Today my father told me that the owner of the shop where my father buys yarn was interested in meeting me. I consented to meet him. At 5pm, an omnivan packed with people stopped in my front of my house. 8 children and their parents, all from the family of shop-owner, alighted from the omni van and I was taken aback to see a mini village coming to meet me. They congratulated me and said they had brought their children so that they would feel motivated. The children belonged to different age groups ranging from 3rd standard to engineering. I asked them what they would like to become. I got wide-ranging replies like doctors, teachers, engineers, collector etc. I usually don’t thrust anything on anyone. But the children were highly inquisitive this time. They asked a few questions for which I replied. Then the parents of the children asked what they should do to bring up their children well and were curious to know what my parents did to me. I just told though my parents have completed just 10th standard, they are quite understanding, have faith in me and never questioned any of my decisions. Also I told the following points, - Keep the curiosity of the children alive - Never give any pressure to them - Don’t worry about your children’s marks too much - Parents should learn and update themselves continuously to teach their children. Don’t rely on the school teachers alone. - Don’t make the children feel subjects are burden - Relate whatever they see outside with the subjects like relating blue sky with Raman Effect , green leaves with photosynthesis etc. - Please don’t watch mega serials at home as it deprives the positive atmosphere. - You also become like children - Take your children to local library - Start story telling sessions among the children. Let each child read a story and share it with others. This would improve the creativity of children. - Let the children choose whatever time they are comfortable with to read. Don’t force them to get up in the early morning to study. - Let the children exercise in the morning. - Provide them a good learning environment - Help the children set a goal after finding out their interest - Tell them as many success stories you have come across/read. - Keep giving information and motivation to children after setting the goal. - Speak the language of children. I was happy to see the parents asking what they should do instead of shirking their responsibility and thrusting everything on their children. (Disclaimer – My posts are not intended to blow my own trumpet. Messages may be filtered to get the essence or may be discarded. The biggest challenge after success is shutting up about it. -Criss Jami)
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 16:14:10 +0000