Parenting

How would a young girl feel if she was cooking and her brother playing? How would a young boy feel if his sister was staying indoors and he had to go out and work? These scenarios aren’t unconventional. The question here is: why are some tasks divided as per gender? Gender bias is prominent in our society and has never been questioned. However, many have accepted gender bias and never interrogated its effects. It has been imbibed deeply in our culture. Certain errands are only for men, and others for women. Home is the first school for any child, and parents are the first teachers. How to prepare your child for gender bias? Being a role model If you are a father and not helping around at home, it sets the tone that, men are shouldn’t do house chores. Correspondingly, children believe what they see. One way of improving this is let kids be part of the work. For instance, boys can also be helping in the kitchen and girls can help out their father in machine-driven wok. This reduces stereotypical gender bias. Ask them to express their thoughts. Boys crying is a sign of weakness. Especially, there are many derogatory statements too, like “Don’t cry like a girl,” “Be strong” etc. Parents need to be conscious of this language. Suppressing emotions bursts a bubble over time. Leads to depression which could stay carried all their lives. Expression of their sorrows in not accepted for boys. This sorrow grows over them and affects their personal and professional relationships. Instead of this gender bias, asking kids to openly communicate their emotions builds a safe environment for them. You can ask them questions and share opinions that make the child feel comfortable and safe. Open discussions creates comforting environment. Reciprocating children makes them feel special. Undoubtedly, they grow to be exceptional individuals. Set the same rules and boundaries. Particularly normalize that girls play sports and boys cook. All households need positive discipline. When you don’t treat kids with the same rules, it agitates them. Fabricated minds lead to heaps of unfairness. This can cause behavioral issues. Teach children to be righteous and believe in gender equality. This way, they can maintain a healthy relationship with the opposite gender. Teach them gender equality. Bridging girls to leadership opportunities and asking normalizing fears for boys should be a commonality. Subsequently, in small villages, because of financial adversity and controlling parents, girls skip school so that their brothers can attend. Girls and boys should have same opportunities. Additionally, with the right exposure, kids can make informed decisions when the situation arises. Education imparts knowledge of exposure to a child, which encourages gender equality. Respect the differences. Toxic parenting is very dangerous. Gender bias starts at home, and it effects the society. For instance, boys frequently tease girls about the make-up they wear, while girls’ mock boys about how they dress. Phrases like “Don’t be such a girl” or “Be a man!” are racist. There is no definition of what it means to be a girl or what it means to be a man in society. When such hallucinatory bars are set in a society, respecting the differences goes haywire. In conclusion, questioning based on choices people make has to be highly discouraged. Similarly, respecting their differences should be a norm. If everyone was the same, then just like a sheep herd, there would be no growth in the mindset. Undeniably conscious parenting makes future generations accepting of the differences. Nevertheless, parenting is being able to be a friend first.

My best friend shared something about her toddler. She said, “He won’t sit and learn for school like we did.” He wants engagement, even in math and science. ” Do you also face this issue? If so have you tried including games in the learning process of your little one? Learning just through theory in school was acceptable once. Even though it was boringly monotonous, learning was a compulsion. Good grades are signs of resourcefulness. But now, kids don’t want that. Kids want to play, learn, and grow. Kids want fun learning as they have more exposure. It has to be pleasant, enjoyable, and also witty. Playing online games is their favorite activity. Children enjoy interactive games like talking pens, recording books, or even building blocks. Kids are immersive readers. Activity engagement in the game model of learning is immense. Children learn to implement the information, which is just like research. This develops their concepts. Improved analytical thinking makes them better problem solvers. A lot of research has been done on game-based learning. Fun is not far away with fast internet connectivity and low-cost devices. What kinds of games help in learning? Interactive games: Kids like devices like the smart pen. They can record and hear their own voices. This acts as a two-way communication. Children like to play online games and connect with other kids. These interactive games are also visually appealing. Giving bonus credits motivates the children. Feel and touch games: In a toy store, learning with blocks and Legos is common. This kind of learning is fun as they are building something from scratch. When they feel and touch a block, the child is happy because he/she is imagining the sensation of creating something. They can easily learn math from such games. Such games make them clear-thinkers. Role-playing games: Learning through role-playing makes the child receptive to the other kids’ needs as well. There is an intercommunication and a dependency that creates a sense of responsibility. Team-playing skills are a very important part of learning. Children learn accommodation, competitiveness, and understanding. Introducing such methods in preschools can be beneficial for the children. Both teachers and parents can include these games. Therefore, role playing games develops their emotional intelligence. Puzzles in games: Children are very intuitive and insightful. A simple block map, or even guessing the correct words, a treasure hunt excites them. In other words, puzzles help to build their logical ability and problem-solving skills. Teachers are expected to be creative as well. Children want fun while learning. They want to experience learning like how they enjoy playing. Giving live examples, using props while teaching, and learning through games is what is needed. This builds their communication skills, making them comfortable sharing their thoughts. Children also develop a competitive spirit from a young age. Even if they lose a game, they learn not to quit. This is a very crucial life lesson. Learning through games don’t need formal training. Children are quick learners, and they are usually fearless, unlike adults. In addition, games develop their language skills. Memory is improved, as they are more susceptible to learning something new. They develop stronger connections with their peers. They are able to speak their mind and also understand another child’s view. Many sensory experiences are also developed in children via interactive learning such as games. Above all, all this learning forms an emotional bond!  Here is a post on some practicle ideas on Fun and interactive games for kids by Firstcry- do check them!  Do share your experience on learning through games with your child. Also what games do you suggest?

In retrospection, COVID–19 has been one of the major challenges reoccurring in our lives. With some initial glitches the world is moving forward. Education, healthcare, jobs all are electronically connected now. Online learning has become a way of life due to Covid -19. Most schools, tutors, even expanded to extra-curricular subjects, through online learning methods. Online learning, even though it is convenient, has its pros and cons. Basically, change is new to many, but progress is impossible without change. Let us tune in and read about the troubles of online learning. Technology gap Not all parents are well versed in technology. Additionally , online teaching tools like connecting to advanced Zoom calls, can be a hassle for many parents. Parents have to sit with young children throughout the class. This can be a tedious task. A good internet connection is much needed for every class. For developing countries, which have minimal internet access and power outages, online classes can be a hassle. Managing the children: Offline class has a greater number of students and yet easy to track. But, in an online class, the difficulty of articulating your point is like deep waters. Children are distracted easily and hard to monitor. Students sometime chat, sometimes not at desk, playing games and many more. With all this managing children in an online class is not only about teaching, but also monitoring them. Time factor Online lessons are schedules yet, sticking to the plan can have its surprises.  Managing the classroom is challenging. The urge to finish the class on time, creates more discrepancies. Sometimes it is the bad internet, or late joining which parents might not even be aware of. Even with strict rules, these mishaps tend to happen, and any precautions taken are only a temporary solution to this problem. Managing homework Most children dread homework. With online learning, homework has become a grindstone for parents as well. With rising demand, homework’s are more creative now. Common complaints you hear from most parents are: “As this is online class, we have to sit the with the children, but we have no time.” Many children skip homework do to this. For instance, in timed classes, homework can’t be a part of classwork. This makes them ignore homework altogether. Feedback for children Feedback is not personal anymore as it is online classes. Hardly students check their suggestions or feedback given to them. In offline classes, it is personalized and scope of improvement. After that teachers discuss with the parents as well.  Feedback is very important as it gives a check on the learning abilities of the child. With online learning, the feedback is generic. Demotivation Above all students are yet to adjust to long online sessions. Keeping kids pinned and also able to put forth the importance of learning is irksome. It is like information dump on the child. Looking at the screen all day demotivates the children. However, most students do not even switch on their videos, or might not even sit in front of their screens. Due to the time factor and lack of true presence personal attention goes down. In conclusion the cons of online learning, even though it is a safe method, developing this system takes time. With more accurate measures and fewer students per class, there is a possibility of success. Therefore, adapting to the best possible solution and making the best out of it gives a future to online learning.

There was a time when education was not a competition. It was a commodity of privilege to attend school. Education increases self-esteem and helps them appreciate the good things in life. It is a revolution. Now it is a generality. There is primary schooling, middle school, high school, and graduation. These are the basics. Also types of parents matter. There are good, controlling, single or even uninvolved parents. However they are, education has the final monetary benefit in a child’s life. Lets see the main educational needs of today : Education takes a straightforward approach. Empowered education happens when parents and teachers are involved in the child’s needs. Making them problem solvers and improving their life skills is the goal. New concepts have to be easily adaptable. In addition, it is more fun and less bookish now. Both personal and professional development are Work spaces need thoughtful leaders. An aware individual makes right choices. This creates a healthy work space.. Education today enhances personal and profession growth. Improving their emotional and interpersonal relationships A troubled child will find education difficult. They isolate themselves in their own heads. With support of knowledge, emotional outbursts can be avoided. They can make better choices for themselves. What they need is the ability to communicate openly. As a result being problem solvers. Keeping them engaged So many modes of education are available now. Some are unschooled, online home school programs, online teaching, etc. They are interactive and fun. Quoting Albert Einstein , “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Grades are not a way to criticize a child’s knowledge. In today’s environment, providing options to choose helps them. This develops their leadership skills. Languages, the arts, visual learning, and communication skills are all important. Therefore, these are essential qualities for survival. Involvement of the teacher. Teachers today have to make lessons fun. Basically there is an information overload. In addition, teachers are like second parents. For instance, a home-like atmosphere makes children comfortable and cheerful. They can loosen themselves and open up their creativity. They are quick learners, so fun learning engages them. Thereafter their presentation and body language heightens. Hence this improves there emotional dependency. Making use of media and technology With online education, children should be given the scope to make happy choices. Technology and interactive learning methods are the best bets for this. Above all, play and learn is an optimum approach. Today’s education has options like talking pens, smart books, playing with blocks, abacuses, etc. Using these can make them effective interpreters. Education should teach to be a better human being rather than a richer human. Children lead the future generations. With technology, parents and teachers can provide children with a pioneering education. In other words, giving the right guidance will lead to a flourishing future for a child.  

When you bring two or more children (or siblings) together, in no time you will notice that they develop a plot, a narrative. And suddenly a live theatre is going on in your living room! They are either re-enacting you, their teachers, some story or cartoon or simply creating scenes from their imagination. They also appoint (self- appoint) a director too. Usually it is the older child and the rest of them follow the narrative as actors. Theater and story telling Theatrical performances are often considered to be an art form. Its ultimate objective is to tell a story or convey a message through a performance for the purpose of entertainment. At the most basic level, theatrical performances involve a narrative, a plot of some sort where actors bring a story to life. Is it just us or does it sound like any child’s imagination? Children are natural story tellers Even if a child is alone with you or simply with his or her toys – they will start cooking up stories or plots. Oh, and the expression with which they narrate – the fiery enthusiasm, the spark of immense joy in their eyes and the equally zealous gestures – they have it all to be a thespian! But unfortunately, as they grow, this spark gradually fades away. But wouldn’t you wish to keep this spark alive in your child even when they are grownups? Theatre allows children to share their experiences within a group, audience and interact as a part of the group. Well, ofcourse it encourages child to be brave, confident, boosts imagination. But it also lets him / her express what he / she feels and do what they love. It encourages him/ her to be bold, dramatic and tell a story with great passion! It is our motto at goDiscover to always try and utilize the things that a child already loves, in strengthening their growth and development. We are a huge fan of ‘interaction’. A child will never be able to just absorb a piece of information that’s been provided unless interaction is there at the crux of it all. Plain studying or listening tends to get boring (of course unless the topic itself excites them). Theatre or drama can bring that interaction to any given topic. Meaning, including theatre or drama in a child’s curriculum will do wonders! 10 benefits of including theatre in your child’s life: Ignites curiosity, creativity and imagination Helps child express their feelings/emotions Builds story telling abilities Instils confidence and boldness Helps understand body language and non-verbal communication Enhances cognitive skills Builds a child’s vocabulary and fluency Offers a grand platform to learn teamwork, communication skills, leadership and camaraderie Provides a healthy outlet to channelize all that active energy Aids in developing physical co-ordination and agility Evoking theatre scenarios at home While the child’s imagination is sparked by you, their favourite cartoon, books etc, your job as a parent is to encourage him/her to carry on with theatre and make it their own. You can either enrol them in a theatre class or encourage them even at home! The best way to start this journey is to enter their world of imagination and get involved in their story creating process whenever you can. And it doesn’t have to be just about fairy tales. Simply participate in their day-to-day drama, participate, give a bit of your input, hand out a story from his or her favourite book or ask them to enact how they feel. You can even plan a mini theatre at your place with his / her friends too, get them costumes and stage up a drama for the parents and make a fun filled evening out of it! So, you see that theatre not just adds up to a lot of skills, but it is also an extremely fun, interactive and a feel-good activity for both young and old! Some recommended theatres for kiddos In case you would like to go ahead and take professional support for your little one, here are some recommended theatres you can look into: https://www.theatredots.com/ https://www.rangashankara.org/home/rangashankara/aha-theatre-for-children/ https://www.indianetzone.com/59/childrens_theatre_india.htm https://www.thelittletheatreindia.com/home.html Otherwise, you do have plenty of online theatre classes being offered by renowned platforms that might be helpful in case there are no such services available near your home. Give your child the opportunity to explore themselves and shine bright like a star, will you?