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May - June 2013
Vol 2 - Issue 6 - `100
How to Benefit
from After-School
Enrichment Classes
First Steps:
Preparing your
Toddler for School
Getting the Most out of a PTM
A Parent’s Role in Career Choices
Proteins: The Building Blocks of our Body
Undergraduate Education: Destination Hong Kong
Board Games for the Whole Family
“I liked the cover story of the March–April issue,
‘Raising a money wise-child’. It is very helpful for
the parents to know how their children should
handle money – it really cleared my doubts.
The articles are very well written, in simple
understandable English, and overall the magazine
is good. I have a son who is 3 years old, and I feel
that there is no article in your magazine related to
a 3 year old – it’s all for grown up children. I hope
the next issue will have articles for the abovementioned age.”
Jennifer Mascarenhas, Noida
“ParentEdge is really useful to us in bringing up
our child and it enables us to evaluate ourselves
– whether we are on the right track to be good
parents. Among all the articles, I always enjoy An
Apple a Day the most because this helps me to
nurture my child in a better way and the tips and
dos and don’ts of food habits are really useful. The
cover stories are really meaningful and help us to
spend our time with children in a more useful way.”
Shanthini Velmurgan, Erode
“The articles I liked the most in this issue were
‘Raising a money-wise child’ and ‘Facts on Fats’.
The cover story was very well researched and
nicely written, and the article was very helpful – to
understand what your child is doing with his/her
money, whether he is capable of handling money. In
An Apple a Day, the table containing the details of
what are the types of oils available and how much of
fat is contained in them was really interesting. I like
the magazine – it’s very interesting and good. Please
can you include articles related to cooking – it will be
helpful to know what is good for the kids to eat and
what to cook for them?”
“I bought ParentEdge for the first time, tempted by
the cover story. Not only did the cover story meet
my expectations, the narrative style of the articles
and the variety the magazine offered blew me away.
ParentEdge is not just a good read but also
resourceful and revealing. For someone like me,
who is both an outdoor enthusiast and a new
mother of a 3 month old, your article on Children
and Outdoors came at the right time.”
Thara Prakash, Bangalore
Reshmi Manish Padam, Indore
“I read the article on food habits and studying in
Canada. The first article is excellent, with a lot
of research work done. As a parent it helps to
know how to pay attention to your child’s food
habits if he/ she is having junk food in schools. The
article has helped parents to know what the food
products available in the market are. In Education
Across the Seas, the two things I liked are the tips
from students, as well as the fact that it is inspiring
for children who are planning to study abroad.
Could you also include an article on when is the
right time to start pre-school/kindergarten?”
Yamuna Chandra, Kolkata
Write to us at
[email protected]
“It’s a good magazine and the latest article on
raising a money wise child is good. It helps parents
to teach their kids how important each penny is
and how to spend and save. Even though my child
is only 3 and a half years old, I read Education
across the Seas without fail as it’s good to know
about education in other countries. I also like Book
Worm because it gives details on the different
types of books available for kids and parents.”
Geetha Senthil, Coimbatore
“It’s a knowledgeable and a wonderful magazine,
with good and useful information for parents. I
like An Apple a Day, which has helped parents
like me to know what to give the kids to eat –
healthy foods. Education across the Seas is very
well researched and helps parents to know about
different types of education systems.”
Anita, Pune
Hello
Readers
This issue of ParentEgde marks the close of our second year of publication; if you have been
with us since the beginning of our journey, you will notice that the ParentEdge of today
looks quite different from its earliest avatar. Based on feedback and suggestions received
from you, we have been gradually changing the look and feel of our magazine so that it
better addresses your needs and concerns.
Look out for our new features – Product Watch, a review of different children’s products
available in the market today, and Showcase, where we quite literally showcase best
practices of schools and initiatives by visionary educationists that are changing the face of
education in India.
On the other hand, we have moved our Things to Do feature online.
Do visit www. parentedge.in/things-to-see-do to access information on events and workshops,
outing ideas, and classes in your city.
The Cover Story this time around focuses on a dilemma that every parent faces – do afterschool classes actually enrich the child’s education, or are they simply one more source
of pressure? Another debate that will get you thinking is the one that Xchange presents:
Creativity and Discipline: Opposing or Complementary?
We again present perspectives on a range of educational areas, from preparing your toddler for
his first taste of school in Building Blocks, to giving you the lowdown on an undergraduate
education in Hong Kong in Education Across the Seas. Cross Roads features the sage advice
of an eminent career counsellor on how parents can facilitate their children’s choice of
career. From education, we move to other equally important areas – development (dealing
with Dyspraxia in Different Strokes), nutrition and wellness (the importance of protein in
An Apple a Day), parenting (Getting the Most out of a PTM in Tips, Tricks and To-Do Lists)
and interests beyond the academic (Children and Cooking in Pursuits and Passions).
Book suggestions for all ages and board games to play as a family – all this and more await
you inside.
As always, keep writing in to us with your feedback, and do let us know what you think
about the changes in ParentEdge so we can keep giving you what you need.
Happy Reading!
ParentEdge Editorial Team
Panel of Experts
Thomas Bunchman is the founder of JumpBunch,
Inc., a leading sports and fitness programme for
children. He has over 14 years of experience in
creating a curriculum focused on the development of
body balance, motor skills, and eye/hand coordination
skills for children in the age group 15 months to 12
years. Thomas strongly believes that physical activity
can boost academic performance, and promote healthier lifestyles.
Team
Editor
Kritika Srinivasan
Editorial Team
Gayatri Kulkarni
Ramya G
Meera Srinivasan
Swati Popat Vats is President of Podar Education
Network. An educator, educational activist and
teaching expert, Swati Popat Vats also writes parenting
columns in leading newspapers and magazines and has
authored more than 13 books for children, parents and
teachers. She is the President of the Early Childhood
Association of India, the National Representative for
the World Forum on Early Childhood Education and Leader-Asia for the
Nature Action Collaborative For Children.
Jaishri Ramakrishnan is a consultant psychologist
associated with Billroth Hospitals and two leading
schools in Bangalore and Chennai. She has over three
decades of experience in handling children with
special needs. Jaishri has conducted several seminars,
workshops and training programmes on Parenting,
Handling children with Special Needs and Stress
Management. She writes regularly for ‘The Hindu’ and ‘Times Of India’. In
addition, Jaishree is associated with multiple NGOs in Chennai.
Sridhar Ramanathan is the Founder of IDEASRS where he is also a Strategic Innovation Coach.
Sridhar’s mission in life is “to help those who want
to do things better and differently”. His work involves
conducting creative problem solving workshops for
clients, and buidling competencies in creativity and
innovation.
Nirmala Sankaran is the co-founder of Heymath!,
a curriculum based online programme that builds a
solid foundation in Mathematics through world class
teaching methodologies and rigorous assessments.
HeyMath! has successfully impacted over half a
million students in over 50 countries since 2000.
Art Desk
Chalukyan
Jinin Mukundhan
Raghavan Ravi
Publisher
Prayag Consulting
Prayag Consulting Pvt. Ltd
Jaya Kumar (Chairman & Co-Founder)
Sudha Kumar (CEO)
ParentEdge
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1st Main, J P Nagar, 3rd Phase
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This Issue’s Student Editors
Sulata Shenoy is a child and adolescent psychologist.
A Ph.D in Psychology, she has worked as a psychologist
at a number of hospitals in Bangalore. She is the
Director of Turning Point Centre for Guidance, which
specialises in psychological assessments and therapies
for children and adults. She also conducts workshops
for parents, children and teachers.
Prab Singh heads CollegeSource, an organisation that
provides life coaching to adolescents and support to
their family through the process of deciding their
higher education and career goals.
Meena Sivaraman is an early childhood
development specialist. With rich experience in the
holistic enrichment of children’s intellect during their
formative years, Meena is a firm believer in involved,
hands-on parenting. She is very well read on topics
related to parenting and child development.
Lasya Karthik, 14, is an avid reader, devouring books
from many genres. She is particularly fond of Noel
Streatfield, Cathy Cassidy and Judith Kerr. Currently
in Grade 9 in Lady Andal, Chennai, Lasya has won
global recognition for her talent in writing, including
the Young Critics Award 2012 from Guardian
Newspapers and the UK National Second Prize in the
‘Learning for Life’ competition, and has also had a
poem included in an anthology.
Tulika Misra, 16, is a student of science at the
Abacus Montessori School, Chennai. She describes
herself as a selectively social, quantum physics geek,
amateur writer of fiction, Potterhead, classic rock
fanatic with a special preference for Led Zeppelin,
avid procrastinator, lover of Chinese food and all
things British, and a worshipper of Ayn Rand and
Christopher Nolan, with a deep affinity for hot
showers and libraries.
Intent of the magazine
Jyoti Swaroop is an educational consultant who
works with Ratna Sagar Publishing. Jyoti interacts
extensively with schools across India on many topics
including the interpretation of the recently introduced
Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation. She is also
associated with a career guidance organisation for
school students. Jyoti has authored several English
Language text books for many leading publishers.
Learning is a continuous process, and needs to happen both in and
outside of school; thus parents have an important role to play in shaping
their children’s future. ParentEdge aims to expose parents to global
trends in learning and partner with them in the intellectual enrichment
of their children.
Please e-mail your feedback on this issue and suggestions for upcoming
issues to [email protected]
Cover Story
6
The Expert’s Take
16
Building Blocks
18
Infocache
22
Deep Dive Kids!
26
Different Strokes
28
Hobby Horse
33
Education across the Seas
36
Product Watch
43
An Apple a Day
44
Scrumptious
50
Cross Roads
52
Bookworm
60
Tips, Tricks & To-Do Lists
64
Pursuits and Passions
67
Showcase
71
Xchange
74
Places to See
84
How to Benefit from After-School Enrichment Classes
Viewpoints of Ms. Swati Popat Vats, President of Podar
Education Network and Dr. Vidya Shetty, Director –
Academics, PEARSON Schools
First Steps: Preparing your Toddler for School
Board Games for the Whole Family
A History of Board Game Development
Dyspraxia: Overcoming the Obstacles
Designing Laptop Covers
Undergraduate Studies: Destination Hong Kong
Amul Flaavyo Frozen Yoghurt
Proteins: The Building Blocks of our Body
Protein-Rich Recipes
A Parent’s Role in Career Choices
Children’s Books
Parenting Books
Getting the Most out of a PTM
Children and Cooking
Shemrock: Ensuring Quality Across the Country
Creativity and Discipline: Opposing or Complementary
Family Camping Spots
6
May - June 2013
Gone are the days when sending your child to school was sufficient
preparation for her future, with perhaps a few music lessons and a
sport thrown in. Education today is more than literacy – it prepares
the child to face the world and be successful as an adult, both in the
working world as well in a social environment. And education today
is not constrained by school walls – it happens in the home and it
happens in after-school classes as well.
May - June 2013
7
Image courtesy: ScienceAdda
The concept of holistic education that leads
to the overall development of the child
has found enough adherents that people
now offer ‘enrichment classes’ to, literally,
enrich the child by developing her life skills
and helping her hone her intellect and
talents. Such classes have become common
in all the major metros across India and in
many of the tier-2 cities as well.
These after-school classes enhance some
kind of learning or knowledge in your child
and are different from the hobby classes
that you may send her to. So they do not
encompass music, dance, sports or the arts.
And they are very different from tuitions
as well.
Delhi-based Arati Shriram, a mother of two
girls who attend Kumon classes, points out
the difference between after-school tuitions
and enrichment classes: “If children cannot
cope with the regular curriculum that is
being taught in school, tuitions help them
keep pace with it. An enrichment class,
on the other hand, is not really in tandem
8
May - June 2013
with what the child is learning in school.
It seeks to add something more to a child’s
education.”
Enrichment classes are largely based
on learning through experience and
experimentation, and teach a student how
to learn.
Some of the more common enrichment
classes that children attend on a regular
basis today include Abacus, Kumon, Vedic
Maths, phonics, vocabulary, story-telling,
handwriting and general knowledge…
and some more classes have joined this
list, which were once not necessarily
seen as meriting a ‘class’ – essay writing,
reading comprehension, robotics, science
experimentation, diction and even one that
simply takes kids on field trips! While these
classes tend to be academic in nature, in
that they are targeted at developing and
honing the intellect, they are not examoriented like tuitions or an IIT-JEE prep
course, for instance.
“The objective of an education
is not literacy – that’s just one
aspect or one result of the
process of education. The real
purpose of education is to
prepare children to participate in
and contribute to society as fully
formed individuals. Enrichment
classes are critical, required and
useful – education is incomplete
without them. Tuitions are not
about enrichment – they don’t
add new skills, only work on
existing weaknesses related to
the curriculum.”
- Ameen H.,
Founder,
The Storywallahs, Bangalore
SIP Academy (5 years onwards, age
appropriateness depends on programme
chosen): offers four different enrichment
programmes to develop thinking, learning,
creative, language and communication skills.
Their programmes include Abacus and Brain
Gym that aims to improve the numerical and
mathematical ability of the student, AMAL
(Accelerated Mental Learning) that teaches
students various concepts using multiple
intelligences in order to develop a range of
skills and competencies in them, MIKids,
a phonics-based English language learning
programme, and GlobalArt, a curriculumbased art programme.
VocaBOOM (4-14 years): is a programme
that aims to enhance a child’s vocabulary
through games and interactive activities.
Some enrichment classes and what
they offer
and accuracy, through mental visualisation
of the abacus apparatus.
Kumon (3-16 years): an after-school selflearning programme that focuses on maths
and reading in English. It offers each
student an individualised lesson plan,
which encourages them to gain competence
in the above subjects, one concept at a
time. Students progress to the next concept
only when they have mastered the previous
one, and this progress is independent of
what they are learning in school; i.e. the
worksheets are not age- or grade-specific,
but instead depend on the child’s ability.
Vedic Mathematics (9 years onwards):
a system of mathematics reconstructed
from the ancient Vedas, it uses some basic
word formulae or ‘sutras’ that can solve
mathematical problems across arithmetic,
algebra, geometry and calculus. It trains
students to calculate at high-speed in a
simplified manner, thus allowing them to
optimise their mathematical performance
and achieve computational efficiency.
Abacus (4-13 years): teaches children to use
the abacus beads to learn and excel at the
basic mathematical functions. The objective
is to make children adept at arithmetic by
simplifying calculations. Typically, children
will begin by using the abacus beads to
count and compute and later move on to
advanced functions where they are able to
resolve complex calculations with speed
BrainSTARS (7 years onwards): offers
a variety of after-school programmes
that range from working with multiple
intelligences (mIND) to encouraging
curiosity, questioning and a scientific
temperament (STARS). For instance, one
course offers children the opportunity to
work on a number of scientific experiments
in physics, chemistry and biology to allow
them to understand concepts through
hands-on learning.
Here are some other
academies / courses that also
offer interesting enrichment
classes:
StarKids:
http://www.starkids.in/index.php
The Pomegranate Workshops:
http://www.tpw.in/
Jehangir’s School of Speech and
Drama:
http://www.jehangirsschool.com/
Academy for Creative Expression:
http://www.aceproductions.biz/
ace/s&d.html
The Storywallahs:
http://www.thestorywallahs.com/
Butterfly Fields:
www.fundoscience.com
Science Adda:
www.scienceadda.com
May - June 2013
9
Classes, classes everywhere!
It is a common sight in metros today – after
school, children grab a quick snack and are
then sent off to class after class, coming
back late in the evening only to complete
homework, eat dinner and sleep. Why are
parents increasingly sending children to
these enrichment classes?
One reason could be, as Preeti Gupta,
Founder of VocaBOOM points out: “Children
have limited time with their parents,
which is also largely used in completing
homework, addressing diet and intake
of food, entertainment and such day-today issues. As a result, a particular skill
cannot be taught to them by the parent,
unless done on a regular, disciplined basis.
Further, a parent’s patience runs dry after
all the other mundane tasks of parenting
have been fulfilled and s/he may not have
the energy to take on another activity.
Ensuring that kids have fun also involves
a lot of homework, research, energy and
patience! And enrichment classes can take
over these aspects of parenting.”
In a household with working parents,
neither may have the time to develop in
their children these essential skills, evening
after evening. Or maybe some parents don’t
have the required expertise or capability to
do so?
Anupama Prakash, President – Communication
& Relationships, BrainSTARS offers an
interesting perspective. Parents want
their children to learn beyond the scope
of the curriculum, they want them to
engage with their environment and ‘find
tongues in trees, books in running brooks,
sermons in stones…..’ (Shakespeare).
However, the sad truth in India is that
there are very few alternate spaces –
science museums, botanical gardens, etc.
— available. Entertainment means malls,
movies or gadgets. Enrichment classes are
mushrooming to address this very lacuna
– they function as bridges between the
school curriculum and what is needed for a
holistic education.
10
May - June 2013
This then begs the question – isn’t a
school supposed to be responsible for the
education of children? Why can’t schools
work at ‘enriching’ their students? Do
parents perceive an inadequacy with the
way schools are teaching?
Prakash supports the Indian schooling
system, saying, “Let’s not get too ambitious
here! I think schools in India are doing a
great job! We have so few schools and the
number of students they need to educate
is astoundingly huge! When you have one
teacher in a class of 40, how can you expect
her to do more than teach the syllabus?
Add to that the pressure of completing
the curriculum, achieving good grades for
her students, and an average of 17 topics
to cover in a year in any one subject – we
really cannot blame either the teacher or
the system.”
Schools are hard-pressed to complete
their syllabus and cater to the needs of 40
students in a class. In such an environment,
where the curriculum and examinations are
important, focus on other skills takes a back
seat, even if ironically, those very skills
will lead to better academic performance.
Hence, the teacher takes her students
through the literature, mathematics and
science textbooks, hoping that somewhere
along the way, the child will pick up
vocabulary, creativity, logical reasoning and
communication skills.
Schools also need the right resource
persons who are trained to impart these
particular skills – a big demand on already
over-burdened schools who are trying to
provide the best education they can in the
circumstances.
No wonder then that the onus of education
is shared by teachers and parents; and
parents, given their other constraints,
have no choice but to send their kids to
enrichment classes.
Image Courtesy: SIP Academy
May - June 2013
11
Does learning that happens in these classes interfere with learning in school?
The Parent
“It depends on the kind of enrichment class the child is attending. My experience of Kumon classes is that some kids have advanced so
much that school maths becomes boring for them. They are already skilled in multiplication, whereas the school is still teaching them
simple addition. So yes, then it can be detrimental. On the other hand, if parents consciously ensure that their children are keeping pace
with what is happening at school, then this problem shouldn’t arise.”
– Arati Shriram
“Not really, since these classes don’t follow the same curriculum that the school follows. They only add on skills that improve academic
performance, not interfere with it.”
– Kalpana Sivanesan, Coimbatore, whose two sons attend VocaBOOM classes
The Facilitator
“Schools have a pre-designed curriculum that is subject-based and knowledge-focused. Enrichment classes like the ones we offer complement
the school curriculum, training children in learning, thinking, creative, and communication skills, thereby improving academic performance
and making the learning of subjects easier. These programmes in no way interfere with the school learning as the objectives are different
– one for knowledge and one for skills.”
– Dinesh Victor, M.D., SIP Academy India Pvt. Ltd.
The Educationist
“At times yes...for instance a concept not taught at school but taught well in advance to the child in these enrichment classes can lead to
distraction, boredom for the learner within the classroom....at times it could lead to confusion in the mind of the child and sometimes it
can even encourage arrogance and indifference within the classroom. Anything we do needs to be done with precision, with moderation
and with justification.”
– Dr. Vidya Shetty, Director – Academics, Pearson Education Services Pvt. Ltd.
What are enrichment classes trying to
achieve?
The primary objective of enrichment classes
is to impart to children those skills that are
essential for life, but are not necessarily
taught in school. The classes seek to teach
children to love learning for its own sake,
and to develop a scientific and questioning
temperament.
Additionally, the classes do all this in a
fun-filled manner, incorporating plenty
of activities and games that engage the
children and stimulate their minds.
Here are some other things these classes are
trying to achieve:
• Encourage curiosity and questioning
12
May - June 2013
•
•
•
Make learning enjoyable and stressfree
Teach children to accept failure and
learn from mistakes
Make them independent and selfmotivated learners
These are the skills they seek to impart:
• Communication
• Logical reasoning
• Visual observation
• Spatial understanding
• Time management
• Social interaction
• Managing people and working in
groups
• Multi-tasking
How does a story-telling class
enrich a child’s learning process?
As explained by Ameen H.:
“Stories work at multiple levels –
they engage children and help them
memorise stuff by contextualising
information. In the academic space,
if the story is linked to a subject,
it increases interest in the subject
before it is taught and once the
subject has been taught, follow-up
stories increase the retention of the
subject. In short, stories transform
rote learning into something which
can be contextually remembered.”
Benefits of sending your child to
enrichment classes
• Keep children busy, constructively! In
these days of nuclear families, working
mothers, ever-increasing demands on
parents and shrinking playgrounds,
enrichment classes are a good way to
keep children busy in the evenings in
a constructive manner. And no-one
will deny that these classes are a much
better option that TV and gaming
consoles!
• Not only do children enjoy these
activity-filled and interactive classes,
they are also learning in the process,
without even realising it! Enrichment
classes introduce children to the
concept that ‘learning can be fun.’
• They complement school education, by
touching on those aspects of education
•
that are not really addressed by a
traditional schooling system; i.e. they
go beyond literacy to equip children
with other skills – ‘academic’ skills
such as reasoning, comprehension, and
vocabulary, and also soft skills such as
team work, learning to get along, and
socialisation.
Even when enrichment classes do deal
with academics, say maths or science,
they do so in a manner that offers a
different perspective from the one
offered at school. Secunderabad-based
Butterfly Fields, for instance, makes
the learning of scientific concepts
hands-on and engaging. Children
build models from scratch, in the
process understanding the scientific
explanations behind everything in our
environment.
•
Enrichment classes also encourage peer
learning, with children engaging with
students from different schools and
different backgrounds and expanding
their horizons by socialising in a
playful and interactive setting.
“My sons were big TV-watchers,
and had to be dragged away
from video games and gadgets.
Now, after VocaBOOM, they have
become sensitive to the beauty of
words and developed an interest
in reading. TV is hardly on in our
house now!”
- Kalpana Sivanesan
May - June 2013
13
“Academically, Kumon classes have
been a big confidence-booster for my
child. These classes reward her with a
sense of achievement on a daily basis.
She has learnt to manage her time
well and schedule her tasks efficiently.
She is self-motivated and takes
responsibility for her assignments.
She has learnt the value of discipline;
her concentration skills and attention
span have been enhanced. And these
skills transfer over into her schoolwork as well.”
- Arati Shriram
•
•
•
Parents who send their kids for
enrichment classes generally agree that
these boost academic performance,
by making children more disciplined,
structured,
logical/creative,
and
better at time-management and multitasking.
With younger children, a by-product
of many of these classes is interview
preparation, with children being
exposed to a variety of concepts, and
growing in confidence with the ability
to converse with people outside the
immediate family and social circle.
And of course, if parents are not able to
teach their children certain essential
skills and concepts, either because of
lack of time or expertise, it’s easier to
leave it to the experts and let them
take over!
“In these classes, learning is not the
only motive – it’s learning while
having fun. The child does not even
realise that learning is happening. Of
course, there is a pitfall to watch out
for – is learning happening at all? An
activity can be fun, but if the child is
not learning anything at the end of
it, it will be more useful to allow him
free play with his friends!”
- Anupama Prakash
So there you have it in a nutshell – what
enrichment classes are and how they can
benefit your child. Even parents who were
initially against the idea of sending kids
for such after-school classes (and some of
the parents we spoke to most definitely
fell in this category) because they did not
leave much time for unstructured play, do
eventually come around to the idea when
they see the skills that their children are
picking up and the amount of learning
that is possible beyond school walls – a
mandatory requirement for the supercompetitive kids (and parents!) of today.
Kolkata-based Swetha Nathany, whose
daughter attends VocaBOOM classes, points
out, “Today’s children want to be busy,
they want to learn things, they want to do
things. It’s always helpful to enrol them in
one or two of these classes to keep them
busy and to ensure that they are learning at
the same time. After a few years, they will
figure out what they enjoy the most, and
then you can focus on only those aspects.
Some Dos and Don’ts
• Find the right balance between
hobby and enrichment classes, time
for free, unstructured play, and time
with family. Just playing cricket
or hide-and-seek with friends or
going for a walk with a parent can
teach the child as many skills as an
enrichment class.
• Choose wisely – it is neither necessary
nor even advisable to send your child
to every enrichment class that you
come across. Instead, try and find
out what skills will complement that
which she is already good at, and
select classes that offer courses in
these. Alternatively, you may simply
choose to send her to classes that she
enjoys whole-heartedly even if she is
already reasonably competent in that
particular area.
• Check the age-appropriateness of the
class that you sending her to.
• Do not force your child into any class
she does not want to attend – if she is
not enjoying the experience, she is not
going to get any learning out of these
sessions in any case.
Image Courtesy: VocaBoom
14
May - June 2013
Finally, the role of a parent does not end with
sending them for the classes, as Sivanesan
states unequivocally: “Whichever class you
are sending the child to, your job is not over
with enrolling them and paying the fees.
Don’t think that everything that follows is
the class facilitator’s responsibility. Parents
should also take some interest in what the
child is learning and follow-up with her.
All it takes is a few minutes in a day to
interact with the child and check on her
progress, but these few minutes are enough
for you to observe, and even contribute to
the overall development of your child.”
May - June 2013
15
The Educator’s Views
on Enrichment Classes
Expert's Take
Swati Popat
Ms. Swati Popat Vats is the
President of Podar Education
Network. She is an educator,
educational activist, teaching
expert and author of
books for children, parents
and teachers. She is also a
member of ParentEdge’s
Panel of Experts.
16
May - June 2013
The concept of ‘enrichment’ classes is
catching on in India. As an educationist,
what is your opinion of these classes –
are they beneficial to the student?
I don’t know whether the term ‘enrichment’
describes them best. I think it is more
of ‘keep them busy at any cost’ for some
parents, and for some it is ‘I didn’t get a
chance to learn this, so my child will’. The
Latin word ‘educatus’ means to ‘bring out/
forth from within’. Education in schools
should be able to bring out from within
each child his unique qualities and talents,
and help enrich them further. Some of these
enrichment classes start with very noble
intentions, but then, to stay ‘financially
viable’, end up bringing in the very stress
elements that the parent wants to avoid.
Children need and should be given ‘free
time’ and ‘time to get bored’ because only
then will their creativity and reasoning
skills develop. Nowadays, we are ‘pressurecooking’ our kids.
Why do you think parents send their
kids for these after-school classes?
I can think of three reasons:
• To keep them busy – I call this ‘creative
babysitting’
• To achieve through them their own
lost dreams
• Because they have, unconsciously,
become part of ‘parent competition’
where each parent wants what the
other has given to his child
Is our education system equipped to
impart the kinds of skills that these
classes aim to – literally, to ‘enrich’ the
child, and not just educate?
As I said earlier, the aim of education
should be to enrich, but today, education
has become a burden because of a blind
focus on marks, achievements, etc. Lord
Macaulay, the British educational reformer,
has left us with an education system that
still thinks that India needs ‘babus’ and not
leaders. This kind of system does not really
lend itself to much beyond completing the
syllabus on time!
Do you think parents perceive an
inadequacy with the mainstream
education system, and this is why they
want to send their kids to these classes?
These enrichment classes have mushroomed
because of certain inadequacies in the
education system, but again, who is to
be blamed? Many blame the government,
which is not fair as none of the boards tell
schools the ‘format’ of teaching – they just
outline a curriculum. Ultimately it is the
schools which encourage competition and
stress, and parents goad them on. At Podar,
for instance, we have been trying to bring
down the stress of early writing on children,
and it has been a struggle as parents then
tell us that ‘the other schools do so much of
writing, why don’t you?’. Inspite of sharing
research about how this stress will catch up
with the child in later years, they still goad
us to increase the ‘burden’ on their children.
This is in the formative years – think about
what they expect from children and schools
in the primary and secondary years!
Expert's Take
Dr.Vidya Shetty
Dr.Vidya Shetty is the
Director - Academics
for PEARSON Schools.
She is responsible for
the establishment and
management of schools and
curriculum development
and implementation, as well
as research and training
programmes in teacher
development. Dr. Shetty
is also the Editor-in-Chief
of MENTOR, an exclusive
magazine for principals across
the country that creates
a common platform for
the exchange of ideas and
thoughts.
The concept of ‘enrichment’ classes is
catching on in India. Can you tell us
about these?
Enrichment classes seem to be trend in
education. Schools are bound by time
constraints and syllabi challenges, lack
of faculty and subject expertise and a
structured programme of study, and they
are hence, unable to cater to all the learning
needs of children. Vocabulary building,
writing, pronunciation and intonation are
a part of the learning programme in any
school; unfortunately, these are lost in
the labyrinth of completing portions and
preparing for examinations. Parents then
go looking for various places, people and
academies that can support their children
with some of these programmes after
school. Parents are ambitious and want the
child to learn as many skills as possible,
at times disregarding whether the child is
even interested in these classes.
As a Director of Academics, what is
your opinion of these classes – are the
beneficial to the student?
Some of these classes are definitely
beneficial – but they need to be selected
cautiously. What parents fail to study
closely is which of these classes are actually
benefitting their children and nurturing
their potential.
Do you think parents perceive an
inadequacy with the mainstream
education system and this is why they
want to send their kids to these classes?
Expectations from a school seem to be
soaring day by day. Our education system
is facing its own challenges – lack of trained
teachers, the failure of a school to recognise
and understand the objectives of schooling
and education, lack of expertise – all this
forces a parent to look for alternatives.
It is important that schools revisit their
philosophy and also invest in teacher
empowerment. This will help bridge the
gap between parents’ expectations and the
school’s outcomes.
Do you think these classes can interfere
with learning in school – either because
the child is learning at a level beyond her
class or confusion in methods followed?
At times yes...for instance a concept not
taught at school but taught well in advance
to the child in these enrichment classes
can lead to distraction, boredom for the
learner within the classroom....at times it
could lead to confusion in the mind of the
child and sometimes it can even encourage
arrogance and indifference within the
classroom. Anything we do needs to be
done with precision, moderation and
justification.
Why do you think parents send their
kids for such classes?
In these days of the nuclear family, with
working parents who have very little time
for the little ones, enrichment classes
are a blessing in disguise. At times, it
is competition with another parent or
neighbour that compels you to send your
child to such classes. Again, there are times
when parents send children to classes,
simply because it is ‘trendy’ to do so.
Whatever be the reason, the top priorities
of the parent should be the objective of
the class, the skill acquired by the child,
and checking whether the learning is
consistent, age appropriate and of interest
to the child.
May - June 2013
17
First Steps:
Toddler
for
School
Fact: Today, many children start school when they
are a mere 18 months old!
This is, of course, preschool, which has become
an extremely important part of a child’s schooling
experience. Typically, children will join preschool at
around two years of age, but many schools now also
admit one and a half-year olds into their ‘Play Groups’.
For most children, preschool is really the first time
that they are on their own, without their caregivers, in
an environment different from home. And it’s a huge
change that they need to be well prepared for.
18
May - June 2013
The importance of pre-schooling
Preschool has fast become an essential
first step in a child’s education, for many
reasons:
• Preschool encourages the social and
emotional development of a child
– it encourages interaction with
other children, and teaches him to
share, become independent and make
decisions. Children also learn how to
control and manage frustration and
anger.
• It also promotes the development of
basic language and cognitive skills. In
preschool, the child’s vocabulary can
grow by up to 2000 words. The child’s
pre-math and pre-literacy skills are
also given a boost, giving him a strong
base for learning in kindergarten.
• Teachers keep children gainfully
engaged in a number of educational
activities – matching, sorting, counting
and board games that build their
understanding of numbers, categories
and sequence, which supports later
maths learning. Solving puzzles
encourages children to notice patterns,
plan ahead and solve problems.
• A good preschool provides more
intellectual stimulation than the
home environment can, with teachers
initiating a variety of educational
activities for the three hours that the
child is at school.
• Finally, parents may not have enough
time to devote to the child, especially
if both of them are working. Isn’t it
better to enroll your child in preschool
when he is old enough than leave him
at home in front of the television with
a nanny?
But how do you prepare your clinging toddler
for preschool?
Prepare your child for change
It’s perfectly natural to be anxious about
sending your child to preschool for the first
time. This is his first exposure to strange
faces and unfamiliar environments without
the comforting finger of his mother to
hold on to. And children do need to be
adequately prepared to face and handle
this change. As every parent knows, just
thrusting your child into a new situation
has the potential for disaster – emotional
upsets, crying, and withdrawal.
In short, preschool is a run-up to formal
education – the hours are short and the
activities engaging. Preschool prepares the
child for regular ‘big’ schools – socially,
emotionally and mentally.
Image courtesy: Sparkling Mindz
May - June 2013
19
Tips on how to ease your child into
preschool
• Talk to your child before he starts
preschool. Explain the concept of
school to him and describe all the
different activities that he will be
doing, and the new friends that he
will make. Even an 18-month old can
understand what school is about if it is
explained to him simply enough.
• Use positive words when talking about
schooling – fun, interesting, a lot of
play, friends, laughter, song…. never
talk about school as hard work and
discipline. There is no surer way to
make your child fear school!
• Read out books that have beginning
school as a theme – there are enough
books that show familiar characters –
Elmo, Pepper, Bruno, Dora – all starting
school and enjoying themselves
immensely.
• This is a great time to start teaching
your child to enjoy learning. If he feels
that school is an enjoyable place where
he can learn and experience something
new each day, this feeling will stay
with him even as he grows older.
• If you have an older sibling at home,
your task is easier. Your younger child
will most probably be eager to join
the ranks of the older children and
‘go to school.’ Even in a house without
siblings, the parent can familiarise
the child with the idea of school by
“My one-year old son used to
see his sister going to school
every day. He also wanted to be
‘grown up’ and do the same. So
when he actually started school
ten months later, he settled
down quite quickly. Just seeing
his sister helped; also the fact
that we spoke a lot about school
to him and read books on the
topic to him.”
– Aarti Mahesh,
Chennai
20
May - June 2013
•
•
•
pointing out neighbours’ kids, cousins,
etc. who all attend school and enjoy
the experience.
A few months before your toddler
begins school, arrange social activities
– playdates – for him, so he can
interact with other children and learn
to play alongside them.
Teach your child to deal with your
absence. Laxmi Kulkarni, Head of PreSchools, Children’s Nook, Mumbai,
explains that if parents are in the
habit of leaving the child at home for
a short period of time with a caregiver,
the transition to school becomes
easier. She advises parents to make it
a point to leave their child at home
for some time and then come back –
maybe in half an hour, maybe an hour.
This teaches the child that even if you
do leave him for some time, you will
always come back for him, and this will
lessen some of his anxiety at being left
behind in school.
Consider taking your child for a
Mother-Toddler programme (see box)
to help him understand the concept
of school.
The Mother –
Toddler programme allows
a mother and her toddler
to attend school together,
maybe three times a week,
for an hour at a time. The
programme is offered to
children from around one
year of age until they enter
a preschool. It aims to help
the toddler develop some
basic thinking and reasoning
functions and learn by trial
and error, while involving
the parent in the process.
The child familiarises himself
with the concept of school
and is reassured because
his mother is also a part of
it. Many preschools across
India offer the MotherToddler programme now.
Helping your child settle into
preschool
No matter how well you prepare your
child for preschool, he may cry and cling
to you in the first few weeks. Don’t worry
– this is normal and this phase will pass
once your child becomes comfortable in
his new environment.
Tips to help your child settle into preschool
• Children take comfort in routine and
it helps when their world generally
stays constant. So make the daily
good-byes at the school door a matter
of routine as well. You could make
a goodbye ritual with a handshake
or a song so your child knows that
you’re coming back for him. Try not
to prolong the goodbye, keep it short
and matter-of-fact. Over time your
child will realise that school is a new
part of his routine and that you will
always come back for him.
• Constantly reassure your child about
the fact that you will come back to
pick him up no matter what.
•
•
•
Allow your child to take his favourite
toy or blanket with him to school
during the first few days so he can feel
secure and have something familiar
and loved with him.
Talk to him when he comes home from
school, asking him what he did, what
new songs he learnt. This will help him
articulate his feelings about school
and realise that he is enjoying himself.
Avoid allowing your child to skip school
in the first few weeks. The quicker he
understands that school is part of his life
now and cannot be avoided, the better it
is for him. Allowing him to skip school
because he is crying will only teach him
that he can be allowed to stay at home if
he doesn’t want to go.
Schools, for their part, also work hard at
ensuring that children settle down quickly.
“This is a critical transition period from
home to school for the child and it will take
time for him to settle in,” says Kulkarni.
“Generally, the mother accompanies the
child to school for the first few days, and
introduces him to the new environment and
new faces. So the child is in a new space, but
with a comforting figure in the background.
Over time, we engage and interest him with
toys and activities and the mother slowly
slips out of the picture. There will still be
bouts of crying, but generally the child will
settle down in a week or two.”
Kulkarni also explains that schools do
all they can to make the little ones feel
comfortable and at home. For example, some
schools let the children call the teachers
‘auntie’ informally rather than ‘miss’, to put
them more at ease. Teachers are cheerful and
approachable and seen as parent-like figures.
Finally, choose the preschool wisely.
Ensure that it has a warm and welcoming
atmosphere and friendly teachers who are
cheerful and lovingly help your child settle
in. At this tender age, the child needs love
and lots of hugs, not strict discipline and
rules! And even if your child cries for a week
or two, or a month, don’t worry too much.
He will eventually settle into preschool and
start enjoying it.
To send or not to send:
What if I don’t send my child to preschool? Is it okay if I put him directly into kindergarten at the
age of four?
“Your child definitely won’t be at a disadvantage. It’s just that preschool provides your child with a lot
of necessary skills and develops his motor and social capabilities. Also, many young mothers don’t really
know what to do with their children if they are at home all the time, and as a result, the child ends up
watching too much TV. Abroad, children start school as late as four years old, but that’s because they
have separate activity centres that provide this stimulation which is essential for their growth. Most
parents in India feel that it might be the best option to do preschool first and then nursery and then
LKG, which starts at 4. However, even if you choose not to follow this path, your child can manage just
fine in kindergarten.”
– Laxmi Kulkarni
“I mainly chose to enroll my daughter, first in the mother-toddler programme and then in preschool,
because I wanted her to interact with other children. I feel that preschool is very important because it
helps enhance the socialisation process of the child at that age.”
– Rachana Thapar, Mumbai, with one pre-schooler
– Based on interviews done by
Tulika Misra
May - June 2013
21
Infocache
Board
Games
for the
Whole
Family
22
May - June 2013
Infocache
Step to it
(2-8 players, for ages 3+)
Guess Who?
(2 players, for ages 6+)
The player gets a card which details the
specific number of steps to take. From
where he is standing or sitting, the player
chooses an object or place he can reach in
exactly so many steps, no more, no less.
For example, if the child gets the number
four, he needs to be able to estimate which
object around him he can reach in exactly
four steps. Completing the goal constitutes
a win. Not only will this game keep players
interested for a long time, but also ensure
that they get nicely warmed up jumping,
hopping and skipping around!
Skills involved: estimation of distances
and spatial relationships, gross motor
coordination, reinforcing counting abilities
A reasoning and logical game that is also
great fun to play. Each player has a board,
with flaps bearing the face and name of a
person, that may be opened and closed.
Each player picks a face card from a pile.
Using yes/no questions like “Does your
person have brown hair?” or “Is your person
wearing a hat?” the players have to guess
the identity of the person on each other’s
cards. In case of a negative answer: “No, my
person does not have brown hair” all the
people with brown hair are discarded – i.e.
the flaps closed. And so through a process
of questioning and elimination, the players
arrive at the identity of the mystery person.
The person who guesses right first, wins.
Skills involved: logic
Zingo!
(2-8 players, for ages 4+)
Connect Four
This is a simplified Bingo for children.
Instead of using numbers, the game uses
pictures of common objects, with the names
of the objects listed underneath. Each
player had a board with images, and the
first player to fill his board with matching
tiles wins. He does this by calling out the
correct name for a revealed picture first,
before any other player. There is an easy
and hard version of the game, as well as a
Marvel version for all comic book buffs.
Skills involved: Re-reading, vocabulary
This is a mind game that tests the players’
logical and strategic skills — a larger and
more complex version of noughts and
crosses. The objective is to be the first
to get four coins lined up within a grid
– horizontal, vertical or diagonal. Each
player has a different coloured set of
coins. While trying to build your own line
of four coins, you must simultaneously try
to block your opponent.
Skills involved: logic
(2 players, for ages 7+)
May - June 2013
23
Infocache
The Settlers of Catan
(3-4 players, for ages 10+)
Taboo for Kids
(4-8 players, for ages 8+)
A fun game that tests the child’s ability to
explain a word in a certain way. The players
are split into two to three teams, and one
person is chosen from each team. That
person is given a card, on top of which is
written a word — for example, ‘swan’ —
along with a set of Taboo words, say ‘bird’,
‘long’, ‘white’, ‘neck’. The player has to
give his teammates clues about the printed
word, without using the Taboo words. In
this case, the player might say “musical
piece composed by Tchaikovsky – ends with
lake,” so his teammates will guess ‘swan.’
Skills involved: logic, vocabulary, ability to
think through explanations
An engaging strategic game, where players
have to build their ‘empires’ by collecting
resources and expanding their boundaries
– somewhat like a Middle-Ages version of
Monopoly. Using dice, you build huts and
community structures for your villagers,
and ensure their well-being and safety from
intruders and wild animals. The player with
the most prosperous empire – size-wise and
resources-wise – is the winner.
Skills involved: strategy
Balderdash
(4-8 players, for ages 8+)
Equate:
The Equation Thinking Game
(2-4 players, for ages 8+)
An equivalent of Scrabble that uses
numbers. The players create simple
equations, crossword style. This tests
their basic grasp of mathematical
functions such as addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division, coupled
with the ability to think quickly. There
are even high-scoring fraction tiles!
Skills involved: mathematics, strategy
This game consists of cards featuring
unusual words that are generally not used
in everyday conversation. One player, called
the Dasher, picks a card, and calls out the
word — for example, ‘anopisthography’.
The definition of the word is included on
the card, but is not revealed by the Dasher.
The other players write down what they
think is the meaning of the word (they
can make up literally anything they want)
and then pass their papers to the Dasher.
The Dasher reads out every entry and also
the actual definition; only nobody knows
which the correct one is. Everyone votes
for the one they think is the correct one,
and whoever votes for the correct answer is
awarded with points.
Skills involved: logic, vocabulary
- Tulika Misra
24
May - June 2013
Meet Our Guest Bloggers
Both Mitra and Fernandez are Guest Bloggers on the ParentEdge blog roll. Mitra writes
on a number of issues that crop up in the day-to-day life of a parent and child, offering
practical advice and tips on how to handle different everyday situations. Fernandez, in
contrast, deals with the long-term concerns of a parent – raising a child to be a good
adult and useful member of the community. Benefit from both Mitra’s practicality and
Fernandez’s sage advice, by reading their monthly blogs on www.parentedge.in/blog.
Sia Mitra, New Delhi
Sia Mitra is a freelance
writer and blogger with
more than a decade
of experience. She has
written for many major
publications such as Femina,
Prevention, Complete Well
Being, Child, Mother &
Baby, Parent & Child, and
Women’s Era
Ignatius Fernandez, Hyderabad
Ignatius Fernandez moved from working
in the corporate world to the academic
world. Not only is he a Professor of
Management Studies for MBA students
and Corporate Trainer for senior
managers, but also a counsellor for
couples. Fernandez has contributed
over 60 articles to religious and
professional magazines and authored
four books on relationships. Two new
books are due for release next year. He
also hosts a blog on parenting – http://
thechildisfatherofthema.blogspot.in/.
Coming up...
Cover Story
How to Inculcate Persistence in your Child
Different Strokes
Gifted Children
Pursuits and Passions
Children and Martial Arts
Building Blocks
The Magic of Storytelling
Cross Roads
Physics-based Careers
Education across the Seas
Australia and New Zealand
May - June 2013
25
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26
May - June 2013
The oldest games
Senet, the oldest board game known to
exist, goes back a whopping 5000 years
to ancient Egypt. Game boards discovered
in the tombs of Egypt’s kings are three
squares by ten squares long and the aim
of the game seems to have been to race
one’s token across the board. Although it
began as a game for fun, along the way,
the Egyptians created rules that granted
special rights to winners in the after-life
(after their death)!
Another ancient game was Mancala, which
required players to count and drop seeds
through a parallel set of sunken bowls.
Players of Palllanguzhi in South India will
notice the similarities.
The ‘role’ of dice
Most board games use some form of dice.
The earliest forms of dice were sticks cut
from branches. The sticks were then split
into two such that each would have one flat
side and one curved side. A combination of
sticks was used to represent various scores
– for instance, if all six sticks fell with the
flat side facing up, it would mean a throw
of six. Later on, knuckle bones of goats and
sheep were also used as dice.
The Indian angle
Several of the most popular board games we
play even today were invented in India.
The Indian game of Chaupat and the related
Pachisi was probably the original ‘cross and
circle game’. It requires players to race their
pieces around a board and as they do so,
they can ‘knock out’ an opponent’s piece
by landing on the same square. Chaupat is
played in a much simpler way today as ludo.
Another sixteenth century Indian game
called Vaikintapaali paved the way for Snakes
and Ladders. In the original game, climbing
ladders were shown as rewards for good deeds
while the rapid fall down a snake’s back was
supposed to show that bad deeds would bring
about a person’s downfall.
The most popular board games
ever
Have you played any of these
games?
•
•
•
•
•
Chess - The game of strategy for the
smarts
Monopoly – Some great life lessons can
be learnt here
Scrabble - No better way to brush up
your vocabulary
Uno - The popular card game that can
also be enjoyed by very young players
Risk – A game where you play to win
the world!
Board games take to technology
With technology changing our world so
much, it’s not surprising that it has also made
inroads into the world of board games.
Did you know?
The oldest board game for which rules
still survive intact is the ‘Royal Game
of Ur’. It is played even today, making
it also the oldest ‘living’ board game.
Take, for instance, a new version of
Monopoly that’s now available in stores.
Instead of fake paper money, players get to
use debit cards (like the ones your parents
use), and these can be used to pay for new
sites and buildings. A version that uses an
iPad to manage the bank even allows you to
get out of jail free by winning a few minigames on the tablet.
Tablet versions of popular games such as
Trivial Pursuit are also available so you can
take your game along with you where you
go. The touch screen interface of tablets
allows players to spin dice, flip cards and
move game pieces, the way they would on a
real game board.
Technology also allows people to play
games with each other even when they are
not physically together – for example, you
could play Scrabble with a cousin who lives
in far-away United States.
Ironic, isn’t it? The same technology that
drives people apart to play solitary games
on phones and computers and to spend
more and more time online away from their
friends and family, can also bring people
around a game board to have fun and play
together!
Did you know?
Mughal emperor Akbar used to play
Chaupat on a life-sized board using
slaves instead of pieces!
The greatest gift that ancient India
gave to the board game world was
Chaturanga – today, all forms of chess
are descended from this ancient game.
A game of pure skill, it was invented
around 1500 years ago.
- Contributed by
Child Friendly News,
www.childfriendlynews.com
May - June 2013
27
Commands – actions. Children usually obey. They take
out their pencils in class and write down notes from
the blackboard. They put on their shoes, fasten their
buttons, throw a ball around with their friends, take
the dogs for a walk, and sip water from their bottles.
But there are some children who can’t. Not because
they’re inattentive or disobedient. But because they
really just can’t.
These children suffer from dyspraxia, also called
Minimal Brain Dysfunction (MBD), developmental
apraxia, or motor learning disability. Another name
for it is also the ‘clumsy child syndrome’ – but that’s a
rather derogatory way of putting it.
28
May - June 2013
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Dyspraxia is the partial loss of the ability
to perform coordinated acts. Messages to
and from the brain are not properly or
fully transmitted along neural pathways
due to an immaturity in the way that
the brain processes information. People
with dyspraxia have trouble planning
and completing fine motor tasks. This
can vary from simple motor tasks such as
waving goodbye to more complex ones like
brushing teeth.
As a result, the child may be awkward
and uncoordinated – clumsy if you will –
when compared to his peers. Dyspraxia is
usually a condition the child is born with;
even when acquired, it is acquired at a very
young age.
May - June 2013
29
Signs to watch out for
Did you know?
• Boys are four times more
likely to suffer from
dyspraxia than girls.
• One child in thirty is likely
to be dyspraxic – quite a
high rate of occurrence!
In early childhood, before the age of two,
the dyspraxic child takes longer than other
children to:
• Sit up
• Crawl (some never go through crawling
stage)
• Walk
• Speak
• Stand
• Be toilet-trained
• Build vocabulary
• Speak in a clear and articulate way
By the age of three, difficulties become more
evident, with the child finding it difficult to:
• Employ fine motor skills in tying
shoelaces, doing up buttons and
zippers, using cutlery, and writing
• Jump, play hopscotch, catch or kick a
ball, hop and skip
• Use scissors, colour, draw, and
complete jigsaws and puzzles
Dyspraxic children also have a higher
tendency to bump into things, fall over,
and drop things. Additionally, they have a
short attention span.
Comorbidity
Most times, dyspraxia does not manifest on its own. The comorbidity rate is
very high.Very often, a dyspraxic will also have ADHD – (Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder) which is characterised by hyperactivity, fidgety behaviour
and, of course, a low attention span. Dyspraxics may also have dyslexia (difficulty
with reading and spelling), dyscalculia (difficulty with mathematics), dysgraphia (an
inability to write neatly and/or draw), or autism spectrum disorder. However, the
chances of them having problems in ALL these areas are very low.
30
May - June 2013
If the condition is not diagnosed and
treated correctly, these symptoms will
persist into adolescence and adulthood,
and worsen as well. The dyspraxic then:
• Tries to avoid physical activity
• Does not learn well in class when
surrounded by other children (though
he can learn well on a one-to-one basis)
• Finds mathematics and reasoning
difficult
• Spends a long time on writing
assignments
• Neither remembers nor follows
instructions
• Is disorganised
• Reacts to all stimuli equally (the brain
does not filter out irrelevant stimuli
automatically)
This inability to perform in class at par
with his peers can cause the dyspraxic
child to be labelled slow, clumsy, lazy and
disobedient, and lacking discipline. The
result – a sense of failure, withdrawal, and
social alienation.
Getting professional help
Once the condition has been accurately
diagnosed, the next step is remediation.
While dyspraxia can never be fully cured,
some alleviation of symptoms is possible
with the correct treatment. “A number of
healthcare professionals may be involved
— such as a paediatrician, psychologist,
occupational therapist, speech therapist,
physiotherapist, and remedial teacher,”
explains Dr. Sulata Shenoy, Director,
Turning Point Centre for Child Guidance.
A paediatrician will certify the child’s
health and growth parameters, and may
also be the first person to alert the child’s
parents to the diagnosis and refer him
for further investigations and therapies.
A psychologist will assess the child’s
mental abilities and school readiness
skills and refer him for appropriate
therapy. An occupational therapist will
make a list of the child’s abilities and
assist the child where necessary (helping
him work with fine motor skills, develop
better eye-hand coordination and learn
basic developmental tasks such as
bathing, brushing his teeth and feeding
himself). The physiotherapist’s services
may be required in case of gross motor
clumsiness. Perceptual motor training
may be suggested. A speech therapist
can help the child practice breathing and
articulation, and also provide exercises to
help the lips and mouth move in certain
ways. A remedial teacher can help improve
the child’s scholastic proficiency. As in all
developmental disorders, a multi-pronged
therapy approach is indicated.
Delhi-based Shalini Gupta’s eleven-year old
daughter has speech apraxia (one of the
forms that dyspraxia takes). Occupational
therapy has helped her perfect her
pronunciation to a great extent. “Gayatri
had a problem recalling the oral muscular
formations involved in the production of
simple sounds,” explains Gupta. “So she
would forget how to position her lips and
tongue to produce sounds like ‘p’ and
‘b’. I attended an occupational therapy
workshop which explained that if all
senses are involved in the production of
the sound, the learning would be faster
and stronger. The facilitators gave us three
different shapes made of fibre glass, in
three different colours - a red triangle, a
blue circle and a yellow square. Every time
I wanted Gayatri to produce the sound ‘p’,
I would place the red triangle between her
lips; I would use the blue circle when we
wanted ‘m’ and the yellow square when I
wanted her to make the sound of ‘b’. After
a week of doing this in front of a mirror,
Gayatri would just look at the shapes and
make the respective sounds. And gradually,
this got entrenched in her oral muscular
memory.”
What parents can do
• Practise skills with your child, both
fine motor skills (through activities
like beading, lacing, painting, etc.) as
well as gross motor skills, by playing
with him outdoors.
• Encourage activities that enhance coordination. You don’t need to be an
expert: playing ball in the garden, going
swimming, teaching your child to ride a
bike – all this can be of great help.
• Talk through activities such as putting
on a piece of clothing or kicking the
ball into a goal, in a step-by-step
manner. Ask your child to think about
how he could do something better,
differently or even faster.
• Help him learn necessary social
skills. Children with dyspraxia are
socially clumsy; they find emotions
difficult to read and have poor
spatial awareness, literally ‘invading
the space of others’. Parents can help
by encouraging their child to make
friends and to take part in activities
with them outside the home.
• Most importantly, be understanding
and aware of the fact that change will
be gradual. Your child will feel better
knowing that you are there for him, no
matter what.
May - June
May -2013
June 2013
31
Parents should work closely with the school
and teachers to ensure that learning is made
easy and practical for the dyspraxic child by:
• Reducing the number of tasks allotted
to the child, and allowing additional
time for their completion.
• Breaking down the task at hand into
manageable bits.
• Giving instructions one at a time,
rather than a complex string, which
may result in confusion.
• Reinforcing instructions by repetition.
• Providing extra supervision and
encouragement, especially in practical
subjects.
• Getting the child to work as part of a
team.
• Talking through what is expected of
him on a particular assignment.
• Keeping the child away from
distractions.
• Teaching the child strategies to help
remember and assist himself, by using
lists and diaries, or to-do lists so he
can tick off the tasks he completes.
• Ensuring the child is well prepared for
any changes to routine, which can be
both problematic and distressing.
Shivani Singh, Delhi, who has a dyspraxic
son, sums up – “The biggest problem that
dyspraxics and other children with special
learning needs face today, is the attitude
of the people around them. When Neil
was first diagnosed with dyspraxia, we
were thrown off the regular path. We were
caught unawares, but we had to deal with
it. Because of the lack of awareness, the
first reaction is always ‘find a cure.’ But
there’s actually so much we can do to adapt.
Change our environment. And accept them
– mentally, physically and emotionally. ”
Resources
•
•
•
•
•
www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk
www.dyspraxiausa.org
Understanding Developmental Dyspraxia, by Madeleine Portwood
Dyspraxia: The Hidden Handicap, by Amanda Kirby
Caged in Chaos, by Victoria Biggs (written by a dyspraxic, this book is an account of the
challenges that Biggs faced and how she dealt with them)
Shivani Singh, Delhi, whose son has dyspraxia
When your child was diagnosed with dyspraxia, how did you deal with it?
Singh: It obviously meant a huge change in our life. Neil became the focus of everything, our top priority. I had to balance his needs with
the rest of my responsibilities, and he needed all my attention. Everything that was not Neil was relegated to the back burner. I was at
the height of my writing career but I had to give it up. And it’s not only parents who have to make the adjustments – it’s the school as
well. His school said that they had a special educator and that Neil would be fine in six months. But I felt he needed more extensive and
comprehensive care. So I sat in with him in all his classes, until he was in class two.
What about people around you? How did they react?
The biggest problem you have to face is people’s attitude towards special children. Social stigma for such things is huge, especially in
India. We have a skewed vision of what is perfect. That needs to be changed.
What advice do you have for other parents whose children have special needs?
Please be proactive about your child’s disability. Take complete responsibility. Understand your child. It’s a challenge. You can’t forget
about it or sweep it under the carpet. Stop grieving and crying; don’t whine. Help your child. Work in an environment where he or she is
treated with dignity. You might feel guilt, or anger, upon hearing the diagnosis – but it’s extremely important to remember that things
like this are nobody’s fault. The least you can do is support your child and get him the help he needs.
-
32
May
May- -June
June2013
2013
Tulika Misra
Designing
Laptop
Covers
Laptops are essential tools today – for work, study and entertainment – but take a look at
most laptop covers – yawn! They’re usually plain; the colours are dull! Isn’t this boring? The
covers are designed to keep the laptop free from scratches and from getting damaged, but
with a little bit of tweaking, they can be attractive and great accessories as well! Here’s a
simple way to design a cover that will make your laptop look amazing AND keep it safe from
accidents.
May - June 2013
33
You will need:
•
•
•
•
•
Coloured card (thick paper) – choose
your favourite colour. You could even
use a combination of colours to make
your cover brighter and bolder!
Ordinary/craft scissors and glue
Blu-tack or regular liquid glue
Pencils, colours, crayons – whatever art
supplies you enjoy working with
Other decorations (sequins, feathers,
glitter, stickers, etc.)
What you need to do:
Cut the piece of card to fit your laptop,
making it slightly smaller (when it is
laminated it will be stiff and stick out
beyond the edges of the laptop). You
can even use special craft scissors to
create shapes and patterns at the edges.
• Get creative and start designing!
You could draw or paint your name,
an attractive design, your favourite
logo…the possibilities are endless!
Draw, paint or stick pictures. Add any
•
Tips:
extra little bits you want - feathers or
sequins, sprinkle glitter, use stickers
– anything that makes your cover
attractive and attention-grabbing!
• Wait for your design to dry. If you’re
using paint, glue or glitter, it’s best to
wait till the next day.
• Take your completed cover to a shop to
be laminated. Most shops can laminate
your cover for you in less than an hour.
The lamination will prevent your cover
from getting crumpled or damaged.
• Stick your finished and laminated cover
on your laptop. You can use blu-tack
which is not messy and will attach the
cover quickly. Additionally, if you want
to change the cover later, blu-tack will
allow you to remove the cover easily
enough. Alternatively, you could also
use regular liquid glue which will allow
the cover to stick smoothly without any
of the lumps associated with blu-tack.
These laptop covers make great
gifts for family and friends! You
can specially customise them
for birthdays or anniversaries.
What better than a cover full of
wonderful memories?
• Ever thought about themed
covers? You could make two or
three, and change them from
time to time. For winter, you
could have a snowman and
Christmas tree. And for summer,
you could have a giant ice cream
or a picture of a beach.
• If you do not want to create a
laptop cover from scratch, you
could also consider taking a
regular laptop sleeve, and simply
decorating it as you wish.
•
- Lasya Karthik
And there you have it – a one-of-a-kind
super-cool, personalised laptop cover!
Children’s Life University (CLU) presents
Unique workshops and retreats for Parents and Teachers
for healing and growth
by Dr. Newton Kondaveti, Dr. Lakshmi, Jayashree Ashok and the CLU Team
The Heart of Parenting and
Teaching (7 Day) Retreat
The Essence of Parenting
and Teaching (7 Day) Retreat
28th May - 3rd June 2013
This residential retreat introduces
parents and teachers to heart centered
parenting and teaching which allows
maximum growth and creativity
to emerge in the child. Learn ways to
encourage intuitive and creative
abilities and the overall harmonious
development of your child.
Help your child express their
own unique fragrance.
1st – 7th May 2013
This residential healing retreat
provides a wonderful opportunity for
every parent and teacher to return
to wholeness and love within and
parent and teach from their essence.
It provides a solid foundation for
spiritual parenting and holistic
soul based education.
Venue: The School of Ancient Wisdom
Devanahalli, Bangalore
Venue: The School of Ancient Wisdom
Devanahalli, Bangalore
For more details visit
www.cluglobal.org/workshops/hopt
For more details visit
www.cluglobal.org/workshops/eopt
A 2 day Introduction to The Essence of Parenting and Teaching
30th - 31st March 2013
This workshop explores the new art and science of raising children from love instead of fear.
Learn the importance of healing as a foundation for living, parenting and teaching.
Venue: Creative School, Children’s Life University, Bangalore
34
May - June 2013
For more details visit www.cluglobal.org/workshops/introduction-to-eopt
For more details on registration visit www.cluglobal.org/workshops or contact Dhivya +91 99865 52528 / Rathy +91 99865 52529
or email [email protected]
May - June 2013
35
“Hong Kong has created one of the most successful societies on Earth.”
- Prince Charles
Why study in Hong Kong?
What comes to mind when you think of
Hong Kong? A crazy, busy city and fastpaced madness? A shopper’s paradise with
bargains galore and rude shopkeepers?
These are just some facets of this bustling
city – did you know that it is also one of the
best places to study?
•
36
High quality of education: Hong
Kong’s universities rank among the
top universities in the world; five
of the world’s top 100 universities
for mathematics are in Hong Kong.
This is also the case for statistics,
modern languages, and accounting
and finance. The Hong Kong University
of Science and Technology (HKUST)
has been ranked first in Asia as per
the QS World University rankings,
and in addition, three of the top 15
Asian universities are in Hong Kong.
May - June 2013
Since the education system is broadly
compatible with that of mainland
China, it is possible to participate in
exchange programmes and gain credits
with universities in China, if the
student is so inclined.
•
•
Closer to home: Hong Kong is just five
hours (on average) away from most big
cities in India. This can be of immense
comfort to parents who would like their
child to get a world-class education but
do not want to send him very far away
from home.
Less expensive: The cost of education in
Hong Kong for international students is
lower when compared to other countries
like the USA, the UK, Australia, and New
Zealand. In addition, there are a number
of government scholarships available for
non-local students to help with tuition
fees and the cost of living.
•
Visas and employment: The Government
is determined to make Hong Kong
a regional education hub, and is
introducing many measures towards this
end. In recent years, quota limits on
international students attending public
universities have being raised from 10
to 20%. Restrictions on entry visas have
been relaxed and non-local graduates are
allowed to stay in Hong Kong for one year
after graduation in order to find a job.
•
A vibrant Asian city: Hong Kong truly
has something for everyone. The tall
skyscrapers that rival Manhattan and
up-market designer shopping right
next to bustling oriental markets
contribute to a heady mix of Eastern
and Western culture (through cuisine,
architecture and attitudes) that is fun
to explore and experience!
Universities in Hong Kong
There
are
eight
government-funded
universities in the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (SAR). In addition,
a few international universities have their
Asian campus located in Hong Kong (These
institutes function as arms of their parent
institutions, and applications have to be made
individually to them). Hong Kong’s public
universities are undergoing a major redesign
that will see a shift away from the Britishinspired three-year degree programmes to
American-style four-year degrees.
•
University of Hong Kong (HKU):
This is Hong Kong’s oldest university
and was established in 1911. HKU is a
comprehensive research-led university
with ten faculties and numerous
research centres on the island. Ranked
35th in the world and third in Asia, it
has around 20,000 students, of which
10% are international students from over
40 countries. About 45% of academic
staff is drawn from overseas, mostly
from leading universities in the United
Kingdom, North America, Australia, and
a number of Asian countries.
•
Hong Kong Baptist University
(HKBU): This is Hong Kong’s second
oldest university, with a Christian
education heritage. The university has
five main campuses and around 10,500
undergraduate and post-graduate
students. HKBU has a strong research
focus, and has over 35 research centres
around the SAR.
•
Hong Kong University of Science
and Technology (HKUST): Although
this is one of Hong Kong’s youngest
universities, it may well be the most
dynamic. Its strong emphasis on cutting-
International
Universities with
campuses in Hong Kong
• Baruch College, City
University of New York
(US)
• Manchester Business
School (UK)
• Savannah College of Art
Design (US)
• University of Northern
Virginia (US)
• University of Western
Ontario (Canada)
May - June 2013
37
edge research and quality education has
put HKUST among the world’s top-ranked
universities – it is ranked 33rd in the
world and first in Asia. HKUST provides
its students with an internationally
recognised education in engineering,
science, business, and management from
undergraduate to doctoral levels.
38
•
City University of Hong Kong (CityU):
Ranking 95th in the world and 12th in
Asia, this university offers more than
130 academic programmes and is world
renowned in areas such as Linguistics,
Statistics and the Social Sciences. CityU
has a student body of 18,000.
•
Lingnan University: This is the only
liberal arts university in the Hong
Kong SAR, and offers undergraduate,
research and taught postgraduate
programmes to over 2,400 students.
It has a small student body and is
therefore able to provide close facultystudent relationships. It is one of Hong
Kong’s oldest educational institutions.
•
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
(PolyU): This is the largest governmentfunded university in Hong Kong, and is
ranked among the top 100 universities
in the world in several areas such
as Accounting & Finance, Computer
Science,
Mathematics,
Mechanical
Engineering, Modern Languages and
Statistics & Operational Research. PolyU
runs more than 170 undergraduate and
postgraduate programmes.
•
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
(CUHK): Another old and well established
university with a strong focus on research,
the CUHK internationally known for its
achievements in physics and mathematics.
It offers a college system as well as a
flexible credit system that is not generally
offered in the SAR. CUHK’s programmes are
grouped under five focus areas – Chinese
Studies, Biomedical Sciences, Information
Sciences, Economics and Finance, and
Geo-Information and Earth Sciences. The
institution boasts faculty members who
are Nobel Laureates.
May - June 2013
Applying to a university in Hong Kong
Most Indian students are eligible for
admission to Hong Kong universities
soon after they complete Grade 12. Hong
Kong universities have high standards
for admission, and demand a cut-off
of over 90% in Grade 12. They also
take into account your child’s personal
statement, referee’s report (letters of
recommendation) and evidence of allroundedness and leadership. Most of them
require the student to submit SAT and
TOEFL and/or IELTS scores as well.
While each university has its own academic
calendar, most follow the semester system,
with the first semester running from early
September to late December, and the
second from mid-January to May. Incoming
international undergraduates usually have
an orientation programme in late August,
or a week before classes begin.
Applications are usually due during the
spring semester prior to the intended entry
date, but this also varies according to the
university, with some inviting applications
as early as December in the year before (like
the University of Hong Kong), and some
as late as May. So check with your child’s
chosen university well in advance.
Your child will have to choose the course(s)
he is applying to, and certain courses may
require a written test and an interview
before placement. Each university in Hong
Kong has its own application form, which
you can access from its website. The
application process is quite simple and
straight forward. Your child will also have
Registration
to provide copies of the requisite academic
certificates to support the application,
and may have to pay an application fee of
around USD 60.
If the application is accepted by the
university, your child will get either a
conditional offer or an unconditional offer
of acceptance. Under a conditional offer,
the university may ask for additional
documentation, such as an essay, to
strengthen the offer; or, your child’s
admission may be pending his final exam
results. He will have to submit the required
documents within the specified period, or
after he gets his final exam marks sheet,
in order to qualify for unconditional
acceptance.
Once your child has received an acceptance
letter from the university, the next step is
to apply for a student visa. The university
acts as the student’s visa sponsor and will
send you the list of documents that it
requires. Once it has received the complete
visa application document set, it will
forward these documents to the Hong Kong
Immigration Department for consideration.
In 6-8 weeks, the Hong Kong Immigration
Department will inform the university of
your child’s visa application results. If
approved, the university will pick up the
visa label and courier it to you. The student
visa label is to be stuck on the passport
page before landing in Honk Kong.
Alternately, some colleges might request
that you apply through the Chinese
embassy.
Completing the
Application Form
Sending your Supporting
Documents
Payment of
Application Fee
Printing the Final
Report
From the HKU website
May - June 2013
39
Financing your child’s education
The Hong Kong government subsidises
the eight publicly-funded universities
in the region and, therefore, the cost of
education compares favourably with other
international student destinations like the
US or the UK. Even though tuition fees
for international students in Hong Kong
are lower than many other countries at
approximately USD 9,700 to 15,400 per
annum on average, this can still be a stretch
for some.
In order to attract more international
students to Hong Kong, the government has
instituted many measures: it has doubled
non-local student quotas for local publiclyfunded institutions from 10% to 20% and has
established several government scholarships
for outstanding non-local students (please
see end of article for scholarship options).
That being said, there is intense competition
for these scholarships, and we would advise
you not to base your decision on your child
being able to obtain a scholarship here.
Living in Hong Kong
Accommodation
Most universities have an international
student office to help their students find
on-campus or off-campus accommodation
which suits their budget and needs. Firstyear international students usually live
on campus, in residence halls or rooms
provided by the university. Your child
will either have a single room or share it
with another student, and the rooms are
usually fully furnished. In addition, the
hall also provides common amenities such
as TV rooms, laundry, computer rooms,
game rooms and so on. Meal packages are
available at extra charge, and most halls
provide kitchenette facilities for students
to cook their own food. These halls cost
around USD 650-2000 per semester.
An international student in Hong
Kong spends, on average, about USD 4000 to 8000 on living
expenses. This amount varies
depending on your child’s individual
lifestyle and course of study.
40
May - June 2013
Students can also choose to stay offcampus, but few do, given the high cost of
the living in Hong Kong and the subsidised
rates on campus. Hostels, usually run by
private agencies, provide accommodation on
a single or shared basis. This option offers
more privacy and your child can choose his
own roommates. International students
can opt for private housing, an option that
affords the most flexibility and privacy (at a
cost of course).
a well-deserved reputation as a shopper’s
paradise, with the most luxurious brands
in the world available here; at the same
time, there are bargains galore in the
street markets and bazaars. In spite of its
dense population, Hong Kong has quite
a few nature parks and trails, and also
sports facilities for almost every game –
tennis, basketball, rugby, football, etc. The
weather is sub-tropical, with hot summers,
a monsoon season and cool winters.
Getting around
Hong Kong’s super-efficient public transport
system is cheap, well-connected and fun!
The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) has ten
lines connecting major population centres,
New Territories and Mainland China; it is
also the fastest ride to and from the airport.
There is also the famous double-decker tram
system, which costs just USD 2 no matter
how long the journey. Buses ply the region
24 hours a day. Interestingly, there are
several unique public transport systems –
the Peak Tram, the cable car, ferries, jetfoils
and sampans; your child might not ever
step into an automobile for as long as he is
in Hong Kong!
Health
Hong Kong has an excellent public health
system, and international students enjoy
local prices for healthcare. Most universities
have an on-campus clinic that provides free
or affordable health care to students, and
sometimes even dental care. However, some
universities insist that their international
students
also
purchase
accident,
hospitalisation, and evacuation coverage
before they begin their studies — check the
requirements of your child’s university.
Living
Hong Kong draws heavily on its ancient
Chinese heritage and its long history as
a British Colony. Like Singapore, it is a
distinctive blend of Chinese tradition and
up-to-date modernity, with skyscrapers and
ancient temples, and sampans and sleek
yachts co-existing side by side. It enjoys
We hope we have given you and your child
most of the information you will need to
decide on an under-graduate education in
Hong Kong. This region is fast climbing the
Asian education ranks, and the government
is actively funding higher education while
also wooing international students. We
think your child will greatly benefit from an
education in Hong Kong, and you too will
find comfort in his proximity and the fact
that you didn’t have to break the bank to
provide him with a world-class education!
List of scholarships available for Indian students to study in Hong Kong
Organisation/
Scholarship
Aid provided
University
Contact
HKU Entrance Scholarship
Up to full tuition fee waiver plus personal / living expenses
University of Hong
Kong
[email protected]
Admission Scholarship
Scheme for Overseas Applicants
HK$ 140,000 per recipient for up to eight recipients
Hong Kong Baptist
University
[email protected]
HKSAR Government
Scholarships
HK$ 80,000 per recipient; no fixed quota
Hong Kong Baptist
University
[email protected]
Recruitment Scholarships,
Scholarships for Continuing
Undergraduate Students
Tuition fees + living allowance
Top scholarship
HK$ 140,000, covering annual tuition fees, on-campus accommodation and living expenses
City University of
Hong Kong
http://www.cityu.edu.hk/sds/
sch/titlee_sofa.html
Full Tuition Scholarships
Annual tuition fees
City University of
Hong Kong
http://www.cityu.edu.hk/sds/
sch/titlee_sofa.html
Half Tuition Scholarships
Half of the annual tuition fees
City University of
Hong Kong
http://www.cityu.edu.hk/sds/
sch/titlee_sofa.html
Andrew Fan Outstanding Community Service
Awards for Non-local
Students
HK$ 8000
City University of
Hong Kong
http://www.cityu.edu.hk/sds/
sch/titlee_sofa.html
Full Scholarship, Full Tuition
Scholarship or Half-tuition
Scholarship
As applicable
Lingnan University
http://www.ln.edu.hk/ssc/
campuslife/scholarship/prize/
index.html
Entry Scholarships for
Outstanding Admittees,
Post Entry Scholarships
and Prizes
As applicable
Hong Kong Polytechnic university
www28.polyu.edu.hk.
Various scholarships
HK$ 50,000 to HK$ 125,000 per year
Chinese University
of Hong Kong
http://www5.cuhk.edu.hk/oafa/
index.php/scholarships
HKUST
[email protected]
May - June 2013
41
Student Speak
Rhea Karia is pursuing a Dual Degree in
Electrical Engineering and Business in HKUST.
Why did you choose to study in Hong
Kong?
I chose Hong Kong for many reasons, the
first being the reasonable cost of education
here when compared to other destinations.
More importantly, the amount you pay is
well worth the quality of education you get
in return. Personally, I was also very keen
on the course that I am currently pursuing
– most courses here require three years to
complete, but I was fortunate enough to
be accepted into the Dual Degree program
which is a combination of engineering and
business. It is a highly selective course with
an intake of only 40 students a year. To me,
that was an option worth the challenge. Of
course, Hong Kong is a great city to study
and live in! I knew, well in advance, the
kind of city I would be going to; it never
sleeps! It’s the financial hub of Asia, the
streets are always buzzing, technology
here makes life incredibly convenient and
of course, one can never underestimate the
volume of intelligence crammed into the
students whom I study with. Plus, people
here are extremely friendly.
Did you apply to study in any other
country besides HK? If yes, why did you
choose HK over these countries?
Yes, I did apply to many universities in the
US and got accepted by quite a few as well.
At that time, I believed in brand name. 42
May - June 2013
I thought that there would be no value to my
education if I couldn’t attach a strong name
to validate it. There then came a point when
I had to choose between a brand name and
an education that was more practical for me.
I finally chose Hong Kong because I realised
that I did not just want to be a student from
a great university; rather I wanted to be a
student studying great things. Once here, I
realised that it is a common misconception
amongst high-school students in India that
only the US has good brand name colleges.
In Hong Kong, for example, the universities
and their students are looked at with
extremely high regard and being a part of
this university is an honour!
How long did the application process
take? What was your experience with the
process?
The application process was reasonably
simple, direct and easy to understand. The
university was prompt in replying to my
queries and responding to my application.
Arranging the finances was an issue that I
left to my parents to handle, but since the
cost of education in Hong Kong is just about
affordable, I believe that my parents had no
real problems with that.
How would you compare studying in
India to studying in HK – in terms of
academic rigour, teaching style, campus
life, etc.?
I have been through both the CBSE and IB
systems in India and I can say that neither
of them is comparable to education in Hong
Kong. Each subject here is handled by a
separate department that has the freedom to
teach in its own way, finding the appropriate
balance between application and theory.
The professors here do a wonderful job and
invest a lot of time in making our subjects
interesting and application-oriented. If it is
a subject that requires rigour, like maths or
science, then the entire department makes
sure that they optimise the way in which we
learn. If I have felt academic pressure here,
it is because of speed rather than rigour.
In terms of campus life, of course one
cannot compare college with high school
experiences. I was genuinely surprised at
the international exposure that I experience
here. My closest friends are from Ecuador,
France, Egypt, Moldova, Russia, Estonia,
Taiwan, and Ukraine. Of course there are
many Indian students here as well. There
are no barriers to friendship, and cultures
merge smoothly. The university also plays a
major role by organising enough orientation
activities that help you meet new people.
Apart from that, there are around 70
societies here with all sorts of interests. I am
part of the Film Society, a Greek fraternity
and the International Students Association’s
Basketball Team.
How has your experience been so far?
Simply inspiring. The classes here offer
so much! In my first semester here, I was
already building complex robotic systems!
I think the best part about my university
is the campus. Our campus is on the edge
of a hill and overlooks the sea. The view
from my window is that of the beach, the
sea and a few small islands in the distance!
As I mentioned earlier, the campus is full of
students from so many different countries;
but it isn’t only the campus, it’s the city
in general – it’s a cultural melting pot. I
have learnt a lot about different religions,
languages, rituals, habits and food. It took
me less than a week to adjust to life here.
Do you have any advice for Indian
students considering an undergrad
education in HK?
Do it! Don’t think twice. Life here is so
fast it’s almost difficult to catch up with. I
see a genuine future in Hong Kong. If you
want to taste different kinds of food, this
is the right place to be. Don’t be afraid of
missing our Indian flavours – you will get
that too! If you want to meet people and
learn about cultures that you never knew
existed, this is the perfect start. If you are
more comfortable with the culture you’ve
grown up in, don’t worry – there is a huge
Indian community here too! Last but not
least, Hong Kong is the doorstep of over 200
major institutions. We have frequent visits
from prestigious financial institutions like
HSBC, Credit Suisse, JP Morgan, and Morgan
Stanley, all looking for students from HKUST
as their first option.
re!
u
t
ea
F
w
Ne
ProductWatch
Amul Flaavyo –
Frozen Yoghurt
Manufacturer: Dairy major Amul has
recently launched Amul Flaavyo, a
frozen yoghurt, to counter the many
international brands that have been
launching flavoured yoghurts and riding
on the ‘guilt-free dessert’ platform!
Product Review:
Ingredients: The main ingredients used
in the product are milk products, sugar,
fruit pulp, fruit pieces, active probiotic
culture and vitamins.
Product Features (manufacturer’s claim
in italics):
• Tasty, healthy and refreshing treat for
people of all ages: The yoghurt has been
launched in two flavours – Mango and
Strawberry. The texture of the product
is similar to ice cream and the flavour is
pleasant and indeed refreshing. Mango
is definitely worth a try – it is sweet
and tangy and has a lovely ripe mango
flavour; of course, you do wish for more
mango pieces! A possible drawback could
be that young children may not take
an immediate liking to the slight tangy
taste, which is more suited for older
children and the adult palate.
• Contains live probiotic bacteria which
helps in digestion and improve immunity:
Probiotics is the scientific term for the
‘friendly bacteria and yeast’ that are
also present in our digestive tract. The
European Food Safety Authority is yet
to allow proven health claims as the
scientific evidence remains insufficient,
but having said that, probiotics can do no
harm and if proven you can see this as an
added benefit! Probiotics is also present
in fermented dairy products we make at
home with live culture - curds/dahi and
buttermilk.
• Contains added real fruit pieces and
essential vitamins: The ingredient list for
the fruit part of the mango flavour reads
peach dices, mango dices and mango
pulp, and for the strawberry, strawberry
dices and strawberry pulp. Being a
product from the house of Amul I think
we can rest assured that good quality
ingredients and real fruit have been used
to make the product! But it is not an
‘all-natural product’ and if you are one
of those who is wary of synthetic food
colours – the product does contain them,
as well as some permitted emulsifiers and
stabilizers.
probiotics. For picky eaters this can be an
interesting way to introduce some fruits
and get some calories in!
Nutrition: 100 grams of the product
gives 174 calories. A good serving size
is around 50 gm or about 100 ml (~1/2
cup measure), so your child gets only half
the calories! The fat and calorie content
is lower than ice creams and the protein
content is reasonable, but the quantity of
sugar is high, as may be expected for a
sweet product. One serving size has around
10 gm of added sugar which is around 2
teaspoons. But this is definitely a better
option than most desserts for the summer
and has the added benefit of vitamins and
Recommendation:
A good dessert
option for the summer, and healthier
than other dessert options like pastries,
Indian sweets and ice cream. A child can
consume 2-3 servings a week.
Cost and Availability: Amul Flaavyo is
priced at Rs. 25 (125 ml), Rs. 90 (500
ml) and Rs. 650 (5 ltr) for a pack and
is available in select Amul parlours and
retail outlets across the country. You can
get 5-6 regular helpings (or 4 generous
servings) from a 500 ml tub, giving your
family a cooling summer treat for less
than Rs 100!
Finding the product could be challenging
as not all retail outlets stock Amul
products. The shelf life of the product is
six months when stored in freezers, but
it will be ideal to consume the product
as soon as possible as power cuts in some
parts of the country may lead to poor
product quality or safety issues.
Note: Amul has also launched Flaavyo
Dahi, a refrigerated product in 5 flavours,
available only in Gujarat and Maharashtra
and starting from a price point of Rs. 10.
May - June 2013
43
PROTEIN:
In debates on nutrition, fats and carbohydrates
monopolise the limelight. Protein, the other member of
the ‘macronutrient trio’, unfortunately takes a back seat.
But proteins are the building blocks of our body, present
in every cell, without which the body cannot perform
even the most basic functions! It is, hence, imperative that
we pay attention to our child’s protein intake at home.
Did you know? After water, protein is the
most abundant nutrient in the body – found
in all cells of the body, including hair and skin.
44
May - June 2013
the Building
Blocks of
our Body
What makes proteins special?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Protein deposition in the cells helps
build children’s muscles and bones,
and also keeps their skin, hair, and
nails healthy.
Protein is required for healthy brain
functioning; without it, the brain cannot
produce enough neurotransmitters (the
brain’s messengers that communicate
information throughout the body).
Haemoglobin in blood, required to
transport oxygen throughout the
body, is actually a protein combined
with iron.
Critical body processes such as water
balancing, nutrient transport and
muscular contractions require protein.
Numerous enzymes and hormones in
the body are basically proteins.
Protein is an essential component of
the immunity system.
Protein is also a source of energy,
providing four calories per gram, just
like carbohydrates
Consequently, protein is absolutely crucial
for overall good health!
Dharini Krishnan, a leading
dietician in Chennai, observes
that “children today are eating
two nutrients in abundance –
carbohydrates and fat – and are
deprived of protein. This can lead
to reduced immunity, and can
cause a number of health issues.
Protein is an important nutrient
which plays a role in a variety
of functions, most importantly
in the resistance of the body to
infections.”
May - June 2013
45
Unravelling the protein story
Proteins are classified as complete or
incomplete, depending on the presence
of nine amino acids that the body cannot
make, called ‘essential amino acids’.
Complete proteins are found in animal
products like meat, fish, eggs, milk and
cheese. Incomplete proteins are derived
from plant-based foods such as vegetables,
fruits, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.
Vegetarians – the good news is that you
can combine two incomplete proteins, for
example rice and dal, to create a complete
protein meal! However, since protein from
vegetarian sources is not as efficiently
absorbed by the body as animal protein,
Give your child a
complete protein meal
•
•
•
•
46
Bread and peanut butter or cheese
Roti or rice with dal
Macaroni and cheese
Paratha with curds or paneer
May - June 2013
ensure that your child’s diet has enough
of the latter as well, in the form of milk,
yoghurt and eggs.
In our country, where cereals rule the roost,
and many meals are primarily vegetarian
even among non-vegetarians, it is advisable
to combine foods to make all the amino
acids available for every meal.
Optimising the protein in your
child’s diet
The body cannot store proteins as it
does fats and carbohydrates, so we must
consume adequate quantities every day to
meet our dietary requirements. Growing
children need energy for their activities
and to stay focused – ensure that they
get their daily recommended intake of
protein (see end of article for daily protein
requirement). A protein-rich diet can also
help older children maintain a healthy
weight as protein-rich foods have higher
satiety value. Tables 1 and 2 show different
food items and their protein content. Use
these as a guide to meet the protein needs
of your child.
Did you know?
• Soya is a good source of
protein for vegetarians as its
protein quality is closer to that
of animal proteins. Incorporate
soya in your child’s diet by
using soya nuggets in gravies or
in biryani, using a combination
of soya flour and wheat flour to
make chapattis, and adding soya
milk to pancake batter.
• When whole legumes are
sprouted, the protein stored in
them is converted into a more
digestible form. Sprouts are a
wonderful source of proteins
and vitamins for growing
children. Be creative and liberal
in the addition of sprouts to
salads, raitas and rolls.
Table 2: Calorie and protein content of foods
commonly cooked at home
Table 1: Protein content of common foods
Food/Serving Size
Calories
Protein (g)
Milk (toned) – 3% fat, 200
ml (1 big cup)
118
6.0
Milk double toned – 1.5%
fat, 200 ml (1 big cup)
96
6.8
Milk skimmed 0.2% fat
(1 big cup)
66
5.6
Egg (medium size)
63
5.5
Breakfast cereal (30 g)
1 serving (without milk)
119
2.4
Breakfast cereal (30 g)
1 serving (with milk)
147
5.4
Cheese (1 slice)
62
3.4
Paneer (¼ of a packet
(25 g)
69
3.4
Sprouts (1 cup)
82
6.9
Soya nuggets/chunks (25g)
84
13.5
Chikki ( 1 big piece – 30 g)
145
4.0
Food Item/
Serving Size
Calories
Protein (g)
Idli (3)
229
7.2
Dosa (2)
254
6.2
Veg. Sandwich (1)
194
3.2
Cooked Rice ( 2 cups)
222
4.4
Paratha (2)
297
8.3
Phulka (2)
170
6.0
Kichidi (1 cup)
215
4.3
Cooked moong dal (1 cup)
113
6.4
Cooked thur dal (1 cup)
109
6.0
Sambar (1 cup)
81
4.1
Chole (1 cup)
119
6.8
Rajma (1 cup)
153
7.1
Peas Paneer (1 cup)
194
11.0
Peas Potato (1 cup)
132
3.2
Fried Fish (1 big piece)
109
9.1
Chicken curry (1 cup)
257
*1 cup measure = 150 ml
25.7
Reference: Pasricha, S., Count what you Eat, National Institute of Nutrition, Reprinted 2004.
Although kids get most of their protein during lunch and dinner, also think about the protein content of their breakfast and snacks.
Meal Moments
What to include
Breakfast
•
•
•
•
•
Eggs or cheese two-three times a week
Glass of milk daily
Protein-rich spreads like peanut butter
Traditional breakfast: Idly, dosa, paratha with curds
Breakfast cereals* with milk
After-school snack
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Paneer/cheese sandwich
Yoghurt dips along with crackers or vegetables
Smoothies with nuts/peanut butter, chocolate milk
Bhelpuri or poha with sprouts/groundnuts
Chikki
Traditional snacks made with rice and lentil combinations (like murukku) or with besan
Hard boiled eggs with creative toppings
Lunch/dinner
• Adequate quantities of dal with rice or chapatti, generous helping of curds/raita
• Sprouts salad as often as possible
• Non-vegetarian dishes three times a week, depending on family habits
*Breakfast cereals, though interesting for children, are not high on protein; it is the milk you add which makes it wholesome!
May - June 2013
47
Top chefs Tarla Dalal and Sanjeev Kapoor
have many creative suggestions for proteinrich recipes like paneer quesadillas and
protein-rich poha! Do check them out.
Remember that many of the foods that
provide complete proteins can also be high
in fat. In order to provide healthy, proteinrich meals, cook lean cuts of meat, remove
the skin from chicken, switch to low-fat
milk, and if your child is an egg lover,
serve him the whole egg and egg-whites on
alternate days.
So yes, protein is important but it is not
recommended that we give our children a
diet that is unnecessarily high in protein!
Only 15% of the body’s energy sources
should be from protein – this means that
only 300 calories in a 2000 kcal diet should
come from protein. A balanced diet which
combines different foods can easily meet
this requirement and the use of commercial
protein supplements should be strongly
discouraged.
To keep in mind:
• Protein is vital not only for your child
to be physically and mentally fit, but
also to fight infections.
• A good source of protein is often a
combination of various foods, because
different foods are rich in different
amino acids – so do ensure variety in
your child’s diet.
• Incorporating sprouts, ground nuts,
soya, paneer, and cheese can augment
your child’s protein intake.
• Constantly evaluate the protein source
on your child’s plate – think beyond
main meals.
• Healthy children eating a balanced
diet rarely need protein supplements.
Protein requirement for boys and girls
Age
Boys weight
(kg)
Protein (g)
Girls weight
(kg)
Protein (g)
1-2
10.3
15.1
9.6
14.1
2-3
12.8
16.0
12.1
15.1
3-4
14.8
17.2
14.5
16.8
4-5
16.5
18.3
16.0
17.8
5-6
18.2
19.8
17.7
19.3
6-7
20.4
23.5
20.0
23.0
7-8
25.2
26.6
22.3
26.1
8-9
25.2
29.7
25.0
29.5
9-10
28.0
33.0
27.6
32.6
10-11
30.8
36.3
31.2
36.8
11-12
34.1
39.6
34.8
40.0
12-13
38.0
43.7
39.0
44.5
13-14
43.3
49.8
43.4
49.0
14-15
48.0
54.7
47.1
52.8
15-16
51.5
58.2
49.4
53.8
16-17
54.3
60.8
51.3
54.9
17-18
56.5
62.2
52.8
56.0
Protein requirements are given based on average weight of children, and requirement is calculated based on g of
protein/kg body weight. Protein requirement sees an increase during adolescence and the need is higher for boys.
Table Reference: Nutrient requirements and Recommended Dietary allowances for Indians, Indian Council of Medical
Research, 2010.
48
May - June 2013
May - June 2013
49
Scrumptious
First read our ‘An Apple
a Day’ article on why
protein is important
for the growing child.
And then come back to
Scrumptious to discover
some easy-to-make,
delicious, protein-rich
dishes that will have your
child asking for more!
Yoghurt Dip
(serves 1)
What you need:
• 1 cup curds/yoghurt
• Muslin cloth
• Ingredients – anything you want to
add to the dip, depending on flavours
that you like. You can easily create
your own winning combination!
50
May - June 2013
What to do:
Place curds in a muslin cloth, gather up
the edges and tie a knot. Hang this over
a bowl for a few hours to drain out the
whey. Use the left-over thick curd to make
a delicious and healthy dip. Try adding one
or all of the following:
• Two pods of crushed fresh garlic
and a few pepper corns
• A spoon of mint chutney whipped
into the curds
• Roasted crushed garlic, and fresh
or dried Italian herbs like oregano
and rosemary
• Mashed tomato sautéed in olive oil
with garlic and herbs
• Roasted jeera powder and rock salt
Chill the dip and serve with cut cucumbers,
carrots, capsicum, roast potatoes, crackers,
or baked chips.
Scrumptious
Bean Burrito Indian style
(serves 1)
What you need:
• 1 cup of rajma (left over from the
•
•
•
•
previous night’s dinner, perhaps?)
1 large roti
1 cube of cheese - grated
1 tbsp. tomato ketchup (or hot sauce if
your child likes it spicy)
1 tsp. fresh coriander leaves – finely
chopped
What to do:
• Grind the rajma along with the
•
•
•
•
•
•
ketchup to make a smooth paste.
Heat a tsp. of oil in a pan and the
mashed rajma paste.
Stir, and warm the paste well.
Warm the roti on a tava.
Place the roti on a large plate, and
add the warm filling lengthwise in the
centre.
Add cheese and fresh coriander – the
rajma paste should be warm enough
for the cheese to melt.
Wrap your burrito and serve!
Tips:
You can add other ingredients as well
– chopped onions, olives, jalapenos,
or a spoon of thick curd!
May - June 2013
51
52
May - June 2013
The sheer variety in career options available to today’s youth is mind-boggling!
From sound engineering to writing, cryptology to design; from maths-based
careers to one based on the life sciences – we have covered all this and more
in past issues of the magazine, and will be bringing you many more! But this very
choice can be bewildering to parents who have grown up with more restricted
options, leaving both them and their children to confront a maze of decisions,
dilemmas and simply, lack of sufficient information.
ParentEdge spoke to Dr. Vikram Ramakrishnan, the CEO and
Founder of the Pathways Program (http://pathwaysprogram.in),
to ask him to light the way ahead and advice parents on how to
guide their children in their career choices.
May - June 2013
53
The Pathways Program is an education
services enterprise that provides career
guidance and skill development programmes
to high school and college students.
More than 5000 students are enrolled
in The Pathways Program across schools
in Hyderabad, Chennai, Coimbatore and
Bangalore. Pathways also contributes a
regular bimonthly column – Road Map – to
the Education Plus supplement of The Hindu.
Dr. Ramakrishnan believes that career
guidance is not just about helping a student
choose between science and commerce or
the right college. It should actually help
students understand what working involves,
analyse their interests and strengths, and
then choose a career that is right for them.
When high-schools students are deciding
which area of study to pursue at the
undergraduate level, who or what
influences this decision – peers, parents,
or teachers?
Parents continue to be the key influencers
of this decision. If not parents, it could
be other members of the larger family like
uncles/aunts or in some cases, friends of
parents. Peers are next. Teachers actually
play a minimal role.
What role do parents play in influencing
their children’s choice of career today?
Most parents have a plan in mind for
their children. The roles played could
be proactive, where the parent acts as a
facilitator and helps the child understand
the options available, or reactive where
not much time and thought is given to the
decision. Ideally, parents should discuss
this in depth with their children, and
the specifics of the situation should be
addressed. Let me explain the two roles by
talking about two situations and the types
of interchange that can occur:
Example 1 – proactive/good conversation:
A parent who is running a flourishing
business may not immediately warm up
to the idea of his son doing medicine.
However, instead of dissuading the son,
the father seeks to ensure that he makes a
fully informed decision based on the right
54
May - June 2013
facts. On probing, it is clear that the son’s
sudden interest in medicine was influenced
by a television serial (Grey’s Anatomy).
But unfortunately what is shown in these
serials is not the real picture of healthcare.
The father wants his son’s decision to be
based on an informed view of a career in
medicine and not by the glamour of what’s
shown on television. Hence, he arranges
a six-week programme for his son, where
the latter shadows doctors and tries to
understand the ‘real world’ of medicine. In
this case, the parents are helping the child
understand specifics of the career so he can
make an informed decision.
Example 2 – reactive/bad conversation:
Father – Son, do engineering.
Son – I am not interested in engineering.
Father – What do you want to do?
Son – I don’t know ….
Father – Then do engineering!
In today’s world, the roles parents play
have to expand and more time should
be devoted to career-choice discussions.
There is a pressing need to increase ‘good
conversations’!
In your opinion, to what extent should
a parent influence a child’s choice of
career?
Parents have to play a major role as the
role of school teachers in our country is
minimal, unlike in the west where schools
have a counsellor who assists considerably
in the process. Since this is not a
straightforward decision to make, getting
it right is important. It is the parent’s
duty to present all the variables to their
children, have a frank discussion about
their financial assets and investments, and
explore and understand the child’s interest
and strengths. Sufficient time should be
invested in structured discussions.
Are parents more accepting of children’s
interest and choices, especially when
they are not mainstream?
Parents today have definitely become
more accepting of children’s choices.
The definition of mainstream itself has
broadened! Even until just 15 years ago,
children could choose only between
engineering, medicine or commerce, but
now the definition of mainstream includes
Hotel Management, Human Resources
Management, Business Management, and
Languages – making a career as a translator
is well accepted. Parents see that there
are more options and also realise that they
may not be as informed as their children
about these choices – hence, they are
more willing to consider their children’s
decisions. Of course, there is still some
resistance to more unusual choices – if the
child says he wants to become an actor for
instance – as these still fall outside what
is defined as mainstream and parents are
concerned about the success of the child.
I think as long as parents see a ‘credible
plan of action’ they will be more accepting
of different choices.
Do you see a difference in the way
parents approach career choices in
metros vs. tier-2 towns?
In metros, parents (and children) have
access to a wider variety of people in
different careers. Hence, their awareness
levels are higher than those from smaller
towns and they, therefore, tend to be more
open. However, the approach to selecting
a career is not significantly different – in
both regions, there is an overwhelming
importance placed on the selection of the
course and college, and less on the actual
career the child is going to pursue.
Could you name a few factors that
influence a parent’s choice? Do you find
these reasonable?
• Familiarity with the choice, their
experience or a friend’s/family
member’s experience: For example,
a family of doctors may not resist too
much if their child wants to become
a chartered accountant, as they may
be aware of many successful chartered
accountants.
• Successful role models: If parents are
not familiar with the child’s choice,
they will look for successful role
models in that field.
• The parents’ own unfulfilled dreams:
For example, compelling their child
into a career in sports; or if their
own choice of career has made them
unhappy, this will prompt them to
discourage the child from choosing
the same.
Finances are not seen as an influencer,
but more as a constraint; and there
are numerous ways to overcome these
constraints. For example, an expensive
professional degree need not be the only
path to become an Investment Banker or
a Brand Manager – there could be other
paths. In many cases, once the child
is clear on what he wants to do, he can
identify different ways to get there!
Dr. Ramakrishnan recommends
three areas students and parents
should pay attention to when
investigating various career
options:
Interest: Check if interest
actually matches with what your
child intends to do – for example
in the case of medicine, is he
really interested in interacting
with people and helping them?
Skills: Does he have the
required skills, or the
opportunity to develop these
skills? What is required to be
successful as a doctor is different
from what is required to get
a medical college seat. For the
latter, you need to secure high
grades and score well in an
entrance test. But to become
a great surgeon, for example,
you need excellent hand-eye
coordination and fine motor
skills, the ability to work well
under pressure, empathy, and
good communication skills.
Lifestyle: Does his vision of
the lifestyle he envisages actually
match the career choice? For
example, if you become a
management consultant, you may
have to travel a lot and be away
from your family for a large part
of the week. Is this something
that he is prepared to do? So
your child may need to reconcile
his expectations to reality.
May - June 2013
55
R Sridhar, an innovation coach
based in Mumbai (and an expert
on the ParentEdge panel),
recently conducted a workshop
called ‘I WISH’ with students
of Grade 9. The workshop
facilitated a discussion on career
choices by helping students
understand their top five talents,
and then using these to explore
career options. His reflections
are captured below:
“Parents should play the role
of a facilitator. They need to
acknowledge that today’s
children could know much
more than they do. ‘I am the
parent and older, so I am
right’ is no longer valid! As a
facilitator, the parent should
first listen, without judging if
the child is right or wrong.
Children see the parents’
role as very important in the
decision-making process. So
we should avoid forcing them
into the dilemma of reconciling
their wishes with their parents’.
“Parents should understand
that the child is at a crossroads.
They don’t want to rebel, they
want a resolution. If they are
shown a reasonable way, which
stems from understanding, they
are willing to listen.”
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May - June 2013
What advice would you give parents on
being good facilitators in this process?
• Realise it is an important decision, and
be proactive and not reactive.
• Invest time and approach the
discussion in a structured manner. Do
not let it happen like the ‘flavour of
the day’; rather, get into specifics.
• Start the discussion early – in Grade 9,
as in our country the child has to make
a choice of subjects after Grade 10.
•
•
Keep the channels of communication
open. Be accepting so that the child
can share hopes, fears and dreams with
you. This will help children be open
about their choices rather than simply
make statements which they think
their parents want to hear.
Seek professional help to facilitate
the process better and do your best to
make children understand the ‘world of
work’.
Learnings from a
Parent’s Journey:
Sudha Kumar, with a
daughter in Grade 11
Reassure your children that it’s fine to be
unsure: Some children are sure about what
they want to do while others are not. At this
stage, children can become anxious, especially
if their peers have clarity and they themselves
don’t. As parents, we need to assure them that
they still have time to make up their minds,
and it is more important to focus on doing well
at school at this stage.
Be open about the choices your children
make: The idea is to help your children explore
options. So, as wild as their choice may seem
to you, do not dismiss it offhand. Keep an
open mind and try and understand why they
are thinking about a particular area. A few
discussions can lend clarity to both the child
and you. She may either outgrow the idea or
identify new areas to explore; alternately she
may convince you on its merits!
Take outside help: As I knew next to nothing
about my child’s area of interest, I spoke to a
few people and set up a couple of meetings for
my daughter. This helped to give her a realistic
picture of what she could expect from her career.
Think of ways to ascertain interest: Many
children do not have the exposure to really
decide whether they are passionate about a
subject while they are in high school. So they
often simply pick subjects they do well in. No
harm in that, but it may also be good to explore
further by organising internships with friends/
family or asking the child to do a summer project
by choosing a topic from the area of interest.
Do your own research: One of the challenges
that parents face today is a lack of understanding
of the choices available. As your child approaches
high school, become well-informed yourself by
talking to people and reading a lot. Assimilate
what is before you so that when the time comes
you can actually facilitate the process.
May - June 2013
57
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There are many reasons why children need
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Even adults need to understand how fitness
58
May - June 2013
and good nutrition are essential for a healthy life and better performance. Combining
fitness with good nutrition gives better results. Sports and fitness are essential aspects of
a child’s recreation, and good nutrition is a basic requirement for a growing body. But as
parents, do we realise how both work together and how to ensure that these are part of our
children’s everyday lives?
Childhood malnutrition is common in India, and contributes towards the global
burden of disease. And childhood obesity is a serious public health concern. An
unhealthy or poor diet contributes towards malnutrition and obesity. Today, obesity
is on the rise due to sedentary lifestyles, as kids spend most of their time in front of
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• Each essential nutrient needed for a balanced diet
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• Children need good nutrition as it helps them
stay healthy and happy. Healthy habits must be
encouraged, and children should be taught to eat
when hungry and stop when full.
• Children must be educated about the importance of
eating different kinds of foods. They will learn this if
the parents introduce different types of food in their
diet on a regular basis.
The importance of fitness
Being fit should be the motto for both children and
parents. But children these days spend most of their time
indoors, playing computer games. Such activities make
them physically unfit and lazy. When they are growing,
they must spend maximum time outdoors, experimenting
with new activities because sports and fitness can benefit
both the mind and the body. When a child is introduced to
sports, he adopts positive attributes.
Lack of physical activity can also contribute to obesity,
cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. Obesity
and inactivity are among the top risks to the health of
today’s urban youth and children.
Little changes bring huge rewards
Hectic schedules and a demanding lifestyle can make it
challenging for parents to make their child eat healthy
foods and improve physical fitness. Many parents forget to
focus on both aspects — we either focus on nutrition or
fitness, but forget that when fitness and nutrition go hand
in hand it works wonders. As we incorporate small changes
in our family lifestyle, everyone gets healthier together.
a child is engaged in outdoor activities for many hours, the
diet should be rich in carbohydrate and protein. Occasional
foods like lollies, chips, chocolate can be eaten, but will lead
to obesity as well as tooth decay if made a habit of. Children
need to be well hydrated during activity and summer time. It
is better that they hydrate themselves with water rather than
sweetened drinks such as soft drinks or fruit juices. A glass of
milk consumed everyday can contribute essential calcium for
their growing bones.
Many a time children of working parents just laze around,
watching television and eating junk – this makes them
unhealthy and prone to lifestyle diseases. Such behaviour can
be changed if we introduce the children to some engaging
activities like sports, music, art, etc. Physical activity could
be in any form – jumping, dancing, running or aerobics. A
young child should be encouraged to engage in at least 60
minutes of physical activity daily. When a child is fit, he is
less prone to sports injuries and will have improved agility and
endurance. Research has proven that an active child performs
well in academics. An obese child with low self-esteem and
confidence can also be motivated through sports and fitness.
Remember that children who are physically active need richer
diets, as food acts like a fuel and helps them perform better.
Be a Role Model
Sometimes the way your family eats and participates in physical
activity can affect your child’s mentality and lifestyle. Hence
parents and caregivers need to be more cautious and set an
example at home. Educating and reminding them about eating
healthy and staying fit can empower children to make the
decision to stay healthy. Efforts by schools through adopting
a sports curriculum and educating them about nutrition can
also make a huge difference. A healthy child grows up to be a
healthy adult; all he needs is guidance and support.
Good eating habits must be observed because what you
eat reflects in your body and your performance. Little
changes that can be made to diets include eating lots of
fruits, vegetable or legumes and drinking low-fat milk. If
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May - June 2013
59
Bookworm
Books for
Children
-5
s3
Age
The Gruffalo
Julia Donaldson
MacMillan
Mice are tiny little
animals, and we usually
tend to think of them
as easily frightened
creatures. The Gruffalo
is the story of a mouse’s
walk through woods
filled with scary animals – such as foxes, owls and snakes, which
could easily eat the mouse. But this clever little mouse has
a plan up his sleeve that seems brilliant, until something
goes horribly wrong... The Gruffalo is a glorious read,
and the simple yet effective illustrations add an
interesting dimension to the story. Children all
over the world have grown to love this book
and the little mouse.
60
May - June 2013
Bookworm
–9
s6
Age
Fantastic Mr.Fox
Roald Dahl
Puffin Books
Three mean local farmers – Boggis, Bunce and Bean
(one fat, one short, and one lean) – make it nearly
impossible for Mr. Fox to steal enough chickens or
geese to support his wife and his family. Not one to
die of starvation, sly Mr. Fox hatches a plan that will
not only get them food, but also give these horrible
farmers a taste of their own medicine! The plan goes
off without a hitch – almost TOO well. The three
farmers are determined to take action against Mr. Fox. They plan different ways to trap
and kill Mr. Fox, but fail miserably every time. Then they come up with their best plan.
They decide to dig into Mr. Fox’s home. Now Mr. Fox needs to think up a solution to this
problem, or else his entire family – and all the other animals that live in his underground
neighbourhood – will be in big trouble. The main character of the story is Fantastic Mr. Fox,
‘fantastic’ because he always comes up with brilliant ideas. Mr. Fox never gives up until the
job is done. He is very clever, brave and responsible. All the characters in the book are played
off well against each other. The farmers are the meanest, greediest and rudest characters
anyone can ever come across. The illustrations are hilarious and the characters, lovable.
- Muskaan Basra,
St. Matthew’s CE Primary School, London.
Third place in the ParentEdge Book Review contest
–12
s 10
Age
Horowitz Horror
Anthony Horowitz
Orchard Books
Written by the bestselling author Anthony Horowitz
who is well-known for his Alex Rider series, this book
is an exceptional example of genuine horror. It is
written as a series of spine-chilling tales. Each story
revolves around a normal everyday object that we
may use or see, such as bathtubs, cameras and buses.
The scary part is that each of these objects turn out
to be cursed or haunted. Pure horror, this book sends
chills up your spine. Every tale has a terrifying twist, and often one of the main characters
meets with a terrible fate. Horowitz writes each story with skill that freezes your heart. You
feel the agony and fear that the characters face. While this book is a must-read, never read
it at night. It is only for those who can sleep peacefully without a fear of things that bump
and creak in the night!
- Marcus Fernandez,
Grade 6, Manthan International, Hyderabad.
Joint second place in the ParentEdge Book Review contest
May - June 2013
61
Bookworm
+
s 13
Age
Small Gods
Terry Prachett
HarperTorch
“And it came to pass that
the great god Om spake unto
Brutha, the Chosen One: Psst!
Are you deaf, boy?!” For the
Great God Om was a tortoise
and without Brutha’s help,
fated to remain one.
This book is about gods in Discworld (a world created by Pratchett – a flat
disc on the back of four elephants astride a giant turtle, floating in space),
and their worshippers. According to Pratchett, it is not people who need
gods but gods who depend on people as the strength of our belief gives
them power. Without us, they are powerless.
The Great God Om is one such god. The people put their faith into
idols and sacred symbols rather than in him and in this way he
has lost most of his believers. He is reduced to a tortoise with just
memories of being a god. Only Brutha, the novice, is a true believer,
and it is up to him to get the god back into his true form. Things
are complicated by the existence of Vorbis, the Exquisitor. He is not
only a murderer, but he also creates murderers; he changes people
and makes them think like him. And even worse, everywhere in the
kingdom, people are beginning to doubt the existence of Om.
Death plays a central character in the book – an interesting
portrayal, he is both funny (he always speaks in capital letters,
without punctuation), and profound (he passes no judgment on the
souls before him). The book has a range of funny, lovable characters,
from the Great God Om to the charlatan salesman Cut-me-own-Handoff Dhblah. While the book is hilarious and can be enjoyed on the
surface, it also has a subtle deeper meaning. From Brutha, we learn
the importance of forgiveness, love and peace.
‘Surely one of the best novels Terry Pratchett has ever written and the
best comedy’, says John Clute in Interrzone magazine, and readers
will absolutely agree with him!
- Shriya N,
Grade 9, Kensri School, Bangalore.
Third place in ParentEdge Book Review Contest
62
May - June 2013
ion
Fict ers
n
No enag
Te
for
Travels with Charley
John Steinbeck
Viking
He’s a Nobel Prize winner.
He’s a globally respected
author. And at 58, the age
when most men decide
to take it slow and stay
home, he decides to explore
his country, America, in a
camper truck named “Rocinante” accompanied by his French gentleman
poodle, Charley. Steinbeck travels through many cities, each place
brought to life through his comical notes and stories. Travels With Charley
is a must read, not only for Americans, but globally, as it’s not so much
a story of America as it is a personal and heartwarming journey, which
draws you in, and guarantees you a good laugh.
Bookworm
Books for
Parents
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
Amy Chua
Penguin Books
The journey that mothers make is a tough one. This is the story of a
Chinese mother, or as she calls herself, the Tiger Mother. Chinese parents
are known to bring their children up as fighters who are very competitive.
Amy Chua has two daughters, and she details the way in which she raised
them through various incidents in the book. The book throws light on
how being a mother can change a woman, and also how being the Chinese
mother of teenage children can affect both the children and the mother.
Tiger Mother is a woman who has had the courage to share her story and
humbly accept where she’s been wrong, even while glorying in all that
went right. An inspiring story for mothers all over the world.
What did you Ask at School Today?
Kamala Mukunda
Harper Collins
Communicating with people, interacting, and building relationships –
this is something all adults do. Communicating with children is different.
Children don’t have the ability to express what they’re thinking clearly, or
say exactly what they want or don’t want. Talking to children, according
to Kamala Mukunda, isn’t about giving the right answers; it’s about asking
the right questions. This is a very useful book, especially for educators
and parents, as it explores the basic psychology of children, and clearly
explains how to approach them with the right questions. For parents,
this is an eye opener, as it points the way to clear communication, and
teaches them how to inquire in a manner that is easily understandable to
their children. Children have so much to say to you, so why not ask them?
- Book reviews by
Lasya Karthik and
ParentEdge Book Review
contest winners
May - June 2013
63
The Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) or
Parent-Teacher Conference (PTC) has
become an important event in the life
of a student. Many schools discourage
parents from meeting and contacting
teachers often with their queries
and doubts; in fact, teachers are only
contactable through the school diary, and
maybe, email. Hence, the PTM becomes
one of the few opportunities to really
check on your child’s progress in school,
understand what she is learning and how
she behaves outside the home. The PTM
also allows teachers the chance to discuss
with parents and try and understand
various aspects of, and reasons behind
64
May - June 2013
some manifested behaviours of the child.
In short, the PTM as a concept is truly
beneficial to the child – the parents and
teachers working together towards her
academic and holistic development.
Given its importance, it means that you,
as a parent, should be prepared for the
PTM – and not just land up in school
casually, with no idea on what you want
to discuss or bring up – you will be
wasting a golden opportunity to make a
difference in your child’s life.
Here are some tips on making the most
of a PTM.
Getting the
Most
Out of a
PTM
Image Courtesy: Poorna School, Bangalore
Before the PTM
•
•
Have a talk with your child to discover
whether she has any areas of concern
that you need to discuss with her
teachers; these could be academicrelated, peer-related or even some
issues that she has with certain
teachers. However, when noting down
areas of concern, choose wisely – not
everything that your child mentions is
a potential problem, or worth bringing
up with a teacher.
Prepare a list of questions that you
want to ask the teachers. Remember
that you will be given only a limited
amount of time – maybe 15 minutes,
maybe more – so you should prioritise
what you want to address. Thinking
through what you want to ask them
will also allow you to cover maximum
ground in the little amount of time you
have. Do ensure that you cover diverse
areas – academic, personality, social
skills, etc.
•
I f you have notes from a previous PTM,
refer to these while making your list
so you can check on improvements and
progress made.
•
Through the school term, maintain
a record of activities or lessons that
your child enjoyed or learnt a lot from;
mentioning this to the teachers will
not only make them feel appreciated,
but also give them a better insight
into what kind of learner your child
is. Similarly, note down patterns of
behaviour or complaints the child
has. Jotting these down through the
term will help you avoid the ‘recency
effect’ (where one tends to focus on
the most recent problems, which may
be temporary and not long-term, and
forget longer standing issues).
May - June 2013
65
Examples of questions to
ask at a PTM:
• W
hat are my child’s strengths?
• Is she reaching her potential/
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
working to the best of her ability?
Does she participate in classroom
discussions?
Which are the areas that she
needs to work on / areas of
improvement?
How can I work with her at home
to help support her learning in
school?
How does my child compare with
other students in the class?
How does she interact with other
students in class?
What is her quality of work like
– does she hand in assignments
on time, are they of the expected
level, etc.?
Are there any behavioural areas
that she needs to work on and
improve upon?
During the PTM
•
L et the teacher talk first and complete
what she has to say.
•
J ot down what the teacher says – not
only for future reference, but also so
that you can discuss it with your child
when you are back at home.
•
o not hesitate to ask for clarifications
D
or incidents to illuminate what they
say; no question is too silly to ask
(they are teachers and are used to have
a range of questions thrown at them
day in and day out!).
•
If you have notes from your previous
PTM, discuss the progress made by your
child; at the same time, also consider
areas that need improvement and
check with the teachers as to what
you can do to help your child work on
these.
Image Courtesy:
Poorna School, Bangalore
•
e sure to ask the teachers how you
B
can support learning at home.
•
F inally, stick to the time limit allotted
to you, and don’t cut into others’ time.
If you think that you have more to
discuss with the teachers, schedule a
separate appointment with them to
discuss further.
After the PTM
•
hen you get home, discuss the
W
feedback with your child, focusing
on both her achievements as well as
areas for improvement. If the PTM has
revealed an area of concern, do try to
understand your child’s perspective
of it, and the underlying causes for a
certain behavioural pattern.
•
e sure to praise your child for the
B
progress that she has made; if she
realises that people have noticed her
progress, it will motivate her to work
even harder.
•
ased on the feedback received,
B
set short-term and long-term goals
together with your child. These could
be learning goals, or more specific
to certain areas of behaviour or
personality.
Finally, do keep in mind that the purpose
of a PTM is to help in the continuous
improvement of your child – academic
yes, but also behavioural, social, physical,
emotional and psychological. Parents
would do well to avoid using the PTM as
a validation of their parenting, complacent
and smug if the child receives favourable
reports all around. At the same time, if
one does hear something unfavourable,
remember that the idea is not to jump in
and defend your child, but rather treat it
for what it is – constructive criticism, which
if acted upon, will only benefit your child.
66
May - June 2013
cooking
children and
No matter where children
disappear to, they can be
found peeping into the
kitchen close to dinnertime,
or any other time they smell
something cooking.Watching
their parents as they waltz
around the kitchen, handling
several different pots and
pans, dicing and sautéing,
tasting, adding salt and
pepper…
May - June 2013
67
Cooking teaches children myriad lessons,
and even the tiniest of fingers can be
of some use! It isn’t just about getting
the ingredients right and cooking them
together for the right amount of time;
cooking is also about enjoying yourself.
“Children understand food, and they’re
also very interested in mixing and brewing.
To them, it’s fun and enjoyment,” says
Mumbai-based Kavita Agarwal, who runs
Little Masterchef – classes to teach young
children how to cook. Children as young as
three can be encouraged to participate in
the kitchen and pick up culinary skills.
More than just the perfect dish
Cooking teaches children more than just
how to make a delicious dish. Along the
way, they pick up lots of valuable little tips
and tricks which will help them later in life.
• Cooking teaches children basic maths –
counting, measuring and proportions –
and familiarises them with mathematical
terms, like ‘half of’ or ‘a dozen’.
• They pick up new vocabulary, which
improves their language skills – think
sauté, dice, grate and whisk.
• Scientific concepts? Not a problem! The
kitchen is full of them – thawing and
freezing, pasteurisation, fermentation –
take your pick!
• Trying out a new cuisine can add to a
child’s general knowledge and language
skills, especially if the parent can weave
in a discussion on Mediterranean climate
as you prepare mezze or practise French
conjugation as you coupez and mélangez.
• Don’t forget an important life skill that
cooking lends itself to – proceeding
logically, in an orderly manner, step by
step. Not only does this teach children
to follow instructions, but also boosts
the ability to multitask.
Tips:
Involving younger children in preparing
their own meals is also a great way to
coax them to try out new dishes and eat
more, while older children can be taught
the importance of healthy eating habits
while working across the kitchen counter.
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May - June 2013
• Hone your child’s creativity by encouraging
her to think not only about preparation,
but also the presentation of the dish.
• Cooking can also be a fun hobby that acts
as a stress buster, showing children how
to expend their energy by beating eggs
rather than other kids and by whipping
cream rather than one another!
• A youngster who knows at least some basic
cooking is independent and self-reliant.
Equip your child early on so she can throw
together a meal for herself without having
to reach for the can opener.
There are other important lessons they will
learn along the way. That sometimes, you’ve
got to keep baking and baking until you get
the perfect cake, and that dishes might not
always turn out perfect. From these kinds of
experiences, children will learn that sometimes,
things might go wrong, and that they have to
put in hard work to get perfect results.
An added incentive for parents: when children
learn to cook, they’re a lot less dependent on
you, and can make their own little meals and
snacks. Also, what better way to find out what’s
happening at school than over a homemade
smoothie or cupcakes baked together?
Especially when children grow into teenagers –
a time when parents find communicating with
their children isn’t as easy as it used to be –
cooking is a great way to break the barriers,
and get the conversation going.
Cooking is a participatory activity.
When a child is learning to swim,
or to play tennis, the parents just
sit on the sidelines and watch. But
the whole family can take part in
the activity of cooking. It helps
relieve stress, and introduces the
importance of healthy food, which
is why the parents should make an
effort to see that the child learns
early. The child will also start to
have more respect for food. When
he realises the amount of effort
that goes into making a dish, he
may stop wasting food.
- Radhika Sheshashayee,
Founder of Sinsations
(a baking concern), Singapore
Nurturing your little cheflings
“Today, children have so much exposure to
media,” emphasises Agarwal. “There are lots
of TV shows which showcase the cooking
talents of children. There are websites and
online forums as well, from where you and
your child can get recipe ideas, share your
own successes, and make new friends!”
There are a number of things you can do to
encourage your child to develop an interest
in culinary affairs:
• Watching cooking shows with your child
is a great way to start off, as TV shows
are lively and fast paced, as well as a lot
of fun to follow and learn from.
• Ask your child to help you pick out the
menu for the day.
• She can sit with you while you are cooking
and even read out the recipe to you.
• If you are making a dish with room
for improvisation, ask your child for
suggestions. If you decide to bake muffins,
ask her to help you decide whether to use
cocoa powder or not, or whether to mix a
mashed fruit into the batter.
• Lunchboxes – another great way to get
your child interested! Put her in charge
of packing her snacks, or get her to help
you with simple lunchbox classics, such
as sandwiches.
• There are a plethora of cookbooks
available with recipes that are childfriendly – easy to make, visually
appealing and healthy to eat.
• Once you’ve got them hooked, keep them
interested – organise cooking parties
and ‘little chef’ play dates, ask them to
bake something for the school fair or to
prepare a special dish as a birthday gift
for a loved one.
Younger children can help with basic tasks,
such as reading out the recipe, spooning
mixture into moulds and arranging the meal
on the plate. If you’re cooking with slightly
older children, delegate more advanced tasks
– peeling and chopping the vegetables, and
bringing the water to boil. As your child
grows older, and more proficient in the
kitchen, she can start working on complex
recipes and with longer techniques; instead
of using bottled pasta sauce, she can try
making the sauce from scratch.
A good way to get the young ones started
off is to send them to cooking classes. Little
Masterchef, for example, organises cooking
classes for children as young as four.
Children are introduced to the basics in
cooking – the difference between chopping
and dicing, and washing vegetables before
working with them. These kinds of courses
are an especially good way to learn, because
when learning in a group, kids can socialise
and learn from one other. It also teaches
them to help each other out.
To keep in mind:
Little children cannot be fully trusted
to crack eggs directly into a bowl, and
sometimes dishes might just end up
overcooked. A little mess and chaos
in the kitchen is to be expected. So
kick off when you have plenty of time,
and can work at a relaxed pace.
May - June 2013
69
Safety first
“The first things we teach in our class are
safety and hygiene,” declares Agarwal. All
of us have little accidents in the kitchen.
And your little chef might be at risk for
cuts, burns and bruises. Here are some tips
from Agarwal on how to make children’s
culinary experiments safe:
• Teach them to always wash fruits and
vegetables before using them.
• To minimise the mess, make sure your
child is wearing an apron, and keeps
the workspace neat and tidy.
• Items that can injure them, such
as blades and knives, should only
be handled when there is an adult
around. Young children should only
use butter knives.
• When working with younger children,
it’s best if the parent does the grilling
or the baking, just to be on the safe
side.
• Older children can be permitted to
use the oven and the stove, but they
should be completely sure of what
they’re doing if they’re going to cook
alone.
• Purchase a pair of oven gloves as well,
and ensure that children wear this
when they are baking or taking things
out of the oven.
• Always keep some paper towels, some
cleaning material and a first aid kit
nearby – better safe than sorry!
with an extensive knowledge about
working with cakes and other baked
goods and confections; or a saucier – a
prestigious position which originated
in French cuisine – who makes all the
sauces for the kitchen, and cooks special
meat dishes in sauce. These are just two
of the hundreds of options out there.
With a certain amount of knowledge
about cooking, passion, a will to work
hard and an apron, she can have her
choice of highly rewarding careers!
Everyone should be able to do
what they love for a career. The
creating of food gives a sense of
achievement. But keep in mind
that this is not a career that
earns you a Rolls Royce. A lot of
children are exposed to many
things at a young age – some
are exposed to music, some to
dance – and similarly, parents
should make sure that children
are exposed to cooking as well.
Then leave it up to the child to
decide whether he want to take it
forward or not.
- Radhika Sheshashayee
Cooking as a career
If your child discovers a passion for
cooking, encourage and support her.
Some children might decide to pursue
a career in cooking, and some might
decide to keep cooking on the back
burner, just as a hobby. And most will,
of course, put it to good use in their own
kitchens as adults. But if she chooses to
pursue it as a career, don’t worry. The
food industry is massive – and lucrative!
There are so many specialisations and so
many opportunities available today. Your
child can choose to become a pastry chef
specialising in working with desserts,
Some useful resources:
Check out Amazon or FlipKart for a plethora of cookbooks that feature child-friendly
recipes that are wholesome and fun to make. Here’s one:
•Cooking with Kids, Tarla Dalal: features easy-to-make recipes
There are a number of websites that have simple recipes that kids can follow. Here are two:
•http://www.kidspot.com.au/best-recipes/Kids-cooking+5.htm
•http://kidshealth.org/kid/recipes/
Many TV serials showcase cooking competitions or, simple demo sessions, such as:
•Junior Masterchef Australia (DVDs available)
•Hey Kids! Let’s Cook, Is a TV show that features children from 6-14. The show is hosted
by nutritionist Kathy Powers (watch online)
- Lasya Karthik
70
May - June 2013
re!
u
t
ea
F
w
Ne
Showcase
Shemrock Chain of Pre-schools:
Ensuring Quality Across the Country
Image Courtesy:
Shemrock Group of Pre-schools
Of the numerous areas that parents
worry about with regard to education
and schooling, this is an important one
– pre-school chains. India now has a
number of preschool chains – giants that
have many branches in different cities
across the country. As a parent, you
may be concerned about some aspects
of these preschool chains – how do they
ensure franchisee quality? Is the same
standard of education and curriculum
being followed in all the branches? Are
there any advantages to choosing a school
that is part of a network, rather than an
individual neighbourhood school?
To understand how these chains actually
function and sustain standards of
education across a nation-wide network,
Parent Edge met with Meenal Arora who
heads one of the country’s fast growing
school chains – Shemrock. As the
company’s director, Arora is responsible
for 225 pre-schools and 75 K-12 schools
under the Shemford brand umbrella. The
group works through the franchise model
and this has been an engine of growth,
carrying the Shemford brand across India,
and now into Nepal as well.
Concern: How can a pre-school chain
ensure that the same high standards
of quality are followed across all its
branches?
A major area that a nation-wide chain of
schools needs to focus on is making sure
that standards are consistent across all
branches. This is critically important for
institutions that grow through the franchise
model, including Shemrock. With franchisees
largely taking responsibility for imparting
the curriculum and deciding the manner in
which the school is run, school chains need
to have checks and balances in place to keep
the quality consistently high.
May - June 2013
71
Showcase
Standardising the curriculum
Teacher training
Like other chain pre-schools, to ensure
quality standards across all branches of
Shemford – whether in Kathua in Jammu
& Kashmir or Dibrugarh in Assam - the
institute has standardised the curriculum
across the country. The company designs
and sets the curriculum centrally, and every
centre uses the same set of text books and
work books. “If you ask any (Shemrock)
parent, she will tell you that it’s all about
the curriculum. A school is not about airconditioned and colourful classrooms –
though we also have that – it’s about an
environment that is conducive to learning.
At the heart of it is our custom-created
curriculum. Our whole strategy is to make
learning fun and keep the child at the
centre of it all,” says Arora.
A big part of this involves teachers, and
Shemrock says that it has an on-going
teacher and principal training programme
that trains teachers on how learning can
be made more interesting. In addition to
curriculum-focused training, Shemrock
says its teachers are trained on the
different activities (art & craft, etc.)
that are carried out in classes, and a bit
of personality development sessions are
also thrown in! “We have really seen
teachers change and evolve through these
programmes. We do invest in creating a
learning environment for teachers and
they see a lot of professional growth,”
claims Arora.
Five questions that parents should
ask before enrolling their child
with a local franchise of a school
chain:
• Does the institution follow a
centrally developed curriculum
or is the franchisee free to
develop it locally? If the latter is
the case, you may want to take
a closer look at what will be
taught to your child.
• Are teachers trained regularly in
the latest teaching methods? Does
the franchisee follow guidelines
for the recruitment of teachers?
• Does the brand owner conduct
regular checks and audits to ensure
that franchisees maintain standards?
• Does the institution lay out
standards for size of classrooms
and décor that have to be
followed by the franchisees?
• Does the franchisee follow a
system of child safety rules?
72
May - June 2013
Auditing franchisees regularly
Be it in teacher training, curriculum
development or even décor, a school chain
has to pay attention to its different processes
in order to maintain standards. When asked
about the systems Shemrock follows, Arora
explained that over the years, a system of
quality audits and standardisation processes
that appeals to all franchisees has been
created. From textbooks to classroom décor,
all aspects of the schools’ functioning are
controlled through centrally prescribed
guidelines. As a case in point, she describes
how the pre-school’s annual day event,
which was held recently in New Delhi, had
branch after branch performing the same
prescribed programme, one after the other,
in military precision. Through each of the
six days the event was held on, the faces
on stage changed, but what they were
performing didn’t. Says Arora, “At the end of
the day, parents are paying for the Shemrock
brand, and we have to deliver on the quality
promised, no matter which branch their
child is attending.”
Considering parent feedback
An authentic check point for the fulfilment
(or not) of these promises is parent
feedback. Chains like Shemrock try to
maintain direct contact with their parents
(rather than through their franchisees),
through PTMs and through the corporate
website. A Parent Satisfaction Survey has
also been introduced.
Over the last few years, the Shemrock and
Shemford Group’s growth has accelerated
– the group on average signs up three
to four Shemrock franchises and one
new Shemford franchise each month.
“In effect, we are adding a new school
every week,” says Arora. The growth has
come from a parent-led demand for a
formal system of education even for very
young children. “Now there is greater
understanding among parents of what a
two year old child needs in order to stay
stimulated and to learn, and we are there
to fulfil that need.”
The mushrooming of such schools helps
parents who would like their very young
children to attend a neighbourhood
school that needs only a short commute.
Curriculum standardisation, having set
processes that control all operations and
teacher training can help these schools
achieve the education standards they
claim in their promotions – and these
are the very things that parents should
validate before admitting their children
into these schools.
To find out more about the Shemford group
of schools, please visit
www.shemford.com
Some other pre-school chains in
India (this is not a complete list):
• Apple Kids
• Little Elly
• SmartKidz
• The Tree House
• Jumbo Podar Kids
May - June 2013
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Xchange
74
May - June 2013
Creativity
Xchange
and
Discipline:
Creativity and discipline. Are they
completely divergent concepts, or
complementary forces that need
to co-exist? Can creative people be
disciplined? Are all disciplined people
unimaginative and rigid?
Opposing or
Complementary?
Popular opinion has it that
creativity is about letting your
imagination run wild, without
any rules and restrictions; that
boundaries are non-existent in a
creative mind. What isn’t discussed
as often is how a person needs
to work in a disciplined way to
become proficient at creative
thinking! Confused? Does this
sound contrary?
Discipline is often misunderstood. It
doesn’t have to be about imposing
rules and boundaries on a child.
Rather, discipline is about building
structures and frameworks that help
you progress, whether it’s in your
work or in an artistic endeavour.
How can a person claim to be a good
writer, if she doesn’t know and
follow the rules of grammar? How
can someone be an artist without
learning the proper paintbrush
techniques? The rules have to
be understood first, and then
mastered. From mastery comes the
confidence to know which rules can
be bent. Some of the most creative
people in the world – think worldclass writers – have always spoken
about the need for disciplined
work-hours, every single day. It is
creativity on demand that keeps
the world’s leading ad-makers
on their toes. Leading classical
Indian musicians talk about
practising for several hours every
day. These artists demonstrate
that creativity and discipline can
exist hand-in hand.
At ParentEdge, we realised that
these are common quandaries
that parents face every day – how
do we encourage creativity in our
children and yet ensure that they
remain disciplined? Should the
creative child be bound by rules?
How do we know whether we
are interfering too much in our
child’s creative development? So
we took these questions to some
important people – people whose
opinions matter – teachers,
professionals in a creative field
and parents just like you. Read
on to find out what they think.
“If I don’t practise for one
day, I know it; if I don’t
practise for two days, the
critics know it; if I don’t
practise for three days,
the audience knows it.”
- Ignacy Paderewski,
Polish pianist and composer
May - June 2013
75
Xchange
The Respondents
Parents
Jamuna Ravi,
Bangalore, an IT
professional with over
25 years of experience
in the industry, has two
children, a daughter of
25 and a son of 16.
Arjun Nair,
Bangalore, is the
father of two young
children and a partner
with a multinational
consultancy.
Padma Ramesh,
Hyderabad, has
one daughter and
more than 20 years’
experience in fields
as diverse as media,
teaching and training.
Rani Muralidharan,
Tiruchirapalli, is the
mother of two lovely
daughters and is the
executive director of an
engineering company.
Creative professionals
76
May - June 2013
Teachers
Aarthi Videep,
Chennai, is a digital
media professional who
creates feature films
and animated shorts
intended for festivals.
Subhashini Dinesh,
Chennai, is a
professor at the Asian
College of Journalism.
Prince Fredrick,
Chennai, is a journalist
with two decades
of experience. He is
currently the Deputy
City-Editor of The
Hindu in Chennai.
Jothi Neelakantan,
Kolkata, is a teacher of
English Literature and
Grammar in a reputed
school in the city.
Raghu Bharadwaj,
Bangalore, is a
production designer
and the Proprietor of
Onshoot Productions.
Laila Amarendran,
Chennai, is an
educator and teacher
whose passion is to
instill the right values
in children.
Xchange
Is creativity
a quality
you are
born with,
or one
that can be
developed?
Teachers
All children are born creative. Unfortunately,
children today are brought up in an
environment where all that is important is to
score marks. They are made to think inside
a box, and this is something that needs
to be changed. Children should be given
opportunities to discover their creative side.
Laila Amarendran
Everyone is born with a creative side. It is
up to the child to experiment and discover
his hidden talent. The parents’ job is to
nurture this talent and encourage the child.
Subhashini Dinesh
Parents
Both. Some people are naturally creative –
born that way – but this creativity has to
be developed further. On the other hand,
if the right environment is provided, any
child can pick up creativity as she grows.
Arjun Nair
There are some people with inborn creative
talent, and that can be nurtured. In any
case, developing creativity in a child
involves a lot of hard work. Some parents
say their child is excellent at painting,
but only 1 in 100 of those children will
probably go on to learn formally. So, the
development of a certain creative talent
requires a lot of support from the parents,
and the right environment.
Padma Ramesh
Every child is definitely born with
creativity. The real question is whether his
talent will be discovered and developed.
Rani Muralidharan
Sometimes, a child is born exceptionally
creative. And sometimes it’s a case of the
child’s talent being brought out by the
teachers or the parents. Nowadays, parents
are very busy and it is really the teachers
who spend a lot more time with the child;
they are more likely to recognise the child’s
creative talent.
Jothi Neelakantan
Creative professionals
Creativity is developed along the way.
Developing creativity does have a lot to do
with the environment the child is brought
up in.
Prince Fredrick
Creativity is inborn – in every child. You
just need to let children do their own
thing, and let them find their talent.
The parents’ job is simply to monitor and
encourage.
Raghu Bharadwaj
May - June 2013
77
Xchange
How
would you
inculcate
creativity
in a child?
Parents
Provide the right environment which
exposes a child to options. There shouldn’t
be too much discipline. Of course, children
should be given freedom to explore, but
not at the cost of their academics.
Arjun Nair
It starts when the child is very young. It is
the parents’ duty to expose their child to
many things at a young age. They should
try out different things like arts, dance
and drama, other hobbies – and then they
can pick what they find interesting.
Jamuna Ravi
Teachers
It’s really all about creating an environment
where the child is encouraged to apply
himself in creative forms. If he is given an
environment where he can thrive, he will
automatically become more creative.
Aarthi Videep
It’s all about encouraging the child. When
your child comes home and tells you
“Mummy/Daddy, I saw a dinosaur in school
today!” do not tell your child to stop
telling lies, or to stop imagining things.
Ask questions, and encourage her to tell
you more stories, you can join in as well!
These kinds of things help your child think
more freely.
Laila Amarendran
Creativity is something that needs to be
there in a child as much as common sense
or sensitivity. Let your children be free. The
more you try and discipline them, the more
you’re going to point them in one direction
only. They won’t think on their own.
Raghu Bharadwaj
May - June 2013
You have to watch out to see what kind
of activity your child likes to do, instead
of making him do what you believe will
be the best for him. Some parents send
their children to lots of classes, and this
is a good form of exposure. It’s about trial
and error, which along the way will help
develop your child’s overall creativity.
Rani Muralidharan
Creative professionals
You need to let your child think freely. TV
is a creativity killer, so don’t let her sit in
front of the TV for large amounts of time.
Prince Fredrick
78
If the parents recognise the child’s talent,
then it is their job to see that their child’s
creativity be allowed to bloom. Exposure
is extremely important. I personally
recommend reading, to help encourage
creativity. Reading helps you form your
own opinions and think out of the box.
Padma Ravi
It’s about giving your child exposure to
various things at a young age. Then, you
let the child pick what he finds interesting.
Do not force him to do something that he
really doesn’t want to do. Give him room to
experiment and be free.
Subhashini Dinesh
Xchange
Do you think creativity
and discipline are opposing
forces, or complementary?
Parents
Teachers
The most creative child can fail if he doesn’t
work hard. Every child needs self -discipline.
The parents’ job is not to discipline the child
themselves, but to help their child acquire
this self-discipline on his own. Creativity
and discipline go hand in hand.
Arjun Nair
Creativity and discipline are not exactly
opposing. It depends on what discipline
means to you. To me, discipline is doing what
you love, without intruding into others’
time and space. Even the most creative of
people will need discipline if they want to
get anywhere with their talent.
Subhashini Dinesh
Once a child chooses to follow an interest or
hobby, he would obviously need discipline
if he is to pursue it successfully. But it
really depends what his objective is. If his
aim is to just have fun, then discipline
isn’t really needed. But, if he’s aiming to
be a professional, then he definitely needs
discipline.
Jamuna Ravi
It really does depend – on what the child is
trying to achieve, as well as other things.
They’re not exactly complementary, but
you do need a bit of both. Creativity is
something all children should have, but you
do need discipline to actually move forward
with your creative talent.
Jothi Neelakantan
Creative professionals
They are not at all opposing. I work in a
creative field, but I have to be organised
and plan my work. Creative discipline
will come naturally. Many people who are
haphazard and disorganised are in fact
very disciplined when it comes to their art
or something they are passionate about.
Aarthi Videep
They are definitely complementary. A child
who is really passionate about painting or
music will automatically want to get up in
the morning to practise and become better
at it.
Raghu Bharadwaj
May - June 2013
79
Xchange
Do you think creativity
and discipline are opposing
forces, or complementary?
Parents
Creative professionals
Some children just won’t get interested or
enthusiastic about a hobby if you make
them go about it in a disciplined way. You
need to give them freedom, and then they
might end up developing a hobby. Other
children will need a push from their parents.
Jamuna Ravi
If you have a true passion for something,
then the discipline will automatically
follow. For example, a dancer who is
passionate about the art form will keep
pushing herself to practice and become
better and better. Let the child find his
balance. The parents don’t have to do it
for him.
Aarthi Videep
When my daughter was young, I realised she
had a very nice voice. Everybody else said
so as well! So I put her in music classes,
but then I realised that she didn’t want to
go to these classes. As a teenager, she used
to keep skipping classes. Now, she’s grown
up, and she wants to learn music, but she
doesn’t have the time! I feel bad because I
didn’t push her, but then again, didn’t I do
the right thing by letting her make her own
decisions? As a parent, you need to somehow
figure out what to do as you go along!
Padma Ramesh
You need to be able to detach yourself
from your child and look at her creativity
objectively, as you would for anyone else.
You need to be able to identify whether she
is really, genuinely interested and talented
in a particular area or skill and then decide
how much discipline or freedom you can
give her, in order for her to succeed.
Rani Muralidharan
Never stop a child from doing something
he would like to try. Children will learn
by themselves. In fact, children are better
learners than we are. Being over-cautious
can hinder a child’s creativity and risktaking behaviour.
Raghu Bharadwaj
Teachers
Basic discipline is something that every
child should have. And then, exposing
the child to various forms of creativity is
very important. It’s important that a child
understands that he has to work hard if he
really wants to pursue his passion. While
it’s the parents’ job to make sure that they
support the child every step of the way,
it’s really about the child having selfdiscipline..
Laila Amarendran
When there is passion, there will automatically
be discipline. If a child really wants to write or
dance or sing, she will. No parent should actually
have to impose discipline on the child.
Subhashini Dinesh
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May - June 2013
Xchange
Do you
believe that
a child who
is taught
rules and
set limits
can be as
creative
as a child
who is
completely
free to
explore?
Parents
Teachers
It really does depend on a lot of things. If
a child is naturally creative, free time will
help him explore his interest and creativity
more. Pushing a child too much and
enforcing too many rules could make him
eventually lose interest. It’s good to have a
little push from parents, but not too much.
Jamuna Ravi
They both have the potential to be equally
creative. But this is where the environment
and the upbringing of the child come in. If
a child has been brought up being taught
everything to say and do, every answer to
a question, then her creativity will slowly
die out. This is why children should be
encouraged to explore and find out things
for themselves.
Laila Amarendran
Yes, they both definitely can be. But it
depends on which direction the parents
push them in. Sometimes, being disciplined
might work. Sometimes it might not. But
really, the parents who are giving the child
freedom have more responsibility. They
have to constantly keep monitoring their
child, and watching that she is spending
her time in a productive way.
Rani Muralidharan
Creative professionals
Not really. A child who
to explore will generally
to trying things, whereas
brought up rigidly won’t
experimentation.
is given space
be more open
a child who is
be as open to
Not really. The children who are allowed
to explore will naturally be more creative.
Imposing something on children and
giving them set boundaries will slowly kill
creativity.
Subhashini Dinesh
If a child loves what she’s doing, then
she’ll naturally be more eager to explore,
and become more creative. If she’s being
forced to do something, she won’t like it,
get bored and stop wanting to try things.
Her creativity will slowly fade away. It’s as
simple as that.
Jothi Neelakantan
Aarthi Videep
Both children have the potential to
be equally creative. But again, the
environment a child is brought up in plays
a big role. A child who is shackled by rules
is at a bit of a disadvantage.
Prince Frederick
There is no way they can be equally
creative. You can guide the child up to a
point, and that’s all. Never tell children
what to do. You can’t force them to do
what you want, or live your creative
dreams through them.
Raghu Bharadwaj
May - June 2013
81
Xchange
Which
kind of
creativity is
better one that
results in
practical
solutions,
or
creativity
for the
sake of it?
Parents
Teachers
This really does depend on what you’re
trying to achieve. If it’s something
personal, for a hobby, then just love what
you are doing. But if it’s professional, then
you need practical solutions. In the case
of children, they shouldn’t be pressurised.
They just need to love it.
Arjun Nair
At least in the case of children, creativity
just for the sake of it is better – just to
expose them to creative ideas. This way,
you’re just giving them the opportunity
to do something that they love. It’s much
better than making them do every creative
activity with a purpose, as this will actually
bore the children.
Laila Amarendran
Really, this is about creativity being a
passion or a profession. For passion to
eventually become a profession, you need to
get your priorities straight and have a fixed
goal. If you’re doing something creatively,
and you really love what you’re doing, there
will come a time when that passion becomes
more important than your profession.
Rani Muralidharan
Creative professionals
Creativity is a part of life – there’s nothing
like ‘better’ creativity. It’s really about the
way that you choose to look at things.
So you could enjoy creativity for its own
sake – for the pleasure it gives you, or you
could try and get some concrete result out
of the creative process.
Aarthi Videep
It really depends on the child’s goal.
Creativity for the sake of it is more
difficult. If you are finding creatively
practical solutions, then there’ always an
opportunity to showcase your talents. But
if you’re doing something creative for the
sake of it, then you need to find your own
platform to showcase your talents.
Subhashini Dinesh
Creativity resulting in practical solutions is
better. While the child is actually using his
creativity to do something productive, this
is also a great way for the child to showcase
his talents.
Jothi Neelakantan
All you have to do is do what you love.
It’s not about the better or worse type of
creativity. What really matters is that you
are happy with what you’re doing.
Raghu Bharadwaj
- Lasya Karthik
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May - June 2013
May - June 2013
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May - June 2013
Unending lines of traffic. Raucous city
din. Stifling smog and pollution. Rush,
run, rush, run. Life can get exhausting,
a fact that most people who live in a city
can attest to. The next time you have
a long weekend, plan a quiet retreat to
reconnect with the great outdoors – the
natural kind. A camping-we-will-go, and
here’s where!
Near Chennai: Tada campsite
At a distance of 60km from Chennai, the
Tada campsite lies on the border between
Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Neglected
by the tourist buses, this spot is ideal for
people who want to get away from the hustle
and bustle of city life. The surrounding
wilderness and waterfalls add to the
serenity of the place. Small hillocks dot
the area – ideal for inexperienced climbers
who want an easy foray into camping. Note
that you need to bring your own camping
equipment – the Tada campsite does not
provide accommodation. You can camp by
the stream that runs through the area. The
easiest way to get there is to drive down
from Chennai. A word of caution – the roads
are dusty and bumpy, so don’t expect a
smooth ride!
Near Delhi: Camp Tikkling, Gurgaon
Located in the Aravallis, one of the oldest
mountain ranges in the country, Camp
Tikkling is around 35km from Delhi-Dhaula
Kuan. Spread across three and a half
acres, it is a well-organised camp boasting
six permanent tents, and fourteen more
available for larger groups. The camp offers
a variety of activities for all age groups –
adventure sports such as rock climbing
and rappelling, as well as educational and
ecological-related activities. It even has a
dance floor if your family is in the mood for
a night of revelry! The best way to get there
is to drive down from Delhi. The roads are
good, making for a comfortable ride.
Near Bangalore:
Dodamakkali Nature Camp
This camp is a bird-watcher’s paradise and
boasts of a rustic charm. Easy to reach from
Bangalore as it is well-connected by the
Kanakapura-Kollegal Highway, it is the ideal
weekend getaway for those longing for some
peace and quiet. As the name indicates,
this is a camp that puts you in touch with
nature. Accommodation is provided in
comfortable cottages. You can unwind with
your family on the sandy shores of the river
or go bird watching and acquaint yourself
with the rare species that reside in the
area. Other activities include star gazing,
trekking, river rafting and coracle riding.
Near Hyderabad: Green Acres
65km from Hyderabad, near BhongirRaigir-Yadagirigutta, this is an organic
farm and a convenient campsite for
families looking to connect with nature
over a quick weekend getaway. Tent
accommodation is provided. The campsite
offers a range of activities for the whole
family. Children are exposed to rare species
of fauna, and are also given a hands-on
experience of surviving in the wild.
Near Mumbai: Khopoli
At a distance of around 80km from Mumbai,
the Green Hill Estate in Khopoli is less than
two hours from Mumbai on the MumbaiPune Expressway. It is located about 100
feet above a lake and is set against the
scenic backdrop of local hills. This campsite,
run by Big Red Tent, is well-organised and
comfortable with clean, functional toilets,
and organised activities for people of all age
groups. The lake is a short, ten-minute trek
away. The campsite also offers a barbecue
facility. Being more of a relaxation spot than
an adventure camp, it is a good option if
you are looking for a laidback, lazy weekend
with your family.
- Tulika Misra
May - June 2013
85
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