier in the long term! Seeds Buy them at reliable nurseries. Lakshmi buys from Shakti seeds and Ashoka Seeds at Natesan Street in T Nagar. You can store the leftover seeds in your refrigerator and use them for the next planting. You can also leave the first few plants from one cycle and harvest their seeds at the end of that cycle for the next planting. Manure Dry cow dung and goat dung are the best natural manure. Add neem cake powder to keep away insects. A word of caution: Buy manure only from reliable sources like the people who keep cattle. Do not buy from the cart vendor on the road as this manure is mixed with toxic wastes. Good quality organic manure is also available at Chennai Horticultural Gardens in Cathedral Road. Undigested seeds in the animal’s manure grow into weeds in your pot along with the seeds you plant. Remove these weeds immediately.

u Weather proof the area for the terrace garden. Water dripping from the pots can weaken the structure and cause seepage in the rooms below. u Keep the growing area clean. u Remove debris and dead foliage. u Water the plants early morning and late evening. u Everytime you use fertiliser, mix it with sand. u Remove pests and insects with a strong gush of water from your hose pipe, not with chemical spraying. u Change the soil, sand, fertiliser mixture once every 12 to18 months.

Pour excess water. Use just enough to keep the soil moist. u Use cement planters. They generate too much heat harmful for plant growth. u Grow hibiscus plants which attract big black ants that can destroy your other veggies in days. u Use yellow or salty water. Use clear ground water or metro water instead.

Don'’t

www.parentcircle.in 41

destinations

A reporter’s blog on

PALAKKAD Gemmarie Venkataramani

hen a friend invited us to visit their newly built home in Palakkad last November, we jumped at the opportunity. We packed our bags and set out on our long journey

from Chennai – away from the hustle and bustle of the city to the serenity of Palakkad, ready to completely unwind and relax. After a strenuous ten-hour drive from Chennai, we arrived in Palakkad set amidst the hushed silence of the rubber trees, interwoven with aromatic pepper vines. We awoke to the fresh scents of dew-spotted leaves and ventured out to a lake nearby. My husband showed my daughter the diverse species of wild plants and flowers and she still fondly remembers how she touched every single touch-me-not she encountered. A small place, touted as the dazzling jewel in the emerald necklace of Western Ghats, Palakkad still retains its rustic charm. The rivers that surround Palakkad encouraged the settlements of Brahmins in this town in ancient times. Even today, Palakkad is lined with ancient agraharams, traditionally inhabited by Brahmins.These rows of houses retain the ‘thinnai’ (wide porch) where residents relax in the evenings. The impressive wooden pillars and ornately designed wide wooden doors accentuated with brass handles caught my fancy. Through these doors, I could peek into the inner courtyards complete with the tulsi plant at the centre. As we passed by a temple, a prashnam (astrological consultation) was in progress. One of the temple priests explained how Kerala is famous for astrology. It is a must to consult astrologers before venturing into any major project or making an important decision. Rural scenes of people lazing under a banyan tree in a temple compound, agricultural goods being transported in slow moving bullock carts, children heading to the river behind the temple to play – all add to the serenity of life in Palakkad. The next day we headed towards Kalpathy to observe the Rathot-

savam (Chariot Festival) that is celebrated in the Tamil month of Aippasi at the 600-year-old Vishwanatha Swamy temple. Kalpathy, known as the ‘Varanasi of the South’ for its 18 agraha-

Entrance to the Tipu's Fort that houses a Hanuman Temple

42 Parent Circle / July 2011

rams, came alive with the joyous festivities and the spirit of true

g small Two priests exchangin m ara talk in a typical agrah

G KRISHNAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY

The istrict in s bigge t d comalakkad is Kerala, P ssur in with Thri ndlocked nd pletely la N e orth a nad in th a y a W , the South East. du in the Tamil Na al rate tropic is tempe te a lim c The t is best e year bu most of th ember from Nov enjoyed to April.

devotion of the thousands of devotees who came to participate in the culmination of the week-long festival. We witnessed the three chariots or rathas, richly decorated with flowers and flags, taken in procession around town, to the accompa-

FOOD & STAY Palakkad has a fusion of Kerala and Tamil Nadu food that is quite distinct. For accommodations there are several hotels with rates varying from Rs 500 to Rs 9500 per night.

Ayurv edic S Palak pas: kad is sense a trea t to th s. So e the s shou pa ex ld no perie t be m n ce issed enjoy . Rela a trad x and itiona l Ayu rvedic treatm ent.

niment of Vedic chanting and rituals. We felt blessed.

For the adventurous, there are loads of

We visited Tipu’s Fort and the guide

activities in and around this quaint

to the rare Lion Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri

briefed us on the history behind the walls of

little town.

Langur, tigers, leopards, Indian Bison,

this magnificent edifice. The fort houses a

Trekking for the adventurous

Hanuman temple frequented by the locals.

elephants, bears, squirrels and a wide variety of deer. Every year researchers

The best way to get close to Palakkad’s

We picnicked at the Malampuzha Dam

find new species of plants and birds in

exotic flora and fauna is to trudge the less

Garden, a place of natural beauty that is

this untamed wilderness. The experi-

beaten paths. Dhoni Reserve Forests 15 km from town.

ence of coming face-to-face with rarely seen animals was unforgettable.

This lush green tropical haven offers

Deer Park 22 km from town. Located in

the sight of a waterfall on top of the

the Walayar Reserve Forest Range on

For us, a week was too short to savour

Dhoni hills. This place is famous for a

the Tamil Nadu – Kerala border, this

the joys of Palakkad, but our friend, the

farmhouse that houses exotic and rare

park is a haven for a variety of deer and

perfect host – has extended us an open

cattle breeds. A stiff climb but the view

other wild animals. We were excited by

invitation. We will be back!n

at the top is definitely worth it! Nelliyampathy 52 km from town. This

the mob of deer coming close to our group.

place is known for its tea gardens and

Choolanur Peacock Sanctuary 30 km from

cardamom plantations. Situated on

town. This forest reserve is home to

the high ranges of the Western Ghats,

more than 200 peacocks and a host of

Nelliyampathy offers a great view of

exotic butterflies and bird species. We

the plains, rivers, forests and spar-

were overwhelmed by the vibrancy of colours.

perfect for families. We played a family game of frisbee and leisurely strolled along the canopied walkways.

HOW TO GET THERE By Flight the nearest airports are Coimbatore (55 km) and Cochin (160 km). By train Kochuvelli Express, Kollam Express and Rapti Sagar Express. Check the timings and schedules at www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/ By Bus Check the timings and schedules at www.redbus.in/BusTickets.aspx/Madras/Palakkad Car route Chennai to Palakkad: Chennai – Krishnagiri – Dharmapuri – Toppur – Salem – Sankari – Bhavani – Perunthurai – Avinashi – Coimbatore bypass – Walayar – Kanjikode – Palakkad

kling silver waterfalls. The cool wind

blowing on our face makes us want to linger at the summit.

If time permits, check out Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Attappady and

Wildlife Safari Discover the tropical

other wildlife parks in the area.

wilderness of Palakkad and appreciate

Boating Palakkad boasts of a

the beauty of biodiversity.

number of rivers and waterways. Hire

Silent Valley National Park 40 km from

a boat and explore the dams and sur-

Mannarkkad, Palakkad district is home

rounding gardens.

Palakkad is a have n for antique barga in hunters. Check out sm all shops with a stash of old me mentoes and knick-knacks that could be part of your collecti on at home.

A view of the

Palakkad Fort

Rathotsavam festival at Kalpathy www.parentcircle.in 43

materials required

hands on Pink, red, yellow & orange kite paper

food colour insulation tape pens glass jar

rice scissors

wire

Nithya (13) and Shaila (14)

Cut 10 cm squares from the kite paper, in each colour.

Fanfold to 1cm orange & yellow pieces and pink & red pieces.

Wrap around the middle of fan fold, the top end of wire.

44 Parent Circle / July 2011

Mix food colouring in a jar of rice grains. Stick your flower pen into the jar. Make another flower pen with the orange & yellow paper.

6 4

Open the top and bottom layer of the fan fold separately to appear like rose petals.

Wind insulation tape around the wire and pen, binding them together.

Cut the wire length to the length of a pen.

www.parentcircle.in 45

parent chef

Rashmee Ramkumar

Mexican style square parathas Makes 2 parathas INGREDIENTS Whole wheat flour

¼ cup

Onions

2 tbsp finely chopped

Tomatoes

2 tbsp finely chopped

Garlic

2 pods finely chopped

Jalapenos*

1 tbsp finely chopped

Rajma

2 tbsp

Cheese

1 tsp grated

Oil

2 tbsp

Cumin powder

1 tsp

Oregano

1/2 tsp

Salt to taste *a variety of fat green chillies METHOD 1.Soak the Rajma overnight and pressure cook. Grind it to form a coarse paste, keep aside.

till done. Add the Rajma paste, chopped jalapenos, grated cheese, spices and salt, and cook for 2 minutes.

This interesting paratha variation is rich in

3.Make smooth dough with the whole wheat flour and divide into 2 balls.

protein to repair muscle. A cup of cooked

4.Roll out one ball into a chapathi, place the stuffing in the centre and fold the chapathi on all four sides to form a square.

2.Pour 2 tsp oil in a pan, throw in the onions, garlic and tomatoes, and sauté

5.Shallow fry the chapathi with the folded side down, till crisp and done. Turn it over and fry till the other side is done.

Mushroom brushetta

2.Sauté mushrooms in ½ tsp olive oil till done.

Serves: 1 INGREDIENTS Whole wheat bread

4 slices

Tomatoes

2 tbsp deseeded

Garlic Mushrooms Olive oil Oregano

and finely chopped

4 pods finely chopped

2 tbsp finely chopped

1 tsp + 2 tsp 1/2 tsp

Salt to taste METHOD 1.Sauté tomatoes and garlic in ½ tsp olive oil till the tomatoes are done and become thick in consistency. Season with salt and oregano.

46 Parent Circle / July 2011

protein as it incorporates Rajma, and makes for a power-packed lunch. Athletes need

beans supplements 45 percent of the daily fibre requirement.

6.Repeat with the other ball. 7.Serve with mint chutney or sour cream.

3.Make round shapes of the 4 slices of bread. 4.Top them with the tomato and mushroom. 5.Grill in an oven for 10 minutes till crisp. 6.Drizzle with 2 tsp olive oil and serve hot. 7.Alternatively, a tava can be used to brown the bread before topping it. A great appetizer, this mushroom-tomato combo is

loaded with the antioxidant ‘lycopene’ from the tomatoes

and protein from the mushrooms. Lycopene lowers blood cholesterol levels. Compared to vegetable proteins, mush-

room protein is rich in essential amino acids, that can be easily absorbed. Enjoy it as a snack or as an accompaniment with the main course.

Spinach and vegetable au gratin Serves: 2 INGREDIENTS For the white sauce: Milk

320 ml

Maida

2 tbsp

Butter

2 tsp

Nutmeg powder

a pinch

Oregano

1 tsp

Salt and pepper to taste METHOD 1.Sauté the maida in the butter till light brown. 2.Gradually pour in the milk and keep stirring till it thickens to a sauce consistency. Make sure there are no lumps. 3.Throw in the spices and salt, and mix. FOR THE VEGETABLES

METHOD 1.Sauté all the vegetables except spinach in the butter till done. 2.Add the chopped spinach leaves and cook for 2 minutes.

This is a sure winner with kids and

3.Season with salt and pepper.

ness of a wide variety of vegetables

ASSEMBLING

and iron-rich spinach. A high calorie

1. Mix in the vegetables into the white sauce.

strenuous sports activities. Teen

Onion

2 tbsp finely chopped

Garlic

2 tbsp finely chopped

Capsicum

2 tbsp finely chopped

Zucchini*

2 tbsp finely chopped

Spinach

2 tbsp finely chopped

Baby corn

2 tbsp finely chopped

2. Transfer them to a baking bowl, top with grated cheese and bread crumbs. Grill it in an oven for 14 minutes or till the top layer turns golden brown.

Butter

2 tsp

3. Garnish with olives.

Black olives

10 pieces

3. Serve hot.

Cheese

1 cube (3-4 tbsps)

Bread crumbs

1 tbsp

Salt and pepper to taste

is healthy too, as it blends the good-

dish, it is an ideal supplement after athletes need 2000-4000 calories per day to achieve their goals.

*(Available in upmarket stores like Amma Naana, Fresh@, Pazhamudir Nilayam)

Mango and banana yoghurt smoothie Serves: 1 INGREDIENTS Ripe Mango Banana Vanilla custard powder Hung yoghurt* Sugar

1/2 cup chopped ½ chopped 1 tsp 1 tbsp 1-2 tbsp

*(curd is poured in a cloth and hung, allowing the whey to drip out completely)

A high-energy, easy-to-prepare drink, it is ideal for consumption a couple of hours before any

sports activity. It has the goodness of probiotics from yoghurt that aids digestion, and vitamins from fruits that keep us healthy. Packed with

potassium, vitamins and fibre, bananas are an excellent source of energy for athletes. Mangoes

add a rich tropical flavour to the drink and are also packed with nutrients.

METHOD Blend all the ingredients in a mixer and serve chilled in a tall glass. n

Rashmee Ramkumar is a Chennai based nutritionist who loves trying out healthy and tasty recipes.

www.parentcircle.in 47

viewpoint

children s e r o h c d l o househ Uma Shanker

arents often complain that children do not help them with

So, in effect, we, as adults are unable to go

the household chores. They wonder what could be an

with the flow of children’s interests to get them

effective way of ‘making’ children participate in

involved in household activities. When we

these tasks. Have you seen a child of two or three wanting to put his hands in the bucket of soap water when the maid is washing clothes? Or demanding to be given the broom to sweep the rooms? When children are actually interested in taking part, we deny them the opportunity saying, “You are too young/small to do these things”.

introduce activities to children at the right time and in the right manner, they will take to it more enthusiastically, than if we delay and let that period pass. Psychologists call these ‘critical periods of learning’ or ‘sensitive periods.’ Another important aspect that we have to focus on is

We have many taboos and restrictions and think that children

that these household tasks

should not sweep or mop because it is dirty work. Or that they

are not just boring chores

cannot wash clothes because they could catch a cold.

that the child is obliged to do

When we do think that they are capable of doing such things like filling up bottles with water, laying the table or even making the beds, the children now feel inadequate. Often they do not

as a member of the family. Rather we should adopt the attitude that everyone has a different work to do and it is a shared responsibility.

have the basic skills required to do chores efficiently, or are

At the initial stage, if we encourage children to help their

just not interested.

parents and the work is done together, they learn to enjoy it be-

In the Montessori Houses of Children, children between 2 ½ and 6 years are shown how to carry out a variety of activities like pouring water, folding napkins, dusting, sweeping, mopping, polishing objects, cutting vegetables, rolling chapattis and so on. These are hot favourites. Children repeat these chores endlessly, gaining refinement of movements. This helps them acquire the ability to perform with skill. Parents report their keenness in carrying out the same activities at home as well, and children soon become independent in taking care of their environment. Parents also report that the same children, between 6 and 9 years, have stopped helping and are preoccupied with other interests such as reading or playing games. In fact, at one parent-teacher meeting, a parent described her son’s behaviour with humour and despair. She would call out his name at least three times before he responds by walking into the kitchen holding a book in his hand, eyes on the book. And when she requests him to help her by setting the table, he would grunt and walk away to bring the plates in one hand even as he continues reading! As a teacher, my response was, “Do you remember worrying so much whether he would ever be interested in reading?”

48 Parent Circle / July 2011

cause of the camaraderie that is enjoyed by working together. It is also noticeable that if the adults enjoy cleaning up or washing up and are indeed house-proud and want everything in its place, children imbibe these qualities naturally. n Uma Shanker is Director, Centre for Montessori Training, Chennai and a Montessori Teacher Trainer having three decades of experience in the field of education.

Points to rememb

ipate in encouraged to partic Children have to be d; parents en they are intereste household chores wh r age. g them at a younge should start engagin with the adults as to be done together Initially, chores have a shared activity. the chores rather tively demonstrate Parents have to ac m. than instructing the ir attitude to the d by example -- the Parents have to lea Hence they have to ildren’s perception. task affects their ch and demanding. her than be serious be a role model rat

discussion point Children have to experience life beyond books and involve themselves in household chores. They can start with small activities like clearing the dining table and washing their own plates. Once

Should parents instill the habit of doing

they start helping with the chores, they will appreciate what their mothers are doing for them. My mother used to cook and walk 5 km to school when she was just eight, in Kumbakonam. At 75, she is healthy and active. I wonder if our children, who shy away from housework, will be healthy even at 30. Satya Jagannathan, homemaker, mother of a 13-year-old girl I find it extremely difficult to involve my children in household chores. I know that it is important for their self-development. But it is an uphill task to get them to clear the table or polish their own school shoes. It takes nearly 15 minutes to coax them to do a two-

HOUSEHOLD CHORES

minute job and I give up. I must start them off on small tasks and

in children?

slowly add more chores. Ameeta Advaith Hebbar, homemaker, mother of two teenagers Children should certainly be involved in household chores to make

I believe that it is extremely important for many reasons. It is about

them realise the effort it takes to keep the home clean. They must

learning tasks, about feeling good and being participative in the

not take life around them for granted. My children know that they

household. There is a lot of bonding that happens. Maybe you can

should put away food lying on the table, pick up litter from the floor

reward children when they do the chores. My 13-year-old daughter

and arrange washed clothes in the cupboard. I may not involve

makes tea for me when I come back home. Though this is a

them in major chores like cooking and washing but I give them

simple task, she takes pride in making it well, waits for my reaction,

important responsibilities such as locking the doors at night. Since

and tries to make it the way I like it. Multiply the number of tasks

I am particular about eating at least one meal a day together, I

as they grow older and in a few years, they become responsible

have laid down a rule that whoever comes to the table last, will be

individuals.

responsible for clearing it up after the meal. Mamta Sundar, homemaker, mother of two teenagers You have to inculcate the habit in children early and make it a

Brinda Iyer, mother of two A child learns to do things when he or she is given the freedom to commit mistakes, and also learns from them. They become

part of their routine. Or life will be difficult for them when they

independent and take pride in doing things. Preparing a vegetable

grow older. Boys or girls, get them to help you in mopping,

salad or fruit salad can be a learning experience for a nine-year-old

making the dough, cleaning, dusting, and putting the toys back

child. The best way to make them participate is by making them cut vegetables in various shapes and decorate them. It is also

in place.

easier for the parent to encourage the child to follow a healthy Sheela Bhandari, homemaker, mother of a 19-year-old

eating habit. Anil Kumar Pillai

Children, from the time they can walk and talk, should be trained to help keep the house in order. As early as two years old, they should be made to keep their toys in place. As they grow, they can help in setting the table or clearing it up after a meal. These small chores will help them as they venture into adulthood. N Krishnan, father of two boys

next month's

question

CAN CHILDREN WATCH REALITY SHOWS? CAN THEY PARTICIPATE?

Please send in your responses before July 15 2011 to editorial@ parentcircle.in with the subject line â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Discussion Pointâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, or send them to PARENT CIRCLE, 3rd Floor, Shri Renga Vihar, 8/14 First Cross St, Karpagam Gardens, Adyar, Chennai 600020, India.

www.parentcircle.in 49

check it out

oard Games are fun, especially when you want to spend some time with family and friends. Playing board games provides the

added benefit of helping build one’s self-esteem, strategic thinking and social skills. Children learn to take turns and play by the rule. They learn to win or lose with grace. But most importantly, playing board games allows parents to spend quality time with their children – memorable moments filled with laughter and fun. Parent Circle suggests a few board games for the whole family. AGES 4+ AGES 3+

Twister

Kids on Stage 2-6 players Zapak Games, ` 349

2-4 players Funskool, ` 299 This game is a great family entertainer that ties you up

Every child loves

in knots! A referee spins the

to be a star! With

dial. The other players follow

this board game,

her instructions to place their

it is truly amazing

hands and feet on the selected

and fun to see a child as young as 3 getting into

coloured circles on the floor mat

the act – galloping like a horse or slithering like

– (Left hand, yellow circle; Right

a snake. The game keeps everyone active as

leg, blue circle) – till one or all

every player takes turns acting and guessing –

topple over.

a hilarious game for the whole family.

Develops: Creativity, confidence and communication skills

Develops: Flexibility, balancing and listening skills

AGES 6+

Mastermind Animal Friends 2 players Funskool, ` 299 This is the classic game of mastermind simplified for younger kids. In this game, the challenge is to break the code set by your opponent. The code to be broken is a set of 3 coloured animals, hidden behind a rocky mountain. The

Disney Guess Who?

code-breaker tries to

2 players, Funskool, ` 349

replicate the pattern,

Players have to guess the mystery Disney character on the opponent’s card through a process of elimination. Simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ questions will ultimately take you to the mystery character. Children will love this game as they have to ask questions like: “Does the person wear a crown?” or “Is your person sleepy all the time?” Boys and girls will equally enjoy this game as the mystery characters are equally divided between male and female.

Develops: Observation, strategy, memory and communication skills

50 Parent Circle / July 2011

AGES 5+

as the code-maker provides hints.

Develops: Logical and deductive thinking skills

www.parentcircle.in 51

AGES 7-12

STRATEGY GAMES 8+ YEARS

Junior Pictionary Two or more teams of 2 or more players Mattel, ` 499 You have just sixty seconds to draw a pizza

Six 2-4 players Dr. Woods, ` 399 An addictive game of strategy in which the

or a coin or an apple pie for your teammates to guess. In this game, you need more imagination than artistic skills. The

first person to form at least one winning

cards are designed for young children and there are two levels of

combination, while blocking opponents from

play. An entertaining game for the whole family!

creating the winning combo, is the winner.

Develops: Imagination, creativity, communication skills and camaraderie

This simple, easy to learn game is both challenging and fun.

Develops: Analytical and strategic thinking skills

Back Gammon FAMILY/PARTY GAMES 8+ YEARS

Taboo Two or more teams of 2 or more players Funskool, ` 749 A word-guessing party game in which your teammates guess the correct word by giving clues, without saying that particular word

2 players (Several makes and varying price ranges. Also available as a computer game) This classic game involves both luck and strategy. Players move their pieces according to the roll of the dice. The winner is the first one to get all his pieces off the board.

Develops: Analytical and strategic skills

and the five words listed on the card. There is a timer, and you keep a count of the number of words your

CARD GAMES

teammates can guess before time runs out. A definite

7+ YEARS

party entertainer.

Uno

Develops: Creativity, communication skills and camaraderie

2-10 players Mattel, ` 99 Be the first to get rid of all your cards by matching

India Special Pictionary Two or more teams of 2 or more players Mattel, ` 499 Try your hand at this game of quick draw for the whole family that tests your imagination and creativity. This special edition includes ’Indian’ cards with words and personalities such as Amul, Aiswarya Rai, Kuchupudi and Alphonso mangoes.

Develops: Imagination, creativity, communication skills and camaraderie

52 Parent Circle / July 2011

colours and numbers. But don’t forget to yell UNO with the last card on hand! A fun game for the whole family. 3+ YEARS

Uno Junior 2-4 players Mattel, ` 69 A junior version of the family game UNO designed with pictures of wild animals for young ones. Match by colour, number or animal to dispose of all the cards on hand. And yes, don’t forget to yell UNO. A great game to play with grandparents.

Develops: Colour and number identification, strategic skills and family/social bonds

Do you want to share and discuss the joys and travails of parenting? Looking at enriching your parenting skills? You can be a part of an ongoing parenting group with PARENTING MATTERS. Call 98400 33283 / 9710429930 or email to us at parentingmattersindia@gmail.com to find out more.

To subscribe call 044 24461067 or email subscription@parentcircle.in

Know. Understand. Connect.

Parent Circle An exclusive magazine for the Parent in you! Global insights. Local issues. To advertise call 044 24461067 or email advertise@parentcircle.in

events

CHENNAI this month July 1 – 30

Art for Trauma Therapy Center for Counselling, 2A, Casa Blanca 2, Door no 16, Main Road, Dr Thirumurthi Nagar Certificate course for anyone who wishes to pursue professional counselling or art therapy as a career; NGO workers, special educators, students of social work or psychology are eligible. Time: 10 a.m to 4 p.m (98841 00135, 98847 00164, 044-4208010)

Starts on July 2 or 9

funtY- 6 Theatre Y, Studyo No 35, Mandaveli street, Chennai 28 funtY-6 is a six month programme that will take the children through the following areas related to theatre. n

Basics of acting – body language and expression

Voice training – modulation, intonation and expression

Creative writing

All the activities will be worked around their academic schedules to culminate in a public production sometime in the month of December. Time: 2 p.m to 4 p.m on all Saturdays from July to December (98840 70796 / 97 and email: theatrey@gmail.com)

July 7 – 8

Heungbu, Nolbu Museum Theatre, Pantheon Road, Egmore InKo Centre has initiated an exciting Indo-Korean Children’s Theatre collaboration in association with Theatre Seoul, Korea. This pioneering project aims to bring together Indian and Korean children between the ages of 11 and 17 to be part of a spectacular theatre production that will be presented both in India and Korea. Heungbu, Nolbu is based on the Korean folktale. (044-24361224)

July 9

Troi - A musical

July 15

Gandhiji on Education – A talk Balamandir German Hall, 50, Prakasam Street, T Nagar, Chennai - 17 Time: 10.30 a.m (044 – 24464763, 98410 09927)

July 15 - 23

The 4th Samsung Women’s International Film Festival Russian Centre of Science & Culture, 74, Kasturi Rangan Road, Alwarpet The Women’s International Film Festival will focus on a strong Korean and Indian section of feature films, short films and documentaries as well as a section on World Cinema in all three categories showcasing films from several countries. (044 – 24361224)

July 17

Fun in the Garden Indira Nagar Nizhal announces a workshop for children between 5-10 yrs. Time: 9:30 a.m to 11:30 a.m (90030 11372, 98402 21241)

July 30

Spin a yarn for Self and Society Rukmini Arangam, Kalakshetra, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai - 41 Performance of scenes from ‘Aarupadai Veedu’. Choreographed by Premnath. (044 – 24464763, 98410 09927)

July 30 - 31

Chess Tournament

Hall of Chess, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Chennai District Chess Association organises 2nd state-level children’s Chess Tournament. (044 – 24995315, 24994293. E-mail: mylaporeclub@gmail.com)

July 30

Root 2 Fruit

Museum Theatre, Pantheon Road, Egmore

Tapovan Hall, Chinmaya Heritage Centre, 2, 13th Avenue, Harrington Road, Chetpet

A musical by Theaterwerkstatt Hannover for children aged 3 to

A Parenting Carnival by Chennai Counsellors Foundation that

6 years. Time: 11 a.m and 3 p.m (96771 25738)

includes Guest Lectures, Panel discussion, Talk Shows, Movie

For details http://www.thelittlefestival.com/

screening and a lot more. Time: 10 a.m to 6 p.m (Brinda Jayaraman 98401 03967)

July 10

Free the Tree Campaign A step forward this month in social and environmental awareness campaigns. Time: 4:30 p.m (90030 11372, 98402 21241)

54 Parent Circle / July 2011

Entrance: One Parent Rs. 100; both parents Rs. 150 For event listing 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’.

www.parentcircle.in 55

lighter vein Carol Band

ast night, when my son asked me to help

three little girls on a play date almost always yield a

him with his math homework, I was stumped.

negative number. I've discovered that things don't

He is in the sixth grade now. When he was

always add up.

in the fifth grade last year, I was baffled as I had to multiply fractions. Even when he was in fourth grade, I was useless when he sought help with long division. I was seriously challenged by a third-grade worksheet that involved circling pictures of bears.

Only yesterday, Child Number Three was lurking around the house, driving me crazy. It was too wet to play outside, too boring inside and too early to start on homework.

Frankly speaking, after going to college, getting

"Call a friend," I suggested.

married and being fruitful, my math days seem to

"What's Will's number?" he asked.

be over. "Maybe you should ask Dad for help," I suggested.

"648-7407," I answered brightly. I may not know the 10th digit of pi, but I've memorised a lot of

I admit, I'm no whiz at middle school math, but

phone numbers.

that's because I don’t need to calculate any circum-

A few minutes later, the doorbell rang. One bored

ference or find the lowest common denominator anymore. But if you ask me to plot the shortest route to a remote suburban soccer field, or divide two chocolate cupcakes among three children, or to estimate how long it will take for the windshield on my minivan to defrost on a Monday morning when the temperature is 22 degrees Fahrenheit, I've got the answers. That's because although I may be awful

boy, plus another bored boy (take away two grape popsicles) added up to an afternoon of wrestling in the playroom and Whiffle ball in the rainy street. Applaud my genius, but it was simply basic Arithmom-tic. One + one = zero. But I shouldn't feel smug. According to conventional math, my 18 years of being a mom practically qualify me as a child management expert for sure. Heck, I've raised three kids through colic, toilet training and preschool. I've even helped them make sense out of the irrational numbers of puberty. I've learned that one teenage girl + twenty $40 T-shirts from Abercrombie & Fitch often equals nothing to wear. However, using higher Math-momtics, I’ve discovered that although I have logged nearly two decades of parenting experience, my kids have a combined total of 45 years of being kids. My children score over me by more than two to one -- the time they have spent asking me for snacks, barging into the bathroom and interrupting my phone calls exceeds the years I've devoted to perfecting my parenting skills. Even if you add my

at math, I excel in Arith-mom-tic.

husband's experience (according to Arith-mom-tic,

The mathematics of motherhood is very different

his years don't count nearly as much as mine) as a

from what they teach in school, I explained to my

parental unit, we are still clearly outnumbered.

son. It's a lot more conceptual, highly theoreti-

Go figure. n

cal and really, really advanced. For instance, I've

equals nothing but trouble. Also that it takes only

Carol Band is a journalist by training and mom by chance. This article was originally published in her column ‘Household Word’ by Dominion Parenting Media. Please send your feedback to editorial@parentcircle.in with a cc

five minutes to prepare instant oatmeal, and that

to carol@carolband.com.

learned that when four grape popsicles and one lime popsicle are to be divided among five kids, it

Owned and Published by Nalina Ramalakshmi from No.8/14, First Cross Street, Karpagam Gardens, Adyar, Chennai - 600020, and Printed by: R Dhayalan at Sun Graphics, 51 Gangai Amman Koil Street, Vadapalani, Chennai - 600026. Editor: Nalina Ramalakshmi, Phone No: 044-2446 1066/67/68.

56 Parent Circle / July 2011

R.Dis.No.197/11

Like relationships,

it strengthens with time!

Parent Circle Volume 1 Issue 3 July 2011 Price ` 40

THE BROADER SCOPE OF EDUCATION The C’s Beyond the R’s Mindset

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