It all started when a little girl took a biscuit from another child-creative intelligence

It all started when a little girl took a biscuit from another child’s snack box, when the teacher gently prompted her to ask permission before taking from someone, the girl said,’goldilocks did not ask permission’. This got us thinking, where life’s values are concerned, is Goldilocks an apt story for young growing minds? On one hand we teach them about please, thank you and sorry and on the other hand, this story teaches them the contrary!

To change all that, the level three (age 5) children of Podar Jumbo Kids, discussed a new version of Goldilocks- GOLDILOCKS AND THE 3 MAGIC WORDS, in this story they change the end where some kids teach Goldilocks to go back to the bears home and help her learn to say thank you, sorry and please. The kids have even drawn their own version of the new story. This little new version is an attempt by children, for the children and of the children.

This started the ball rolling and we initiated discussion starters with all our senior kindergartners, we retold them all the traditional fairy tales and rhymes and then we asked them if they would like to change anything  and the reason why they would like to change them and what a fantastic discussion starter it was, here are some excerpts – (T signifies teacher and K signifies kids)

About Hansel and Gretel-

K- I don’t think there is anyting like witches, I think it was an old grandmother who liked to

     give sweets to little kids, my dadi(grandmother) does that.

T- But then why did she call them inside the house?

K- Maybe so that they can sit and eat the sweets.

K- Or maybe she wanted them to wash their hands after eating.

T- Hmm that’s a good idea, so the old lady wanted Hansel and Gretel to wash their hands?

K- Yes and maybe rinse their mouth too so that germs don’t attack.

K- And maybe Hansel and Gretel were scared because she asked them to brush their teeth and they did not like to brush their teeth

T- That sounds interesting, so the old lady called them in to brush their teeth…

K- No to teach them how to brush their teeth and keep them healthy….

For the 3 little pigs-

·         K- Why is the wolf always bad? Are wolves bad?

·         T- Well, I have not met one so I really don’t know if they are bad.

·         K- Yes they are because they eat other animals.

·         T- But lions and tigers eat them too then why don’t these stories have lions and tigers? Why only a wolf?

·         K- And some wolves must be good too, right?

·         T- o.k so lets assume that this wolf was a good wolf, then why was he chasing the pigs?

·         K- Maybe to teach them to make better homes

·         T- Better?

·         K- Yes stronger……

The Jumbo Kids Senior Kindergarten classrooms (age 5) have been busy drawing, coloring, writing and creating new versions of old fairy tales and songs commonly sung in schools. These kids want to change their world and make it more relevant to ‘their’ childhood. These kids want to innovate, create and change the way teachers and parents entertain and teach them.

And that is what we have done in this unique project AVISHKAR- change and creativity, we identified certain rhymes and songs commonly sung in preschools, which have a negative message or have an incorrect message for growing children. We discussed these with our senior kindergarten children and helped them come up with new versions that were more positive. The kids then drew pictures of the old and new versions and we have compiled them into a book that can be used by all preschools and parents.

Books made by children, for children and for the healthy language, moral and socio-emotional development of children. Here is a little information of the  new versions-

1.   ‘Piggy On The Railway’ became ‘Piggy On The Railway Revisited’ - where the engine driver was more considerate and said I will take more care, instead of saying, I don’t care.

2.   ‘3 Blind Mice’ became ‘3 White Mice’ - in which the mice are not blind, but are white and the farmer’s wife did not cut their tails with a carving knife.

3.   ‘Humpty Dumpty’ became ‘Humpty Dumpty Did Not Fall’ – the rhyme now teaches the kids to be more careful and so does not fall down and is in one piece today.

4.   ‘A Hunting We Will Go’ became ‘On A Picnic We Will Go’ - so there is no fox to catch and put in a box, but pictures to click and animals to enjoy.

5.   ‘Ding Dong Bell’ became ‘The New Ding Dong Bell’- and pussy is not thrown in the well.

6.   ‘Ringa Ringa Roses’ became ‘The Healthy Ringa Ringa Roses’ - a death song sung during the plague in London is now changed with more healthy words.

7.   ‘Hansel And Gretel’ became ‘Hansel And Gretel Meet The Kind Old Lady’ -  who taught them about dental hygiene,

8.   ‘Goldilocks And The 3 Bears’ became ‘Goldilocks Learns The 3 Magic Words’- where Goldilocks does not run away from the bears, but learns how to say sorry, thank you and please- the 3 magic words.

9.    ‘3 Little Pigs’ became ‘The 3 Little Pigs Love The Earth’ -and instead of the wolf trying to eat them, the pigs learn a lesson in environment from the wolf.

10.                ‘3 Billy Goats’ became ‘The 3 Billy Goat’s New Friend The Troll’ – and the pigs actually find out what made the Troll angry and they helped him keep the river clean.

11.               The Elves And Shoe Maker - had no changes but we added about healthy shoe habits for the kids.

These path breaking books have been created by them, to celebrate the world of kindergarteners, a world that is buzzing with brain growth, neural connections and 5D (5 senses) stimulation. Read these books to see their world with new eyes, eyes that will not only see their chubby cheeks but also their cherubic happy involved thinking skills.

Pick up a copy of these books and join us in helping kids listen to  and read healthy stories and songs. Come, support the true  ‘generation next’ redefine-  AVISHKAR - Creativity and Change for a happy Childhood.

Write to us on talktous@podar.org or @swatipopat

Teenagers and their cell phones

Teenagers and their cell phones.

Teenagers are ‘die hard’ users of electronic media; they are busy on their computers, cell phones, and personal digital assistants 24x7.  Experts propose meeting youth where they are—‘riding the airwaves’—with positive messages that compete with and offer attractive alternatives to the negative, unhealthful, or illegal messages they are exposed to every minute

What are we afraid of? Early sexual activity, drugs, violence? Then it’s time for parents to speak up and face the reality that technology is here to stay and thus what is required is a change in parenting, stop trying to keep your teen away from it and start educating your teen about it.  It’s time to change, change our ways of looking at technology rather than thrashing technology use of teenagers lets teach them technology literacy.  Worried that social media, video games will drive them off course from a healthy life of learning? Well, this quote should help us understand and relieve our worry,

When flying between the Earth and the Moon, the Apollo spacecraft was off course more than 90 percent of the time. On their lunar voyages the crew would constantly bring the craft back to its intended trajectory. They were not on a perfect path but a critical path. Because they knew their intended target they could correct their spacecraft whenever it wandered off- Anon

Teenagers are on a voyage to adulthood, they will veer off course like the Apollo but we need to know that as long as they come back to the intended trajectory which in their case is a healthy, happy life, we can be there to correct their spacecraft as and when required. No teenager will be perfect what is critical is that they are given a perfect chance.

Kids are fascinated with all kinds of technology not only because it fulfills their need for ‘exploring’ but also fulfills their need for ‘independent exploring’. This is where we adults lose touch with them, we are unable to share their enthusiasm for this kind of quick learning and hence are unable to talk, share, discuss the uses or abuses of technology to them, we end up nagging, lecturing them on the abuses and that drives them away into their technological world.

Teenager's Use of Electronic Media- According to a survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project covering media use by adolescents aged twelve to seventeen has increased rapidly in recent years and continues to grow! One important trend captured by the Pew survey is that nearly 65 percent of teens who use the internet are now actively creating content—sharing artwork, photos, stories, or videos; creating Web pages or blogs for themselves or for friends or organizations they support; writing online journals; maintaining a personal Web page; and remixing content from online sources to create their own material. Isn’t that wonderful? So then lets ensure that they seek out the correct programs, apps to learn and grow with. (Reference- Fools Gold report on technology)

Here are some interesting apps being used by global teenagers that are interesting for teenagers and help them with their focus in learning and help them take charge of their lives. (References- Karen Finucan Clarkson- - Washington parent.)

·         Distractibility is something that teenagers grapple with; make them responsible for their own distraction with these apps. An app named Self control- allows teenagers to decide which applications to block out for a given period of time while they are concentrating on exams, deadlines, tests etc. it’s like the parental lock on television but instead of the parent the teen decides and takes responsibility. Another app Freedom also does the same.

·         iStudiezPro app is an organizer for kids, helps them keep track of project deadlines, homework. So it’s like having your own personal assistant. Teach your teenager to use this and no need to nag him/her all the time.

·         myHomework app helps track homework assignments, teachers can use this app to send student’s announcements, links, written materials, also links with desktop. Maybe parents too can try using this app, since teenagers respond more to something that comes on the screen!

·         epicWin, this is a fantastic app, it is a video game cum organizer, it helps the child roleplay a character that completes each task of homework etc, and thus earning them points , it is also like a task alarm clock.

·         studyBlue. Is a fantastic app that allows kids to prepare memory cards in the form of flashcards  from their notes to test themselves. It  also helps them see 30 of the top cards created by others and helps them compete with peers and check scores.

·         cheggFlashcards also has similar features. flashcards+ designed by Harvard is another favorite with an additional benefit of multiple languages.

·         ankiDroid is another app for lesson videos, audios etc.

·         eduPort allows them to search lectures, videos on the topic of their choice from you tube, Khan academy etc

Some of the above are paid apps and some are free. Many of them may have different versions in India. The whole point of these apps is to help your teenager become independent from you and take charge of his/her life and learning.

Let’s not forget that the ultimate goal of parenting ‘teens’ is to reach youth with positive messaging rather than criticism and nagging. . Embracing positive media rather than trying to counteract media use, will be a more effective way in shaping teen behaviour. Let us help them become ‘netizens’ and teach them ‘netiquette’ after all this is the cyber generation!

PLAY IS NOT A 4 LETTER WORD

PLAY IS NOT A 4 LETTER WORD- Understanding why play is the work of childhood and how it stimulates brain development.

In India, the focus in most early childhood centers’ is on teaching kids reading, writing, number work and so ‘rote and drill’ methods are a preferred teaching styles. But if 98% of the brain develops in the first five years- then is a foundation of ‘drill and rote’ learning good for kids? Ofcourse not! This kind of foundation is creating students that lack logic, thinking and questioning skills. Whereas, a play based curriculum helps stimulate brain growth and nurtures the growing executive functions of the brain. Play helps children learn better, retain better and enjoy the learning process. Play teaches kids to reason, use logic, plan, work with others, sometimes lead and sometimes follow, to win or lose, to shake hands and make up after a fight.

So should we do away with all ‘learning’ in Kindergartens?

Play is not the enemy of learning. It is “learning’s” partner. Play is the fertilizer for brain growth. Play is learning for kids. Did you know that the foundation of geometry and physics is laid in the kindergarten years? Yes, it is. Children interact with the basic principles of geometry and physics when they play with blocks! This why the kindergarten years are important and so is play in these years, because after all play is the work of childhood.  

Every child goes through kindergarten, but how many teachers and parents actually know the meaning or the founder of kindergarten. Today in India, kindergarten has become K.G and it stands for reading, writing and number work, only. However, is that the real kindergarten?

Friedrich Froebel, a German educationist was the founder of the kindergarten system. “Kindergarten” is a German word which means “children’s garden’, i.e., a place in which young human minds are cultivated. According to him, “the development of the child is to be through play. In play, the child makes the internal external and so the work of teaching in the kindergarten system is to be done in the play spirit.  The child will be and should be taught everything through play.”

PLAY IS THE WORK OF CHILDHOOD, SO LET KIDS PLAY.

Saving kids from the Monsters.

 53% of Indian kids suffer from some form of sexual abuse. 53% of those are boys.

Bringing to the fore many such shocking facts about child sexual abuse is the recently launched book titled ‘A New Normal – Understand. Prevent. Heal.-winning the battle against child sexual abuse’ The key partners in this initiative include Podar Education Network, Early Childhood Association, Yowoto parenting website among others.  What’s best about this book is – it’s contemporary, offers practical solutions, and educates parents, teachers and relatives. One of the key topics discussed are the prevalent myths that have existed in our society from time immemorial. Here’s a lowdown:

1)    Only strangers abuse children- One of the biggest hidden truths of India is that people known to the children abuse them. In more than 50% of such cases, the accused is someone very close to the family. Recently it has been found that in many instances, the child’s father is the abuser.

2)    Only men sexually abuse children- Though in most cases, the male gender is the abuser lot, there have been many instances where women too have sexually exploited children.

3)    Child sexual abuse happens only in the poor strata of the society- This menace has not restricted to any class, caste, religion or educational barriers. It occurs irrespective of what the background of the abuser and the child is.

Why people don’t talk and discuss openly about good touch bad touch.

·         The main reason is that parents think that child abuse especially sexual abuse cannot happen to urban children or ‘my’ child.

·         Parents of very young children feel that because kids are too young to understand about ‘sexual abuse’, it will not happen to them.

·         Also when it does happen, parents go into denial and refuse to acknowledge or report about it. More often than not it is a friend of the family or a relative or an older cousin and hence the fear of family feuds and incase it is a worker like servant, driver, etc then the social stigma is what parents are worried about.

·         The book helps a parent understand the myths related to child sexual abuse, how to handle if you are in doubt, how to teach kids about good touch bad touch and why to teach them and incase if they want to report about the abuse then how to go about it.

·         Parents are fine if the school teaches about it but are little embarrassed to talk to the child about it.It is for this reason that the preschools and daycares have a greater responsibility and should teach about good touch bad touch to the kids.

·         If young kids can learn about red light, green light and other traffic songs when they are not going to cross the road or drive then it is important to teach them about body safety after all they are learning about body parts/.

·         Let us not  refer to it as ‘sex education’ but call it ‘body intelligence’.

And why has child abuse become an unaddressed problem.

·         Because young kids thrive on touch (it is their primary need for socio-emotional and brain stimulation) they are the easiest targets.

·         It is easy for the perpetrators as kids won’t tell! They lack the language development. And even if they do, parents won’t believe, ‘they are lying, imagining things’.

·         Even if parents find out about it, they are unaware about the law or fear the law, and so this book that tells them that they can come to organizations like us and we will help them maintain the anonymity and yet get the justice.

·         The book educates parents about the legal clause that no one can quote or report the child’s name or other details.

·         Press too should maintain the anonymity. Some times newspapers write about the name of the school or the building and the social stigma starts.

·         Because these perverts are never brought to book, they continue to do so.

·         Parents also need to stop spanking and threatening children as part of their parenting style. Because research has shown that these abusers usually use some form of ‘threatening’ to make kids keep quiet about it.

·         The ‘ostrich’ attitude of ‘if I don’t acknowledge it, it does not happen’ needs to stop and only then will touch never become trouble for another child.

Download the book free from yowoto.com or jumbokids.com/downloads or buy a copy from ecaorg@yahoo.com, proceeds will be donated for CSA awareness.

Video on good touch bad touch- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCgtNSU4kg4&feature=youtu.be