A
meaningful write-up that I came across which can be very helpful for parents,
educators and guardians of young children. This was presented in Hindi, but I
thought it would be of great help to translate it in English for the benefit of
all.
1)
Please switch off the television and all other electronic gadgets preferably
before 08:00 pm so as to ensure that you spend quality time with your children.
2)
Take time to go through the child's school diary to ensure that his day's home
work gets done.
3)
Take note of the way in which the child performs and presents himself each day
and in every activity. Address the areas where the child is unable to perform
well, find reasons and help him/her improve without admonishing or criticizing
but gently holding his/her hands to success.
4) Your child's fundamental
education is very important in his early years to form a solid ground for
his/her future.
5) If you are to attend a
family function or a social gathering and stay up late until night along with
your children, please ensure you return home before 10:00 pm so that the child
gets enough rest to be ready for the school next day. Else, request the school
for leave permission.
6) Help children wake up
early in the morning (05:30 am) and teach them to meditate and exercise in
order to have a good day's schedule.
7) Help children inculcate
in them the habit of planting trees and saplings and to take care of
them.
8) During bed-time, tell
your children stories from the panchatanthra tales, Akbar and Birbal stories,
Tenali Rama and the others.
9) Every summer, plan a
good vacation that suits your budget. This way your children will get
familiarized with new places and new people. They will learn and explore.
10) Identify your child's
talents and interests. You may know that he is interested in areas such as
Music, art, sports, theater or any other areas. Help him improve and find his
vocation in the same so that he would enjoy his life throughout.
11) Teach him how to avoid
plastic and its products and enlighten him about the environmental hazard
caused due to the use of plastics.
12) Ensure that every
Sunday a dish of his/her choice is prepared and allow the child to participate
in the cooking activity (The child will love this!). This way you teach the
child to take responsibility and ownership of the work he/she does.
13) Every child is
rational, inquisitive and scientific. Hence, he/she may ask many questions to
which we may not have answers. Do not shun the child away with questions still
lingering on his mind. Make effort to find answers and encourage the child to
ask questions.
14) To admit your child in
a school, do not go by false indicators such as pass percentage, opinions of
neighbors, and recommendations of the affluent or the school that fits into your
low budget. The best school is the one which provides excellence in education
with optimum fees. Remember, you have to incur expenses for the child's higher
education at a later stage. So, plan your budget for your child's future.
15) Teach and help children
understand the importance of self-discipline and self-esteem and other values
and life skills.
16) Do not allow children
to use the your mobile phones when he/she is alone. Allow access only only
under your supervision.
17) Teach children to read
and write on their own with occasional help from you.
18) Allow and encourage
children to give you a hand in day-to-day activities such as cooking, cleaning,
organizing and other chores that they can participate in.
