July-August 2017
Vol 7 - Issue 1 - `100
Which Ones are Your Child’s?
Identify and Develop Them! Pg 8
College Life – What you and your teenager MUST know! Pg 36
PARENT & CHILD
ActivityEdge
VEDIC MATHS TECHNIQUES FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO TRY TOGETHER Pg 40
Pg 28
Lifeskills through fun, family games– Being proactive not reactive Pg 22 Children and Theatre Pg 42 Is boarding school the right option for YOUR child Pg 32
Cover Story
Types of
Intelligence –
WHICH ONES ARE YOUR CHILD’S?
Identify and Develop Them!
8
July - August 2017
Cover Story
There is a school of thought that Howard Gardner’s theory is inspired by Shri Aurobindo’s thoughts and philosophy outlined in his work ‘Planes and Parts of the Being’.
Dr. Howard Gardner, professor of Cognition and Education at Harvard University described various kinds of intelligences in his Theory of Multiple Intelligences in 1983. He suggested that intelligence could not be seen as single entity; in fact, it manifests in a number of different ways. So a person strong in one kind of intelligence may not necessarily be equally skilled in another. Gardner specified eight dif ferent intelligences, but he does caution us against categorising people strictly — these are not watertight compartments and each person possesses a unique blend of these. Multiple Intelligences should be used to empower and enrich learning and not classify children into what they can or cannot do. In this article, we will explore the different intelligences and describe the signs that could indicate that your child is strong in a certain kind of intelligence. We will follow that up with tips to hone that intelligence, and its application to learning.
July - August 2017
9
Everyday Parenting
LIFESKILLS THROUGH
games – BE PROACTIVE RATHER THAN REACTIVE
22
July - August 2017
Spotlight
Listening to
Children Dr. Jaishri Ramakrishnan is a consultant psychologist with over three decades of experience. She has conducted several seminars, workshops and training programmes on parenting, handling children with special needs, and stress management. In my clinical practice, I come across many instances where I feel that if adults had listenend well in the first place, the situation with the child would not have snowballed into a ‘problem that needs professional counselling’. Any adult, be it a parent or a teacher, should develop the abiity to listen. Good listening leads to the adult developing empathy and understanding with children, helping to negotiate and defuse even difficult situations.
28
July - August 2017
Parent-Child ActivityEdge
Fun
Numbers Saji Raghav is Founder - Director of VMAT math learning programme. He conducts television shows, seminars, and workshops for schools and colleges across India. Mathematics is considered as a nonstimulating and boring subject. Despite technology aids and innovation in teaching methods, there is not much change in the attitude of students or in the general perception about the subject. As a teacher, I feel one of the major reasons for this deep-rooted belief is the way we adults deal with the subject. From the time that a child is four or five years old, we try to stuff his/her head with math facts (for example, in the form of multiplication tables). While a few of them cope with this approach, majority of children find it extremely difficult to recall facts, and this makes them feel they are not good at Maths. In my teaching career, I have also found that students’ mental maths skills are extremely poor and there is a common tendency among them to reach out for a calculator or use pen and paper for each and every simple calculation that they need to do.
40
July - August 2017
For about 10 years, I have been teaching Vedic mathematics along with school maths. I was completely awed by the ancient Indian wisdom in this approach. Here is how Vedic mathematics can help children: • Using Vedic mathematics, a student need not memorize any multiplication table above 5. • As the student learns more techniques, he will be able to do even complicated calculations mentally. • The ability to do mental calculations quickly will be a significant advantage when the child takes competitive exams. • Practice in these techniques boosts the confidence level of children to a great degree and they fall in love with the Math in no time.
Pursuits and Passions
CHILDREN
Theatre India has a rich theatrical tradition. Sanskrit dramas such as Abhignanasakuntala by Kalidasa share the limelight with theatre forms such as Koodiyattam from Kerala and Yakshagana from Karnataka, not to mention the shadow and puppetry theatre in folk art. Indian theatre has always been rich in imagery, music and narration and close to people’s lives, with performances often staged in places of worship. However, in the recent past, urban India has largely lost touch with this versatile art – we have become spectators rather than practitioners. Many are the benefits of being involved in theatre for children. Read on.
42
July - August 2017
Book Reviews
Books for
Children 3- 6 years Book: We are different Author: Ramendra Kumar Illustrator: Partha Sengupta Publisher: National Book Trust
This is a tale about friendship, and how it survives differences. A difficult concept for kids to grasp, it is made easy by the simple and relatable manner in which the story is told. The story is especially relevant for young children who are in playschool and may be facing similar issues – how to get along with other children who are different from you. The story has a lovely moral on how we can all live in harmony despite being different. In fact, we can use our differences as strength and help one another out. This is a book that can lead to a lot of discussions with your little one on friendship, living in a community, etc. The story is well complemented with some colourful illustrations. – Kritika Srinivasan
7-10 years Book: Angry River Author: Ruskin Bond Illustrator: Archana Sreenivasan Publisher: Rupa Publications When it comes to writing about the hills, the trees, and man and his run-in with nature, no one does it better than Bond! If you have experienced nature’s fury, you will relate to Angry River. The story revolves around Sita who lives along with her grandparents on a small island that lies in the middle of a big river. Once during the rainy season, Sita’s grandmother falls ill and has to be taken to the hospital in the mainland by her grandfather, while Sita is left to fend for herself on the island. What follows is a heart-warming story about a little girl’s survival in the face of nature’s extremities! Besides the plot itself, what is captivating is Ruskin Bond’s brilliant narrative, detailing every nuance of Sita’s experience, delving into her mind and beautifully describing what she sees and how she feels – his words transport the reader into her world and makes it appear as if it were the reader and not Sita who is braving the angry river. A story of will-power, hope, lasting friendship and love for nature that makes a delightful monsoon read!
48
July - August 2017