January - February 2013 Vol 2 - Issue 4 - `100

In This Issue

Preparing for College: A Checklist Undergraduate Studies: Destination Singapore Dyscalculia: Connecting the Dots Inculcating Good Study Habits Road Trips from your City It’s good with lots of information related to children. One article I really like is “Places to See”. It’s good and very important for kids to know about different places. It is also helpful for them in schools, since it is related to their subjects like history and geography.

One suggestion: Your team should include articles I guess I am paranoid over somethings that I feel with information for parents about what are the are unique between me and my 4 year old, who options available on the internet in the field of thinks she is 25! But again, I guess it's every Mom's education. story....! Madhukar Wakade, Bangalore The same stuff....getting up, school, food, sleep, behaviour, respect to elders, etc...... !!! I’ll give myself a break, get a tea time coffee.....thank you It’s a good magazine with a lot of interesting topics Parent Edge for being there....!!! Kudos!! for parents; I have read a couple of your issues, which are amazing. Bhagirathi Panchal, Bangalore

Mohan Pandit, Pune It’s a good magazine with articles related to children, which are useful for parents and teachers, It’s a good magazine and informative, with lot of to know how to handle them. And over all its nice information regarding children, which helps parents magazine. to know what is best for their kids regarding schools, food, clothes, college etc.. K.Tamilselvi, Madurai Leeba Thomas, Delhi It’s a good magazine with lots of information regarding children for parents. The article on how I find the magazine very impressive and beneficial to encourage children to read is very useful for to parents, especially with regard to health-related parents as it helps them to know how to make topics. I feel it’s a good magazine, very attractive them read. Overall good. and covers intelligent topics. I like it. Prajitha Kulkarni, Nirmala Pandit, NES International School Librarian- One of the Founder Members of the Mumbai Madras Dyslexic Association

The magazine is quite informative and useful for parents, articles related to children are good.

Yamuna Chandra, Kolkata

It’s nice magazine and very helpful for parents, and the articles on time management and some that give an overview of study options are good.

Kavitha, Hyderbad Write to us at [email protected] Hello Readers And a very happy new year to you!

2012 whizzed by really fast, didn’t it? And in almost no time we are back to making new resolutions, planning for a fruitful year and analysing what we did right or wrong in the year gone by. One of the things the ParentEdge team did decide to do in the New Year is change the design of the magazine and introduce a cleaner and more streamlined logo. This explains our new look - do write in and tell us what you think about it.

New year or not, one issue that all parents constantly worry over is their children’s behaviour. In a world that is changing almost by the day and where societal rules and expectations are a lot more fluid than they used to be, we are, naturally, concerned about whether our children are well-mannered or not. Read our Cover Story on ‘Raising Well-Mannered Children’ to find out what parents, grandparents and children themselves think about the evolving nature of manners – also read some advice from experts on how to inculcate manners in children.

In this issue’s Education Across the Seas, we set sail to the island-nation of Singapore to discover the myriad available opportunities there for an undergraduate education that is affordable, enriching and closer to home! Our Building Blocks article on ‘Preparing for Primary School Interviews’ will come as a stress-buster for our young parents who are under immense pressure to prepare their toddlers for the all-important primary school interview. Complementing it nicely is the Cross Roads article on ‘Preparing for College: A Checklist.' And be sure to read our pointers on ‘Inculcating Good Study Habits’ in Tips, Tricks and To-Do Lists.

Xchange throws at you the never-ending debate in many households: which is better for the growing child – a working or stay-at-home mom? In An Apple a Day, we feature an informative interview on ‘Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle.’

Our Bookworm feature this time around reviews some marvellous books for children and parents, written by Indian authors writing in English. Continuing our series on different learning disabilities, Different Strokes focuses on Dyscalculia; and Pursuits and Passions will give you some tips on inculcating a love for the outdoors in kids in our ‘Children and Gardening’ article.

Some ‘Cheesy treats’ in Scrumptious, and ‘Road trips from your City’ in What’s Happening – all this and more awaits you inside.

So, begin your new year with plenty of practical advice and parenting tips. Happy 2013!

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 Team creating a curriculum focused on the development of body balance, motor skills, and eye/hand coordination Editor skills for children in the age group 15 months to 12 Kritika Srinivasan years. Thomas strongly believes that physical activity can boost academic performance, and promote healthier lifestyles. Editorial Team Gayatri Kulkarni Swati Popat Vats is President of Podar Education Ramya G Network. An educator, educational activist and Sahana Venugopal (Student Editor) 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 Art Desk teachers. She is the President of the Early Childhood Chalukyan Association of India, the National Representative for Jinin Mukundhan the World Forum on Early Childhood Education and Leader-Asia for the Raghavan Ravi Nature Action Collaborative For Children. Publisher Jaishri Ramakrishnan is a consultant psychologist Prayag Consulting associated with Billroth Hospitals and two leading schools in Bangalore and Chennai. She has over three decades of experience in handling children with Prayag Consulting Pvt. Ltd special needs. Jaishri has conducted several seminars, Jaya Kumar (Chairman & Co-Founder) workshops and training programmes on Parenting, Sudha Kumar (CEO) Handling children with Special Needs and Stress Management. She writes regularly for ‘The Hindu’ and ‘Times Of India’. In ParentEdge addition, Jaishree is associated with multiple NGOs in Chennai. 45/B, 2nd Floor, Front Wing 1st Main, J P Nagar, 3rd Phase Bangalore – 560 078 Sridhar Ramanathan is the Founder of IDEAS- Ph: 080-26593334 RS where he is also a Strategic Innovation Coach. [email protected] Sridhar’s mission in life is “to help those who want to do things better and differently”. His work involves www.parentedge.in conducting creative problem solving workshops for clients, and buidling competencies in creativity and Subscriptions innovation. Ph: 080-26593334 www.parentedge.in Nirmala Sankaran is the co-founder of Heymath!, [email protected] a curriculum based online programme that builds a solid foundation in Mathematics through world class Advertising Enquiry teaching methodologies and rigorous assessments. [email protected] HeyMath! has successfully impacted over half a million students in over 50 countries since 2000. Cover Photo Yadhunandhan Prabhu Sulata Shenoy is a child and adolescent psychologist. [email protected] 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 This issue’s Student Editor - specialises in psychological assessments and therapies for children and adults. She also conducts workshops Sahana Venugopal for parents, children and teachers. Sahana Venugopal is a 16-year old Grade 10 student in Chettinad Hari Shree Prab Singh heads CollegeSource, an organisation that Vidyalayam, Chennai. She is an aspiring writer provides life coaching to adolescents and support to who has self-published a teen horror novel, their family through the process of deciding their "I Watched you Die". Sahana loves watching higher education and career goals. thought-provoking movies from around the world; in fact she filmed the book trailer for her novel herself. Trained in Carnatic Music and the veena, she is also learning Meena Sivaraman is an early childhood Kalaripayattu, a martial art-form from Kerala. development specialist. With rich experience in the Sahana is passionate about debating and holistic enrichment of children’s intellect during their travelling and can get pulled into a book’s formative years, Meena is a firm believer in involved, alternative reality no matter where she is! hands-on parenting. She is very well read on topics related to parenting and child development. Intent of the magazine

Jyoti Swaroop is an educational consultant who Learning is a continuous process, and needs to happen both in and works with Ratna Sagar Publishing. Jyoti interacts outside of school; thus parents have an important role to play in shaping extensively with schools across India on many topics their children’s future. ParentEdge aims to expose parents to global including the interpretation of the recently introduced trends in learning and partner with them in the intellectual enrichment Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation. She is also of their children. associated with a career guidance organisation for school students. Jyoti has authored several English Language text books for many leading publishers. Please e-mail your feedback on this issue and suggestions for upcoming issues to [email protected] Cover Story 6 Raising Well-Mannered Children

The Expert’s Take 20 Ms. Swati Popat Vats, President of Podar Education Network, and Viewpoints of Gloria Burrett, psychotherapist

Building Blocks 22 The Big I: Preparing for Primary School Interviews

Hobby Horse 27 Hand-Made Textured Paper

Different Strokes 28 Dyscalculia: Connecting the Dots

Deep Dive Kids! 33 The Food Story

Education across the Seas 36 Undergraduate Studies: Destination Singapore

Infocache 44 Social Networking Sites with Educational Value

Tips, Tricks & To-Do Lists 46 Inculcating Good Study Habits

Scrumptious 50 Cheesy Treats

Cross Roads 52 Preparing for College: A Checklist

An Apple a Day 58 Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle: Interview with Anupama Menon

Pursuits and Passions 61 Children and Gardening

Bookworm 66 Children’s Books by Indian Authors Parenting Books by Indian Authors

Xchange 70 Working versus Stay-at-Home Moms

What’s Happening? 80 Things to Do, Places to See Every parent wants the perfect child – intelligent, confident, talented… and oh yes, well- mannered to boot! For all these other excellences should come clothed in a respectful mien....

6 January - February 2013 Manners are essentially a social construct – how you behave when someone is watching you, and how you are perceived by the people around you. Parents and grandparents we spoke to stressed that while the concept of manners may have changed over the years and across generations, good manners themselves never go out of fashion. No matter how smart, outgoing and confident children become, society insists that all this be tempered by the right, respectful attitude.

As you read this article, we encourage you to ponder on these points:

• Does being well-mannered imply mechanically doing the right things because of parental / societal pressure, or do we want this to be intrinsic in our children – saying a heartfelt thank you, displaying warmth in interacting with people, a respect for others which comes from being respected themselves? • Are manners about children, or about parents and what kind of role models they are? • Do we see a well-mannered child as a validation of our upbringing of her, of our parenting?

January - February 2013 7 A Wikipedia on manners

Like everything else, the definition of manners has changed with time. However, when we took this question to parents and grandparents, we found that there are some aspects of behaviour that are still considered socially important and even indispensable.

8 January - February 2013 Q: What do you consider good manners?

“Respect towards older people and anyone who is handicapped or less privileged. Being generous with the three words – please, thank you and sorry. Respecting others’ opinions and not interrupting when someone is talking.” Bharathi Adiga, Bangalore, three grandchildren

“The adherence to a personal code of conduct and behaviour which is acceptable to the society at large. Attributes would include: Wishing everyone with a smile, speaking softly and in a gentle and polite manner, Listening patiently and tolerating others’ opinions, respecting parents, teachers and elders, observing laws, observing etiquette and following ethical values in the domestic and social environment” Maj. Gen. Bhatia, Noida, three grandchildren

“A sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. Universal manners such as getting up to offer a chair to an older person, not being loud in public, to hear rather than to be heard, helping somebody to cross a road, and being kind and sharing.” Geeta Gangadharan, Chennai, three grandchildren

“I expect the person to be just, polite, honest without being hurtful and gentle without being weak.” Prabha Kudva, Mangalore, grandparent

“On a basic level, how considerate you are of people around you. Whether you are inclusive and make people feel comfortable.” Rajesh K. Murthy, France, three children

“Politeness in speech; being a good listener who does not interrupt the speaker; respecting other human beings, other view points and your environment; being open minded and not trying to impose your own ideas on others; empathy.” Hema Subramaniam, Pune, two sons

“It’s not just about ‘pleases’ and ‘thank yous’, but more about how a child handles situations that are beyond his control. For instance, when you are at a party and another kid grabs your son’s balloon, how does he react? Does he have a complete meltdown, does he hit or fight with the other child, or does he handle the situation in a mature manner?” Ritu Bhargava, Singapore, three children

him in a socially acceptable manner. I Youngsters are equally clear on the pivotal may be a great student and topper, but if role that manners play in their lives. Arun my mannerisms are flawed, people are less Narasimhan, a 10th grader in Cambridge likely to listen to me, let alone accept what Public School, Bangalore, points out that I’m saying,” says Narasimhan. He goes on to manners are important in every sphere of matter-of-factly state that “manners include life, including a student’s interactions. “If I attributes like punctuality and appropriate am interacting with someone – an eminent dressing – attributes that are important in personality, a teacher – I need to talk to the professional world as well.”

January - February 2013 January - February 2013 9 An important aspect of being well- The evolution of manners mannered is how children behave around their social ‘inferiors’, like While our interviewees pretty much the domestic help, the watchmen, concurred on what good manners and the road cleaners. “Manners are constitute, they were equally clear that about your interactions, how you what was true for previous generations is respond to others, regardless of not necessarily the norm with the youth who that person is – someone at of today. But most people do not believe the cash counter, someone cleaning that this is a bad thing, pointing instead a table at a restaurant, a colleague to the level of openness, understanding and or a friend.” communication that exists within families – Sumanth Chandrashekar, and between friends nowadays. Singapore, two children

“As a young child, I had to stand in front of elders, eat after the older members of the family had eaten, and address them with the utmost respect. Today things have improved and changed for the better. There is a kind of camaraderie in families, and interactions are more practical and less stressful. There is love and bonding today rather than formality.” Geeta Gangadharan

“When I was growing up, manners were about how I conducted myself in society. I was forced to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ for just about everything. I had to say ‘hello’ to all the aunty-jis, even those I did not know. But now as a parent, I don’t force these things on my children – if they choose not to say hello to somebody, I don’t insist on it. It is embarrassing sometimes for me, but the world has changed and I don’t want them to feel pressurised to do something they are not comfortable doing. In any case, manners are about the interactions that you have with the people around you, and how you perceive them. If you have basic respect for the people around you – your dealings with that person will be automatically respectful, you will be polite and well-mannered.” Ritu Bhargava

“The concept of good manners has not changed, but the manifestation has. While we were told to be quiet and not speak our mind, today’s youth are free, frank and open-minded, and yet, well-behaved.” Vasanti Rao, Bangalore, grandparent

“A well-mannered child is a happy child who fits within the environment that you desire for your family. The concept of manners has changed – we don’t believe like our parents did that good manners is about being quiet, sitting in the corner, not speaking and, frankly, being unhappy!” Marguerite Jayasimha, Singapore, two daughters

Walk the talk

Undoubtedly, the onus of inculcating manners in a child lies with the parent. In this area, as in most others, learning begins at home at the parent’s knee.

And the verdict is unanimous – the best way to do this is by modelling the desired behaviour yourself. It is very probable that a

10 January - February 2013 January - February 2013 11 Here are some pointers to keep in mind:

• Teaching manners is often the first step in teaching children to think “Practising good manners of any beyond themselves. kind – wishing others, waiting in a • The process of ‘teaching’ manners is queue, respecting others’ opinions continuous. – all these need to explained and • Be persistent and consistent. Repeat practised many times at home the ‘magic words’ a number of times before the child adopts them in a every day, around every interaction. social setting.” Make it a part of everyone's behaviour. – Priti Rao, • Provide plenty of positive feedback. Principal, Pumpkin Patch Don’t be miserly about complimenting your child when she demonstrates good behaviour. toddler who hears only soft, compassionate • Try sticker charts to reinforce positive voices and kind and respectful words behaviour, with the child earning will grow up to be a considerate adult, a sticker each time she says "thank empathetic and considerate herself. On the you", "please", "sorry", etc. other hand, a child who hears foul language • Have a consequence (not a punishment) at home or hears her parents talking for inappropriate behaviour, such rudely about the people around them will as not taking your child to a party probably grow up feeling that it is perfectly because she behaved badly at an acceptable to be deprecatory about others earlier one. Once children realise that and uncaring of their feelings. bad manners have certain unpleasant consequences, they will avoid those “Don’t worry that your children never listen behaviours. to you,” said the American author Robert • While modelling the appropriate Fulghum, “worry that they are always and looked-for behaviour is the watching you.” And indeed, your child is most obvious way in which to do it, observing your every interaction – with constant communication with your your neighbours, with your extended family child is also key, where you counsel and friends, and with your domestic help. her continuously (note: counsel, not And she will imitate you. nag!). • If your child refuses to greet people, So when do you actively start teaching the don’t force the issue. And correcting or child what is acceptable and what is not? admonishing her in front of others is Subramaniam makes an interesting point – “I a definite no-no. Later, when the two think teaching manners starts as early as when the baby becomes aware of her surroundings, maybe when she starts moving around when “A child learns good manners more she is six to eight months old. This is when easily when ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ you make the child aware that everything are a part of daily life. Show respect cannot be touched and there is a limit to her for others. Parents who regularly exploration. This sort of sets the boundaries put down others are teaching their and the baby eventually understands that children that other people are not overstepping them is not acceptable. This, important. If you want your child to according to me, later translates into respecting respect others, then respect your spaces and boundaries set by others. A child child. Encourage all family members who is allowed to do as she pleases may later to treat each other with respect.” have issues adjusting to rules and regulations – Monika Basra, UK, one daughter set by society.”

12 January - February 2013 Viewpoints: The Parent as a Role Model

of you are alone, you can tell her that questions, perhaps it is time for you to take you would have appreciated better back control. There will be time enough to behaviour. be your child’s best friend when she grows • Point out and appreciate good manners up. Until then, be the best parent you can in others. This does not imply that be. Your child is depending on you to lead you compare your child with other her, to set boundaries for her and to stand children. Instead of, “See how nicely by your decisions.” she wished me? Can’t you be like that?” say, “Don’t you think it’s really nice when a child wishes an older Amrita Pai is a Mumbai- person nicely? Mama felt very happy based Editorial Consultant and when that girl said hello to me.” What is your opinion about mother of two. • I-messages, introduced by Thomas today’s youth? Do you consider Gordon in his book ‘P.E.T.: Parent them well-mannered or “Who would you like as your son: Effectiveness Training’, focus on the impolite? Horrid Henry or Peter?” my elder feelings and beliefs of the speaker, as daughter asked her sister during one opposed to a you-message that focuses “Youngsters today are extremely of their Mother-Father-Baby games. on the listener. I-messages can be an polite and understanding. My 86- “I want a son just like Peter” piped effective way to correct a child without year old father once had a fall in up my younger daughter, “because he making her feel defensive about what the bank. A number of youngsters does not tell lies or hit others. He is she did. For example, instead of saying, gathered there, helped him and good, listens to mummy and daddy, “You are so impolite to people who visit saw that he was safely escorted always says please and thank you, us”, try saying, kindly, “I am not able back to his car. They always see a waits for his turn, and …….” to understand the reason behind your grandfather, a father, an uncle, an behaviour. Could you explain it to me?” aunt or a mother in the old. They may be a little brash sometimes, I listened to her extolling his virtues. So Peter, an animated Basra has an interesting viewpoint on how but they tide over that phase soon character, is a great kid. In real the role of the parent is so much more than enough.” life though, finding Peters can be just encouraging the child and approving - Geeta Gangadharan a daunting task, let alone raising of everything she does. According to her, a them. Ask me! Mother to a four- parent also needs to know when to be firm Good manners are not the sole year old who speaks her mind, and authoritative. “Unfortunately, too many province of the older generation! often unsolicited, and a six-year of today’s parents are under the impression We have a way of getting nostalgic old who prefers not to say too that they have to be their child’s ‘best about ‘the good old days’. I find much, I worry about whether friend!’ Apparently, to do otherwise would children nowadays more open, and if I’m doing my bit in raising well- harm the parent-child relationship. Gone we are genuinely interested in them, mannered children. are the days when the parent was considered they interact well. I do not consider a figure of authority, disciplinarian, and them ill-mannered, merely open and Been there, felt that? So where does role model for a child. Nowadays, families frank.” one start? I’d suggest, with oneself. are ruled by overbearing, insufferable and - Prabha Kudva bossy children who don’t understand the You may have heard that the acorn word ‘No.’ Parents need to realise that their “As adults, we think that children does not fall far from the tree. It’s desire to become their child's best friend should come and talk to us – that is true, especially since parents are the may actually cause all manner of harm to our conditioning. But if you talk to first people children observe, learn her. A parent can be both – an effective them, engage with them and treat from, and imitate. So we need to disciplinarian and a loving parent. Please them as equals, you will find that buck up as role models and set good take some time to analyse what kind of the kids today are so nice, willing examples. relationship you have with your child. Are to talk and interact. They have the you the head of the family, or has your confidence to hold their own in a I remember the day my husband child taken over that role? Has your child conversation and share thoughts.” was driving us back from a birthday become the entire focus of the family, at – Kesang Menezes, party in a Mumbai suburb. Stuck in the expense of other family members? If Founder, Parenting Matters bumper-to-bumper weekend traffic, you are uncomfortable answering these Continued on page 15

January - February 2013 13 14 January - February 2013 Continued from page 13

Viewpoints: The Parent as a Role Model we waited for the cars ahead to move. Behind us, automobiles lined up, as did an ambulance and a fire engine with blaring sirens. When we did move, irate drivers kept honking for us to move faster but my husband stuck to his pace, choosing to give right of way to the ambulance and the fire engine. My girls quietly registered the act and the next time we were in a similar position in a friend’s car, they promptly told the driver ‘Let the ambulance go ahead. It is an emergency.’ I believe that being considerate of others is a great virtue and the earlier it is inculcated in children, the better.

Politeness is another element I lay great store by. Though my children need some prodding at times, an impromptu please, sorry or thank you never fails to thrill me. Once after I finished reading a bedtime story, my elder daughter whispered ‘Thank you amma for this. I really loved it.’ Coming unexpectedly at the end of a hard workday, this simple appreciation was the best thing I could have wished for.

Acknowledging someone’s efforts or owning up to errors is not difficult. You don’t need an expensive etiquette class to impart these essentials to your children. If you do it, your children will follow suit. Simple things like laying the table together, getting your child to help out with the laundry or even colouring with him can make him happy, and in happy children, we find commendable manners.

Do not take my exposition to mean that my girls are paragons of virtue and that we never have embarrassing moments. We, as parents, live and learn. Parenting, like baking bread, is an art — it can be learned too. And it is parents interested in learning that raise impeccably mannered kids.

January - February 2013 15 ‘Schooling’ children Tips from our parent respondents

The school does play a role in inculcating “Acknowledge that your children tend to live up to your expectations. If good manners in a child, albeit much you say ‘my daughter always forgets to tell me things’, she will. Call your smaller. As Deivanai Vellayappan, Principal daughter ‘lazy’ and laziness will follow her. But treat your children with of Hari Shree Vidyalayam, Chennai remarks, respect, and they will reciprocate by behaving in a respectful manner.” – “School can only create opportunities for Monica Basra children to learn in new environments, but the actual learning and imbibing of “With older children, to the extent that you have control over the peer the values have to come from home.” She groups they are a part of, try to ensure that they choose peers who value details the manner in which a school can good manners.” – Satish Bhat, USA, two children ensure that its students imbibe these right values. “If you have more than one child, you can use the ‘sibling’ weapon with • Even as we exhort parents to be good your older child. I tell my son, ‘your younger sister is watching you.’ When role models to their children, teachers he feels that he is a role model for someone else who looks upto him, have to take over at school. he automatically becomes more careful about what he says or does.” – • Schools can create opportunities that Sumanth Chandrashekar give children exposure beyond what books teach them. An example would Children do have difficulty with certain social skills, so you can try be teaching children to work for the practising with them! A young father was worried that his five-year old betterment of their community – most was being aloof and withdrawn with visitors. He started practising social schools do have some kind of Social skills with her, actually role-playing different people and asking her to greet Work programme, and this can go a him nicely, look him in the eye when speaking and address him politely. long way in teaching children to be Within a month, the child was comfortable enough to greet all visitors and considerate and respectful of all strata answer them clearly, so much so that they commented on her new-found of society. confidence and blossoming maturity!

16 January - February 2013 Viewpoints: The Parent as a Role Model

Schools should also carefully observe workshops in a variety of settings — homes, children who show extreme behaviour and schools, resources centres and corporates. step in to recommend to parents that they be This is what she has to say: counselled professionally. “The root of such problem is generally the family dynamics,” points out Vellayappan. “If there is an issue with the child, it invariably involves the parent too. It is up to the school to help the parent recognise that his child, and perhaps he himself, requires counselling.” Aparna Karthikeyan, Chennai, is the mother of a lovely, Priti Rao, Owner and Director of Pumpkin opinionated teenager, Lasya. Patch, an organisation that runs a pre- When she's not boring her primary school and multiple childcare daughter with stories from her centres, has some practical recommendations 'perfect' childhood, she writes for teachers and schools: features for a newspaper. • Greet each child as she enters. “When a parent says to me that she wants her How often have you wished you • Display posters that list good manners. child to be well-mannered, I recoil. My first could walk up to the parents of • Reinforce good behaviour by awarding reaction is that manners are not something screaming, kicking children in airport stars on a chart. that you can teach – these are something lounges and ask if they could please • Teach and model a respectful that children learn from experiences. If do something to restore peace and vocabulary. your child is not speaking respectfully, quiet? How many times have you • Use role play and puppets to reinforce you have to see why not. It comes down looked daggers at parents whose positive behaviour. to role models. We, as adults, need to first children are climbing over your sofa • Have the children practice a particular reflect on the fact that we demand things of and doing a Da Vinci on your walls? good behaviour each week; for children that we ourselves do not practise. And haven’t you wondered how example, raising their hands to Very often a parent believes that children those parents behaved at home receive permission to speak. Role-play should be obedient and respectful to adults, themselves? I confess I have, and it, reinforce it, and review the last but they themselves are not deserving of often — because when the child is behaviour before adding on a new one. respect! I firmly believe that if children are younger, there’s no denying that it’s treated respectfully and see respect in their the parents and caregivers who make The man in the mirror environment, then that is the only way the biggest impact on their little lives. they know of relating to others. Children learn by imitating the adults Many psychologists and behavioural around them; in their eyes, parents theorists today point out that the manners Older generations were well-mannered can simply do no wrong. of the child are not what we should be because we grew up in fairly authoritarian focusing on. The way in which a child family structures – touching the feet of And that is probably why having behaves or treats people around her is an our elders, not talking much…. we were a good parent role model is so outcome of more deep-rooted factors which a little less questioning and a lot more essential; after all, you live in the merit study. In essence, we should not be fearful! But today, we are bringing up our same house, are around 24/7 in the worrying about the fact that “my child is children to think for themselves, and we early, impressionable years, and, in rude and disrespectful” but rather try to have to understand that they are not going any case, when the child is little, she understand “why is my child behaving in to do something just because they are told fairly worships you. It could also this manner?” to do it. explain why children of tardy parents grow up thinking it’s perfectly fine to Kesang Menezes is one of the founder- I most emphatically would not put down walk into parties late; freely swearing members of Parenting Matters, a volunteer- any prescriptive dos and don’ts in teaching children are often from freely run organisation based on the Montessori children to be well-mannered. Instead, I ask swearing households; and parents philosophy, which provides forums for every parent to reflect on these questions who jump queues in public and argue parents to learn, share their experiences and and suggestions: fiercely with parking attendants send grow together. For the past eight years, she their children the subtle message has been facilitating parenting groups and • What am I expecting from my child – Continued on page 18

January - February 2013 17 Continued from page 17

Viewpoints: The Parent as a Role Model

that ‘it’s ok to be rude, just as long as you get your way’. is it age-appropriate? Don’t expect a toddler of two to be quiet in company, I’ve learnt from experience that the early years are the best or a child of ten to sit through an time to lay the foundations for the please’s and thank-you’s, for hour-long dinner with your friends gathering limbs when someone older walks into the room, for without being irritable! the little courtesies to strangers. But then, teenage creeps in. • Do I reproach my child for her perceived And the rules of the game change. You’re no longer the most rudeness because my ego is worried by important person in your child’s life. And you begin to wonder if how people will judge me if my child your voice is audible at all, in the middle of all that ‘noise’ that a doesn’t do the right things? Parents child contends with… wrongly feel that they have failed just because their children have not picked For instance, my daughter — now a lovely, opinionated teenager up the niceties of social behaviour. If — gets status updates from the four corners of the globe you keep worrying that other people approximately three minutes after she wakes up, she’s often are evaluating your parenting, you mouthing lyrics by song-writers whose lifestyles I will never will pass on your misery to your child. approve, and she’s under tremendous pressure from her peers Learn to let go and become a relaxed to act ‘cool’. Where, then, does my influence start and end? Does parent. Your child will feel accepted it begin when I harangue her to clean her room (‘because I was for who she is as well. always so tidy’), finish whatever is on the plate (‘I was not at all • Am I respecting the nature of my a fussy-eater’) or yell at her to get off the phone (‘in my time, child? It is scientifically proven there were no mobile-phones, and we did just fine’) Or is that that children are born introverts where the role model buck stops? or extroverts. If you constantly express your disappointment in your There are no easy answers, because this particular child’s ‘unsocial’ behaviour, you conundrum creates as many questions as it answers. Are you, are contributing to her feelings of for instance, a good role model only when you ‘teach’ and inadequacy. ‘lead by example’? Maybe when they're older, we should let • Have I made adult-parent interaction them be, give them the space to grow and just see that they a norm at home? When you chat don’t step out of line? with your kids, do they see this interaction as interesting, or is the I’m learning everyday – from other parents and my own, but conversation only centred around their mostly from my daughter – that what works when your child is homework and academic performance? four almost never does when she’s 14. And I’m learning from my If your child finds your conversation mistakes. Now I’m not the figure of authority that I once was; judgemental or boring, chances are my word is no longer law. It’s been hard accepting the change, that she will not interact cheerfully passing the pedestal on to her preferred role models - an English with your adult guests as well. teacher, a musician in Canada, or a ballet dancer on YouTube - but I’m getting there. And the acceptance is cathartic. It’s simply not going to work if we think that we can be disrespectful to children I’m acutely aware that one day my daughter – pretty much like and then expect them to be respectful to all the higher apes – will raise her child the way she was raised, other people. They pick up their manners or at least, draw from her bank of memories. But I’m also getting from their environment, so if you want your realistic – not to mention amused — about the slight shift in child to behave in a certain way, make sure roles; as much as I influence my daughter’s life (I can hear her that you behave the same way with her, and go ‘yeah, right’) she does mine. She reads my work, and comes also let her see that you are respectful in up with incisive comments; she smiles when I sometimes swear all your interactions with everyone around and even offers suggestions, and tells me that I ought not to be you.” wearing yellow as it makes the grey in my hair stand out. Maybe, if you ask me in a few years, I shall put her name on top of my So parents, while all of us would like to role-model list. Maybe she will teach me a thing or two on how have the ‘ideal’ child, maybe it’s time for to strike up polite conversations with complete strangers, and us to take a step back and see whether we, the acceptable social behaviour in the Far East. Who said it’s only as adults, are modelling the right behaviour parents who have to be role models? for our children to follow. Chances are that

18 January - February 2013 when our children are given respect, they will treat people around them with respect and empathy as well. And given space and the freedom to express their individuality, they will learn to relate to others in a socially acceptable manner. To sum up, as Jayasimha says, “In any case, at least when it comes to social behaviour and what is acceptable, most children will grasp and understand what is appropriate as they grow up. There are very few people who don’t function ‘normally’ in society. So it all works out in the end!”

January - February 2013 19 Expert's Take Swati Popat

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.

The Role of Schools in Teaching impulse control, delayed gratification, social Children to be Well-Mannered referencing and pro-social behaviour, which are all executive brain functions in the prefrontal Children learn by imitation, and so social cortex. All these are involved in developing ‘niceties’ like wishing good morning, saying social behavioural skills like manners. thank you or sorry, are all learned behaviour. So put up visual charts; use numbers to Schools call it ‘value education’ but I think To wait in a queue, one controls the impulse help kids remember what to do in a social the term ‘life skills’ describes it better. to move; to share one’s toys one must learn situation; use music and songs to help them to delay gratification; and to say thank learn behaviour; work on group games How do we ensure that our kids are well you and please are all learnt through and help enhance their interpersonal and mannered? We teach children to speak politely, social referencing and pro-social behaviour, intrapersonal understanding of behaviour; to wait in a queue, but do they see the same behaviour that is learnt in order to belong teach sign language cues to nudge kids behaviour modelled in public? It takes a village to a group. Simple games like ‘Simon Says’ to remember manners, etc. Schools and to raise a child….. And so it starts with the help develop impulse control, and common teachers can also use the pester power of parents, then teachers and school, then friends playground equipment like slides teach kids kids to influence their families to follow the and siblings, and the circle grows; because about delaying gratification (kids have to same manners! at every stage in life, children look up to climb to be able to enjoy the slide down!). different role models and this can cause them So, what is the role of teachers and schools Social behaviour is a must for success in the to learn, unlearn or sometimes disown certain in teaching children to be well mannered? future – the behaviour of an individual can behavioural patterns. Well, schools first need to understand ‘how’ create a successful career and home life. children learn before they decide ‘what’ Manners and good behaviour should not be Before the age of five or six, the child is at children should learn. Once the ‘how’ is in taught merely as a subject in schools but as the ‘ego’ stage. He is programmed to think place, the ‘what’ lasts for a lifetime. a way of life woven into every subject. about ‘I, me and myself’, and so indulges in solitary play or parallel play, and has a Schools then have to introspect and look And lastly, schools and teachers must hard time sharing toys or solving conflicts into the songs and stories that we expose remember that good behaviour and manners with others. Children start developing our children to — are these teaching will be lifelong if they are intrinsically socially at around five to six years; at this children contrary skills? Take for example controlled but superficial if they are age, kids are able to share, wait for their the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears: extrinsically controlled. In the words of turn and to think about others and not just girl goes to bears’ home, wreaks havoc and Immanuel Kant, “If you punish a child for their own needs. It is at this age that the leaves them angry and crying. No ‘sorry,’ being naughty, and reward him for being prefrontal cortex in the brain develops and no ‘thank you’ and no ‘please!’ What is this good, he will do right merely for the sake of higher order thinking skills are developed. story teaching kids? Listen to the nursery the reward; and when he goes out into the Children can now think, plan, wait, choose rhyme Piggy on the Railway – the engine world and finds that goodness is not always and act logically. driver hits Piggy but says ‘I don’t care!’ rewarded, nor wickedness always punished, he will grow into a man who only thinks Sadly, our teacher training programmes do Schools and teachers should use innovative about how he may get on in the world, and not touch upon brain development, and ways to teach manners and good behavioural does right or wrong according as he finds teachers remain unaware of concepts like skills, by using the seven intelligences. either of advantage to himself.”

20 January - February 2013 suspensions, is that children’s respect for adults and therefore the “manners” or behaviour that follow, are closely linked to the way adults Gloria Burrett treat them or view them. The same students Gloria Burrett is a psychotherapist who has worked with children, who disrupt class and disobey rules in one class can be so different in another class. A lot of adolescents and families at an NGO for people with disabilities, in their behaviour is reactive, and depends on regular school settings, and in her ongoing private practice. Her how the teacher treats them. They know which belief is that it is not behaviour that needs fixing but the underlying adults respect them and which have already message that is struggling to be expressed through that behaviour labeled them “troublemakers” or “not worth that needs to be heard. it”, and act according to these labels. And so I ask myself, is there a message that we have to hear that lies deep under behaviour? Do we Teaching Manners So does this “behaving appropriately” come rush to correct and fix, and in the process miss at a cost? Is the compliance of today simply out on hearing what the negative behaviour is What does the term ‘good manners mean an additional feeder into the explosive really saying? today? What attributes does it represent? “need to find myself” tomorrow? It may negate the emergence of a sense of self in What role does the family play in inculcating I feel uncomfortable with this term as a child, as her feelings and opinions and manners in a child? How can parents teach it conjures up images of a child who fits natural spontaneity are suppressed in the children manners? Some pointers? into the expected mould, is beautifully name of doing the "right thing”. socially conditioned and ticks all the right If a child boxes overtly. I see compliance. I smell a In my experience it is not the ”perfectly • feels good about himself as he is, parental need for their child to be seen as mannered” child that speaks of emotional • is allowed his feelings, having been “brought up well.” I sense health but the child who gets it wrong and is • has his reality validated rather than a narrow concept that does not honour aware and willing to bear the consequences, having to buy into an adult’s reality, an intrinsic value system but focuses on and learn from his experiences; the child • is helped to respect others through the persona. More important, in my view, who is not too suffocated by endless parental modelling, would be whether caring and compassion demands to get it right but who is helped to • has relevant boundaries to feel secure increasingly determine a child’s behaviour. think through the impact of his behaviour. and For example, a child questioning a teacher • is exposed to respectful, honest who is ridiculing another child might not If however, by 'good manners’ we mean a communication, come across as “good mannered”, but it child who is compassionate and caring, who is about justice and fairness; and is more has a social intelligence, who respects others then the ground is set for someone who is impressive to me than unquestioning regardless of what they have or where they emotionally healthy and values both self and respect and obedience. Do we consider live, then we are plumbing new depths of others. The opposite of this could explain intention or motivation before we label expectations. Their behaviour may emerge why certain children bully others, and are behaviour rude? Of course, I am not talking from what they believe in, rather than what so self-focused with no concern for others. about an either / or situation, i.e. being society looks at with an approving nod. If devoid of all socialisation in favour of total social conditioning can focus on tapping and To clarify the adult role further, a family freedom; I just think that, very often, too unleashing this basic respect for all then can teach a child what basic respect is all much emphasis is laid on the former. what we get is a great human being and not about – respect for each person in each just a good mannered one. encounter, no matter who that person I know a 13-year old brilliantly mannered is. And parents today would do well to child who comes across as self-aware, What is your opinion of children today – remember that good behavior should not be poised, and conscious of the perfect are they generally well-mannered? cultivated at the cost of suppressing your behaviour the adults want from her, but child completely and forcing him to please in reality, she is struggling to stop being The more I work with children, the more everybody. That aside, good manners as it such a pleaser to all. Her “manners” are part difficult it is to see them as one composite applies to your society, and inasmuch as it of her need for approval, to never give an lump! I find I don’t have an opinion about stems from core human and moral values, adult cause to find her wanting. She cannot children in general. What I am increasingly is something worth cultivating; and we take the disappointment underpinning a aware of though, from talking to adolescents should be teaching our children this, as we scolding. Such a compulsion to behave! who have been on the verge of school teach them other life skills.

January - February 2013 21 The Big Preparing for Primary School Interviews Children as young as four or five who are entering the primary section of regular schools in Indian metros often need to go through an observation or interview session so that they can be evaluated for admission. Getting their child into a school of their choice is no longer a given for most parents – preparation for admission interviews has become i a sine qua non for both parents and children at this stage in their child’s lives.

22 January - February 2013 That’s right. Our carefree, beaming kids are a questionnaire and/or go through an doing their first formal interviews at four! interview. The child’s session could last The Indian Parliament passed the Something most of us did for the first time anywhere from five minutes to thirty “Right to Free and Compulsory in our twenties! minutes. The child spends this time Education Act” or as it is better with the interviewer (often a teacher) known, “the Right to Education The process has fast become an ordeal for and typically answers a few questions or Act” (rte) in 2009. One of the parents as well. As competition increases, performs a few activities. Questions test issues addressed is that of school parents are understandably more agitated the child’s knowledge of concepts, his interviews: the Act orders that about ensuring a good education for their understanding of the world around him, for admission, there should be no children – they feel compelled to do all they can and his language and social skills. interview of the parent or child, to guarantee their children a spot in the ideal and to ensure enrollment for all. school. If children are assessed for admission So what do schools look for in children? based on an interview or test, parents will Jasmine Sampat, Principal of Miniland in But is this ruling applicable to do everything possible to extract that good Mumbai, spells it out – “Schools often try private schools? When the Act performance: from cutting vegetables into to evaluate a number of areas: the child’s was passed, private schools different lengths and comparing car sizes to confidence and independence; his thinking, protested, claiming that it enrolling their children in interview training and motor skills as well. Schools test violated their right to run classes, three hours a week, fifty-two weeks whether children are using the right colours without government interference. a year. For many, preparation is an ongoing in a picture – that way they can assess The Act was accordingly revised, process which begins from the age of two! coordination and observation and general and now is not applicable Interview training often starts a full year in knowledge all at once. There are questions to unaided, private schools. advance of the interview. Now, even preschools related to the alphabet and numbers. There And so the interview process have adapted to incorporate interview are a lot of numeracy concepts that are continues, with many private preparation into their curriculum. tested – more than, less than. Sometimes, schools disguising interviews as there might be something unorthodox – the ‘interaction sessions’. Despite the controversial nature of these interviewer might tell the child a story and interviews, they are widely used to evaluate conduct an oral comprehension exercise.” students for admission into schools. So as a parent, you should be aware of what it entails and how you can prepare your child for the process.

The admissions process In many schools, once you fill out an application form, the school schedules an interview or interaction session between the child and a qualified individual. The parents are also expected to fill out

The parents in the admissions process:

• Parents fill out lengthy forms and sometimes even write short essays that help schools understand the child’s family background.

• Schools also want to understand the parent’s vision and philosophy with respect to educating the child, and their “parenting style”. For example, how the parent handles difficult situations with the child and how he spends time with the child.

January - February 2013 23 A majority of schools follow the process First Steps Nursery in Bangalore explains described above. Remember that these Examples of some areas tested: that interview preparation is a priority at interaction sessions allow the school to Personal details to test the child’s the school, and preparation sessions are ensure that your child is ready for school comprehension of the world around him conducted with children appearing for - that he does not have any learning Logical reasoning: opposites, odd one the interview, even as they participate disabilities or behavioural issues which out, story sequencing, puzzles in routine school activities. The school require special attention. They don’t expect makes parents an important part of the knowledge of rocket science! Basic maths skills: counting, size process, updating them regularly on their comparison children’s progress. Miniland teachers too It is natural for a parent to be anxious Phonics: beginning and ending sounds work hard at preparing their students – about this interview process and try out Motor skills: beading, lacing, colouring “Interview preparation is part of the school a range of methods to get children ready and drawing to evaluate eye-hand curriculum,” says Sampat. At the beginning for these. But first, do your research on coordination of the year, the school has parents “fill out the schools that you will apply to – what Social and interpersonal skills like an admissions form to judge which primary the admissions criteria are, whether they following instructions, replying to school they might want to send their child conduct such interviews, and if yes, questions to later” – doing this enables Miniland to what is expected in these interviews. get a sense of how to prepare each child and Confidence and independence This information can be easily obtained parent individually. by asking parents of children who are already studying in the school and have The preschool's role in interview The school can also play a large part in been through the process. It is best to preparation building the confidence of the child. do so well in advance of when your child Playschools realise how important this “Anything about a stranger can scare will enter primary school; perhaps when interview is to the parent and child, and children,” says Sampat. Miniland teaches its he is in playschool, so that you can often, the last six months of preschool will children to be confident with the unknown consider gearing his education a little be given over to preparing the child for interviewer by conducting mock interview towards admissions. this interview. Nandini Rao, Principal of sessions with unfamiliar adults.

Image courtesy: Shemrock and Shemford Group of schools

24 January - February 2013 Preparing your child at home the question types and question pattern provided guidance. “One cannot depend on a Most parents use a multi-pronged approach: of the interview and hence some insight trainer. Parents should consider themselves formal coaching outside the home, and into how to prepare the child based on the responsible for their child,” clarifies Parikh. informal learning at home. The need for assessment criteria. Most importantly, after An interview trainer can provide valuable formal coaching and tutoring has burgeoned attending these classes, parents get a sense inputs; however, at the heart of a child’s over the last few years, and people now of how to train and prepare the child on preparation is what he does on a daily basis make a living out of conducting ‘interview- their own. with a parent. This ongoing learning is training’ classes for preschoolers. In fact, what will ultimately enable him to succeed training classes have become popular to Megha Parikh from Mumbai sent her in the interview. Instead of looking upon the extent that there are waiting lists for daughter to such a class for around a year, the interview as an obstacle that must be these classes themselves! These classes can and she agrees that they can be useful. She overcome, let it become the catalyst that be quite effective since they give parents adds, however, that the most important drives the essential daily learning process and children a pretty good idea about aspect of interview training was that it of your child.

Working with your child at home: some tips

Work on your child’s knowledge of his personal details: Interviews feature There is no one best way of getting your child to know this; you can experiment with questions that try to ascertain where straightforward or innovative methods to help your child remember this information. the child is from, his address, or what his parents do.

Basic logical reasoning: An If you show your children that one car is smaller than another, and offer such interviewer will often address comparisons from their environment repeatedly in different ways, they will catch on. opposites like “big” and “small”, or Play board games and solve puzzles to help their critical thinking. Parents could create ask a child to point out the “odd one an exciting routine of doing a different activity every evening that the child could out” in a set of pictures. look forward to and learn from.

Numbers and phonics. There are few worthy substitutes for hard practice and repetition.

Show him certain objects for a short time and then hide them and ask your child to Memory skills. recall the names of the objects that were just shown.

Comprehension. Engage in storytelling sessions and/or book reading.

Playing games outside in fresh air will help the child develop gross motor skills while also allowing him to discover things in his environment. To improve finer motor skills, Gross and fine motor skills. encourage him to do anything from painting and drawing to manipulating blocks and kneading dough.

Talk to your child constantly. Communication develops questioning and curiosity, self- General knowledge. expression and the ability to think through his answers.

Keep in mind that while IQ, general knowledge and reasoning are important, it is EQ that can take a child a step further. Help children understand, and then learn to appreciate and develop opinions on what they understand.

January - February 2013 25 Helping your child handle the of the interview to make the child feel avoid this interview if you want your child pressure comfortable. Also, children have a tendency to get into the best schools. If you plan to Often there is immense pressure on to shirk away from meeting strangers. Try try for admission at one of these schools, children as they go into the interview or to encourage them to speak with people prepare well; but keep in mind the necessity interaction room. This pressure can cause they don’t know (with parental permission, for constant creative learning as well. That them to draw a complete blank during the of course!), and become more confident unexplainable sense of wonder we feel when interview. It is upto you to ensure that around strangers. we’re young is infinitely more valuable your child does not feel stressed even as than a single 20-minute interview. Rigorous he is preparing for an interview. The interview process can seem somewhat preparation is important, but be careful overwhelming, especially for busy parents. that you do not discourage that wonder. While you will have expectations of Most parents are in agreement that the Imaginative learning outweighs everything your child, letting him know, directly or interview asks too much of their children else; admissions interviews included! indirectly, will not make him feel better. and exerts too much pressure on them. - Karan Arora Play down the importance or seriousness Unfortunately, in several cities, it is hard to 16 years, Bangalore

26 January - February 2013 If you want handmade paper for your art projects and cards, but think it’s not worth the extravagance, don’t worry. Here’s a simple way to make textured paper at home at a minimal cost. And here’s the clincher: you can explore your city at the same time!

Here is what you will need: sidewalk, a cracked door or any other • A bicycle or running shoes – anything old and uneven surface. that helps you get around! • Hold your paper firmly against the Tips: • Many sheets of paper (plain, A-4 type, surface and go over it with your construction, coloured, recycled, colouring materials to get interesting • You can keep what you’ve made and newspaper, etc.) shapes and textures like spots, cracks, start a collection of textured papers • Art materials like pencils, sketch pens, jagged designs, patterns and grains. Be compiled from different places you paints and brushes, and crayons gentle to prevent tears or holes in your happen to visit. What a unique way paper. to remember a place! • And that’s it! – You have your own • You can also use these papers And here’s what you’re going to do: textured paper and, while making it, to make creative gift wrappers, you’ve discovered parts of your city! notebook covers, cards, book covers • Walk around the streets, or cycle Now, you can explore old temples, and bookmarks; these also make for around the neighbourhood until you churches, mosques, shops, cemeteries, fabulous souvenirs and gifts. find an interesting and appropriate and museums and get all sorts of surface. This could be a rough wall, a rubbings from your own native city.

January - February 2013 27 The paper has a list on it – ‘what I want to be when I grow up’ – in a child’s handwriting. The first few entries include ‘astronaut’, ‘engineer’ and ‘doctor’, much to everyone’s delight. Entries at the bottom of the list vary from ‘journalist’ and ‘photographer’ to ‘writer’ and ‘actor’. Obviously, these are not his priorities.

A few years later, ‘astronaut’ and ‘engineer’ are struck off the list. Later, even ‘doctor’ disappears. The child finally goes on to become a photographer or actor. Maybe this is where his passion lies, but could it be that he was forced to give up his top preferences because of something else? Maybe because he could not wrap his head around mathematics? Connecting the Dots

Most people in India are familiar with Dyscalculia is a learning disability that dyslexia today, thanks to the 2007 movie results in a person having trouble with ‘Taare Zameen Par”. Not only did the story handling and understanding numbers, of a dyslexic child become a box office number patterns and arithmetic. This hit, but little Ishaan brought words like affects various aspects of his daily life. ‘dyslexia’ into our daily language; we are Dyscalculics also have difficulties in now more aware of this condition, and comprehending the concepts of time and children who were previously considered measurement, as well as impaired spatial ‘lazy’ or ‘careless’ are now given the support awareness. It is important to note that and help they need in order to deal with dyscalculia is not related to I.Q. this learning disability. The reason why children with dyscalculia While dyslexia is a learning disability are unable to conquer arithmetic is that associated with letters and reading, could they lack, what most learning experts call, there be a dyslexia associated with numbers ‘a sense of numbers’. Professor Mahesh – perhaps a ‘Maths Dyslexia’ of sorts? Sharma is the President of the Center for Learning/Teaching Mathematics in Boston, There is.

28 January - February 2013 Dyscalculia Different Strokes

Massachusetts, and he has researched and published extensively on teaching methods “There are no formal diagnostic tests for dyscalculia, though some are for students with dyscalculia. He says: being developed and studied. There is a useful dyscalculia screener for “Dyscalculics are unable to visualise or use by teachers, developed by Professor Brian Butterworth, and others conceptualise numbers, number patterns (not verified professionally) such as the Dyscalculia Test prepared by the or clusters and the outcomes of numerical Dyscalculia Centre.” operations, when taught through the - Gayatri Krishna, usual methods, and the result is a weak Learning Support Teacher, Tanglin Trust School, Singapore foundation in numbers. Further, because teachers lack the know-how and appropriate methodology to help these children develop Signs to watch out for in estimating times, distances, financial essential and basic mathematical skills A child with dyscalculia typically: expenditures, balancing check books and like number-sense, other, more complex • Has trouble with arithmetic – counting, doing quick mental maths. mathematical abilities are left undeveloped solving simple sums, and later, as well.” multiplication and subtraction Support for a child with dyscalculia • Has problems with everyday tasks like If you suspect that your child may be telling the time, or estimating distances discalculic, there are some tests that Dyscalculia is not a ‘rare’ condition, • Has trouble expressing numbers and you can do at home to verify if your in that it affects around 7% of all grouping them, and is unable to estimate suspicions are correct. Check how he students. Famous people with ‘how many’ even in low quantities conceptualises numbers using simple dyscalculia include Albert Einstein • Is unable to understand word problems, tests, such as asking him to tell the time (who was also dyslexic!), Hans patterns and sequences, and grasp from an analog clock, making him show Christian Anderson, Bill Gates, mathematical concepts and formulae his age on his fingers in different ways, Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin • Has trouble with estimating outcomes asking him to estimate the answers to and Cher. of operations (asked to find the answer simple math problems, etc. You can also to 89 x 30, the child will find it hard to have a clinical evaluation conducted at deduce if the answer is in the hundreds the age of six or seven, when he enters a The condition cannot be identified till or thousands or millions) formal schooling system. numbers are formally introduced. This • Displays an aversion towards mathematics means that dyscalculia may be clinically and finds the subject unduly difficult diagnosed around the age of six or seven. • Develops acute anxiety about mathematics, Prof. Sharma goes on to explain that avoiding anything to do with numbers “teachers can employ specific teaching Dyscalculia does not mean that methods with children younger than six If the condition goes undetected for long, a student is poor in mathematics to avoid ‘acquired dyscalculia’ – acquired the disability could limit the student’s as a whole. “Dyscalculia literally through inadequate teaching methods.” career choices, forcing him to choose a means ‘difficulty with numbers’. field that involves the least amount of While such an individual might have mathematics, regardless of whether or not problems dealing with numbers he actually enjoys it. Dyscalculia can affect the daily lives of adults too. Individuals and mathematical operations in with dyscalculia may experience difficulties arithmetic, this does not mean that he must have issues with higher level skills – such as using and applying knowledge, problem solving, and thinking ‘out of the box’. Research has shown that while a student with dyscalculia might struggle with arithmetic and number manipulation, his mathematical reasoning and understanding of concepts may not be affected at all.” – Gayatri Krishna

January - February 2013 29 Different Strokes

moves on to new ones, is a must. • Playing math games every day before bedtime is a great way to build number sense. • At the same time, parents should make sure that mathematics does not take over his life, with the child working hard only at this subject to the exclusion of all the others!

As your child grows older and develops coping strategies, you may not need to work with him as much as you did at a younger age, but you will still need to consult his maths teachers regularly to discuss progress, areas of difficulty, etc.

Some ways in which schools can help the student cope include: • Using diagrams to explain mathematical concepts or word problems. • Assigning understanding peers as mentors to allow doubts to be cleared before and after classes; this will also strengthen the bond between him and his fellow- students. • Scheduling private weekly appointments with the child to talk about his progress, and areas to work on. • Encouraging him to maintain a separate notebook which lists his doubts in the subject, or half-answered problems that can be submitted to the teacher for answering or completion, so that he can actually see and understand the process of solving the sum. • Allowing for concessions in the form of If a child is indeed diagnosed as suffering • Do be sure to discuss his learning disability extra time for tests and exams. from dyscalculia, parental support is of the with his school, so his teachers can essence. understand the ramifications of dyscalculia Despite everything that parents and schools • Explain the condition to your child and and work with him accordingly. do, it is undeniable that children with make sure that he is aware of what it • You, in turn, need to assure yourself that dyscalculia will require special coaching means, so that he can, in turn, explain the school and teachers are equipped to outside the classroom with experts in it clearly to students, teachers, and deal with the situation. the field who can teach them a variety of examiners in the future. • Don’t be overly sympathetic, causing him learning and coping strategies. Do not • Children who have dyscalculia, just like to feel that there is something ‘wrong’ or assume this to mean that your child will dyslexics, have normal, above-average ‘abnormal’ with him. be forced to sit in an empty classroom after intelligence, and there is no reason to • Parents can work with their child at home, school hours and told to memorise every consider special education for them. The discussing the day with their child, and formula in the textbook for his convenience. child should not be isolated from his talking specifically about maths classes. Rather, these extra sessions will typically peers; rather, he can continue to attend • Homework sessions should be supervised work on the root problem of dyscalculia. mainstream schools and simply receive and free from distractions. Prof. Sharma recommends that, alongside specialised coaching in mathematics. • Review of old concepts, even as the child their schoolwork, children with dyscalculia

30 January - February 2013 Different Strokes

receive extra coaching in three main areas: As you play these games, you hone the conceptualisation of numbers, understanding skills that you will use in every sphere of “Mathematics should number relationships, and numeracy. life – from solving that particularly complex be taught using multi- problem on the maths exam, to mentally sensorial techniques; tactile “The most effective and interesting way calculating the grocery bill, to trying to information is registered to help a child with dyscalculia is by organise your work over a few cramped in the somatic cortex, playing mathematical games,” claims Prof. hours and ensure maximum output. Sharma. “Games, appropriately designed, visual in the visual cortex, can profoundly impact the development Experts use similar games, puzzles and and auditory information of mathematical faculties.” In early activities to re-teach these concepts to a in the auditory cortex. childhood, playing with dice, dominos and dyscalculic, to help him establish the same, The integration of all this playing cards (particularly visual cluster sturdy mathematical foundation as his peers. information results in cards without numbers, as designed by Prof. Sharma himself) helps children acquire the Will dyscalculia affect different aspects the activation of several concept of numbers effectively and easily. of a person’s life, throughout his life? cognitive functions Gayatri Krishna, Learning Support Teacher (classifying, organising, Common childhood board games like Score at Tanglin Trust School, Singapore, and analysing, synthesising, Four, Go Fish, Stratego, Chinese Checkers, a special educator who has worked with decision-making, Chess and Battle Ship reinforce the use and children suffering from dyscalculia for development of: more than 10 years now, enlightens us. generalising), which in turn, • arithmetic facts, “I do not see too many social problems develops the executive • basic operation, associated with dyscalculia. While students function. Linking the • classification, may have difficulties in areas such as teaching of maths to art • the concept of time, telling the time, with spatial awareness or music can also be very • counting, – directions, height, depth etc. – these • graphing, are usually easily managed. He can use a beneficial as it provides this • strategy, digital clock, for instance, or ask someone multi-sensory activation.” • geometrical patterns, for directions. So dyscalculia does not – Prof. Mahesh Sharma, • logical deduction, present major obstacles on a social level. President, Center for Learning/ • number sense, At a mathematical level, while children Teaching Mathematics, Boston, • sequencing and will struggle initially with conceptualising Massachusetts • visual and audio memory. numbers, and may perform poorly in

January - February 2013 31 Different Strokes

mathematics, by the time they are adults, trying to do so is futile. Even in a rapidly advancing world of super-fast calculators, super they will have learned strategies and computers, re-structured maths syllabuses and more, you still need to know how to work methods to cope with their difficulties. with numbers. However, dyscalculia should not be considered an insurmountable mountain Dyscalculia, like other learning difficulties, between the child and mathematics. Neither does it mean that the child should be forced can be addressed through remediation, to live in a world where he does nothing but peg away at the subject! and the teaching of specific strategies and skills and coping approaches.”

But she does add a caveat - “By the time a Useful Resources student with dyslexia grows up to be a young • The Trouble with Maths, by Steve Chinn adult of 18 years, he would have definitely • Dealing with Dyscalculia: Sum Hope, by Steve Chinn acquired coping strategies and mechanisms • Seven Ways to Help your Child with Maths, by Barbara Geere to deal with his difficulties. Again, he may • Documentary: Divided By Numbers – studying with dyscalculia have relative strengths in the areas of • www.dyscalculia.org lateral thinking, problem solving, abstract • www.dyscalculiaservices.com reasoning – all of which are a distinct • www.dyscalculiaforum.com advantage in the fields of engineering and • http://www.mathematicsforall.org/ other similar fields. However, a student who has struggled with numbers and is insecure Schools and intervention centres in India supporting children in his coping mechanisms will continue to with dyscalculia be insecure when faced with the pressure of • Larkspur Educational Trust, Bangalore the FIIT-JEE type of examinations.” • V-Excel Educational Trust, Chennai • Srihari Vikasam, Chennai Avoiding mathematics and numbers in the • Spastic Societies across the country world around us is an impossible task, so

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32 January - February 2013 The Food Story You can usually tell where a person is from by just looking at her plate. Food ties us to the geography we originate from. That’s why you have Indian engineers working in technology companies in far- away United States demanding (and getting!) rice, idlis and sambar in their office canteen. It’s also why you will see Indian and Chinese restaurants in unexpected parts of the world where you least expect to find them. Indeed, food follows people!

January - February 2013 33 The staple is the centre usually involves the addition of chemicals Meals are constructed around staples. A to keep food fresh. Such food also needs staple is a food that is frequently eaten by extra packaging. While processed food people in an area, sometimes at every meal. has less nutrition (good things in food), The staple is the main source of food and packaging requires the use of more natural nutrition for people. resources like paper, which is not good for the environment. The most popular staples • Grains like rice, wheat or maize Be a ‘locavore’ • Root vegetables and tubers like potato, “Locavores” are people who are conscious yam and cassava of such waste and are careful about buying • Animal products like meat, milk, eggs things that are produced locally, or at least and fish within their own country. There is nothing Food on a grand scale wrong really with wanting that bar of Swiss The habitat and food Food continues to travel and is an chocolate once in a while, but by mostly The habitat of an area – both the kind of important item of trade between countries. choosing to buy things locally grown/made soil found in a place and the weather – help As a result, farmers grow food especially for in our country, you can make a difference. decide the staple of an area. For instance, export (sale to another area/country) over Plus, local food is not just better for the in India, in the colder north, wheat is the and above what people in their areas eat. environment, it is also cheaper! staple, while in the south, rice is more With huge container ships and fast aircraft, important. it is now cheaper than ever to transport Can one person make a difference? food across the world. If everyone stops buying imported food, demand for such food will drop and Did you know? Open your refrigerator and, chances are, companies will stop importing them in large • Just 15 plants are the main you will find at least a few things that quantities. This will make a difference. source of energy for more than came from countries far, far away – exotic 75% of the world’s people, and cheeses and meats like ham from Europe, Will the Earth run out of food? just three grains – rice, wheat pasta sauces from Italy and fruits from all For people like us who have food on demand and maize – are the staples for over the world. at home and outside, this seems like a over 4 billion people. strange question. But millions of people in • White, wriggly, larvae (young Is this good? African countries are already asking this grubs) of moths were an Like anything that travels, transporting question. Many of them depend on special important source of food and food consumes a huge amount of energy. food agencies for their daily food. once a staple in the diets of The shiny red apple that comes from the some Aborigines. The Aborigines United States has travelled in planes for With much of the earth’s usable land are the native people of thousands of miles before making its way already being used for growing crops, there Australia. by truck to your supermarket. As we all aren’t too many ways to produce more well know, such travel requires the use of food. On the other hand, the population • It was in India that rice was many litres of petrol and diesel. Not only (the number of people in the world) is first grown as a domestic crop are these natural resources in short supply, increasing. With more demand, and less thousands of years ago. but their use also causes a lot of pollution. supply, people are beginning to go hungry. By simply picking an apple from Himachal And the first people to do so are the poorest Food travels Pradesh over an imported apple, you can who cannot pay for more food. We have to During the age of exploration (several help prevent such waste and pollution. be careful not to waste, as well as ensure hundred years ago) as explorers began that everyone has enough to eat. After all, visiting different parts of the world, food Also, to prepare food for long distance there is only giant field – our planet – we began to travel as well. European explorers travel, it needs to be processed, which can grow things on! introduced potatoes and cocoa beans from South America to the rest of the world. Potatoes were, in fact, the staple of the Incas of South America. Today, potatoes and chocolate (the main product of the - Contributed by cocoa beans) are found all over the world. Child Friendly News,

34 January - February 2013 www.childfriendlynews.com January - February 2013 35 “This is by far the most important station in the East…… of much higher value than whole continents of territory; if no untimely fate awaits it, it promises to become the emporium and pride of the East.” - Sir Stamford Raffles (1781-1826) founder of the city of Singapore

36 January - February 2013 Why study in Singapore? rates, high quality of living and • Singapore Management University For many Indians, Singapore is the excellent public transport. It is also (SMU): SMU is Singapore’s first ultimate tourist spot — loads of shopping, an ideal base for travelling within publicly-funded private university with lots of sightseeing, great food, you name the region, giving your child a a focus on business and management it. But did you know that it is rising fast wonderful opportunity to explore the programmes. It is now an autonomous in the ranks of best places to study in? surrounding areas! university with more than 7200 Its universities rank among the top 25 in students, and comprises six schools the world, and among the top five in Asia. Universities in Singapore offering undergraduate, graduate, The Singapore government accords great There are four local universities — and PhD programmes in Business importance to education, evident from the National University of Singapore (NUS), Management, Accountancy, Economics, fact that it spends nearly one-fifth of the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Information Systems Management, annual budget each year on education- Singapore Management University (SMU) Law and the Social Sciences. It is one related expenditure. The emphasis on the and Singapore University of Technology of the youngest universities to receive importance of education is further echoed and Design (SUTD). In addition, there are accreditation from the oldest global by the local attitudes, which promote several international universities that have accrediting body, AACSB International. excellence. their Asian campuses located in Singapore, • Singapore University of Technology offering your child the chance to obtain a and Design (SUTD): This is Singapore’s Besides the high quality of education, degree from a world-renowned university newest university, established in studying in Singapore offers several other like INSEAD or University of Chicago for 2008, and offers education in science, advantages: a fraction of the overseas tuition fee. technology, arts, humanities, and • Cheaper: The cost of education and (These function as arms of their parent social sciences. SUTD was developed in living in Singapore is at least 30 per institutions, and applications have to be collaboration with the Massachusetts cent less than that of the UK or US. made individually to each one). Institute of Technology (MIT) and In addition, international students Zhejiang University of China. who have secured admission to study • National University of Singapore in Singapore are eligible to apply for (NUS): Established in 1905, NUS is a tuition grant from the Singapore one of the oldest universities in Asia. Ministry of Education. It is Singapore’s flagship university, International • Closer to home: Singapore is just four with 16 faculties and schools across to five hours (on average) away from three campus locations in the island. universities with most big cities in India. This can be of NUS is ranked 25th among the top campuses in immense comfort to parents who would universities in the world, and offers Singapore like their child to get a world-class courses in major disciplines such as the education but do not want to send him sciences, engineering, technology, law, • INSEAD very far away from home. arts & social sciences and medicine. • University of Chicago • Work while studying: Singapore Around 37,000 students from over 100 Graduate School of allows most international students who countries study in NUS, contributing to demonstrate financial need to work a diverse and vibrant student body. Business up to 16 hours a week, and full time • Nanyang Technological University • SP Jain Centre of during the holidays – helping to defray (NTU): NTU (Nanyang is the Chinese Management some of the student’s costs. name for the Southeast-Asian region) • ESSEC • Easier to get employment after was set up in 1981 to provide facilities • Digipen Institute of graduating: It is reasonably easy for for tertiary education and research a student to work in Singapore after in engineering and technology. The Technology completing his education, as the visa university’s strengths are in science • University of Nevada, Las laws are not very restrictive. and technology, although it also offers Vegas (UNLV) • Good quality of living: Singapore is excellent programmes in accountancy, • New York University Tisch a vibrant city in the heart of Asia, business and communication studies. It School of the Arts Asia a great mix of the East and the has four colleges with 12 schools, and West. With a cosmopolitan culture four autonomous entities. More than • German Institute of and a racially diverse people who 33,500 students from over 66 countries Science and Technology live in harmony, the country is well study at NTU, and it is ranked 47th in • EDHEC Business School known for its cleanliness, low crime the world.

January - February 2013 37 Applying to a university in Singapore university, or the Asian campus of a foreign visa. The application must be submitted Most Indian students are eligible to apply university, has its own application form, not more than two months, and not less for an undergraduate degree in a Singapore which you can access from its website. than one month, before their course begins. university soon after Grade 12 or its The application process is quite straight Applications are processed quickly, usually equivalent. However, be warned that it is forward; the universities are extremely in about 10 working days, although it could not easy to get admission. Singapore attracts efficient and get back to you with any take longer in the busy months of July and extremely bright students from most of questions you may have. Copies of the August. A processing fee of S$30 is required South-East Asia – China, Malaysia, Vietnam, requisite academic certificates need to be for every application submitted to ICA. In Indonesia, India and, of course, Singapore provided to support the application. One addition, ICA charges S$60 as issuance fee itself. So, the older established institutions can choose to apply to up to five courses, for every student’s pass issued and a further like NUS and NTU have an average cut-off listing them in your order of preference. S$30 multiple-entry visa fee for students of 92-94% in Grade 12, or above 40 in IB. Applications must be accompanied by an from countries requiring a visa to enter Singapore universities give a high weightage application fee between S$20-30. Singapore (India is one of them). to academic scores, although a stellar extra- curricular portfolio may help to better your If the application is accepted by the Financing your child’s education child’s chances. While NUS and NTU do not university, the student gets either a Undergraduate education at Singapore’s require Indian students to take the SAT or conditional or unconditional offer of universities is highly subsidised by the the TOEFL test, a good score can help in acceptance. Under a conditional offer, Government of Singapore, which pays your child’s admission process. On the other the university may ask for additional for the bulk of the operating costs hand, SMU and SUTD require both SAT and documentation, such as an essay, to besides the infrastructural costs at the TOEFL scores. strengthen the offer; or, the admission may universities. Even though the tuition fees be pending the final exam results. for international students in Singapore Applications for an undergraduate course are lower than many other countries at usually open in October of the previous Once your child has received an acceptance approximately USD 22,000 per annum year. Your child will have to choose the letter from the university, he will have on average, this can still be a stretch for course he is applying to; certain courses to apply for a student visa (known as some. may require a written test and an interview Student’s Pass in Singapore). He must before placement. Each university apply to Singapore’s Immigration and Fortunately, Singapore is a scholarship in Singapore, whether Checkpoints Authority (www.ica.gov.sg), haven – at least 2,000 scholarships worth it is a local using the Student’s Pass Online Application S$36 million are awarded each year to & Registration (SOLAR) system. Two weeks overseas students (see the table at the after they have received their letter of end of the article for a list of scholarships acceptance, first-time applicants awarded by Singapore entities). Many of can apply for their these, however, come with a caveat – student students who avail of these scholarships are expected to serve a three-to-six year bond in Singapore, by working with a Singapore- registered

An international student in Singapore spends on average about S$750 to S$2,000 a month on living expenses. This amount varies depending on your child’s individual lifestyle and course of study.

38 January - February 2013 company of their choice upon another option for an international student While helping your child choose the kind graduation. Students will have to find to consider; this involves living with a local of accommodation he wants, bear in mind these jobs themselves. Earlier, foreign family with full food and board. Lastly, that real estate in Singapore is extremely scholarship holders were automatically international students can opt for private expensive, especially apartments that are given Permanent Resident status upon housing, an expensive option but one that in the heart of the city or close to an MRT graduation, but since 2010, that provision affords most flexibility and privacy. station. has been withdrawn, making it more difficult for international students to compete with local citizens to find jobs. Guide on the cost of living in Singapore Hence, we advise you to weigh the pros and cons carefully before committing to a Item Average per month in S$ bond, and check out the job prospects for your child’s field of study and course, as S$200-S$1,500 (rentals vary with geographical area, type of well as his future plans for post-graduate Accommodation accommodation, demand, facilities provided and the number of people sharing) studies.

Living in Singapore Utilities S$50-S$80 Accommodation Most universities have an international student office to help their students find on-campus or off-campus accommodation Food S$200-S$450 to suit their budget and needs. First year international students usually live on campus, in Halls of Residence accommodation provided by the university. City campus Public transport S$40-S$100 (varies with type of student concession pass) universities like SMU provide hostel accommodation to their students near the university. Accommodation is either single room or shared, fully furnished, and there Telecommunications S$30-S$50 (varies with usage and package) are 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 Books & Stationery S$30-S$100 (varies with courses) facilities for students to cook their own food.

There is also a wide range of off-campus Medical Hospitalisation S$5 - S$8 accommodation available. Private hostels, Insurance run by the educational institutions or by private agencies, provide accommodation on a single or shared basis. The usual facilities Personal expenses S$100-S$200 (varies with individuals) include wifi in rooms, daily cleaning, laundry services, food centre, and round the clock security arrangements. Homestay is Estimated S$650-$2,000

January - February 2013 39 Getting around via these mass transit options. Taxis are also a fascinating mix of three main races – the Singapore’s small size and fantastic transport a good option, but are the most expensive Chinese, the Malays and the Indians – in infrastructure means that getting around in of the three public transport options. addition to a generous sprinkling of people Singapore is extremely easy. The three main from countries near and far - Australians, modes of public transport are the Mass Rapid Living Indonesians, other South-east Asians, and Transit (MRT) or the metro rail system, Singapore is the smallest country in westerners. It is well known for its low public buses, and taxis. The MRT as well as South-East Asia, but what it lacks in size crime rate and high levels of safety. The the bus system are affordable, efficient and it makes up for in variety. This 704 square country offers enough options, whether quick, and most international students get km island is home to just under five million your child is a nature lover, a sports buff, used to making their way around the island people with four official languages. It has a culture-vulture or a combination of all of the above. The large Indian population, and the country’s long history of trade with India, makes for a wonderful mixture of the familiar and the foreign that helps international students from India adjust quickly to living and studying abroad.

Health Singapore is well known for its high standard of cleanliness that carries through from street vendors to public bathrooms. Consequently, health standards are quite high, (bird flu epidemics not withstanding!), especially when compared to India.

However, as medical expenses can be costly in Singapore, most universities insist that international students buy some kind of medical insurance that is administered by the university, or by a private agency on behalf of the university. This costs between S$50-100 per semester, and the insurance usually covers the basic anticipated needs of a healthy individual in the student’s age-group. If you think that the coverage offered does not adequately protect your child, you have the option to enrol with a private health insurance organisation for additional services.

We hope we have given you most of the information you will need to decide on an under-graduate education in Singapore for your child. Singapore as a nation believes in education, and its universities offer high standards of teaching and learning, great links with industry and a dedication to education and research. We think your child will greatly benefit from a Singapore education, 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!

40 January - February 2013 Each individual college may also offer scholarships to international students – do check the websites of the colleges for more details. Also check the Scholarship Guide (http://www.scholarshipguide.com.sg/), which provides detailed information on the scholarships available in Singapore.

Organisation/ Is there a Aid provided University Contact scholarship bond?

http://www.pscscholarships.gov. Dr Goh Keng Swee Three to four scholarships awarded NUS, NTU, Yes, for three sg/content/pscsch/default/scholar- Scholarship every year SMU, SUTD years shipapplication/otherscholarships/ gks_scholarship.html

http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/ Science & Technology Awarded for undergraduate studies NUS Yes, for six years scholarships/freshmen/nsg/ Undergraduate Scholarship in computing, engineering and science scholarship-science-technology.html

http://admissions.ntu.edu.sg/ SIA-NOL Undergraduate Awarded for undergraduate studies UndergraduateAdmissions/Pages/ NUS, NTU Yes, for six years scholarship in engineering and science SIANOLUndergraduateScholarship. aspx

Awarded to outstanding freshmen http://admissions.ntu.edu.sg/ Yes, for three Nanyang Scholarship pursuing undergraduate programmes NTU UndergraduateAdmissions/Pages/ years at NTU NanyangScholarship.aspx

Awarded to students to study in Service obligation Singapore or overseas – the United http://www.jtc.gov.sg/careers/Pages/ JTC scholarship NUS, NTU, SMU of five to six years States, United Kingdom, Japan, China, Undergraduate-Scholarship.aspx with JTC Germany and France

Scholars will be Awarded to students to study subjects committed to SGX Scholarship NUS, NTU, SMU https://career.sgx.com/scholarships/ related to the finance industry work for SGX for a two-year period

Awarded to outstanding freshmen http://admissions.ntu.edu.sg/ Yes, for three College Scholarship pursuing undergraduate programmes NTU UndergraduateAdmissions/Pages/ years at NTU CollegeScholarship.aspx

Available to first-year full-time http://www2.smu.edu.sg/financial/ Kewalram Chanrai Group undergraduates of foreign nationalities SMU No scholarships/Kewalram_Chanri_ Endowed Scholarship pursuing any degree programme Group.asp

http://www2.smu.edu.sg/financial/ Lim Hang Hing Scholarship Available for students of social studies SMU No scholarships/Lim_Hang_Hing.asp

Available to full-time undergraduates http://www2.smu.edu.sg/financial/ N.R. Thadani Scholarship of Indian nationality pursuing any SMU No scholarships/Thadani.asp degree programme

The Ian Ferguson http://www2.smu.edu.sg/financial/ Available to full-time undergraduates SMU No Foundation Scholarship scholarships/ls_ianferguson.asp

January - February 2013 41 Did you apply to study in any other country How has your experience been so far besides Singapore? If yes, why did you – the academics, the college life, the choose Singapore over these countries? cultural adjustments?

I also applied to colleges in London and India. Academics in India, I feel, are focused But I chose NAFA because I got a tuition grant on following a set pattern, a little from the Government of Singapore; this is more traditional. Although art & design not common elsewhere at an undergrad level. colleges in India help you find your Also, I had been to Singapore before and I individual style, studying in Singapore really liked the place, and found the people has made me culturally aware as well. in Singapore accepting and warm. Of course, Not only am I recognising my individual it is an added advantage that Singapore is style but also learning the styles of the close to India! various different cultures in Singapore. Here, the teachers can give you individual What about your choice of college? Why attention as the class size is much NAFA? smaller. The minute I joined college I fit right in, everybody was very welcoming. One of the main reasons was the quality of The workload is enough to keep you on the institute – NAFA is considered among your toes at all times but not excessive the best colleges for design and media, enough to keep you from the rest of the which is my area of interest. I also wanted activities available here. exposure to design concepts from the East. Two other reasons I chose NAFA was that I I have been living in Singapore for five get a diploma at the end of three years and months now. Personally I think Singapore a degree on completion of the fourth year. is amazing for a student. A lot of places offer student discounts and concession How long did you spend on the cards. Living on a tight budget, this application and admission process and really helps. Singapore is one of the safest what your experience like? countries. I love visiting art galleries, museums, theaters and the beach. My Nandita Shenoy NAFA has a representative in Chennai friends and I often take walks to Marina through whom the institute processes all Bay just to relax and soak in the beauty. is currently studying applications. Students from India have to Singapore nightlife is amazing with its go through this designated representative. variety of dance clubs and concerts to go at the Nanyang I applied in July/August 2011; the to. I had recently gone for the Formula1 Academy of Fine Arts application process was not complicated. and Nicky Romero (Dutch DJ) concert and The entrance test takes place twice a year had the time of my life. (NAFA), Singapore, — December and April. Results are available after completing her in January and May respectively. I chose to Transportation in Singapore is a dream. The do it in December 2011 so that I could know bus and train routes are widespread, easily Cambridge A levels at about my admission before completing my understandable and the cheapest modes A levels (Std. XII) in June 2012. I joined in of transportation. For me I think it was Vidyashilp Academy, July 2012 on the basis of my A Level scores, easy to settle in as there is a huge Indian Bangalore which were out in August. community. From the yummiest dosa or cheese naan to the best Bollywood movies, The entire process was transparent and Singapore has it all. flowed smoothly. The Singapore dollar had gone up to Rs 45 in a short period of 6-8 Do you have any advice for Indian months during my application process. students considering an undergrad Hence the tuition grant was a big help. education in Singapore? The only tedious process was finding the accommodation — 6 of us girls share an Singapore is a home away from home. I apartment here. think it is the perfect place for students.

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and poetry, choose titles and attractive results of professional and amateur athletes virtual cover pages and display their work all around the world, so you can test online. Writers can then invite praise, yourself against them. criticism, comments and helpful suggestions from a whole community of like-minded Shelfari individuals. Transformed from strangers to helpmeets through the power of the written Shelfari is a social networking site that word, members follow each others’ writing connects book lovers who are enthralled by projects and jump in when asked to, or the magic that lies between the pages of a even unasked! You can be assured that this book and who can be lured by the call of a website is a great place to start your journey delicious new story. Members can comment you. SoundCloud allows its members to of self-discovery as a writer. on and review books, compile and share lists maintain profiles, upload edited songs of books they’ve read and liked, and arrange or their own compositions, listen to and Photobucket meetings in book stores to discuss books make comments on others’ creations, and with other equally maniacal readers. The encourage their friends to perform better. This site is a buzzing hub for people who site allows users to build a virtual bookshelf The site offers you a fabulous way to are passionate about seeing their world which friends can browse to explore books promote yourself, by allowing you to link through a lens, tinted by ‘flash’-light. that they have not come across as yet. to your videos on YouTube and Facebook, Members join a community of amateur and Another similar site that allow book lovers and also makes your music available as aspiring photographers, and contribute not to network is Goodreads. mp3 files that can be downloaded by those only their photos, but videos and music interested. A sound wave feature lets your content as well. Images are royalty-free so DeviantArt music be ‘visualised’ in the form of waves the public can view and use them too. Users for a more enriching experience. are encouraged to contact you through This social community is designed for those your published profile, for permission to talented artists who don’t want art to end use your photos and to credit you for their within the pages of their sketchbooks, LiveMocha usage. But if you think that this site is only but want to take it further. To be precise, about getting you exposure (pun intended) a few million people further! Interested You’re moving to France and you don’t know a in the public domain, think again! Your users can browse through countless works word of French! Or maybe you cannot access contributions will also be thoroughly of original art uploaded by members, a reliable teacher of Mandarin. Perhaps you evaluated by other sharp-eyed members of ranging from abstract to shading, portraits want to supplement the Hindi that you are the community, who are not above giving to animation. When you in turn upload learning at school with some additional you negative, albeit constructive, feedback an artwork, over 11 million people get to tutorials at home? LiveMocha to the rescue! on your work. see your production instantly and for free, This social networking site is a great place earning you both criticism and praise. to learn new languages and offers courses in Athlinks The site allows community members to over 38 important world languages. You can evaluate your work – members include submit paragraphs for evaluations, record You are a sports maniac who wakes up four potential employers in the art and design yourself speaking a language and then am every day and tries to run a kilometre world and art school, making it a great play it back for evaluation, and complete in four minutes. Is that a satisfactory networking site where you can track, and some well-thought through coursework, time? How can you improve your timing? grab opportunities. A journal-like feature all based on whether you wish to learn the Perhaps you need advice on the sort of in your profile alerts people to your new language quickly or slowly. You can chat shoes you need for an upcoming race. Or creations. Chat and messaging features with other people learning your language someone to compete with? Athlinks aims instantly hook you up to a virtual and get tips from them, even as you discuss to connect athletes who love and live for universe of people who appreciate art in your issues and concerns. Members from running, allowing them to post the events all its vibrancy. different countries help out one another, in which they participate, their ‘times’, sharing cultural ‘fundae,’ photos and insider queries and anything else related to their SoundCloud perspectives. So even as you are learning love for running. You can browse through a language, you are developing a global details of hundreds of races and runs that Why stop at being a bathroom singer or outlook at the same time. What more could are taking part all over the world, at various air guitarist? If you are keen to make you ask for? Another similar online network levels. Athlinks also functions as an online the world aware of your musical abilities, for language learning is Busuu. comprehensive database that records the SoundCloud may be just the place for

January - February 2013 45 Inculcating Good Study Habits A pet peeve of many parents is getting their child to study! As parents, we are ready to make compromises on almost everything else, but not on encouraging our children to give their 100% to academics. And yet, this is one area where they dig their heels in and make us push harder and harder. While there is no magic in the world that can make a child take naturally to studying, there are many small things that you can do to help your child develop good study habits.

46 January - February 2013 It is important to start inculcating good need to interrupt his studying to get the study habits in your child at a young age, things he needs. not necessarily because you want him to be a topper, but simply to instil in him Tips for the older child: how to the values of discipline, commitment and enhance study effectiveness hard work. And you will be pleasantly • Good study habits call for good planning surprised to see that, in due course, and time management skills. Whether these values transfer to other areas of studying for an examination, or working his life as well. on an assignment, it is important that your child has a plan in place. Based on So read on for some tips and best practices. the project deadline or examination date, he can work backwards and draw up a When to study timetable that shows him how much he • Study time should be regular. needs to study each day, or a schedule Encourage your child to study a little that outlines how to break up the project every day, even if it’s only for 15 into easily-digested portions. Planning minutes, and preferably at the same has manifold benefits – it prevents him time every day, so he learns to fit in from feeling overwhelmed because he study-time into his daily routine. Even can actually visually understand how if he has no homework, you can set to complete his work on time; it avoids him some work to do – tables to repeat, the fatigue of taking on too much at a formulae to memorise or worksheets to stretch; and of course, planning well and complete – just so that he understands completing tasks on time also helps avoid the importance of regular study. last-minute stress and omissions, while • Don’t allow your child to procrastinate giving him enough time for revisions. – “can I do this tomorrow please?” The • Effective studying calls for a clear and more you put something off, the more focused mind. Ensure that your child difficult it becomes to start on it (even takes regular breaks during extended adults face this problem on a day-to- study periods – experts generally day basis!). recommend taking a 10-minute break • Get siblings to study at the same time after 60 minutes of continuous study. so they don’t disturb one other. Equally important is what he does during • Older children, given their heavy workloads, may be required to study over weekends as well. Plan the weekend well by ear-marking blocks of study-time, so your child has enough Be a good parent – when your time for leisure, even as he gets his child is studying, don’t watch TV school work done. (this may be difficult if you have Where to study older children, since their study • Create a small study area within your hours are longer, but is a good home – some place that is relatively quiet and allows the child to study in solitude. practice to follow with younger This could be a study, the child’s bedroom kids) or listen to loud music or or even the parents’ bedroom – away call people over for a visit. In from noise, distraction and television. Designating a specific place as the ‘study fact, this is a good time to catch area’ gives him a sense of the importance up on your own reading – your of studying. All study material should child will feel that you are also also be easily accessible here – from books and writing materials to reference working alongside him. materials and water – so that he does not

January - February 2013 47 best for your child and help him do a subject, but will also make studying whatever he needs to clear his mind for more fun and impactful by varying the studying – whether this is yoga, deep monotony of reading from a textbook. breathing, going for a run around the While this kind of learning is especially block, eating a snack or simply reading relevant for older children, you can start a non-academic book. early by introducing younger children to • Note-making can be useful in enhancing different resources as well. study effectiveness. Writing down • Many children think nothing of copying important points as he reads will help copious amounts of information from this break – the objective of the break is reinforce them; notes also function the internet or from an encyclopaedia to refresh and clear the mind and come as a synthesis of what he has studied and reproducing it as is. While this was back ready to focus for another hour or and can be later used for reference and ignored, and even accepted until a few so of study. Of course, how he achieves recapitulation. years ago, schools and teachers today do this will depend on your child. Physical • Revision is an essential aspect of not take such a lenient view of plagiarism. exercise refreshes some children, while studying. When your child completes a Encourage your child to understand, others may prefer to listen to music or certain concept or unit of study, ensure analyse and synthesise as opposed to chat with friends. Find out what works that he revises it so he can be confident merely reproducing. Train your child to he has retained the main points. This read from different sources, understand is one area where the parent can get the topic, and then synthesise what TV, the Internet and social involved, asking the child to recapitulate he has learned in his own words, while what he has learned. Older children can adding on his point of view as well. networking sites are never self-revise by doing mock-tests. a good idea when ‘taking a • While all of us want our children to study break’. They lure the child the syllabus and be thorough with what they need to know for the examination, into taking a longer break one life-long habit that we would do well than he intended to and the to inculcate in them is that of ‘learning’ as images and conversations opposed to simply ‘studying.’ So encourage your child to read beyond the prescribed can linger on long after the TV material and try to understand the topic or computer is switched off, in a variety of ways – through research, distracting him when he gets by watching relevant documentaries, working with supplementary material back to studying. like workbooks and CDs, etc. Not only will this give him a wider perspective on

48 January - February 2013 The role of motivation Until they reach a certain age, most children Parental involvement is a need to be motivated to study. There are powerful tool that encourages many ways to motivate a child, but perhaps the best is intrinsic motivation. Encourage children to study. If you are the child to study in order to learn and involved in your child’s day- discover something new; get him excited to-day study – questioning, about the learning process itself, and then studying will not seem so much as ‘pegging helping him understand away’ as ‘exploring and understanding’. If concepts and revise, and a child is self-motivated and realises early discussing topics – the on the importance of good study habits, he will carry with him the values of discipline daily drudgery will be more and hard work through life. palatable to him. This does NOT imply that you do his One of the best ways in which to motivate your child is through goal-setting behaviour. homework and projects for While planning out his work, encourage him him, but simply that you are to set goals and objectives for himself. Having aware of what he is studying objectives to accomplish helps him plan how he will achieve them and encourages him to and willing to discuss his work steadily towards them. Goals could be as subjects with him. Of course, simple and specific as – “I am going to work while daily involvement is on two comprehension passages per week” and “I will work on the map of one continent appropriate for younger per week”, or more generic – “I want to children, maybe until they strengthen my understanding of the history of reach middle school, older English Literature this month” or “I will learn how to count this month”. They could be time- children can, and should, bound – “My aim is to complete this project by work independently. the end of next week” or more long-running – “By the end of the year, I will strengthen my grasped could mean his favourite dish for understanding of Physics concepts”. Encourage dinner, etc. If you prefer the ‘stick’ approach, your child to set goals that are relevant, withholding allowance, cancelling treats, and realistic and just beyond what he can achieve not allowing them to go out to play can all easily. Setting goals that are too easy will be powerful tools to get kids to study. But do make studying boring and unachievable goals keep in mind that positive reinforcement gets are de-motivating. It may be a good idea to you better results and less resentment that allow him to start with relatively simple goals punishments or negative reinforcement. (achieving them will motivate him further and enhance his self-esteem) and then move onto Finally, keep in mind that different more challenging ones. children learn differently. Some children respond better to auditory cues whereas If intrinsic motivation does not work, there is some are more visual. Yet another child’s always extrinsic motivation, in short – ahem! strength may lie in spatial thinking, while – bribery. For some children, just doing well his friend may need to just read a page to on an exam is not enough; they look for a retain information (refer to our Cover Story reward for good results. In the same way, you on ‘Multiple Intelligences’ in the first issue can also ‘bribe’ children to study regularly of our magazine). It is left to teachers and and the carrot does not always have to be a parents to recognise which method works gift or something material. An assignment best with each child. Encouraging your completed on time could mean an hour of play child to learn in the way he does best can in the swimming pool, a mathematical concept also improve study effectiveness.

January - February 2013 49 Scrumptious

Do you absolutely love and crave cheese? Cheese in any form stringy mozzarella, golden cheddar or even soft and tender paneer? Well, here are a couple of recipes to tickle your taste-buds and satisfy your craving!

What you need:Six 10-inch tortillas • To close your quesadillas, place the • Two cups salsa other three tortillas on top of each of • Two cups cooked beans (black, pinto these. Bean and or kidney beans) • If using an oven, pre-heat it to • Two cups shredded cheese (mozzarella, 200 degrees Celsius and bake the Cheese cheddar, or Monterey Jack) quesadillas for 15 minutes on a baking • Sour cream sheet. QUesadilla • Guacamole (check out the recipe for • If using a frying pan, spread some oil guacamole in Issue 8) over a non-stick pan and place the (serves three) closed quesadilla on it. Cook each quesadilla for four to five minutes, What to do: two minutes on each side, or until the • Place three of the tortillas on a large cheese melts and the tortillas turn cutting board. golden-brown. • Spread the salsa evenly over all three. • Cut each quesadilla into six pieces and • Top up with the beans, and sprinkle serve with guacamole and sour cream the cheese. on the side for a hot and tasty meal.

Tip: • Yo u can use thick yoghurt instead of sour cream, and low-fat cheese for a healthier version. • For an extra dash of flavour and colour, add chopped bell peppers along with the beans.

50 January - February 2013 Scrumptious

Paneer BhUrji (serves two) What you need: What to do: • Two cups crumbled paneer • Heat the oil in frying pan, and add the • One tbsp. oil jeera to it. • One tsp. jeera (cumin seeds) • When the jeera starts turning brown, • One tbsp. finely chopped ginger add the ginger and the green chillies, • Two green chillies (add more or less followed by the chopped onions and depending on desired spiciness) capsicum. • Two onions, chopped fine • Fry for a minute, then add the • One capsicum, cut into small-sized coriander leaves, coriander powder and pieces chilli powder and mix well. • ½ tsp. red chilli powder • Add the milk and salt. • One tsp. coriander powder • Cook for two minutes or until the milk • Two tbsp. finely chopped coriander evaporates. leaves • Finally, add the crumbled paneer and • Two tbsp. milk mix thoroughly. • One tsp. lemon juice • Fry for two minutes or until dry. • Salt to taste • Take the pan off the stove, add the lemon juice and mix well. • Your delicious paneer burji is ready to be eaten hot and spicy!

- Anupama Sridhar, 15 years, Irvine, California

Tip: • For a low-fat version, substitute the paneer with tofu, or use low-fat paneer that is made from skimmed milk.

January - February 2013 51 PreparingCollege: for A Checklist

People no longer ask what you want to be when you ‘grow up’ and smile indulgently when you say ‘Doctor’ or ‘Astronaut’ or ‘Actor.’ Now, you ARE grown up and the questions are more serious, such as “what stream are you going to take up?” or “have you applied to colleges yet?” or “are you sitting for any competitive exams?’ and your answers are met with serious consideration, decisive nodding and thoughtful expressions. When everyone around you is serious about your aspirations, maybe it’s time for you to be serious too!

52 January - February 2013 That’s why we’ve put together this checklist You can also talk to college students who are – whether it is playing an instrument, for high-school students who are evaluating pursuing the course that you are interested pursuing tennis as a hobby or even painting their undergraduate options in India. in to get a feel for what it involves – this in your spare time. Keep every certificate, can help you decide if it is really what you news mention, or honour that you earn. Choose your course well want to do. Also try meeting with experts In India, this is a decision that has to be in your chosen field to ask them about Of course, building an attractive resume is made in the tenth grade itself, which is their profession and decide if it is for you. not just about extra-curriculars. Colleges the last year when you will be studying will appreciate initiative, passion and all the subjects. The following year, your Do your initial research genuine interest – so if you have your heart classmates and you will take up different Once you have decided on the course you set on a particular profession, show that paths or streams (Science, Commerce or are going to pursue in college, do some you are motivated enough to build some Humanities) based on your long-term initial research on it. Remember that many experience in that area. The summer break interests and preferences. Sadly, given the ‘professional’ or ‘vocational’ courses require after you complete your grade 10 exams lack of flexibility in most standard Indian you to take competitive examinations. is the ideal time to intern in your field of colleges, what you pursue in grades 11 Not only must you be aware of the dates interest. If you want to be a journalist, and 12 will pretty much set the tone for of these exams, the registration process, work with a newspaper, contribute articles later – for instance, if you choose to take etc., but you should also start preparing for to local publications, and submit your up Humanities in grade 11, dropping maths them early on. For instance, coaching for video reports to websites. Ensure that you and the sciences, it is almost impossible to the CET begins when you are in grade 11! mention bylines and achievements in your take up engineering or pure sciences later in Of course, if you are visiting an educational application form. college. If you’re uncertain or torn between counsellor, she will be able to guide you in options, take up the Science stream as you this as well. If you are an aspiring architect, make can always switch to Humanities later; it sample drawings, learn to rough out blue is difficult to do the reverse if you change Enhance your profile prints, get them evaluated and find new your mind. This is an important step, one that will opportunities to learn from experts in the strengthen your college applications. A field. Take summer courses in essential Seek professional help college is more likely to look favourably skills required in your field – computer This is understandably a time of on a student who has strengths beyond programming, interpretation of languages, uncertainty and an educational counsellor the academic. Being an all-rounder shows animation, etc. can be of great help in analysing your that you can manage and excel in more inclinations and aptitude, and helping you areas than your academically-oriented make a choice. Mrs. Annapurna Murthy, an counterparts. Hone and educational counsellor based in Bangalore, strengthen skills that summarises what she does for high-school you already have students – “First and foremost, I assess the students by having them take Aptitude, Intelligence, Personality and Interest tests. These tests allow them to explore their potential, assess their verbal, language, spatial and numerical abilities, as well as analyse their interests. The results can guide them in making the right choice. Of course, while helping her draw up a shortlist, I also keep in mind the student’s academic background, financial status, and strengths and weaknesses. All this will be consolidated into a Career Plan, which sets short- and long-term goals.”

January - February 2013 53 Shortlist your preferred colleges needs. Using these lists, do some online viability. An educational counsellor You should start thinking about which research, send enquiries, talk to former can help you identify the different colleges to apply to as you near the end students and teachers and ask around to see scholarships that are available. of grade 11. Here, technology can come to if these colleges are right for you. • Maintain organised and systematic the rescue! notes or a spreadsheet with the “I’ve had a pretty firm idea about the essential information about each There are countless college ‘matchmaking’ colleges I’ve wanted to get into for a long college, including application process, websites that consider your choice of time. Researching them on the internet has required documents, deadlines for form stream, financial status, and location helped a lot as you can see what different submission, etc. preferences to give you an extensive list colleges have to offer. It’s easier to shortlist • While it is natural to be desperate of institutions that match your wants and when you know what you want to do and to get into that one perfect college, get out of going to a particular college. The ensure that you have some back-up college you choose should offer exactly what choices as well. Useful websites: you want and need. If not, then it isn’t the • www.indiacollegesearch.com right college for you,” Says Smriti Sundar, The application process • www.studyguideindia.com aspiring architect and grade 12 student. Once you have your shortlist, you can • www.shiksha.com begin the arduous process of submitting • www.indiacollegesearch.com/about- • When you begin shortlisting your application forms, hoping for a positive us.php choices, be sure to check not just reaction, an interview opportunity or even • www.educationplanner.org courses offered, but also financial better, an acceptance.

If you’re Tips and Tricks not sure about a question ask for clarification. If you don’t Give everyone a chance to know the answer, or don’t speak, but don’t become a have an opinion, it is better passive listener yourself. to remain silent for the Be original, formal and duration rather than polite. spin a yarn.

Read the guidelines Group thoroughly. Stick to the word limit. discussions Make your points with utmost politeness and courtesy, especially In a GD, you will if you’re disagreeing with be evaluated on your something that’s been said. interpersonal skills, so be Don’t rush to fill in Filling in Emotion and aggression will sure to show them in a your application form not endear you to the applications good light! before you have read List your recent evaluators. through the sections achievements first and and understood what work your way backwards. information is needed.

If asked for a ‘personal statement’, use it to For written applications, tell the college why YOU write neatly and legibly, are the one they need to Dress neatly, be checking for errors. choose from all applicants. punctual and introduce Keep your portfolio Show how you fit into the yourself with confidence handy. college culture, and with and poise. its requirements.

Interviews “Most students make mistakes during GDs by dominating a discussion, trying to prove that only they know the Answer questions answer. Such behaviour will be negatively marked. Ask relevant questions calmly, try not to be to show that you have provocative, and avoid Students have to know when a point has to be made and read up on the college. formulaic responses. how to make it politely.” – Annapurna Murthy

54 January - February 2013 Prepare for change organise your time well, schedule your While getting in to the college of your assignments and avoid procrastinating. An aside for the choice can be thrilling, both the fun and And, most importantly, get into the habit boarders: tips to make hard work are just beginning! of self-study! the transition easier

College marks the start of an academic “In high school, we’re generally spoon • Accommodation: Plan your life that is very different from what you fed. Teachers constantly badger you accommodation well in have known so far. While many students for your homework or keep warning advance. You can choose seem to believe that college is a time for you about any drops in your academic having fun and expanding your social performance. In college, the biggest to stay in the college circle (true!), for the serious achiever, it change that I had to deal with was dormitory, or find hostel/ is also a time of grabbed opportunities. how everything is left to the students. PG accommodation at close In the midst of all the parties and socio- Attending college is up to you, as are the proximity to your college. cultural activities that you are going to grades that you earn! But rules are rules. • Rooming: You will be spending be involved in, don’t forget that college is Excuses are never accepted. Lecturers a large part of your time also a place of study, and one where there are just that – lecturers. Nothing more!” outside college with your is no teacher breathing down your neck, exclaims Gayathri Mani, a student at roommate, so get to know telling you what to do! Anna University, Chennai. her! It is a good idea to discuss practical matters and delegate In college, no teacher will make you kneel responsibilities before-hand, outside the classroom for bad behaviour. Getting the most out of college so you can avoid confrontation Nor will indiscipline earn a note in your Of course, college is so much more than and problems. diary. Moreover, your teachers will be more just academics – there are cultural events, approachable and friendlier than those who excursions, student council activities, • Budgeting: Open a local bank taught you in school. They will be open to clubs, and parties. Participating in account to allow you access more informal interaction and questioning. everything that college has to offer is to funds. Don’t splurge on the best way to make friends and hone non-essentials, and maintain a However, all this means that you are your social skills. Sign yourself up for notebook to keep track of all responsible for your own academic as many activities as you can manage, your financial transactions. performance and results. College demands while balancing out your academics. • Be flexible and learn to expect that you be a self-starter, so learn to You will never again have these many the unexpected. • Naturally, you may feel a little disconcerted when you’re living away from home for the first time. Homesickness will soon pass and you will start enjoying the independence and freedom of living on your own!

opportunities to try your hand at new things and maximise every moment.

So, there you have it – what you need to ensure an easy and efficient transition from your high-school life to your college avatar. We guarantee that once you have checked all the boxes in this check-list, you will be in a position of enviable stability. Enjoy this phase of your life for, despite workloads and deadlines, you will never be as carefree again!

January - February 2013 55 KEEPING CHILDREN FIT DURING WINTER

Sometimes it really becomes hard to get to send your children outside to play, he or she can still remain fit with other options. going when it is cold and foggy outside. As the temperature drops, most people Generally, in winter, children suffer from colds, and upper and lower respiratory tract prefer to be cozy, staying indoors infections. While contagious viruses are active year-round, autumn and winter are when snuggled up with a good book or movie. we're all most vulnerable to them. This is because we spend more time indoors with each Along with the laziness that sometimes other when the weather gets cold, allowing the viruses to spread faster.The parents and comes with the season, the weather can other adults need to understand the child’s limitations, fears, skills and abilities and keep everyone locked indoors. guide the child properly. Each child can grow to his or her fullest potential with the right amount of support and guidance. However, it’s important to ensure that your child gets as much exercise during As cold and flu are common and unavoidable in the winter, it is difficult to protect your children the winter as he or she would during any from them. But there are certain ways to help them improve their resistance against these other season of the year. Some parents seasonal disorders. Here are few tips to help you protect your child from those winter diseases: aren't very happy with their child playing outdoors, feeling that the drop in the • Teach your child to keep his / her hands clean. temperature might have an impact on the • Teach your child to use a tissue or a handkerchief while coughing or sneezing. child’s health. While you may choose not • Get the children to eat food rich with Vitamin C.

56 January - February 2013 in cold weather. • Ensure they take proper rest and sleep well. 11. Aerobics help the child be physically active and improve cardio- • Encourage your child to be physically active. vascular endurance. 12. Hoop activities like hula hooping keep the children happy and The National Association for Sport and Physical Education recommends active. that all children, including infants and toddlers, should be physically 13. Climbing the Agility ladder keeps children active as well as agile. active every day. 14. The garage space can be cleared to let the children have fun playing Dodge Ball. Toddlers and preschoolers should have at least 60 minutes daily of unstructured physical activity (free play) or structured physical Winters do not mean just playing indoors; instead bundle up the activity where adults supervise their play. This doesn't need to be children for some fun outdoor winter activities all at one time, and can be broken up over the whole day. 1. Feed the birds with your children - Help your children identify the different migratory birds that visit your city/region during Activities during winter should focus on keeping the children’s winter. . bodies moving and their minds engaged. There are a lot of fun- 2. Family walk – Bundle up with everyone filled and interesting indoor games which ensure that the children and go for walk. are moving about and are active, helping them burn off a lot of 3. Hide and Seek - Everyone has played energy and calories. this game. The general idea is that one child is “it,” that person closes 1. Children's jump ropes aren't very long, and hence this activity will his or her eyes and counts to a certain not take up much space. All it takes is the removal of breakables and number without looking and then moving around some furniture to create space for this activity. he or she tries to find the other children. 2. Create a fun indoor obstacle course at home using sofa cushions, large empty boxes, chairs and old bed sheets, makeshift tunnels or mountains to crawl through, under or over. Ensure safety and make sure The winter season can also be so you provide close supervision. much fun with friends and family. 3. Play Simon Says and make it as active as possible. Don’t let the cold stop your child 4. Have a dance party, crank up the music and get moving. Push back from being active and being fit! the furniture to the walls so you have a large open space. March, stomp, twirl, jump, and hop together. Believe me, it’s so much fun! 5. If space permits, install and indoor basketball hoop suitable for your child’s age and let him or her play with the balls, shooting right through the hoop and working on honing skills. 6. Going up and down the stairs is a simple way to get a little activity. You can join in too. 7. Go bowling with the entire family. The children will improve their skill while having fun. 8. Practice yoga with your children to develop a healthy way to bond with them. Yoga helps children be active and relaxed both physically and mentally. 9. Martial art, gymnastics and dance classes offer children an opportunity to learn a skill while being physically active. 10. Play indoor Hopscotch; this game is not just for playing outdoors when the weather is nice and warm, but can be played indoors as well

Contact: Dhanalaxmi - 98455 15438 370, 1st Floor, 4th Cross, 3rd Phase, J P Nagar, Bangalore – 560078. Ph: 080-26585960 Email: [email protected] www.jumpbunch.com Sports And Fitness For Kids

January - February 2013 57 Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle

Interview with Anupama Menon Anupama Menon is a nutritionist and writer who has spent 14 years learning, discovering and experiencing the nuances of food, and the art of creating platforms for people to imbibe a better and fitter way of life. Menon runs ‘Right Living’, a consultancy that endorses healthy eating and disseminates nutrition education, through counselling, implementation of lifestyle management programmes for individuals, and the planning and implementation of syllabus- oriented nutrition programmes for schools.

58 January - February 2013 What are the different aspects that There are five food groups – carbohydrates – flavour. So be patient! parents should pay attention to in cereals like bread, rice and wheat; proteins order to ensure that children have a – beans, eggs, meat, fish; milk and milk A big problem is the prevalence of ‘healthy lifestyle’? products; fruits and vegetables, and fats convenience packaged foods all around us. and sugars – besides cooking oils, ghee, It’s very tempting for the tired and busy There are three aspects which, if considered butter, sugar, these must include good fats parent to give the child a packet of chips carefully, will ensure that your child adopts like walnuts, almonds and olive oil. to eat. But this is absolutely NOT the right a healthy lifestyle. The first is the food thing to do! Giving your child a packet of a child eats, which must necessarily be A child’s diet must include a good mix of chips once a week is okay, but it cannot wholesome and well balanced – but more foods from these groups. If he is eating be given regularly, making it something about this later. from the different groups regularly, then he can’t do without. Packaged foods have individual preferences for different foods strong flavours and are, hence, extremely The second aspect is one of the most in a particular group and small variations addictive. Flavours present in natural foods important but compromised areas in in quantities do not really matter. Parents are not as strong. Once kids get used to a child’s life today. With the influx of need to be aware of how many servings of stronger flavours, they become insensitive ‘children’s media’, playtime is being each per week the child requires. This is to the subtler flavours of natural foods and replaced by TV watching and gaming. specific to each child – his body structure, don’t enjoy these as much. Ideally, foods Children lead a sedentary lifestyle. appetite and metabolism. Most kids will like chips, instant noodles, candies and Encourage your children to play in the decide for themselves how much and what cookies MUST NOT BE KEPT AT HOME. Eat evenings, to participate in sports or other they want to eat, and we should allow this them once in a way when you are out, yes, physical activities they enjoy for at least since their body knows best what it needs. but don’t stock them! 45 minutes to an hour daily. The main issue today is that a lot of children What are the nutrient gaps that we The third is the emotional development of are not eating balanced meals; while one see in children’s diets, and how can the child. Parents today want their children child is picky about vegetables, another these be bridged? to develop all the skill sets possible. So it’s maybe fussy about milk while yet another dance and music and drama and craft and may just not want fruits. They probably eat The deficiencies that could crop up are drawing…..put a brake on this anxiety to too much of one food group, and not enough those related to vitamins and minerals build too many activities into your child’s of another. At the same time, as parents, (micronutrient deficiency) due to poor life! You may do more harm than good. we also need to recognise that the food consumption of fruits and veggies. As I Children need some time to themselves to pyramid allows for a lot of flexibility, more mentioned, there are five main food groups do what they want and explore on their own options than that you can imagine. Let me and children are supposed to eat some items without either their parents or teachers give you an example. Children are generally from all of these. But sometimes we deviate, telling them what to do. Parents, in turn, fussy about eating fruits and vegetables either by giving in to children’s whims, or must understand the nature of their child, and often have strong likes and dislikes. to suit our own convenience. For example, what he likes doing, and nurture that. Did you know that fruits and vegetables can dinner is not ready and your child is hungry be categorised into five different colours, – you give him three biscuits to hold off What should the ideal diet of depending on the kind of anti-oxidants they until dinner. He has such a tiny stomach. If an urban child be? What do you have? These colours are yellow/orange, red, you fill it with three biscuits now, he is not consider the key issues in children’s white, purple/blue and green. If a child likes going to eat his usual quota of chapattis and diet patterns today, and how can and chooses at least two fruits or vegetables vegetables one hour later! If this practice these be addressed? from each colour category, then he will be is a regular feature of your household, the fine! If a child does not like tomatoes, but nutritional gap appears. Well, this is an extremely broad subject likes red bell peppers, and is also eating that cannot really be covered in one pomegranate, then that’s enough. Instead The first thing a parent must do to bridge short conversation! Basically, the parent of forcing spinach on him, try okra, beans, nutritional gaps is to educate herself on has to be knowledgeable about what the methi or broccoli. healthy eating practices as well as keep child’s body requires. While most of the track of what the child is eating. Maintain information is available on the net, I would Also remember that it’s very rare for a food diary for seven days. ‘Have I given encourage each parent to visit a nutritionist a child to accept a new food at the him carbs today? Proteins? What has he to understand her child’s needs and the beginning. You will typically need to eaten?’ Soon you will understand where food pyramid, and then analyse whether offer him the same thing around eight the loopholes lie and can work towards her child is eating right. to 12 times before he starts enjoying its addressing the same.

January - February 2013 59 Children follow their parents. Practice only three to four times a day. Understand child at a young age. It is essential that we healthy eating principles yourself, and in these basic aspects first. Keep a tab on feed our children right when they are very all probability your child will follow suit. his height and weight – if these figures young so that their eating practices are set At least one meal a day should be eaten all are within the normal range for his age, right, and the rate of increase in fat cells together, as a family – this allows your child (and remember, ‘normal’ can be a different is also controlled (which happens until the to observe how you choose your vegetables, number for every child!), there is not much age of five). An overweight child will, in all eat slowly, munching your food well, and to worry about. probability, carry these attributes into his drink enough water. adult life. Of course, there are some children who will How does a parent ensure that her eat less no matter what you do! But, only Another typical problem that arises in joint child, who is a picky eater, gets 5% of children will not eat anything despite families is that some grandparents tend enough nutrition? your best efforts. If your child falls in this to overindulge children with sugar-laden category, just to be on the safe side, do foods — chocolates, sweets, and biscuits. First find out why your child is a picky eater. consult a paediatrician or nutritionist. Mothers may not like this, but will remain Is it because he doesn’t have an appetite, or silent out of respect. You have to get the because he does not like what you are giving If a child suffers from childhood older generation to understand why you him? Are you giving him enough variety obesity, what can a parent do to don’t want the children to be overindulged. and choices? Parents have to take time to regulate her diet? If they still don’t understand, be firm about understand what healthy food their child your rules with the children – remember, enjoys. Try enhancing vegetables and fruit Again, pause to consider why he is obese you are doing this for your children. flavours in different ways, through soups, – maybe he is eating too much processed vegetable juices, fruit milkshakes, fruit salads, food, or too much sugar or salt? Stay away While regulating the diet of your child, stir-fired with cheese. We must understand from food products that are high in salt, be careful about how you go about it. You and deliver their choices patiently, WHERE fats or sugar. And make sure that your child don’t want to hurt his self-esteem! First NECESSARY. Reinvent your cooking but do understands this too. Just as you educate try to prevent obesity by not over feeding maintain a sense of balance between delivering yourself, educate your child as well. your child; if he is obese, then try and your child’s food choices and getting him to understand where the problems are and eat within the family culture. In India, we feed children a lot of ghee, work on them together with the child. and high fat and sugar foods, to make Never use confidence demeaning statements Some children will eat in smaller quantities them ‘healthy’ and chubby. This, however, like ‘you’re so fat’ and ‘you can’t run around but frequently, some in larger quantities but will only kick off health problems for your with all that weight’ or ‘you’re so different from your sister’. If you think the problem is too big for you to handle and you need professional help from a counsellor or doctor or nutritionist, go ahead and get this help – the sooner the better.

How do you make an adolescent more self-aware and conscious of following a healthy lifestyle?

With adolescents, I see different problems now – they develop a wrong sense of body image, in line with size zero figures and models on the ramp. They want to emulate the same, and in the process may develop eating disorders like bulimia or anorexia. These are not only unhealthy for teenagers, but also emotionally damaging. Build healthy eating habits and exercise routines when they are younger; these will stay with them through life.

60 January - February 2013 Children and ardening

GChildren need hobbies. Hobbies allow A child as young as three or four years of them to relax and unwind from a age can be taught to develop an interest in gardening, and can continue this hobby stressful day at school. Music has throughout her life. All she needs is a little the power to soothe some children; help. You may not have a green thumb and may know next to nothing about gardening, for others, a picture says what a but if you know where to start, a ‘task’ thousand words cannot. We have might turn into a hobby for you too! discussed theatre, dance, music and Growing green children art in previous issues of our magazine; Gardening is a non-competitive and relaxing in this one, we bring you the benefits activity that takes children out into the open. It teaches them to be socially and of gardening and how it can be a environmentally responsible, and can be delightful pursuit for children. of benefit both to the environment and your child (read our Children and the Environment article in Issue 8 to know more about the role that children can play in conservation). Gardening also helps children develop a better understanding of scientific concepts like photosynthesis, respiration, the nitrogen cycle, the water cycle, and the carbon cycle. And like any other productive activity, gardening can teach a child to take pride in her work and become more confident of her capabilities.

January - February 2013 61 Mumbai-based Smita Kharbanda has vegetables, making compost, and even dedicated the last 18 years of her taking care of bonsai. By the time they life to spreading awareness about the are about 12 years of age, they can be environment by conducting gardening completely responsible for the garden and classes for young children. She is the be well able to prune plants, add fertilizer, founder of ‘EcoKids’, a project she started and trim plants not just for beauty, but also in 2009 to provide a hands-on experience to encourage maximum growth. of gardening and other environmental topics to young children. Kharbanda has Here are some practical tips on how to worked with kids ranging from three develop and encourage your child’s interest to 12 year-olds, and she believes that in gardening: “gardening is very good exercise for • Take a walk in parks with your child and children who are hyperactive or are going collect leaves – make posters, cards and through depression. Children who garden tablemats with these. are never aggressive since they develop • Visit flower and horticultural shows and sensitivity to nature. They never pluck a exhibitions. “Children love flower because they know that it will then • Organise family picnics at parks where to garden. They do die. They don’t catch butterflies, which, there are different plant varieties. This what they are told and they are so they know, help in pollination. They will make children curious about plant excited. They rarely ask ‘when will associate worms with vermin-culture, and types. this flower?’ but simply revel in the when they grow older, they learn about • Involve children in planning the garden whole process. They see the plant biodegradable and non-biodegradable – what to grow, how to design it, etc. growing and feel proud that they materials. They know what is good for the • Paint and decorate pots for a colourful were a part of this.” planet. I think that gardening should be look. – Reena Chengappa, made mandatory in schools, with every • To get younger children to join in the My Sunny Balcony school scheduling a gardening period in fun, use colourful, kid-sized gardening their weekly timetable.” tools. Gardening gloves come in wonderful colours and patterns as well! How does your garden grow? • Even cleaning the tools can be made fun “We grow plants by telling Children can start gardening from the age by splashing water around. stories. If I just plant a seed, of three or four years. However, the tasks • Weeding can be a boring chore for these children will not come they do can increase in complexity as they children; so be creative – enact stories back to my class the next grow older. of a prince saving the beautiful garden time! I have to make gardening by destroying the monster weeds. interesting by playing music It is a given that gardening will hold a • Use good quality seeds of plants that and telling stories. The present young child’s attention, since most love are easy to grow. When your child sees project that I am doing with my to play with mud (although parents may results, this will motivate her further. students is a ‘Pizza Patch,’ where not be as enthusiastic about this!). The • If you are growing vegetables, use them we are growing tomatoes, basil, most exciting aspect for younger kids in your cooking. This is one meal that onions. These are a few things is ‘pouring water’ for the plants (use your child will gobble up! that I have to keep introducing colourful and manageable water cans or • Make greeting cards using pictures of to get the children motivated.” mugs). Children between the ages of three the plants your children have grown. – Smita Kharbanda, and five can easily manage such activities • Invite neighbourhood kids home and Founder, EcoKids as watering and digging. You can also have a garden party or gardening help your child grow grass or small plants playdate. This will help motivate not like mustard or coriander in coconut only your children, but their friends too! shells (draw a face on the coconut shell • Make sensory gardens with plants to go about it. Start by giving them seeds to make it even more interesting). like touch-me-not, lavender, etc. This to take care of and grow. Then you can is perfect for very small children or slowly introduce them to the various jobs As they grow slightly older, children will children with disabilities. that need to be done in order to maintain enjoy and learn from more complicated a garden. Gardening can be a fun hobby or activities, such as planting seeds, pruning Once your children are interested in caring a daunting task; it all depends on how you plants, weeding, plucking ripened fruits/ for a garden, it is time to teach them how teach your child.

62 January - February 2013 And if you think growing a garden requires don’t worry. Passion in gardening does not a big bungalow with acres of space or a mean that she will only become a gardener! Gardening classes teach children yard large enough to grow enough fresh You have a number of options today which how to take care of a garden and fruit, vegetables and herbs, think again! demand knowledge of plants and gardening to be environmentally responsible. You will be surprised at how much you techniques, from landscape architecture, Here, your child can meet other can grow in the smallest of spaces. From landscape design, and horticultural like-minded children. These classes innovative vertical gardening systems to engineering to botanical engineering and are led by an experienced teacher hanging pots and easy-access planters, environmental engineering. who can guide them, using small, easy there are many methods that maximise steps. Most of these classes are in a space and allow you to have a little green Useful Resources group setting, which helps children oasis even in your balcony. Varying the size • The Gardening Book by Jane Bull bond and develop lasting friendships. and height of plants with the help of plant • Sunflower Houses: Inspiration from the As parents, our job lies in sustaining stands and hanging baskets can turn a Garden – A Book for Children and their the same interest at home, by corner into a mini-garden (Check out www. Grown-Ups by Sharon Lovejoy having the child demonstrate what mysunnybalcony.com for ideas on how you • Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: she learned in class. Gradually, your can have a veritable botanical garden in Gardening Together with Children by child will start applying what she your small balcony at home!). Sharon Lovejoy learnt in the class and help you in • http://indigarden.blogspot.sg/ the garden and perhaps grow and Making a Career out of a Hobby • http://www.homeandgardenideas.com/ maintain it too! If your child is very interested in gardening, category/gardening and would like to pursue a career in this, • www.geekgardener.in - Anupama Sridhar, 15 years, Irvine, California

General Gardening Tips Be sure to meet the needs of the different plants. Each plant requires a different amount of water and sunlight. It is advisable to consult a local gardener for advice on this.

You will need to feed the plants some sort of fertilizer or plant food. Each plant variety requires a different amount of fertilizer. Instead of fertilizer, you can use compost (check out our supplementary feature on how to make compost at home).

You will need some tools to take care of the garden. For a basic garden, you may need a watering can, scalpel/gardening scissors, and a pair of gloves.

You have to repot plants periodically in order to ensure optimal growth. The best time to repot your plants is from late-winter to spring. Fast growing plants should be repotted once a year while slower growing plants should be repotted every two- three years. Image courtesy: EcoKids, Mumbai

January - February 2013 63 Teach your Child to Make Compost at Home - Contributed by Renuka Vaidyanathan

An erstwhile finance professional, Renuka Vaidyanathan now wears many interesting hats. She is a pro-bono events organiser in the cultural space and also writes every now and then about people, places and events. Image courtesy: Renuka Vaidyanathan Garden trimmings and kitchen and food waste together constitute about 25 percent of the municipal solid waste stream in any country. That’s a lot of waste to send to landfills and “Recycling waste into compost teaches children that they have a incinerators when it could become useful and environmentally beneficial compost instead! responsibility to the planet that goes beyond their own home.” Composting reduces what I throw away, it – Chengappa reuses my kitchen waste and it recycles all organic material for my kitchen. Children should be taught the art of composting, • Kitchen waste rake twice a week. Keep it covered at which, albeit a little messy at first, can • Garden trimmings all times. become an immensely satisfying activity. • A rake • You can begin the process with about four to six pots. As the first pot fills What is composting? The process: up, move on to the next and so on. The Composting is a way of breaking down organic • Use a plant pot with holes in the bottom fourth or fifth pot will be full in about matter such as kitchen waste and garden for drainage. six to eight weeks, and that is enough trimmings into useful nutrients for the soil. • Cover the bottom with coconut husk or time for the contents of the first pot to It improves the health of the soil by breaking cork. You can also use coco-peat which be ready for use! up clayey soil and enhancing its structure. It is readily available in gardening shops • Remember to stir regularly twice a week. is a valuable resource for any garden and the and supermarkets. • When the compost is ready, use it as a results will be visible for all to see. • Cover this with a layer of soil. top layer around the plants. It can be • Put your kitchen waste for the day over used on garden beds and in containers. How does one compost? this soil. Chop up banana peels and • The bacteria that break down your Composting can be done in special compost orange rinds to aid faster composting. compost need air to survive. A week bins that are available in the market, or • Cover this waste with another layer of soil. or two after the pile is made, these even in ordinary pots, by using the waste • Add a layer of garden trimmings. bacteria will start to die as they use up generated in your home and garden. • Cover with soil. the available air in the pile. This drop in • Repeat with kitchen waste and garden the amount of bacteria will result in the What you need for composting: trimmings on alternate layers till the pot compost pile cooling off a bit from its • Used flower pots (in terracotta or plastic) is full. Covering the waste with soil ensures peak temperature. When this happens it’s • Soil that there are minimal flies and smell. time to turn the pile to get more air into • Lid for the pot • Stir the contents of this pot with a it. When turning your compost pile, move

64 January - February 2013 the drier material from the outer edges long time to break down. Adding too much that is slimy and smelly and doesn’t break of the pile into the centre and break up green material will result in a compost pile down well. any clumps to get as much air into the mixture as you can. Moisten any of the Green materials Green materials materials as you go if they seem dry.

Shredded paper (non-glossy) You may be squeamish in the initial weeks Vegetable and fruit peels Used kitchen tissues at the sight of the gooey, wormy mixture, Uncooked and rotting vegetable scraps Tea bags, Kitchen and toilet paper cardboard rolls but as the weeks go by and the compost (cut up to speed up the process) is formed, it starts smelling good (like soil Coffee grounds Dryer lint (if the fabrics are cotton) and rain, which is a wonderful smell) and Crushed egg shells Dried leaves does not look slimy anymore but becomes Dried flowers Small twigs crumbly. You can even keep a dish under Grass clippings Non chemically treated saw dust, if available the composting pot to collect the excess *Egg shells and banana peels are my absolute favourites as they break down very quickly and provide instant Corn cobs water, which can go directly to the plants. nutrients to plants. They take less than a month to *I do not use newspaper as the newsprint may be break down, while an orange peel takes much longer. chemical-laden. Getting the right mixture of brown (carbon) materials and green (nitrogenous) materials will make a big difference to your Some useful websites: compost. Adding too much brown material http://www.compost-info-guide.com/make_better_compost.htm will result in a compost pile that takes a http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Compost-Bin

Image courtesy: EcoKids, Mumbai

January - February 2013 65 Bookworm

Children’s Books by Indian Authors

Hanuman’s Ramayan Ages 3-5 Devdutt Patnaik Tulika Valmiki is known worldwide as the legendary writer of the epic Ramayana. But even in ancient ages, our poets must have had competition. So how would Valmiki feel if he were to learn that another version of the Ramayana had been written, perhaps better than his, by Rama’s greatest devotee, Hanuman? Join Valmiki on his journey to find out whose Ramayana is better! Simply and humorously written, with a powerful message for young children, this book features some delightful illustrations that aptly complement the story.

66 January - February 2013 Bookworm

Ages 6–9 Wisha Wozzariter Payal Kapadia Penguin Wisha is a 10-year old who wants to be a writer but is not sure about where to get her ideas from. She mopes around until her friend, the mysterious ‘Bookworm’, wisely tells her that there’s already a writer inside her. This imaginative story revolves around Wisha’s magical journey through a new reality, where she meets a band of interesting characters, and explores ideas and places that will eventually help her write her story. The book is an inspiration for children who want to write, and can be full of surprises for the adult too!

Faces in the Water Ages 10–12 Ranjit Lal Penguin You are a 15-year old boy stuck in your native village all alone when you look into a well and see the half-alive spirit forms of numerous girls in there! They are your sisters and cousins. This is how Gurmeet’s story begins, when he discovers that the girl children in his family were drowned at birth. But don’t be afraid that this is one of those dark and gruesome books hardly appropriate for a 10-year old. For, Gurmeet teams up with his spirit relatives to teach the ignorant adults of his family a much-needed lesson, in a story that is both humorous and touching while sensitising children to the truth about gender bias in many Indian villages.

The Adventures of Feluda Ages 13+ Satyajit Ray Penguin

Satyajit Ray, one of India’s best directors, was also a celebrated author. One of the gems from his pen is the Feluda series filled with mystery and intrigue. 28-year-old private investigator Pradosh C. Mitter is fondly called Feluda by his cousin Topshe. The duo are India’s answer to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they join their author friend Lalmohan Ganguli and travel across India and beyond to solve dark and spine-chilling mysteries. This mystery series was a craze in the 1960s and, even today, teenagers can enjoy the twists and turns as they discover the India their parents and grandparents grew up in!

What Young India Wants Non-Fiction Chetan Bhagat for Teenagers Rupa

In his latest offering, Chetan Bhagat has forced youngsters to think about weighty issues that India is grappling with, such as suicides at educational institutions, cultural differences, apathy to voting, and, of course, corruption. The message it sends out is that it’s time for the youth of the country to develop an awareness of the environment around them and take decisions that will empower the country to make progress. The book is brutally honest and will leave a searing impact on the minds of the young.

January - February 2013 67 Bookworm Parenting Books by Indian Authors

The Indian Parenting Book Meenal Pandya Alchemy All Indian parents raising children in America (and other parts of the world as well) face a common problem. With a world of western culture beckoning to them, how do you inculcate in children some part of their Indian culture, so they can develop a complete identity? The book offers suggestions to the Indian diaspora on how to raise their children, making them sensitive citizens with a global, multi-cultural and multi-religious outlook. The book is equally relevant to families in India, which is no stranger to Western influences. Read the book to learn how you can choose from the best of both worlds, where to make compromises and when to let go.

The Conscious Parent Dr. Shefali Tsabary Namaste Children are not just little gifts of joy that we bring up. Instead, they grab their parents in a whirlwind of innocence and mischief and teach them a few life- lessons as well. It’s easy for parents to be confused and oscillate between being a leader and a follower. This is the theory that the book is based on, and it gives detailed information on how parents can raise their children to be model individuals. At the same time, they need to allow their children to develop their own personalities, and not grow to be replicas of themselves. The book provides both new and experienced parents with loads of useful tips and teaches us a thing or two about loving our kids.

68 January - February 2013 January - February 2013 69 Xchange

WorkingVS

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The working mother is the epitome of the ability to multi-task. She fulfills the purpose of her education and works hard at being a good professional. Post- work, she dons the role of a mother as easily as she does her casual clothes. The working mother lives two lives that are equally hectic and which demand juggling roles, time management and sacrifice. Her work schedule does not allow her to indulge in time-consuming activities like an evening of board games with the children, or chaperoning them to birthday parties. And yet, she works hard at spending quality time with her kids and being involved in their day-to-day lives as much as she can. Working mothers are role models who demonstrate by example, the values of dynamism, hard work and dedication.

What about the homemaker? Is it easier to work within the confines of the home than in a company? Assuredly not! The homemaker usually has the tay-at-necessary educational qualifications and S the ability to pursue a career, but she chooses to be the rock on which her family is built. Omnipresent during her children’s growing years, she aims to be the constant in their life of variables. The homemaker is a veritable multi- tasker – CEO, COO, manager, employee Home and peon all rolled into one! Whether supervising homework, packing bags, cooking lunch or ferrying children to various ‘classes’, the homemaker is the family organiser who can teach corporates a thing or two about time management. And she is always there to welcome the little ones home after a long day at school and to discuss their day in detail. Homemakers are role models who demonstrate by example, the values of dynamism, hard work and dedication.

January - February 2013 71 Xchange

Respondent Profiles Households with a working mother

Neela Ramamurthy, Chennai, is fond of Carnatic music and is So which is better for the family? Can a part of a singing group. She enjoys spending working mother actually be there for her time with her grandchildren. Working children when they need her? Can a stay- Priyanka Kumar, daughter – Hema Sivakumar at-home mom teach her children to be Bangalore, is an 11th grader who independent and self-reliant? The ParentEdge pursues ballet, piano and writing. team decided to bring this controversial but Working mother – Sudha Kumar deliciously debatable topic to the people who are actually involved in this dilemma day in and day out – the parents and children of both working and stay-at-home women. And here’s what they had to tell us!

Vijayalakshmi, Bangalore, is a homemaker and an innovative cook. She enjoys spending time with her Akshay Sivakumar, grandchildren and participating in group Chennai, is in grade 10 and a prayer recitals. Working daughter – Sudha movie buff. Working mother – Kumar Hema Sivakumar

Shyamala Lakshmipathy, Sraddha Kartik, Delhi, enjoys reading the newspaper, is Florida, USA, is a seven-year old an ace at stitching and mending and loves who loves visiting her extended to cook all her food by herself. Working family in India over the summer. daughter-in-law – Uma Ravishankar and Working mother – Abhirami Kartik working daughter – Shobha Sundar

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Respondent Profiles Households with a stay-at-home mother

R. Sulochana, Chennai, is the retired chief engineer of TNEB. Her daughter is a stay-at-home Sreerangapriya Mukundan, mother – Sujatha Hariharan Chennai, learns Carnatic vocal music and is in grade 11 in Vidya Mandir School. Stay-at-home mother – Aparna Mukundan

Shobana Vijay Sampath, Mumbai, enjoys reading, travelling and singing film songs. Her daughter Varun Hariharan, is a stay-at-home mother – Chennai, is a 10th grader, deeply Kajal Bohra interested in literature and a voracious reader of books. Stay-at- home mother – Sujatha Hariharan V. Kalyani, Trivandrum is a homemaker and mother of four children. Like most other grandparents, she enjoys spending time with her grandkids and tells them many stories. Her daughter is a stay-at-home mother – Vardhani Sharma

Ananya Ramesh, Hosur, is a grade 11 student in Sishya. Passionate about art, she is also an animal lover and activist. Stay-at- home mother – Arundati Ramesh

January - February 2013 73 Xchange

Households with a working mother Children’s Take

Your mother is a working mother. Do you carefully. My mother weighs all the pros On the positive side, having a working think that working mothers are able to and cons before letting me do anything mother makes the child more independent spend adequate time with their children? and never lets me take unnecessary risks; and self-sufficient. I have also noticed so it’s not just about independence and that the child has a greater tendency to No - not all the time - because moms work self-reliance. think on his or her feet. It makes the even at home after coming back from the – Akshay Sivakumar child more adaptable to different sorts office, doing all the housework. of situations since the mother isn’t there – Sraddha Kartik Responsibility is a quality that depends to sort out every problem she faces. The on the individual. What I can say though negatives are that the mother may not I don’t think I miss out on time with is, that in my case, having a mom who always be able to give complete and my mom because she always puts was not at home has really helped me undivided attention to the child at all aside time for me no matter what the – my mom would sometimes reach home times. And there could also be times circumstances are. I think all mothers late and I would be alone until 7.30 at when the mother may be having a busy do that. They keep a constant check on night. This just taught me to grow up week and so maybe stressed out – so she us, communicate through cell phones that much faster. If my parents now were may lose her patience faster with the and are just as concerned as mothers to go out of town for two days, I could child. who don’t work. My mom insists that the confidently manage the house on my – Priyanka Kumar family eat dinner together every day and own. lunch as well over the weekend. She also – Priyanka Kumar Have you developed certain qualities that discusses school issues, homework, etc. you feel are a direct result of having a with me regularly. How do you think having a working working mother? – Akshay Sivakumar mother affects children, both positively and negatively? Having a working mother helps me in We may not spend hours talking together, being independent – doing homework on but my mom knows all my friends, what I I like going to my mother’s work place and my own and learning my spellings on my am doing….I think it’s about what you do meeting her colleagues. This has made own. with the time that you have together. me comfortable with adults. But, I miss – Sraddha Kartik – Priyanka Kumar my mother when I see other moms being volunteers at school every day. She needs From my mother, I learn the value of hard Children with working mothers tend to be to plan beforehand when she volunteers work, perseverance, and also how to deal more independent and self-reliant than since she has to let her boss know that she with problems. Plus, I get lessons in how those with stay-at-home mothers. Do you will be late to work. to handle annoying colleagues – useful for agree or disagree? – Sraddha Kartik the future! – Akshay Sivakumar I agree. For example, stay-at-home On the positive side, children tend to mothers will sit by their children and look up to such mothers as hard-working I prefer having a working mother check their work constantly. I complete and high achievers – a good role model because I think, in some ways, the my homework on my own when I am at for them. Of course, if the mother is working mother lets the child find her daycare, and my mom just checks my unable to balance her professional and own way through a problem. There’s a work when I get home. personal life well, then this could affect lot more independence established from – Sraddha Kartik the family and children negatively. a younger age. And this directly results Some children are left unmonitored and in the ability to make our own decisions I disagree. After a certain age, all children indulge in wrong habits. These are rare – an important skill to have. are expected to be able to function on cases though, because most mothers give – Priyanka Kumar their own. Children should learn to be priority to their children, rather than self-reliant, whether they have working their jobs! Do you feel that your lifestyle is different mothers or not. Risk-taking, for example, – Akshay Sivakumar from that of children with stay-at-home is behaviour that all mothers monitor moms? If yes, in what way?

74 January - February 2013 Xchange

Not really, except that I spend less time at home. My friends go home soon after school is over, but I stay at daycare until my parents come and pick me up after work. – Sraddha Kartik

My lifestyle is not very different from others because I get the same privileges, gadgets, etc. that all my other friends get and I also go out with my parents regularly. Interactions within our family are the same as in any other family with a stay-at-home mom. – Akshay Sivakumar

My mom isn’t one of those who keep a tight rein on her child’s life. I’ve heard about those kinds of mums. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, I’m just not used to it. I know that my day-to-day life is definitely different though. Consequently, I’ve also been able to handle the house by myself from a young age. – Priyanka Kumar

What benefits do you see for the family in having a working mother?

Enough money for us to plan our India trips, and vacations and cruises in US every year! – Sraddha Kartik

There is one more person to educate the children about the ‘real world’ so the children go into a professional life doubly prepared for it. On a lighter note, when the mother works, the family has another earning member and additional income to buy whatever they want! – Akshay Sivakumar

The thing about working mothers is – again, this is my view, and no offense meant – they concentrate on the more important bits of their child’s lives. If you need help with something, they will find the time. – Priyanka Kumar

January - February 2013 75 Xchange Grandparents’ Take

Your daughter/daughter-in-law is a working schedule. With coordination and are confident of being able to look after the working mother. Do you think that organisation, everything is possible. children and family as well. working mothers are able to spend – Shyamala Lakshmipathy – Shyamala Lakshmipathy adequate time with their children? Do children of working mothers tend to Can you comment on the role of the My daughter is a teacher, and she is quite be more independent and self-reliant? working mother in relation to the rest busy with her work, but she makes time for of the family? her family and takes care of them well. She It really depends on the mother. Before the doesn’t lose out in communication, time mother starts working, she should teach her Even if the mother is working, her spent with children and interaction with young children to be independent so that attachment and commitment to the family them. they can manage on their own and know and children will always be more than to – Neela Ramamurthy how to handle any problems. her workplace. – Neela Ramamurthy – Neela Ramamurthy Working mothers are definitely able to give enough time to their children! I have three Of course, children of working mothers tend Generally, family and children come first daughters, all working, who give more than to be more self-reliant. Many times they are for any mother. Even while working, some adequate attention to their children. left alone to learn for themselves. mothers are very particular about their – Vijayalakshmi — Vijayalakshmi children’s affairs. What role she plays within the family really depends on the individual If they (working mothers) are smart Financial independence and confidence and her attitude and priorities. enough, they will know how much time while going out are some of the values that – Vijayalakshmi they are devoting to their profession versus I see in children of working mothers. They their family. If you are confident of your definitely seem to be more self-reliant. Because the mother is working, she has capability, you can work and still spend — Shyamala Lakshmipathy better financial resources and will be adequate time with your children. independent and capable, whether it is – Shyamala Lakshmipathy In general, how do you think having a sending the car for servicing or managing working mother affects children, both the bank account. That’s how I feel. Working Working mothers are less involved in positively and negatively? mothers are smarter and more capable. their children’s daily affairs than stay- – Shyamala Lakshmipathy at-home moms. Do you agree or disagree? There are both advantages and disadvantages to working mothers, just like there are in What benefits do you see for the family My daughter has got a cell phone and is the case of housewives. You may have a in having a working mother? always connected to everyone at home. She mother who is at home, and still does not gives instructions over the phone whenever attend to her children! The children are proud of a mother who necessary, talks to the family regularly, etc. – Neela Ramamurthy achieves things at her workplace – generally – Neela Ramamurthy children will automatically co-operate with As long as the working mother spends their mother. Personally, I don’t differentiate between adequate time with her family, I appreciate – Neela Ramamurthy the two. But all working mothers are not the fact that she is using her qualifications. the same and whether they are involved Of course, the husband also has a say in the I don’t think there are any particular in their kids’ lives or not depends on the matter, and whether the mother works or benefits in having a working or stay-at- individual. not should be a joint family decision. home mom – to me, there is no difference – Vijayalakshmi – Vijayalakshmi between the two and the role they play as a mother. When a lady stays at home, she tries to do Because working mothers are not at home, they – Vijayalakshmi the clothes, tries to clean and takes care are not there when the children want them of all the household chores in addition to and a grandmother has to deal with them. This There will be double income in the family looking after her children, but a working will have some effects on the children – being due to a working mother and there will mother will give all this work to the maid. brought up by indulgent grandparents. Also, be better facilities in the house, like cars She will know that her main responsibility working mothers tend to spend more money and air conditioners. The additional income is to the children and to look after on their children as they are not able to spend will be most welcome for education of the them when she is at home. She involves time with them. The children also know this children. herself in their daily lives despite a busy very well. Mothers should only work if they – Shyamala Lakshmipathy

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Households with a stay-at-home mother Children’s Take Your mother is a stay-at-home mother. Do you think that working mothers are able to spend adequate time with their children?

It depends on the person. There are some working moms who are absent from their kid’s lives, choosing to let their office keep them away from their families. And yet, there are enough mothers who are able to manage both their work and house equally well, spending enough time with their children. – Ananya Ramesh

I definitely benefit from having my mother around more than my friends who have working mothers. My mother is actively involved in my schoolwork, and knows everything that is going on in my life. – Varun Hariharan

I feel that working mothers are sure to be more inclined towards their work; the family takes a backseat! With a stay-at- home mom, I feel very secure. I always have someone to go to; day or night, rain or shine. I have accessibility to my mother and mental pressure is a lot less when you have your mom around. – Sreerangapriya Mukundan

Do you feel that your family has better interpersonal communication than one where the mother is working?

My mother is actively involved in my schoolwork and I feel that my family has better communication than that of one with a working mother, as my mother is around and I have her company more. She is a major part of my school life too. – Varun Hariharan

Inter-personal communication in a family totally depends upon the relationship between the mother and the child. I don’t think occupation of the mother will affect that! But since they don’t get much time together, maybe that makes a change. It

January - February 2013 77 Children with stay-at-home mothers tend to be less independent and self- reliant that those with working mothers. What do you think?

Kids with working moms are on their own so they have no choice but to figure out stuff on their own, so they have to be independent! As I mentioned before, I am dependent on my mom for everything, which may not be such a good thing. – Ananya Ramesh

That’s not true! My mom is at home all the time, but this does not mean that I In families with stay at home mothers, the am less likely to explore things on my own children will have someone to turn to any and venture out. All children learn to be time of the day, starting from asking for independent when they are old enough! help in homework to helping you search – Varun Hariharan for the lost pencil and getting food when you’re hungry. On the negative side, unless It is really upto the mother to shape the child. the parent is really careful, the child will It’s up to the mother to make sure the child start depending on her for everything. is independent – I don’t think it is necessarily – Sreerangapriya Mukundan true that all office-going mothers would have independent children. They may, rather, feel depends on the mom. Some moms might Do you feel that your lifestyle is different lonely and insecure and not independent! have the ability to hold the family together from that of children with working – Sreerangapriya Mukundan perfectly well even if they are working… moms? If yes, in what way? others may not even if they are not working. What benefits do you see for the family – Sreerangapriya Mukundan There are working moms who are absent in having a stay-at-home mother? from their kid’s lives, missing out on a lot, How do you think having a stay-at-home all the little experiences. I argue and fight a A stay-at-home mom gives you a sense mother affects children, both positively lot with my mom, but we also laugh a lot and of security, not to mention healthy food and negatively? are an important part of each other’s lives – and support in everything that you do. we have all the time we need for this! She is actively involved in building and Stay-at- home moms bring up proper and – Ananya Ramesh strengthening the character of her child. disciplined children. They take pains The mother and child develop strong bonds in doing the best for their kids all by I feel that my family has better communication and the child will look to her mother for themselves, but when they do so, the kids than that of one with a working mother since everything. I, for one, much prefer coming grow more dependent. I am reliant on my my mother is around all the time. home to mom than to an empty house! mom for every little thing. – Varun Hariharan – Ananya Ramesh – Ananya Ramesh In terms of lifestyle, a child with a working With a stay at home mom my family gets With a homemaking mother, I get more mother will obviously have more money and a ready-made, trustworthy, loyal, faithful, support and that is the positive aspect. On the luxuries of life will be more. With a non- awesome, free of cost watch-woman, cook, the negative side, there is less privacy and working mother, the child will have moral driver, teacher, advisor and friend who naturally, less free time. and emotional support but limited luxury. requires only love and respect in return! – Varun Hariharan – Sreerangapriya Mukundan – Sreerangapriya Mukundan

78 January - February 2013 Xchange

Grandparents’ Take Your daughter / daughter-in-law is a working will not pose such a big problem. Many people believe that stay-at-home stay-at-home mother. Do you think that – V. Kalyani mothers are ‘wasting’ their educational stay-at-home moms actually do spend qualifications. What do you say? more quality time with their kids than She needn’t be at home all the time. Maybe working mothers? she can do a part time job. Children will also They are not ‘wasting’ their education; it is realise that the mother has to do something just a choice that they have made. However, My daughter is at home when the children for herself too. They don’t have to ‘work’ I guess it is true that non-working mothers are at home – she ensures that she attends but can go for classes like yoga, something are not putting their education and to all the household needs and keeps they really do for themselves. qualifications to good use. everything ready for her two children – Shobana Sampath – R. Sulochana when they come home from school. She is definitely able to spend more time with her Do your grandchildren appreciate the fact One cannot say that housewives are wasting children than a working mother would. that their mother is around all the time, or their education. You have to look at each – R. Sulochana do they find it a bit stifling at times? family and their circumstances. Their education is not wasted just because they Of course! I feel that, in general, stay at The children enjoy the presence of their put their children first! home mothers spend more time with their mother with them all the time as it gives – V. Kalyani children. Working mothers also spend time them moral support and a feeling of security. with their children but somebody else, like a – R. Sulochana Mothers can use their education in raising grandparent, takes the main responsibility for their children well – maybe teach your child the children. However, many housewives who That’s tricky. Children might not want the yourself instead of sending him for tuitions. are at home may not spend quality time with mother around them all the time. They They are not ‘wasting their education’ – children. Working mothers and fathers, on want free time too. Sometimes, the mother they can freelance or work from home and the other hand, will almost certainly spend should also give liberty to the children and do courses from home. quality time with the children when at home. let them do whatever they want to do. – Shobana Sampath – V. Kalyani – Shobana Sampath What benefits do you see for the family I definitely think so. I have experienced Children with stay-at-home mothers in having a stay-at-home mother? this myself, and now see it with my tend to be less independent and self- daughter too. Homemakers can spend good reliant that those with working mothers. The stay-at-home mother is fully involved time with children whenever they want to; What do you think? in the affairs of her children and makes working mothers are tired after work and many important household decisions. can’t spend as much time. I don’t think this is true. Even children with – R. Sulochana – Shobana Sampath stay-at-home mothers are nowadays more independent and confident. Parents interact A stay-at-home mother has more free time Non-working mothers are a result of a with kids in a more open and friendly way and can spend more time with her children. traditional upbringing that believes and children are also more confident and She probably will not need to send her that a mother should be at home for her secure in the presence of their parents. younger children for tuition since she can children. Do you agree or disagree? – R. Sulochana work with them at home. Mothers and children develop a good understanding and I don’t think non-working mothers are a When it comes to independence and learn to communicate well. A stay-at-home result of a traditional or restrictive upbringing responsibility, I don’t think the situation of the mother can do all this; a working mother, because they have responsibilities and equal mother makes much of a difference nowadays. even if she wants to, will not have energy rights in all household activities as well as Children these days go to classes, tuitions, for all this when she gets home from work the children’s activities. Responsibilities and and are used to getting around on their own. as she will be tired. rights are not only about the workplace. They also have more exposure so develop – V. Kalyani – R. Sulochana independence and responsibility in any case. – V. Kalyani The benefits of the non-working mother is Traditionally, mothers do look after children, that she can attend more to the children, so it does not really have to do with This does not depend on whether the husband, cooking activities, etc., keeping upbringing. If the mother is comfortable mother is working or not. It depends on in mind the likes and dislikes of each with the family situation, in terms of how the child is being raised. member of the family. help with her children, support, etc., then – Shobana Sampath – Shobana Sampath

January - February 2013 79 Things to Do

Chennai

Know Your Kid – Parenting Workshop Vipassana Meditation Centre This is a parenting workshop that aims to Contact: IITM Research Park, Kanagam Vipassana is one of India’s most equip you with effective parenting skills. Road, Taramani, Chennai ancient meditation techniques. The The workshop teaches skills that will Ph: 9840927660 word Vipassana means 'seeing things bring about more co-operation from your Email: [email protected] as they really are'. It is the process of children, more than all the yelling and www.mindfresh.in/event/flying- self-purification by self-observation. pleading in the world! elephants-2 Children’s courses are open for all children aged 8-12 years old who Date: 5 January, 2013 Smoke-fire Pottery Workshop wish to learn to meditate. Teenagers’ Time: 8:00am to 5:00pm An 8 day-long workshop where Anapana courses are also conducted participants will make pots, burnish here. Contact: IITM Research Park Kanagam them and fire them. The participants will Road, Taramani, Chennai then decorate their pots with various Date: 17 February, 2013 Ph: 9840927660 resists and smoke-fire them. Once smoke- Time: 8:30am to 5:00pm Email: [email protected] fired, the resists will be removed to reveal decorations where the smoke had Contact: Vipassana Meditation Centre, Flying Elephants touched the pots. ’DhammaSetu’, 533 Pazhanthandalam The Flying Elephants workshop will Road,Thirumudivakkam (Via teach children how the brain works. Age: 12 years and above Thiruneermalai), Chennai Learn creative thinking techniques for Date: 16-21 January, 2013 Ph: 94442-80952/94442-90953 approaching problems in unconventional Time: 10am to 1pm Email: [email protected] ways. Learn how to be rid of personal www.setu.dhamma.org limitations and negative emotions. Contact: DakshinaChitra, East Coast Road, Through fun and thought provoking Muttukadu Chingleput District exercises, you will learn to boost your Ph: 27472603, 24462435 brain power in ways that will amaze you! Email: [email protected] www.dakshinachitra.net Date: 25-28 January, 2013 Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm

Pune

BASF Kids’ Lab number to BASF Kids’ Lab is an interactive chemistry [email protected] education programme that focuses on educating children about the role of Age: 9 to 11 years (5th grade and 6th chemistry in building a sustainable future. grade) Through simple, fun-filled experiments, Date: 11-20 January, 2013 students get to understand the role that chemistry plays in enriching our Contact: BASF India Limited, 1st Floor, daily lives. Students will perform these Vibgyor Towers,Plot No. C - 62, ‘G’ Block, experiments on their own with the help Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai of photo guides and BASF mentors as Ph: 66618000 facilitators. www.india.basf.com/apex/India/India/ en/content/sustainability/sustainability_ To participate, please email your name, KidsLab grade, age, school, parents' name, mobile

80 January - February 2013 Bangalore

Early Language & Communication Jayamahal Extn, More Super Market The cycle repeats through the second Workshop Jayamahal, Bangalore part of the year. The six forms include See your chatterers turn into confident Ph: 9731222620 Contemporary, Bollywood, Western, speakers. This programme will enhance [email protected] Kathak, Kalaripayattu and DanceYoga. This confidence, listening ability, expression www.facebook.com/globetrippers gives children an insight into different and vocabulary. It encourages discussions types of dance forms to help them identify and healthy debates on a variety of issues Colour Palette Institute Of Art the form they like best, and maybe take and trains children to think out of the Offers various drawing & hobby courses for it up seriously later on. A fun-filled, box. children and Camlin Ltd. certifies these exciting, energetic and highly enthusiastic Drawing and Hobby courses. Students will series of classes. Age: 3 to 10 years receive certificate from Camlin Ltd. on Dates: 16 January to 13 March, 2013 course completion. Age: 3 to 15 years Timing: 5pm to 6pm, every Wednesday Date & Time: Monday to Sunday, 4pm to 7pm Age: 4 to 15 years Contact: Think Box Library and Playzone Date & Time: Weekend Classes Contact: No. 681 10th Main Road,4th Anmol Plaza, Above Bank of India, Opp. Block, Koramangala, Bangalore Vignan Nagar Bus Stop, Malleshpalya Near Contact: I Play Island School, 4th Sector, Ph: 25633849/9886759716/9880212072 Bethany High School, Thippasandra HSR layout, Next to Mom & Me, Near Mac Email: [email protected], Ph: 9611755233/080 64569955 Donald Circle - HSR Layout, Bangalore www.krshala.com www.mylittlechatterbox.co.in Ph: 9731985565 www.colourpalette.co.in Travel Season - Globetrippers India Join the globetrippers as their imagination Krshala Dance Theatre travels to four different states of India, Oorja - Creative Dance starting January 2013. Explore the Children in the age group of 3-5 years learn historical aspects, culture, handicrafts, a combination of modern dance, rhythmic artisans, music, and dance forms Kerala, movement and basic dance elements Gujarat, Orissa and our capital, Delhi, picked from a range of Indian, western and through a fun and impressionable contemporary dance forms. Children learn experience. how to move to clapping and percussion instruments, and to the rhythms, phrases Cost: `4000/- and melodies of music and song. Age: 6 to 12 years Date: 12 January to 16 February, 2013 Footloose – Mixed Group A combination class where six different Contact: HIDE and PEEK 102/7, 1ST Main, forms are taught over a period of six months, with a different form each month.

Hyderabad

Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) events for college students and school Contact: Maulana Azad National Urdu 2013 children. Special programmes will be University, Gachibowli, Hyderabad The Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) organised on 19 January, 2013 for Ph: 9848345490/40159613 is an annual event that celebrates school children, which will keep them www.hyderabadliteraryfestival.com creativity in all its forms. It draws over engaged and entralled for the whole Email: [email protected], a hundred writers, artists, scholars day. [email protected] and publishers from India and abroad each year. Its programme includes Date: 18-20 January, 2013 conversations with authors, readings, Time: Starts at 9.30am on the 18th of January panel discussions, workshops, book and continues till 20th January 4.30pm launches, cultural programmes and

January - February 2013 81 New Delhi

Ben10 Live - Time Machine Watch an international entertainment Average Fees: `600-700/course extravaganza - Cartoon Network's BEN10 Age: 9 to 14 years LIVE: TIME MACHINE. Featuring the Date & Time: Monday - Saturday, 2.5 hour number one superstar himself, Ben class 11.30am to 1.00pm Tennyson, his cousin Gwen and Grandpa Max, this action-packed show also Contact: C-632 Sushant Lok-I, New Delhi includes Ben's alien heroes Four Arms, Ph: 2577264/9811236567 Diamondhead, Swampfire, and Big Chill. Email: [email protected] www.rupaliscookery.com Age: 2 to 14 years Date: 30 January to 3 February, 2013 Kids’ Gallery Time: Shows at 10:30am, 1:30pm, 4:00pm, Kids’ Gallery was founded in Hong Kong 6:30pm in 1996 as a unique concept in arts Ticket Price: `500 - 2500 enrichment education for children. Today, Kids’ Gallery operates centres in Hong Contact: August Kranti Marg, Siri Fort Road Kong, China, Singapore and India. At Kids’ Ph: 7838453000 - Mr. Akshat Singh Gallery, the aim is to create awareness of and arouse interest in the arts among Simi Sahnan's Theatre Group children of all ages, and to develop a The director, and theatre teacher from solid foundation of creativity and arts England, Ms. Simi Sahnan works personally appreciation, through a wide range of arts with every child. A personality assessment enrichment programmes. is done, with the target being to maximise the potential that the individual can Age: 2 to 8 years reach by teaching him/her personality Date & Time: Monday - Saturday, developemt, leadership skills, confidence 10.15am to 5.45pm building and communication skills. Contact: 60, Vasant Marg Ground Floor, Average Fees: `3500 Vasant Vihar, New Delhi Age: 9 to 14 years Ph: 66579134 Date & Time: Holidays - 11:30am to 1pm; Email: [email protected] Monday to Friday 4pm to 7pm www.kidsgallery.com/newdelhi/en_index.php

Contact: E 375, Greater Kailash 2, New Delhi Sharp Academy Of Fine Arts Ph: 66579001 Sharp Academy of Fine Arts is organising Email: [email protected] a roadshow of painting exhibits, to www.facebook.com/ encourage awareness and knowledgeof the SimiSahnansTheatreGroup?ref=hl Arts.

Rupali’s Cookery Classes Age: 4 to 15 years Rupali’s Cake Craft & Culinary Arts, is Date & Time: 6 Days a week; 4pm to 9pm the centre of Rupali’s Epicurean Cookery School, where you learn classic and Contact: 304, Krishna Mall, Sector 12 creative cookery in a professional but Dwarka, Plot 5, Pocket 2 Near Ayushman informal atmosphere. Hospital, New Delhi Ph: 66579134 Rupali’s practical, fun and informal Email: [email protected] approach makes the learning process www.sharpinstituteofartandcraft.blogspot.com simple and enjoyable and goes a long way in discovering the great cook in you. The Classes here have inspired thousands of young aspirants into cooking and also turned several into expert cooks.

82 January - February 2013 Mumbai

Colour Crates Graphic Design For Kids Contact: Opposite Byculla Railway At Colour Crates you are the taught basics Graphic Design for Kids is a programme Babasaheb Ambedkar Road, Byculla, Next and then guided to explore colour and that will open the doors to your child’s to The Byculla Zoo, Mumbai design yourself. Artistic concepts are natural creativity through visual design. Ph: 23712781 based on actual touch and feel. You can Each lesson will challenge children to Email: [email protected] do research work on artistic subjects, think innovatively and create designs with www.mymusicgym.com study different cultures and discover new brilliant, fresh ideas. perspectives. The programme also offers Barry John Acting Studio toddlers’ pre-interviews, training, coaching Through different art and design activities Participants will be engaged in directed for government recognised art certified they will learn the following : activities based on the Barry John elementary and intermediate drawing method – the students create the exams. Courses can be customised and do • Fundamentals of Graphic Design drama. Daily warm-ups, group and not require an artistic background. • Art of thinking creatively individual exercises and improvisations • Effective communication of ideas get the kids in touch with themselves, Age: For children, and adults upto 60 years • To approach assignments with creative each other and their home, school and Days: Monday to Saturday solutions neighbourhood environment. Students Time: 10.30am to 7.30pm • To critically analyse one’s own work learn observation, character development, • Improving school presentations acting techniques and scriptwriting, Contact: Shop No:5, Ground Floor, Swarup • Discovering design softwares working together to make real drama from Building Kemps Corner, Opp. The Shalimar their own life experiences. The Summer Hotel, Mumbai Age: 8 to 15 years Theatre Workshop culminates in a final Ph: 61245865 Date: 5 January to 27 April, 2013 performance at a theatre venue. Email: [email protected] Time: 8-11 years: 11am to 12pm; www.colourcrates.com 11-15 years: 12pm to 1pm Age: 4 to 60 years Date & Time: Monday - Friday, Inter Schools Premier League (ISPL Contact: C/o Jetha Properties Pvt.Ltd.Jetha 9.30am - 5.00pm 2013) - The Sports Gurukul Compound, 1st Floor, Dr. B. Ambedkar Road Inter Schools Premier League (ISPL 2013) Opp. Nirmal Park, Mumbai Contact: 301, Nanak Chambers, New organised by the Sports Gurukul is a Email:[email protected] Link Road Andheri (West), Opposite Fun special platform for schools to showcase Republic, Mumbai their skills in cricket, to recognise the best My Music Gym Ph: 9967977967/9967977966 talents and encourage fair play and team Music Together is an early-childhood music www.imagoindia.com/bjas spirit. and movement programme for children upto 12 years old, and their parents. The best school gets a chance to be trained Music Together classes are based on the under Mr. Balwinder Sandhu, part of the recognition that all children are musical. 1983 World Cup Cricket winning team. All children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat and participate with confidence in Age: 6 to 16 years musical activities, provided that their early Date: 3-21 January, 2013 environment supports such learning. Music learning also supports cognitive, language Contact: Stree Mandal Santacruz, Tagore and physical development. Road, Behind Asha Parekh Hospital, Santacruz West, Mumbai Age: upto 12 years Ph: 9322181849/9833313108 Date: Monday- Saturday, 9:30am to 7pm Email: [email protected] www.kshitijworld.com

January - February 2013 83 Places to See Road Trips from your City

Road trips – the very word conjures up images of long and scenic drives in the comfort of your car, an adventure that is not so much about the destination, but the journey itself! So run your eye over some of the road trips that we recommend for the next time you have a family vacation and want to get behind the wheel of your car.

84 January - February 2013 Bangalore to Kanyakumari (650 km) destination. Ghum is famous for Tiger’s Hyderabad to Pondicherry (780 km) A visit to Kanyakumari, the southern-most Hill, a spot that provides a spectacular Beaches, temples, pilgrimage and good point of India, where the Bay of Bengal, view of Kanchenjunga and Mt Everest. The food. And that’s not the destination - Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean meet, is monasteries in Ghum are also well worth we’re talking about the drive to get there! well worth the drive from Bangalore to a visit. To get to Pondicherry, you drive through get here. A drive on NH7 can make for Tamil Nadu, a state that’s bursting with an interesting history lesson as well. En Delhi to Amritsar (460 km) life – drive through Chennai and stop route, make a quick stop in the temple Apart from the attraction of culture-filled over at Mahabalipuram. Resuming your city of Madurai, and stretch your legs Amritsar, this drive also introduces you to drive with the beach for company, enter in the vast Meenakshi temple complex a host of other delightful towns such as Pondicherry. And you will feel that you there. Rameshwaram, an important Hindu Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Panipat, Karnal and have entered a completely different pilgrimage centre, is another small island- Kurukshetra. Use this opportunity to visit country! Explore the warren of cobbled town that merits a visit. The town boasts the land of the Mahabharata and make streets and winding roads á la France of a famous Jyotirlinga Shiva temple and a quick stop at Kurukshetra to visit its and try to pronounce the names of all is also the scene of an important passage museums of mythology. In Amritsar itself, the ‘Rues’ there. The cuisine is delectable from the Ramayana. shed a tear for the innocents massacred and the place retains its old world charm. at the Jallianwala Bagh, and then take in Also visit the Mother’s Shrine, Auroville While the beach in Kanyakumari may be the breathtaking vision that is the Golden and the myriad of handmade paper shops. nothing to write home about, be sure to Temple. This temple draws in thousands of Finally, unwind on the golden beaches visit the Vivekananda Rock and check out visitors, tourists and devotees of varying before heading back. the Kanyakumari temple with its glittering faiths each day and binds them together goddess. A must-visit gem is the famous with a communal lunch. Round off your trip Mumbai to Goa (600kms) Suchindram temple about 11kms away, by driving another 30 minutes to visit the This surely has to be the one of the dedicated to the Hindu Triumvirate. Indo-Pak Wagah border. most scenic and romantic drives in India – stretching all the way along the Kolkata to Darjeeling (630 km) Chennai to Kochi (680 km) beautiful and lush Konkan coast. The A character in a book by Satyajit Ray While you’re spending some long hours on condition of the road is not very good, once said, “It may only be an accident the road for this trip, you are traversing but once you take in the beauty en of geography, but can you think of any the whole of South India between the route, rest assured that no one will gripe other state that has lush green farmland, eastern and western coasts. Kochi is not about the potholes! Stop over at the dry and arid areas, a forest like the only famous for its stunning beaches Karnala Bird Sanctuary, boasting over Sunderbans, huge rivers like the Ganga, but also for its backwaters, the famous 150 species of birds that migrate here Padma and Meghna, an ocean at its Jew Town with its historical artifacts for the winter. Forts in Ratnagiri and bottom and the Himalayas at its top?” and curios, and delicious food! Places the Koyna Dam in Chiplun, surrounded Discover elements of this wondrous state of interest en route include Salem, by rich greenery – all this and more as on a drive from Kolkata to Darjeeling. The Coimbatore, Kanchipuram and Palakkad. you wend your way to Goa. When you most direct route for the car journey is Visit landmark temples in Kanchipuram, finally reach your destination, you will straight north on NH34/31; the route will a region that has endured the Cholas, like nothing better than to relax and take you along the border of India and Pallavas, Carnatic Rulers and even the unwind on the beautiful white beaches, Bangladesh, allowing you glimpses of the British rulers. Palakkad, the ‘Gateway to eat good food and enjoy the old-world landscape in both countries. Be sure to Kerala’, has a rich heritage of carnatic charm of the city. visit Ghum, about 6kms away from your music and good food.

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