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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 HabitsRoad Trips from your City

Write to us at [email protected]

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 with information for parents about what are the options available on the internet in the field of education.

Madhukar Wakade, Bangalore

It’s a good magazine with articles related to children, which are useful for parents and teachers, to know how to handle them. And over all its nice magazine.

K.Tamilselvi, Madurai

It’s a good magazine with a lot of interesting topics for parents; I have read a couple of your issues, which are amazing.

Mohan Pandit, Pune

It’s a good magazine with lots of information regarding children for parents. The article on how to encourage children to read is very useful for parents as it helps them to know how to make them read. Overall good.

Prajitha Kulkarni, NES International School Librarian- Mumbai

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

It’s a good magazine and informative, with lot of information regarding children, which helps parents to know what is best for their kids regarding schools, food, clothes, college etc..

Leeba Thomas, Delhi

I find the magazine very impressive and beneficial to parents, especially with regard to health-related topics. I feel it’s a good magazine, very attractive and covers intelligent topics. I like it.

Nirmala Pandit, One of the Founder Members of the Madras Dyslexic Association

I guess I am paranoid over somethings that I feel are unique between me and my 4 year old, who thinks she is 25! But again, I guess it's every Mom's story....! 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 Parent Edge for being there....!!! Kudos!!

Bhagirathi Panchal, Bangalore

Hello ReadersAnd 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

Please e-mail your feedback on this issue and suggestions for upcoming issues to [email protected]

This issue’s Student Editor - Sahana Venugopal Sahana Venugopal is a 16-year old Grade 10 student in Chettinad Hari Shree Vidyalayam, Chennai. She is an aspiring writer who has self-published a teen horror novel, "I Watched you Die". Sahana loves watching 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 Kalaripayattu, a martial art-form from Kerala. Sahana is passionate about debating and travelling and can get pulled into a book’s alternative reality no matter where she is!

EditorKritika Srinivasan

Editorial TeamGayatri Kulkarni

Ramya GSahana Venugopal (Student Editor)

Art DeskChalukyan

Jinin MukundhanRaghavan Ravi

PublisherPrayag Consulting

Prayag Consulting Pvt. LtdJaya Kumar (Chairman & Co-Founder)

Sudha Kumar (CEO)

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Cover PhotoYadhunandhan Prabhu

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Team

Nirmala Sankaran is the co-founder of Heymath!, a curriculum based online programme that builds a solid foundation in Mathematics through world class teaching methodologies and rigorous assessments. HeyMath! has successfully impacted over half a million students in over 50 countries since 2000.

Prab Singh heads CollegeSource, an organisation that provides life coaching to adolescents and support to their family through the process of deciding their higher education and career goals.

Meena Sivaraman is an early childhood development specialist. With rich experience in the holistic enrichment of children’s intellect during their formative years, Meena is a firm believer in involved, hands-on parenting. She is very well read on topics related to parenting and child development.

Sridhar Ramanathan is the Founder of IDEAS-RS where he is also a Strategic Innovation Coach. Sridhar’s mission in life is “to help those who want to do things better and differently”. His work involves conducting creative problem solving workshops for clients, and buidling competencies in creativity and innovation.

Thomas Bunchman is the founder of JumpBunch, Inc., a leading sports and fitness programme for children. He has over 14 years of experience in creating a curriculum focused on the development of body balance, motor skills, and eye/hand coordination skills for children in the age group 15 months to 12 years. Thomas strongly believes that physical activity

can boost academic performance, and promote healthier lifestyles.

Sulata Shenoy is a child and adolescent psychologist. A Ph.D in Psychology, she has worked as a psychologist at a number of hospitals in Bangalore. She is the Director of Turning Point Centre for Guidance, which specialises in psychological assessments and therapies for children and adults. She also conducts workshops for parents, children and teachers.

Jyoti Swaroop is an educational consultant who works with Ratna Sagar Publishing. Jyoti interacts extensively with schools across India on many topics including the interpretation of the recently introduced Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation. She is also associated with a career guidance organisation for school students. Jyoti has authored several English

Language text books for many leading publishers.

Swati Popat Vats is President of Podar Education Network. An educator, educational activist and teaching expert, Swati Popat Vats also writes parenting columns in leading newspapers and magazines and has authored more than 13 books for children, parents and teachers. She is the President of the Early Childhood Association of India, the National Representative for

the World Forum on Early Childhood Education and Leader-Asia for the Nature Action Collaborative For Children.

Jaishri Ramakrishnan is a consultant psychologist associated with Billroth Hospitals and two leading schools in Bangalore and Chennai. She has over three decades of experience in handling children with special needs. Jaishri has conducted several seminars, workshops and training programmes on Parenting, Handling children with Special Needs and Stress

Management. She writes regularly for ‘The Hindu’ and ‘Times Of India’. In addition, Jaishree is associated with multiple NGOs in Chennai.

Panel of Experts

Intent of the magazine

Learning is a continuous process, and needs to happen both in and outside of school; thus parents have an important role to play in shaping their children’s future. ParentEdge aims to expose parents to global trends in learning and partner with them in the intellectual enrichment of their children.

Cover StoryRaising Well-Mannered Children

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

Building BlocksThe Big I: Preparing for Primary School Interviews

Hobby HorseHand-Made Textured Paper

Different StrokesDyscalculia: Connecting the Dots

Deep Dive Kids!The Food Story

Education across the SeasUndergraduate Studies: Destination Singapore

InfocacheSocial Networking Sites with Educational Value

Tips, Tricks & To-Do ListsInculcating Good Study Habits

ScrumptiousCheesy Treats

Cross RoadsPreparing for College: A Checklist

An Apple a DayTips for a Healthy Lifestyle: Interview with Anupama Menon

Pursuits and PassionsChildren and Gardening

BookwormChildren’s Books by Indian AuthorsParenting Books by Indian Authors

XchangeWorking versus Stay-at-Home Moms

What’s Happening?Things to Do, Places to See

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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....

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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?

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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.

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“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

“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

“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

Q: What do you consider good manners?

Youngsters are equally clear on the pivotal role that manners play in their lives. Arun Narasimhan, a 10th grader in Cambridge Public School, Bangalore, points out that manners are important in every sphere of life, including a student’s interactions. “If I am interacting with someone – an eminent personality, a teacher – I need to talk to

him in a socially acceptable manner. I may be a great student and topper, but if my mannerisms are flawed, people are less likely to listen to me, let alone accept what I’m saying,” says Narasimhan. He goes on to matter-of-factly state that “manners include attributes like punctuality and appropriate dressing – attributes that are important in the professional world as well.”

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An important aspect of being well-mannered is how children behave around their social ‘inferiors’, like the domestic help, the watchmen, and the road cleaners. “Manners are about your interactions, how you respond to others, regardless of who that person is – someone at the cash counter, someone cleaning a table at a restaurant, a colleague or a friend.”

– Sumanth Chandrashekar, Singapore, two children

The evolution of manners

While our interviewees pretty much concurred on what good manners constitute, they were equally clear that what was true for previous generations is not necessarily the norm with the youth of today. But most people do not believe that this is a bad thing, pointing instead to the level of openness, understanding and communication that exists within families and between friends nowadays.

“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

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“Practising good manners of any kind – wishing others, waiting in a queue, respecting others’ opinions – all these need to explained and practised many times at home before the child adopts them in a social setting.”

– Priti Rao, Principal, Pumpkin Patch

“A child learns good manners more easily when ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ are a part of daily life. Show respect for others. Parents who regularly put down others are teaching their children that other people are not important. If you want your child to respect others, then respect your child. Encourage all family members to treat each other with respect.”

– Monika Basra, UK, one daughter

toddler who hears only soft, compassionate voices and kind and respectful words will grow up to be a considerate adult, empathetic and considerate herself. On the other hand, a child who hears foul language at home or hears her parents talking rudely about the people around them will probably grow up feeling that it is perfectly acceptable to be deprecatory about others and uncaring of their feelings.

“Don’t worry that your children never listen to you,” said the American author Robert Fulghum, “worry that they are always watching you.” And indeed, your child is observing your every interaction – with your neighbours, with your extended family and friends, and with your domestic help. And she will imitate you.

So when do you actively start teaching the child what is acceptable and what is not? Subramaniam makes an interesting point – “I think teaching manners starts as early as when the baby becomes aware of her surroundings, maybe when she starts moving around when she is six to eight months old. This is when you make the child aware that everything cannot be touched and there is a limit to her exploration. This sort of sets the boundaries and the baby eventually understands that overstepping them is not acceptable. This, according to me, later translates into respecting spaces and boundaries set by others. A child who is allowed to do as she pleases may later have issues adjusting to rules and regulations set by society.”

Here are some pointers to keep in mind:

• Teaching manners is often the first step in teaching children to think beyond themselves.

• The process of ‘teaching’ manners is continuous.

• Be persistent and consistent. Repeat the ‘magic words’ a number of times every day, around every interaction. Make it a part of everyone's behaviour.

• Provide plenty of positive feedback. Don’t be miserly about complimenting your child when she demonstrates good behaviour.

• Try sticker charts to reinforce positive behaviour, with the child earning a sticker each time she says "thank you", "please", "sorry", etc.

• Have a consequence (not a punishment) for inappropriate behaviour, such as not taking your child to a party because she behaved badly at an earlier one. Once children realise that bad manners have certain unpleasant consequences, they will avoid those behaviours.

• While modelling the appropriate and looked-for behaviour is the most obvious way in which to do it, constant communication with your child is also key, where you counsel her continuously (note: counsel, not nag!).

• If your child refuses to greet people, don’t force the issue. And correcting or admonishing her in front of others is a definite no-no. Later, when the two


of you are alone, you can tell her that you would have appreciated better behaviour.

• Point out and appreciate good manners in others. This does not imply that you compare your child with other children. Instead of, “See how nicely she wished me? Can’t you be like that?” say, “Don’t you think it’s really nice when a child wishes an older person nicely? Mama felt very happy when that girl said hello to me.”

• I-messages, introduced by Thomas Gordon in his book ‘P.E.T.: Parent Effectiveness Training’, focus on the feelings and beliefs of the speaker, as opposed to a you-message that focuses on the listener. I-messages can be an effective way to correct a child without making her feel defensive about what she did. For example, instead of saying, “You are so impolite to people who visit us”, try saying, kindly, “I am not able to understand the reason behind your behaviour. Could you explain it to me?”

Basra has an interesting viewpoint on how the role of the parent is so much more than just encouraging the child and approving of everything she does. According to her, a parent also needs to know when to be firm and authoritative. “Unfortunately, too many of today’s parents are under the impression that they have to be their child’s ‘best friend!’ Apparently, to do otherwise would harm the parent-child relationship. Gone are the days when the parent was considered a figure of authority, disciplinarian, and role model for a child. Nowadays, families are ruled by overbearing, insufferable and bossy children who don’t understand the word ‘No.’ Parents need to realise that their desire to become their child's best friend may actually cause all manner of harm to her. A parent can be both – an effective disciplinarian and a loving parent. Please take some time to analyse what kind of relationship you have with your child. Are you the head of the family, or has your child taken over that role? Has your child become the entire focus of the family, at the expense of other family members? If you are uncomfortable answering these

What is your opinion about today’s youth? Do you consider them well-mannered or impolite?

“Youngsters today are extremely polite and understanding. My 86-year old father once had a fall in the bank. A number of youngsters gathered there, helped him and saw that he was safely escorted back to his car. They always see a grandfather, a father, an uncle, an aunt or a mother in the old. They may be a little brash sometimes, but they tide over that phase soon enough.” - Geeta Gangadharan

Good manners are not the sole province of the older generation! We have a way of getting nostalgic about ‘the good old days’. I find children nowadays more open, and if we are genuinely interested in them, they interact well. I do not consider them ill-mannered, merely open and frank.” - Prabha Kudva

“As adults, we think that children should come and talk to us – that is our conditioning. But if you talk to them, engage with them and treat them as equals, you will find that the kids today are so nice, willing to talk and interact. They have the confidence to hold their own in a conversation and share thoughts.”– Kesang Menezes, Founder, Parenting Matters

Amrita Pai is a Mumbai-based Editorial Consultant and mother of two.

“Who would you like as your son: Horrid Henry or Peter?” my elder daughter asked her sister during one of their Mother-Father-Baby games.“I want a son just like Peter” piped up my younger daughter, “because he does not tell lies or hit others. He is good, listens to mummy and daddy, always says please and thank you, waits for his turn, and …….”

I listened to her extolling his virtues. So Peter, an animated character, is a great kid. In real life though, finding Peters can be a daunting task, let alone raising them. Ask me! Mother to a four-year old who speaks her mind, often unsolicited, and a six-year old who prefers not to say too much, I worry about whether I’m doing my bit in raising well-mannered children.

Been there, felt that? So where does one start? I’d suggest, with oneself.

You may have heard that the acorn does not fall far from the tree. It’s true, especially since parents are the first people children observe, learn from, and imitate. So we need to buck up as role models and set good examples.

I remember the day my husband was driving us back from a birthday party in a Mumbai suburb. Stuck in bumper-to-bumper weekend traffic,

Viewpoints: The Parent as a Role Model

questions, perhaps it is time for you to take back control. There will be time enough to be your child’s best friend when she grows up. Until then, be the best parent you can be. Your child is depending on you to lead her, to set boundaries for her and to stand by your decisions.”

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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.

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Tips from our parent respondents

“Acknowledge that your children tend to live up to your expectations. If you say ‘my daughter always forgets to tell me things’, she will. Call your daughter ‘lazy’ and laziness will follow her. But treat your children with respect, and they will reciprocate by behaving in a respectful manner.” – Monica Basra

“With older children, to the extent that you have control over the peer groups they are a part of, try to ensure that they choose peers who value good manners.” – Satish Bhat, USA, two children

“If you have more than one child, you can use the ‘sibling’ weapon with your older child. I tell my son, ‘your younger sister is watching you.’ When he feels that he is a role model for someone else who looks upto him, he automatically becomes more careful about what he says or does.” – Sumanth Chandrashekar

Children do have difficulty with certain social skills, so you can try practising with them! A young father was worried that his five-year old was being aloof and withdrawn with visitors. He started practising social skills with her, actually role-playing different people and asking her to greet him nicely, look him in the eye when speaking and address him politely. Within a month, the child was comfortable enough to greet all visitors and answer them clearly, so much so that they commented on her new-found confidence and blossoming maturity!

‘Schooling’ children

The school does play a role in inculcating good manners in a child, albeit much smaller. As Deivanai Vellayappan, Principal of Hari Shree Vidyalayam, Chennai remarks, “School can only create opportunities for children to learn in new environments, but the actual learning and imbibing of the values have to come from home.” She details the manner in which a school can ensure that its students imbibe these right values. • Even as we exhort parents to be good

role models to their children, teachers have to take over at school.

• Schools can create opportunities that give children exposure beyond what books teach them. An example would be teaching children to work for the betterment of their community – most schools do have some kind of Social Work programme, and this can go a long way in teaching children to be considerate and respectful of all strata of society.



workshops in a variety of settings — homes, schools, resources centres and corporates. This is what she has to say:

“When a parent says to me that she wants her child to be well-mannered, I recoil. My first reaction is that manners are not something that you can teach – these are something that children learn from experiences. If your child is not speaking respectfully, you have to see why not. It comes down to role models. We, as adults, need to first reflect on the fact that we demand things of children that we ourselves do not practise. Very often a parent believes that children should be obedient and respectful to adults, but they themselves are not deserving of respect! I firmly believe that if children are treated respectfully and see respect in their environment, then that is the only way they know of relating to others.

Older generations were well-mannered because we grew up in fairly authoritarian family structures – touching the feet of our elders, not talking much…. we were a little less questioning and a lot more fearful! But today, we are bringing up our children to think for themselves, and we have to understand that they are not going to do something just because they are told to do it.

I most emphatically would not put down any prescriptive dos and don’ts in teaching children to be well-mannered. Instead, I ask every parent to reflect on these questions and suggestions:

• What am I expecting from my child –

Schools should also carefully observe children who show extreme behaviour and step in to recommend to parents that they be 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.”

Priti Rao, Owner and Director of Pumpkin Patch, an organisation that runs a pre-primary school and multiple childcare centres, has some practical recommendations for teachers and schools:

• Greet each child as she enters.• Display posters that list good manners.• Reinforce good behaviour by awarding

stars on a chart.• Teach and model a respectful

vocabulary.• Use role play and puppets to reinforce

positive behaviour.• Have the children practice a particular

good behaviour each week; for example, raising their hands to receive permission to speak. Role-play it, reinforce it, and review the last behaviour before adding on a new one.

The man in the mirror

Many psychologists and behavioural theorists today point out that the manners of the child are not what we should be focusing on. The way in which a child behaves or treats people around her is an outcome of more deep-rooted factors which merit study. In essence, we should not be worrying about the fact that “my child is rude and disrespectful” but rather try to understand “why is my child behaving in this manner?”

Kesang Menezes is one of the founder-members of Parenting Matters, a volunteer-run organisation based on the Montessori philosophy, which provides forums for parents to learn, share their experiences and grow together. For the past eight years, she has been facilitating parenting groups and

Aparna Karthikeyan, Chennai, is the mother of a lovely, opinionated teenager, Lasya. When she's not boring her daughter with stories from her 'perfect' childhood, she writes features for a newspaper.

How often have you wished you could walk up to the parents of screaming, kicking children in airport lounges and ask if they could please do something to restore peace and quiet? How many times have you looked daggers at parents whose children are climbing over your sofa and doing a Da Vinci on your walls? And haven’t you wondered how those parents behaved at home themselves? I confess I have, and often — because when the child is younger, there’s no denying that it’s the parents and caregivers who make the biggest impact on their little lives. Children learn by imitating the adults around them; in their eyes, parents can simply do no wrong.

And that is probably why having a good parent role model is so essential; after all, you live in the same house, are around 24/7 in the early, impressionable years, and, in any case, when the child is little, she fairly worships you. It could also explain why children of tardy parents grow up thinking it’s perfectly fine to walk into parties late; freely swearing children are often from freely swearing households; and parents who jump queues in public and argue fiercely with parking attendants send their children the subtle message

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that ‘it’s ok to be rude, just as long as you get your way’.

I’ve learnt from experience that the early years are the best time to lay the foundations for the please’s and thank-you’s, for gathering limbs when someone older walks into the room, for the little courtesies to strangers. But then, teenage creeps in. And the rules of the game change. You’re no longer the most important person in your child’s life. And you begin to wonder if your voice is audible at all, in the middle of all that ‘noise’ that a child contends with…

For instance, my daughter — now a lovely, opinionated teenager — gets status updates from the four corners of the globe approximately three minutes after she wakes up, she’s often mouthing lyrics by song-writers whose lifestyles I will never approve, and she’s under tremendous pressure from her peers to act ‘cool’. Where, then, does my influence start and end? Does it begin when I harangue her to clean her room (‘because I was always so tidy’), finish whatever is on the plate (‘I was not at all a fussy-eater’) or yell at her to get off the phone (‘in my time, there were no mobile-phones, and we did just fine’) Or is that where the role model buck stops?

There are no easy answers, because this particular conundrum creates as many questions as it answers. Are you, for instance, a good role model only when you ‘teach’ and ‘lead by example’? Maybe when they're older, we should let them be, give them the space to grow and just see that they don’t step out of line?

I’m learning everyday – from other parents and my own, but mostly from my daughter – that what works when your child is four almost never does when she’s 14. And I’m learning from my mistakes. Now I’m not the figure of authority that I once was; my word is no longer law. It’s been hard accepting the change, passing the pedestal on to her preferred role models - an English teacher, a musician in Canada, or a ballet dancer on YouTube - but I’m getting there. And the acceptance is cathartic.

I’m acutely aware that one day my daughter – pretty much like all the higher apes – will raise her child the way she was raised, or at least, draw from her bank of memories. But I’m also getting realistic – not to mention amused — about the slight shift in roles; as much as I influence my daughter’s life (I can hear her go ‘yeah, right’) she does mine. She reads my work, and comes up with incisive comments; she smiles when I sometimes swear and even offers suggestions, and tells me that I ought not to be 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 role-model list. Maybe she will teach me a thing or two on how to strike up polite conversations with complete strangers, and the acceptable social behaviour in the Far East. Who said it’s only parents who have to be role models?

is it age-appropriate? Don’t expect a toddler of two to be quiet in company, or a child of ten to sit through an hour-long dinner with your friends without being irritable!

• Do I reproach my child for her perceived rudeness because my ego is worried by how people will judge me if my child doesn’t do the right things? Parents wrongly feel that they have failed just because their children have not picked up the niceties of social behaviour. If you keep worrying that other people are evaluating your parenting, you will pass on your misery to your child. Learn to let go and become a relaxed parent. Your child will feel accepted for who she is as well.

• Am I respecting the nature of my child? It is scientifically proven that children are born introverts or extroverts. If you constantly express your disappointment in your child’s ‘unsocial’ behaviour, you are contributing to her feelings of inadequacy.

• Have I made adult-parent interaction a norm at home? When you chat with your kids, do they see this interaction as interesting, or is the conversation only centred around their homework and academic performance? If your child finds your conversation judgemental or boring, chances are that she will not interact cheerfully with your adult guests as well.

It’s simply not going to work if we think that we can be disrespectful to children and then expect them to be respectful to other people. They pick up their manners from their environment, so if you want your child to behave in a certain way, make sure that you behave the same way with her, and also let her see that you are respectful in all your interactions with everyone around you.”

So parents, while all of us would like to have the ‘ideal’ child, maybe it’s time for us to take a step back and see whether we, as adults, are modelling the right behaviour for our children to follow. Chances are that

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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!”



The Role of Schools in Teaching Children to be Well-Mannered

Children learn by imitation, and so social ‘niceties’ like wishing good morning, saying thank you or sorry, are all learned behaviour. Schools call it ‘value education’ but I think the term ‘life skills’ describes it better.

How do we ensure that our kids are well mannered? We teach children to speak politely, to wait in a queue, but do they see the same behaviour modelled in public? It takes a village to raise a child….. And so it starts with the parents, then teachers and school, then friends and siblings, and the circle grows; because at every stage in life, children look up to different role models and this can cause them to learn, unlearn or sometimes disown certain behavioural patterns.

Before the age of five or six, the child is at the ‘ego’ stage. He is programmed to think about ‘I, me and myself’, and so indulges in solitary play or parallel play, and has a hard time sharing toys or solving conflicts with others. Children start developing socially at around five to six years; at this age, kids are able to share, wait for their turn and to think about others and not just their own needs. It is at this age that the prefrontal cortex in the brain develops and higher order thinking skills are developed. Children can now think, plan, wait, choose and act logically.

Sadly, our teacher training programmes do not touch upon brain development, and teachers remain unaware of concepts like

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.

impulse control, delayed gratification, social referencing and pro-social behaviour, which are all executive brain functions in the prefrontal cortex. All these are involved in developing social behavioural skills like manners.

To wait in a queue, one controls the impulse to move; to share one’s toys one must learn to delay gratification; and to say thank you and please are all learnt through social referencing and pro-social behaviour, behaviour that is learnt in order to belong to a group. Simple games like ‘Simon Says’ help develop impulse control, and common playground equipment like slides teach kids about delaying gratification (kids have to climb to be able to enjoy the slide down!).So, what is the role of teachers and schools in teaching children to be well mannered? Well, schools first need to understand ‘how’ children learn before they decide ‘what’ children should learn. Once the ‘how’ is in place, the ‘what’ lasts for a lifetime.

Schools then have to introspect and look into the songs and stories that we expose our children to — are these teaching children contrary skills? Take for example the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears: girl goes to bears’ home, wreaks havoc and leaves them angry and crying. No ‘sorry,’ no ‘thank you’ and no ‘please!’ What is this story teaching kids? Listen to the nursery rhyme Piggy on the Railway – the engine driver hits Piggy but says ‘I don’t care!’

Schools and teachers should use innovative ways to teach manners and good behavioural skills, by using the seven intelligences.

So put up visual charts; use numbers to help kids remember what to do in a social situation; use music and songs to help them learn behaviour; work on group games and help enhance their interpersonal and intrapersonal understanding of behaviour; teach sign language cues to nudge kids to remember manners, etc. Schools and teachers can also use the pester power of kids to influence their families to follow the same manners!

Social behaviour is a must for success in the future – the behaviour of an individual can create a successful career and home life. Manners and good behaviour should not be taught merely as a subject in schools but as a way of life woven into every subject.

And lastly, schools and teachers must remember that good behaviour and manners will be lifelong if they are intrinsically controlled but superficial if they are extrinsically controlled. In the words of Immanuel Kant, “If you punish a child for being naughty, and reward him for being good, he will do right merely for the sake of the reward; and when he goes out into the world and finds that goodness is not always rewarded, nor wickedness always punished, he will grow into a man who only thinks about how he may get on in the world, and does right or wrong according as he finds either of advantage to himself.”

Swati Popat

Expert's Take


Gloria Burrett is a psychotherapist who has worked with children, adolescents and families at an NGO for people with disabilities, in regular school settings, and in her ongoing private practice. Her belief is that it is not behaviour that needs fixing but the underlying message that is struggling to be expressed through that behaviour that needs to be heard.

Teaching Manners

What does the term ‘good manners mean today? What attributes does it represent?

I feel uncomfortable with this term as it conjures up images of a child who fits into the expected mould, is beautifully socially conditioned and ticks all the right boxes overtly. I see compliance. I smell a parental need for their child to be seen as having been “brought up well.” I sense a narrow concept that does not honour an intrinsic value system but focuses on the persona. More important, in my view, would be whether caring and compassion increasingly determine a child’s behaviour. For example, a child questioning a teacher who is ridiculing another child might not come across as “good mannered”, but it is about justice and fairness; and is more impressive to me than unquestioning respect and obedience. Do we consider intention or motivation before we label behaviour rude? Of course, I am not talking about an either / or situation, i.e. being devoid of all socialisation in favour of total freedom; I just think that, very often, too much emphasis is laid on the former.

I know a 13-year old brilliantly mannered child who comes across as self-aware, poised, and conscious of the perfect behaviour the adults want from her, but in reality, she is struggling to stop being such a pleaser to all. Her “manners” are part of her need for approval, to never give an adult cause to find her wanting. She cannot take the disappointment underpinning a scolding. Such a compulsion to behave!

Gloria Burrett

So does this “behaving appropriately” come at a cost? Is the compliance of today simply an additional feeder into the explosive “need to find myself” tomorrow? It may negate the emergence of a sense of self in a child, as her feelings and opinions and natural spontaneity are suppressed in the name of doing the "right thing”.

In my experience it is not the ”perfectly mannered” child that speaks of emotional health but the child who gets it wrong and is aware and willing to bear the consequences, and learn from his experiences; the child who is not too suffocated by endless demands to get it right but who is helped to think through the impact of his behaviour.

If however, by 'good manners’ we mean a child who is compassionate and caring, who has a social intelligence, who respects others regardless of what they have or where they live, then we are plumbing new depths of expectations. Their behaviour may emerge from what they believe in, rather than what society looks at with an approving nod. If social conditioning can focus on tapping and unleashing this basic respect for all then what we get is a great human being and not just a good mannered one.

What is your opinion of children today – are they generally well-mannered?

The more I work with children, the more difficult it is to see them as one composite lump! I find I don’t have an opinion about children in general. What I am increasingly aware of though, from talking to adolescents who have been on the verge of school

suspensions, is that children’s respect for adults and therefore the “manners” or behaviour that follow, are closely linked to the way adults treat them or view them. The same students who disrupt class and disobey rules in one class can be so different in another class. A lot of their behaviour is reactive, and depends on how the teacher treats them. They know which adults respect them and which have already labeled them “troublemakers” or “not worth 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 rush to correct and fix, and in the process miss out on hearing what the negative behaviour is really saying?

What role does the family play in inculcating manners in a child? How can parents teach children manners? Some pointers?

If a child • feels good about himself as he is,• is allowed his feelings, • has his reality validated rather than

having to buy into an adult’s reality,• is helped to respect others through

parental modelling,• has relevant boundaries to feel secure

and• is exposed to respectful, honest

communication,

then the ground is set for someone who is emotionally healthy and values both self and others. The opposite of this could explain why certain children bully others, and are so self-focused with no concern for others.

To clarify the adult role further, a family can teach a child what basic respect is all about – respect for each person in each encounter, no matter who that person is. And parents today would do well to remember that good behavior should not be cultivated at the cost of suppressing your child completely and forcing him to please everybody. That aside, good manners as it applies to your society, and inasmuch as it stems from core human and moral values, is something worth cultivating; and we should be teaching our children this, as we teach them other life skills.


The Big

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 a sine qua non for both parents and children at this stage in their child’s lives.

Preparing for Primary School Interviews

22

iJanuary - February 2013


The Indian Parliament passed the “Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act” or as it is better known, “the Right to Education Act” (RTE) in 2009. One of the issues addressed is that of school interviews: the Act orders that for admission, there should be no interview of the parent or child, and to ensure enrollment for all.

But is this ruling applicable to private schools? When the Act was passed, private schools protested, claiming that it violated their right to run without government interference. The Act was accordingly revised, and now is not applicable to unaided, private schools. And so the interview process continues, with many private schools disguising interviews as ‘interaction sessions’.

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.

That’s right. Our carefree, beaming kids are doing their first formal interviews at four! Something most of us did for the first time in our twenties!

The process has fast become an ordeal for parents as well. As competition increases, parents are understandably more agitated about ensuring a good education for their children – they feel compelled to do all they can to guarantee their children a spot in the ideal school. If children are assessed for admission based on an interview or test, parents will do everything possible to extract that good performance: from cutting vegetables into different lengths and comparing car sizes to enrolling their children in interview training classes, three hours a week, fifty-two weeks a year. For many, preparation is an ongoing process which begins from the age of two! Interview training often starts a full year in advance of the interview. Now, even preschools have adapted to incorporate interview preparation into their curriculum.

Despite the controversial nature of these interviews, they are widely used to evaluate 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 processIn 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

a questionnaire and/or go through an interview. The child’s session could last anywhere from five minutes to thirty minutes. The child spends this time with the interviewer (often a teacher) and typically answers a few questions or performs a few activities. Questions test the child’s knowledge of concepts, his understanding of the world around him, and his language and social skills.

So what do schools look for in children? Jasmine Sampat, Principal of Miniland in Mumbai, spells it out – “Schools often try to evaluate a number of areas: the child’s confidence and independence; his thinking, and motor skills as well. Schools test whether children are using the right colours in a picture – that way they can assess coordination and observation and general knowledge all at once. There are questions related to the alphabet and numbers. There are a lot of numeracy concepts that are tested – more than, less than. Sometimes, there might be something unorthodox – the interviewer might tell the child a story and conduct an oral comprehension exercise.”


A majority of schools follow the process described above. Remember that these interaction sessions allow the school to ensure that your child is ready for school - that he does not have any learning disabilities or behavioural issues which require special attention. They don’t expect knowledge of rocket science!

It is natural for a parent to be anxious about this interview process and try out a range of methods to get children ready for these. But first, do your research on the schools that you will apply to – what the admissions criteria are, whether they conduct such interviews, and if yes, what is expected in these interviews. This information can be easily obtained by asking parents of children who are already studying in the school and have been through the process. It is best to do so well in advance of when your child will enter primary school; perhaps when he is in playschool, so that you can consider gearing his education a little towards admissions.

The preschool's role in interview preparationPlayschools realise how important this interview is to the parent and child, and often, the last six months of preschool will be given over to preparing the child for this interview. Nandini Rao, Principal of

Examples of some areas tested: Personal details to test the child’s comprehension of the world around himLogical reasoning: opposites, odd one out, story sequencing, puzzlesBasic maths skills: counting, size comparisonPhonics: beginning and ending soundsMotor skills: beading, lacing, colouring and drawing to evaluate eye-hand coordinationSocial and interpersonal skills like following instructions, replying to questionsConfidence and independence

First Steps Nursery in Bangalore explains that interview preparation is a priority at the school, and preparation sessions are conducted with children appearing for the interview, even as they participate in routine school activities. The school makes parents an important part of the process, updating them regularly on their children’s progress. Miniland teachers too work hard at preparing their students – “Interview preparation is part of the school curriculum,” says Sampat. At the beginning of the year, the school has parents “fill out an admissions form to judge which primary school they might want to send their child to later” – doing this enables Miniland to get a sense of how to prepare each child and parent individually.

The school can also play a large part in building the confidence of the child. “Anything about a stranger can scare children,” says Sampat. Miniland teaches its children to be confident with the unknown interviewer by conducting mock interview sessions with unfamiliar adults.

Image courtesy: Shemrock and Shemford Group of schools



Working with your child at home: some tips

Work on your child’s knowledge of his personal details: Interviews feature questions that try to ascertain where the child is from, his address, or what his parents do.

There is no one best way of getting your child to know this; you can experiment with straightforward or innovative methods to help your child remember this information.

Basic logical reasoning: An interviewer will often address opposites like “big” and “small”, or ask a child to point out the “odd one out” in a set of pictures.

If you show your children that one car is smaller than another, and offer such comparisons from their environment repeatedly in different ways, they will catch on. Play board games and solve puzzles to help their critical thinking. Parents could create an exciting routine of doing a different activity every evening that the child could look forward to and learn from.

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

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

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

Gross and fine motor skills.

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, encourage him to do anything from painting and drawing to manipulating blocks and kneading dough.

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

Preparing your child at homeMost parents use a multi-pronged approach: formal coaching outside the home, and informal learning at home. The need for formal coaching and tutoring has burgeoned over the last few years, and people now make a living out of conducting ‘interview-training’ classes for preschoolers. In fact, training classes have become popular to the extent that there are waiting lists for these classes themselves! These classes can be quite effective since they give parents and children a pretty good idea about

the question types and question pattern of the interview and hence some insight into how to prepare the child based on the assessment criteria. Most importantly, after attending these classes, parents get a sense of how to train and prepare the child on their own.

Megha Parikh from Mumbai sent her daughter to such a class for around a year, and she agrees that they can be useful. She adds, however, that the most important aspect of interview training was that it

provided guidance. “One cannot depend on a trainer. Parents should consider themselves responsible for their child,” clarifies Parikh. An interview trainer can provide valuable inputs; however, at the heart of a child’s preparation is what he does on a daily basis with a parent. This ongoing learning is what will ultimately enable him to succeed in the interview. Instead of looking upon the interview as an obstacle that must be overcome, let it become the catalyst that drives the essential daily learning process of your child.

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.


Helping your child handle the pressureOften there is immense pressure on children as they go into the interview or interaction room. This pressure can cause them to draw a complete blank during the interview. It is upto you to ensure that your child does not feel stressed even as he is preparing for an interview.

While you will have expectations of your child, letting him know, directly or indirectly, will not make him feel better. Play down the importance or seriousness

of the interview to make the child feel comfortable. Also, children have a tendency to shirk away from meeting strangers. Try to encourage them to speak with people they don’t know (with parental permission, of course!), and become more confident around strangers.

The interview process can seem somewhat overwhelming, especially for busy parents. Most parents are in agreement that the interview asks too much of their children and exerts too much pressure on them. Unfortunately, in several cities, it is hard to

avoid this interview if you want your child to get into the best schools. If you plan to try for admission at one of these schools, prepare well; but keep in mind the necessity for constant creative learning as well. That unexplainable sense of wonder we feel when we’re young is infinitely more valuable than a single 20-minute interview. Rigorous preparation is important, but be careful that you do not discourage that wonder. Imaginative learning outweighs everything else; admissions interviews included!

- Karan Arora16 years, Bangalore


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:

• A bicycle or running shoes – anything that helps you get around!

• Many sheets of paper (plain, A-4 type, construction, coloured, recycled, newspaper, etc.)

• Art materials like pencils, sketch pens, paints and brushes, and crayons

And here’s what you’re going to do:

• Walk around the streets, or cycle around the neighbourhood until you find an interesting and appropriate surface. This could be a rough wall, a

sidewalk, a cracked door or any other old and uneven surface.

• Hold your paper firmly against the surface and go over it with your colouring materials to get interesting shapes and textures like spots, cracks, jagged designs, patterns and grains. Be gentle to prevent tears or holes in your paper.

• And that’s it! – You have your own textured paper and, while making it, you’ve discovered parts of your city! Now, you can explore old temples, churches, mosques, shops, cemeteries, and museums and get all sorts of rubbings from your own native city.

Tips:

• You can keep what you’ve made and start a collection of textured papers compiled from different places you happen to visit. What a unique way to remember a place!

• You can also use these papers to make creative gift wrappers, notebook covers, cards, book covers and bookmarks; these also make for fabulous souvenirs and gifts.


Most people in India are familiar with dyslexia today, thanks to the 2007 movie ‘Taare Zameen Par”. Not only did the story of a dyslexic child become a box office hit, but little Ishaan brought words like ‘dyslexia’ into our daily language; we are now more aware of this condition, and children who were previously considered ‘lazy’ or ‘careless’ are now given the support and help they need in order to deal with this learning disability.

While dyslexia is a learning disability associated with letters and reading, could there be a dyslexia associated with numbers – perhaps a ‘Maths Dyslexia’ of sorts?

There is.

Dyscalculia is a learning disability that results in a person having trouble with handling and understanding numbers, number patterns and arithmetic. This affects various aspects of his daily life. Dyscalculics also have difficulties in comprehending the concepts of time and measurement, as well as impaired spatial awareness. It is important to note that dyscalculia is not related to I.Q.

The reason why children with dyscalculia are unable to conquer arithmetic is that they lack, what most learning experts call, ‘a sense of numbers’. Professor Mahesh Sharma is the President of the Center for Learning/Teaching Mathematics in Boston,

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?

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Dyscalculia is not a ‘rare’ condition, in that it affects around 7% of all students. Famous people with dyscalculia include Albert Einstein (who was also dyslexic!), Hans Christian Anderson, Bill Gates, Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin and Cher.

Dyscalculia does not mean that a student is poor in mathematics as a whole. “Dyscalculia literally means ‘difficulty with numbers’. While such an individual might have problems dealing with numbers and mathematical operations in 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

“There are no formal diagnostic tests for dyscalculia, though some are being developed and studied. There is a useful dyscalculia screener for use by teachers, developed by Professor Brian Butterworth, and others (not verified professionally) such as the Dyscalculia Test prepared by the Dyscalculia Centre.”

- Gayatri Krishna, Learning Support Teacher, Tanglin Trust School, Singapore

Massachusetts, and he has researched and published extensively on teaching methods for students with dyscalculia. He says: “Dyscalculics are unable to visualise or conceptualise numbers, number patterns or clusters and the outcomes of numerical operations, when taught through the usual methods, and the result is a weak foundation in numbers. Further, because teachers lack the know-how and appropriate methodology to help these children develop essential and basic mathematical skills like number-sense, other, more complex mathematical abilities are left undeveloped as well.”

The condition cannot be identified till numbers are formally introduced. This means that dyscalculia may be clinically diagnosed around the age of six or seven. Prof. Sharma goes on to explain that “teachers can employ specific teaching methods with children younger than six to avoid ‘acquired dyscalculia’ – acquired through inadequate teaching methods.”

Signs to watch out forA child with dyscalculia typically:• Has trouble with arithmetic – counting,

solving simple sums, and later, multiplication and subtraction

• Has problems with everyday tasks like telling the time, or estimating distances

• Has trouble expressing numbers and grouping them, and is unable to estimate ‘how many’ even in low quantities

• Is unable to understand word problems, patterns and sequences, and grasp mathematical concepts and formulae

• Has trouble with estimating outcomes of operations (asked to find the answer to 89 x 30, the child will find it hard to deduce if the answer is in the hundreds or thousands or millions)

• Displays an aversion towards mathematics and finds the subject unduly difficult

• Develops acute anxiety about mathematics, avoiding anything to do with numbers

If the condition goes undetected for long, the disability could limit the student’s career choices, forcing him to choose a field that involves the least amount of mathematics, regardless of whether or not he actually enjoys it. Dyscalculia can affect the daily lives of adults too. Individuals with dyscalculia may experience difficulties

in estimating times, distances, financial expenditures, balancing check books and doing quick mental maths.

Support for a child with dyscalculiaIf you suspect that your child may be discalculic, there are some tests that you can do at home to verify if your suspicions are correct. Check how he conceptualises numbers using simple tests, such as asking him to tell the time from an analog clock, making him show his age on his fingers in different ways, asking him to estimate the answers to simple math problems, etc. You can also have a clinical evaluation conducted at the age of six or seven, when he enters a formal schooling system.

Different Strokes

29


If a child is indeed diagnosed as suffering from dyscalculia, parental support is of the essence. • Explain the condition to your child and

make sure that he is aware of what it means, so that he can, in turn, explain it clearly to students, teachers, and examiners in the future.

• Children who have dyscalculia, just like dyslexics, have normal, above-average intelligence, and there is no reason to consider special education for them. The child should not be isolated from his peers; rather, he can continue to attend mainstream schools and simply receive specialised coaching in mathematics.

• Do be sure to discuss his learning disability with his school, so his teachers can understand the ramifications of dyscalculia and work with him accordingly.

• You, in turn, need to assure yourself that the school and teachers are equipped to deal with the situation.

• Don’t be overly sympathetic, causing him to feel that there is something ‘wrong’ or ‘abnormal’ with him.

• Parents can work with their child at home, discussing the day with their child, and talking specifically about maths classes.

• Homework sessions should be supervised and free from distractions.

• Review of old concepts, even as the child

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 extra time for tests and exams.

Despite everything that parents and schools do, it is undeniable that children with dyscalculia will require special coaching outside the classroom with experts in the field who can teach them a variety of learning and coping strategies. Do not assume this to mean that your child will be forced to sit in an empty classroom after school hours and told to memorise every formula in the textbook for his convenience. Rather, these extra sessions will typically work on the root problem of dyscalculia. Prof. Sharma recommends that, alongside their schoolwork, children with dyscalculia

Different Strokes


receive extra coaching in three main areas: conceptualisation of numbers, understanding number relationships, and numeracy.

“The most effective and interesting way to help a child with dyscalculia is by playing mathematical games,” claims Prof. Sharma. “Games, appropriately designed, can profoundly impact the development of mathematical faculties.” In early childhood, playing with dice, dominos and playing cards (particularly visual cluster cards without numbers, as designed by Prof. Sharma himself) helps children acquire the concept of numbers effectively and easily.

Common childhood board games like Score Four, Go Fish, Stratego, Chinese Checkers, Chess and Battle Ship reinforce the use and development of:• arithmetic facts,• basic operation,• classification,• the concept of time,• counting,• graphing,• strategy,• geometrical patterns,• logical deduction,• number sense,• sequencing and• visual and audio memory.

As you play these games, you hone the skills that you will use in every sphere of life – from solving that particularly complex problem on the maths exam, to mentally calculating the grocery bill, to trying to organise your work over a few cramped hours and ensure maximum output.

Experts use similar games, puzzles and activities to re-teach these concepts to a dyscalculic, to help him establish the same, sturdy mathematical foundation as his peers.

Will dyscalculia affect different aspects of a person’s life, throughout his life? Gayatri Krishna, Learning Support Teacher at Tanglin Trust School, Singapore, and a special educator who has worked with children suffering from dyscalculia for more than 10 years now, enlightens us. “I do not see too many social problems associated with dyscalculia. While students may have difficulties in areas such as telling the time, with spatial awareness – directions, height, depth etc. – these are usually easily managed. He can use a digital clock, for instance, or ask someone for directions. So dyscalculia does not present major obstacles on a social level. At a mathematical level, while children will struggle initially with conceptualising numbers, and may perform poorly in

Different Strokes

“Mathematics should be taught using multi-sensorial techniques; tactile information is registered in the somatic cortex, visual in the visual cortex, and auditory information in the auditory cortex. The integration of all this information results in the activation of several cognitive functions (classifying, organising, analysing, synthesising, decision-making, generalising), which in turn, develops the executive function. Linking the teaching of maths to art or music can also be very beneficial as it provides this multi-sensory activation.”

– Prof. Mahesh Sharma, President, Center for Learning/Teaching Mathematics, Boston,

Massachusetts



mathematics, by the time they are adults, they will have learned strategies and methods to cope with their difficulties. Dyscalculia, like other learning difficulties, can be addressed through remediation, and the teaching of specific strategies and skills and coping approaches.”

But she does add a caveat - “By the time a student with dyslexia grows up to be a young adult of 18 years, he would have definitely acquired coping strategies and mechanisms to deal with his difficulties. Again, he may have relative strengths in the areas of lateral thinking, problem solving, abstract reasoning – all of which are a distinct advantage in the fields of engineering and other similar fields. However, a student who has struggled with numbers and is insecure in his coping mechanisms will continue to be insecure when faced with the pressure of the FIIT-JEE type of examinations.”

Avoiding mathematics and numbers in the world around us is an impossible task, so

trying to do so is futile. Even in a rapidly advancing world of super-fast calculators, super computers, re-structured maths syllabuses and more, you still need to know how to work with numbers. However, dyscalculia should not be considered an insurmountable mountain between the child and mathematics. Neither does it mean that the child should be forced to live in a world where he does nothing but peg away at the subject!

Useful Resources• The Trouble with Maths, by Steve Chinn• Dealing with Dyscalculia: Sum Hope, by Steve Chinn• Seven Ways to Help your Child with Maths, by Barbara Geere• Documentary: Divided By Numbers – studying with dyscalculia• www.dyscalculia.org• www.dyscalculiaservices.com• www.dyscalculiaforum.com • http://www.mathematicsforall.org/

Schools and intervention centres in India supporting children with dyscalculia• Larkspur Educational Trust, Bangalore• V-Excel Educational Trust, Chennai• Srihari Vikasam, Chennai• Spastic Societies across the country

Different Strokes

Amrita Pai, MumbaiAmrita Pai is an Editorial Consultant and a mother of two girls, though not necessarily in that order. She ardently believes that ‘you live and you learn’ is applicable to most things in life, including parenting. When she is not playing the resident dictator or sprucing up an academic paper, you will find her dreaming about her eureka moment as an artist.

Aparna Karthikeyan, ChennaiAparna is the mother of a lovely, opinionated teenager. When she’s not boring her daughter with stories from her ‘perfect’ childhood, she writes features for a newspaper. She would like to, some day, own a floor to ceiling book-case, filled with the writings of the brightest minds in the world.

Meet Our Parent BloggersAparna and Amrita are stellar examples of the current breed of mothers who are

actively involved in their children’s lives, and have an opinion on everything under the sun, from children’s education to playdates to teenage angst! Be sure to read their

monthly musings – sometimes humorous, sometimes contemplative, but always thought-provoking – on the ParentEdge blog: www.parentedge.in/blog

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The

Food StoryYou 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!


Food on a grand scaleFood continues to travel and is an important item of trade between countries. As a result, farmers grow food especially for export (sale to another area/country) over and above what people in their areas eat. With huge container ships and fast aircraft, it is now cheaper than ever to transport food across the world.

Open your refrigerator and, chances are, you will find at least a few things that came from countries far, far away – exotic cheeses and meats like ham from Europe, pasta sauces from Italy and fruits from all over the world.

Is this good?Like anything that travels, transporting food consumes a huge amount of energy. The shiny red apple that comes from the United States has travelled in planes for thousands of miles before making its way by truck to your supermarket. As we all well know, such travel requires the use of many litres of petrol and diesel. Not only are these natural resources in short supply, but their use also causes a lot of pollution. By simply picking an apple from Himachal Pradesh over an imported apple, you can help prevent such waste and pollution.

Also, to prepare food for long distance travel, it needs to be processed, which

- Contributed by Child Friendly News, www.childfriendlynews.com

Did you know?• Just 15 plants are the main

source of energy for more than 75% of the world’s people, and just three grains – rice, wheat and maize – are the staples for over 4 billion people.

• White, wriggly, larvae (young grubs) of moths were an important source of food and once a staple in the diets of some Aborigines. The Aborigines are the native people of Australia.

• It was in India that rice was first grown as a domestic crop thousands of years ago.

The staple is the centreMeals are constructed around staples. A staple is a food that is frequently eaten by people in an area, sometimes at every meal. The staple is the main source of food and nutrition for people.

The most popular staples• Grains like rice, wheat or maize• Root vegetables and tubers like potato,

yam and cassava • Animal products like meat, milk, eggs

and fish

The habitat and foodThe habitat of an area – both the kind of soil found in a place and the weather – help decide the staple of an area. For instance, in India, in the colder north, wheat is the staple, while in the south, rice is more important.

usually involves the addition of chemicals to keep food fresh. Such food also needs extra packaging. While processed food has less nutrition (good things in food), packaging requires the use of more natural resources like paper, which is not good for the environment.

Be a ‘locavore’“Locavores” are people who are conscious of such waste and are careful about buying things that are produced locally, or at least within their own country. There is nothing wrong really with wanting that bar of Swiss chocolate once in a while, but by mostly choosing to buy things locally grown/made in our country, you can make a difference. Plus, local food is not just better for the environment, it is also cheaper!

Can one person make a difference?If everyone stops buying imported food, demand for such food will drop and companies will stop importing them in large quantities. This will make a difference.

Will the Earth run out of food?For people like us who have food on demand at home and outside, this seems like a strange question. But millions of people in African countries are already asking this question. Many of them depend on special food agencies for their daily food.

With much of the earth’s usable land already being used for growing crops, there aren’t too many ways to produce more food. On the other hand, the population (the number of people in the world) is increasing. With more demand, and less supply, people are beginning to go hungry. And the first people to do so are the poorest who cannot pay for more food. We have to be careful not to waste, as well as ensure that everyone has enough to eat. After all, there is only giant field – our planet – we can grow things on!

Food travelsDuring the age of exploration (several hundred years ago) as explorers began visiting different parts of the world, food began to travel as well. European explorers 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 cocoa beans) are found all over the world.



“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


International universities with campuses in Singapore

• INSEAD • University of Chicago

Graduate School of Business

• SP Jain Centre of Management

• ESSEC • Digipen Institute of

Technology • University of Nevada, Las

Vegas (UNLV) • New York University Tisch

School of the Arts Asia• German Institute of

Science and Technology • EDHEC Business School

Why study in Singapore? For many Indians, Singapore is the ultimate tourist spot — loads of shopping, lots of sightseeing, great food, you name it. But did you know that it is rising fast in the ranks of best places to study in? Its universities rank among the top 25 in the world, and among the top five in Asia. The Singapore government accords great importance to education, evident from the fact that it spends nearly one-fifth of the annual budget each year on education-related expenditure. The emphasis on the importance of education is further echoed by the local attitudes, which promote excellence.

Besides the high quality of education, studying in Singapore offers several other advantages: • Cheaper: The cost of education and

living in Singapore is at least 30 per cent less than that of the UK or US. In addition, international students who have secured admission to study in Singapore are eligible to apply for a tuition grant from the Singapore Ministry of Education.

• Closer to home: Singapore is just four to five hours (on average) away from most big cities in India. This can be of immense comfort to parents who would like their child to get a world-class education but do not want to send him very far away from home.

• Work while studying: Singapore allows most international students who demonstrate financial need to work up to 16 hours a week, and full time during the holidays – helping to defray some of the student’s costs.

• Easier to get employment after graduating: It is reasonably easy for a student to work in Singapore after completing his education, as the visa laws are not very restrictive.

• Good quality of living: Singapore is a vibrant city in the heart of Asia, a great mix of the East and the West. With a cosmopolitan culture and a racially diverse people who live in harmony, the country is well known for its cleanliness, low crime

rates, high quality of living and excellent public transport. It is also an ideal base for travelling within the region, giving your child a wonderful opportunity to explore the surrounding areas!

Universities in SingaporeThere are four local universities — National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU) and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). In addition, there are several international universities that have their Asian campuses located in Singapore, offering your child the chance to obtain a degree from a world-renowned university like INSEAD or University of Chicago for a fraction of the overseas tuition fee. (These function as arms of their parent institutions, and applications have to be made individually to each one).

• National University of Singapore (NUS): Established in 1905, NUS is one of the oldest universities in Asia. It is Singapore’s flagship university, with 16 faculties and schools across three campus locations in the island. NUS is ranked 25th among the top universities in the world, and offers courses in major disciplines such as the sciences, engineering, technology, law, arts & social sciences and medicine. Around 37,000 students from over 100 countries study in NUS, contributing to a diverse and vibrant student body.

• Nanyang Technological University (NTU): NTU (Nanyang is the Chinese name for the Southeast-Asian region) was set up in 1981 to provide facilities for tertiary education and research in engineering and technology. The university’s strengths are in science and technology, although it also offers excellent programmes in accountancy, business and communication studies. It has four colleges with 12 schools, and four autonomous entities. More than 33,500 students from over 66 countries study at NTU, and it is ranked 47th in the world.

• Singapore Management University (SMU): SMU is Singapore’s first publicly-funded private university with a focus on business and management programmes. It is now an autonomous university with more than 7200 students, and comprises six schools offering undergraduate, graduate, and PhD programmes in Business Management, Accountancy, Economics, Information Systems Management, Law and the Social Sciences. It is one of the youngest universities to receive accreditation from the oldest global accrediting body, AACSB International.

• Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD): This is Singapore’s newest university, established in 2008, and offers education in science, technology, arts, humanities, and social sciences. SUTD was developed in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Zhejiang University of China.



Applying to a university in Singapore Most Indian students are eligible to apply for an undergraduate degree in a Singapore university soon after Grade 12 or its equivalent. However, be warned that it is not easy to get admission. Singapore attracts extremely bright students from most of South-East Asia – China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, India and, of course, Singapore itself. So, the older established institutions like NUS and NTU have an average cut-off of 92-94% in Grade 12, or above 40 in IB. Singapore universities give a high weightage to academic scores, although a stellar extra-curricular portfolio may help to better your child’s chances. While NUS and NTU do not require Indian students to take the SAT or the TOEFL test, a good score can help in your child’s admission process. On the other hand, SMU and SUTD require both SAT and TOEFL scores.

Applications for an undergraduate course usually open in October of the previous year. Your child will have to choose the course he is applying to; certain courses may require a written test and an interview

before placement. Each university in Singapore, whether

it is a local

university, or the Asian campus of a foreign university, has its own application form, which you can access from its website. The application process is quite straight forward; the universities are extremely efficient and get back to you with any questions you may have. Copies of the requisite academic certificates need to be provided to support the application. One can choose to apply to up to five courses, listing them in your order of preference. Applications must be accompanied by an application fee between S$20-30.

If the application is accepted by the university, the student gets either a conditional or unconditional offer of acceptance. Under a conditional offer, the university may ask for additional documentation, such as an essay, to strengthen the offer; or, the admission may be pending the final exam results. Once your child has received an acceptance letter from the university, he will have to apply for a student visa (known as Student’s Pass in Singapore). He must apply to Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (www.ica.gov.sg), using the Student’s Pass Online Application & Registration (SOLAR) system. Two weeks

after they have received their letter of acceptance, first-time applicants

can apply for their s t u d e n t

visa. The application must be submitted not more than two months, and not less than one month, before their course begins. Applications are processed quickly, usually in about 10 working days, although it could take longer in the busy months of July and August. A processing fee of S$30 is required for every application submitted to ICA. In addition, ICA charges S$60 as issuance fee for every student’s pass issued and a further S$30 multiple-entry visa fee for students from countries requiring a visa to enter Singapore (India is one of them).

Financing your child’s education Undergraduate education at Singapore’s universities is highly subsidised by the Government of Singapore, which pays for the bulk of the operating costs besides the infrastructural costs at the universities. Even though the tuition fees for international students in Singapore are lower than many other countries at approximately USD 22,000 per annum on average, this can still be a stretch for some.

Fortunately, Singapore is a scholarship haven – at least 2,000 scholarships worth S$36 million are awarded each year to overseas students (see the table at the end of the article for a list of scholarships awarded by Singapore entities). Many of these, however, come with a caveat – students who avail of these scholarships are expected to serve a three-to-six year

bond in Singapore, by working with a Singapore-

r e g i s t e r e d

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


company of their choice upon graduation. Students will have to find these jobs themselves. Earlier, foreign scholarship holders were automatically given Permanent Resident status upon graduation, but since 2010, that provision has been withdrawn, making it more difficult for international students to compete with local citizens to find jobs. Hence, we advise you to weigh the pros and cons carefully before committing to a bond, and check out the job prospects for your child’s field of study and course, as well as his future plans for post-graduate studies.

Living in SingaporeAccommodationMost universities have an international student office to help their students find on-campus or off-campus accommodation 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 universities like SMU provide hostel accommodation to their students near the university. Accommodation is either single room or shared, fully furnished, and there 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 facilities for students to cook their own food.

There is also a wide range of off-campus accommodation available. Private hostels, run by the educational institutions or by private agencies, provide accommodation on a single or shared basis. The usual facilities include wifi in rooms, daily cleaning, laundry services, food centre, and round the clock security arrangements. Homestay is

Accommodation

Utilities

Food

Public transport

Telecommunications

Books & Stationery

Medical Hospitalisation Insurance

Personal expenses

Estimated

S$200-S$1,500 (rentals vary with geographical area, type of accommodation, demand, facilities provided and the number of people sharing)

S$50-S$80

S$200-S$450

S$40-S$100 (varies with type of student concession pass)

S$30-S$50 (varies with usage and package)

S$30-S$100 (varies with courses)

S$5 - S$8

S$100-S$200 (varies with individuals)

S$650-$2,000

Item Average per month in S$

Guide on the cost of living in Singapore

another option for an international student to consider; this involves living with a local family with full food and board. Lastly, international students can opt for private housing, an expensive option but one that affords most flexibility and privacy.

While helping your child choose the kind of accommodation he wants, bear in mind that real estate in Singapore is extremely expensive, especially apartments that are in the heart of the city or close to an MRT station.



Getting aroundSingapore’s small size and fantastic transport infrastructure means that getting around in Singapore is extremely easy. The three main modes of public transport are the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) or the metro rail system, public buses, and taxis. The MRT as well as the bus system are affordable, efficient and quick, and most international students get used to making their way around the island

via these mass transit options. Taxis are also a good option, but are the most expensive of the three public transport options.

LivingSingapore is the smallest country in South-East Asia, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in variety. This 704 square km island is home to just under five million people with four official languages. It has

a fascinating mix of three main races – the Chinese, the Malays and the Indians – in addition to a generous sprinkling of people from countries near and far - Australians, Indonesians, other South-east Asians, and westerners. It is well known for its low crime rate and high levels of safety. The country offers enough options, whether your child is a nature lover, a sports buff, 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!


Dr Goh Keng Swee Scholarship

Science & Technology Undergraduate Scholarship

SIA-NOL Undergraduate scholarship

Nanyang Scholarship

JTC scholarship

SGX Scholarship

College Scholarship

Kewalram Chanrai Group Endowed Scholarship

Lim Hang Hing Scholarship

N.R. Thadani Scholarship

The Ian Ferguson Foundation Scholarship

Three to four scholarships awarded every year

Awarded for undergraduate studies in computing, engineering and science

Awarded for undergraduate studies in engineering and science

Awarded to outstanding freshmen pursuing undergraduate programmes at NTU

Awarded to students to study in Singapore or overseas – the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, China, Germany and France

Awarded to students to study subjects related to the finance industry

Awarded to outstanding freshmen pursuing undergraduate programmes at NTU

Available to first-year full-time undergraduates of foreign nationalities pursuing any degree programme

Available for students of social studies

Available to full-time undergraduates of Indian nationality pursuing any degree programme

Available to full-time undergraduates

NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD

NUS

NUS, NTU

NTU

NUS, NTU, SMU

NUS, NTU, SMU

NTU

SMU

SMU

SMU

SMU

Yes, for three years

Yes, for six years

Yes, for six years


Service obligation of five to six years with JTC

Scholars will be committed to work for SGX for a two-year period


No

No

No

No

Organisation/scholarship Aid provided University Is there a

bond?

http://www.pscscholarships.gov.sg/content/pscsch/default/scholar-shipapplication/otherscholarships/gks_scholarship.html

http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/scholarships/freshmen/nsg/scholarship-science-technology.html

http://admissions.ntu.edu.sg/UndergraduateAdmissions/Pages/SIANOLUndergraduateScholarship.aspx

http://admissions.ntu.edu.sg/UndergraduateAdmissions/Pages/NanyangScholarship.aspx

http://www.jtc.gov.sg/careers/Pages/Undergraduate-Scholarship.aspx

https://career.sgx.com/scholarships/

http://admissions.ntu.edu.sg/UndergraduateAdmissions/Pages/CollegeScholarship.aspx

http://www2.smu.edu.sg/financial/scholarships/Kewalram_Chanri_Group.asp

http://www2.smu.edu.sg/financial/scholarships/Lim_Hang_Hing.asp

http://www2.smu.edu.sg/financial/scholarships/Thadani.asp

http://www2.smu.edu.sg/financial/scholarships/ls_ianferguson.asp

Contact

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.


Did you apply to study in any other country besides Singapore? If yes, why did you choose Singapore over these countries?

I also applied to colleges in London and India. But I chose NAFA because I got a tuition grant from the Government of Singapore; this is not common elsewhere at an undergrad level. Also, I had been to Singapore before and I really liked the place, and found the people in Singapore accepting and warm. Of course, it is an added advantage that Singapore is close to India!

What about your choice of college? Why NAFA?

One of the main reasons was the quality of the institute – NAFA is considered among the best colleges for design and media, which is my area of interest. I also wanted exposure to design concepts from the East. Two other reasons I chose NAFA was that I get a diploma at the end of three years and a degree on completion of the fourth year.

How long did you spend on the application and admission process and what your experience like?

NAFA has a representative in Chennai through whom the institute processes all applications. Students from India have to go through this designated representative. I applied in July/August 2011; the application process was not complicated. The entrance test takes place twice a year — December and April. Results are available in January and May respectively. I chose to do it in December 2011 so that I could know about my admission before completing my A levels (Std. XII) in June 2012. I joined in July 2012 on the basis of my A Level scores, which were out in August.

The entire process was transparent and flowed smoothly. The Singapore dollar had gone up to Rs 45 in a short period of 6-8 months during my application process. Hence the tuition grant was a big help. The only tedious process was finding the accommodation — 6 of us girls share an apartment here.

How has your experience been so far – the academics, the college life, the cultural adjustments?

Academics in India, I feel, are focused on following a set pattern, a little more traditional. Although art & design colleges in India help you find your individual style, studying in Singapore has made me culturally aware as well. Not only am I recognising my individual style but also learning the styles of the various different cultures in Singapore. Here, the teachers can give you individual attention as the class size is much smaller. The minute I joined college I fit right in, everybody was very welcoming. The workload is enough to keep you on your toes at all times but not excessive enough to keep you from the rest of the activities available here.

I have been living in Singapore for five months now. Personally I think Singapore is amazing for a student. A lot of places offer student discounts and concession cards. Living on a tight budget, this really helps. Singapore is one of the safest countries. I love visiting art galleries, museums, theaters and the beach. My friends and I often take walks to Marina Bay just to relax and soak in the beauty. Singapore nightlife is amazing with its variety of dance clubs and concerts to go to. I had recently gone for the Formula1 and Nicky Romero (Dutch DJ) concert and had the time of my life.

Transportation in Singapore is a dream. The bus and train routes are widespread, easily understandable and the cheapest modes of transportation. For me I think it was easy to settle in as there is a huge Indian community. From the yummiest dosa or cheese naan to the best Bollywood movies, Singapore has it all.

Do you have any advice for Indian students considering an undergrad education in Singapore?

Singapore is a home away from home. I think it is the perfect place for students.

Nandita Shenoy is currently studying at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Singapore, after completing her Cambridge A levels at Vidyashilp Academy, Bangalore

42


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The triangles given below belong to three different families. Can you sort and put them into their respective families?

4)

Answers

DXXX - 530

MCMLXXXIII - 1983

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MMXII - 2012

XCV - 95

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LXXV - 75

MXL - 1040

MDXX - 1520

DCCLXXXIV - 784

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Shelfari is a social networking site that connects book lovers who are enthralled by the magic that lies between the pages of a book and who can be lured by the call of a delicious new story. Members can comment on and review books, compile and share lists of books they’ve read and liked, and arrange meetings in book stores to discuss books with other equally maniacal readers. The site allows users to build a virtual bookshelf which friends can browse to explore books that they have not come across as yet. Another similar site that allow book lovers to network is Goodreads.

DeviantArt

This social community is designed for those talented artists who don’t want art to end within the pages of their sketchbooks, but want to take it further. To be precise, a few million people further! Interested users can browse through countless works of original art uploaded by members, ranging from abstract to shading, portraits to animation. When you in turn upload an artwork, over 11 million people get to see your production instantly and for free, earning you both criticism and praise. The site allows community members to evaluate your work – members include potential employers in the art and design world and art school, making it a great networking site where you can track, and grab opportunities. A journal-like feature in your profile alerts people to your new creations. Chat and messaging features instantly hook you up to a virtual universe of people who appreciate art in all its vibrancy.

SoundCloud

Why stop at being a bathroom singer or air guitarist? If you are keen to make the world aware of your musical abilities, SoundCloud may be just the place for

you. SoundCloud allows its members to maintain profiles, upload edited songs or their own compositions, listen to and make comments on others’ creations, and encourage their friends to perform better. The site offers you a fabulous way to promote yourself, by allowing you to link to your videos on YouTube and Facebook, and also makes your music available as mp3 files that can be downloaded by those interested. A sound wave feature lets your music be ‘visualised’ in the form of waves for a more enriching experience.

LiveMocha

You’re moving to France and you don’t know a word of French! Or maybe you cannot access a reliable teacher of Mandarin. Perhaps you want to supplement the Hindi that you are learning at school with some additional tutorials at home? LiveMocha to the rescue! This social networking site is a great place to learn new languages and offers courses in over 38 important world languages. You can submit paragraphs for evaluations, record yourself speaking a language and then play it back for evaluation, and complete some well-thought through coursework, all based on whether you wish to learn the language quickly or slowly. You can chat with other people learning your language and get tips from them, even as you discuss your issues and concerns. Members from different countries help out one another, sharing cultural ‘fundae,’ photos and insider perspectives. So even as you are learning a language, you are developing a global outlook at the same time. What more could you ask for? Another similar online network for language learning is Busuu.

Infocache


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.

Inculcating Good Study Habits



Be a good parent – when your child is studying, don’t watch TV (this may be difficult if you have older children, since their study hours are longer, but is a good practice to follow with younger kids) or listen to loud music or call people over for a visit. In fact, this is a good time to catch up on your own reading – your child will feel that you are also working alongside him.

It is important to start inculcating good study habits in your child at a young age, not necessarily because you want him to be a topper, but simply to instil in him the values of discipline, commitment and hard work. And you will be pleasantly surprised to see that, in due course, these values transfer to other areas of his life as well.

So read on for some tips and best practices.

When to study• Study time should be regular.

Encourage your child to study a little every day, even if it’s only for 15 minutes, and preferably at the same time every day, so he learns to fit in study-time into his daily routine. Even if he has no homework, you can set him some work to do – tables to repeat, formulae to memorise or worksheets to complete – just so that he understands the importance of regular study.

• Don’t allow your child to procrastinate – “can I do this tomorrow please?” The more you put something off, the more difficult it becomes to start on it (even adults face this problem on a day-to-day basis!).

• Get siblings to study at the same time so they don’t disturb one other.

• 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 time for leisure, even as he gets his school work done.

Where to study• Create a small study area within your

home – some place that is relatively quiet and allows the child to study in solitude. This could be a study, the child’s bedroom or even the parents’ bedroom – away from noise, distraction and television. Designating a specific place as the ‘study area’ gives him a sense of the importance of studying. All study material should also be easily accessible here – from books and writing materials to reference materials and water – so that he does not

need to interrupt his studying to get the things he needs.

Tips for the older child: how to enhance study effectiveness• Good study habits call for good planning

and time management skills. Whether studying for an examination, or working on an assignment, it is important that your child has a plan in place. Based on the project deadline or examination date, he can work backwards and draw up a timetable that shows him how much he needs to study each day, or a schedule that outlines how to break up the project into easily-digested portions. Planning has manifold benefits – it prevents him from feeling overwhelmed because he can actually visually understand how to complete his work on time; it avoids the fatigue of taking on too much at a stretch; and of course, planning well and completing tasks on time also helps avoid last-minute stress and omissions, while giving him enough time for revisions.

•Effective studying calls for a clear and focused mind. Ensure that your child takes regular breaks during extended study periods – experts generally recommend taking a 10-minute break after 60 minutes of continuous study. Equally important is what he does during


this break – the objective of the break is to refresh and clear the mind and come back ready to focus for another hour or so of study. Of course, how he achieves this will depend on your child. Physical exercise refreshes some children, while others may prefer to listen to music or chat with friends. Find out what works

best for your child and help him do whatever he needs to clear his mind for studying – whether this is yoga, deep breathing, going for a run around the block, eating a snack or simply reading a non-academic book.

• Note-making can be useful in enhancing study effectiveness. Writing down important points as he reads will help reinforce them; notes also function as a synthesis of what he has studied and can be later used for reference and recapitulation.

• Revision is an essential aspect of studying. When your child completes a certain concept or unit of study, ensure that he revises it so he can be confident he has retained the main points. This is one area where the parent can get involved, asking the child to recapitulate what he has learned. Older children can self-revise by doing mock-tests.

• While all of us want our children to study the syllabus and be thorough with what they need to know for the examination, one life-long habit that we would do well to inculcate in them is that of ‘learning’ as opposed to simply ‘studying.’ So encourage your child to read beyond the prescribed material and try to understand the topic in a variety of ways – through research, by watching relevant documentaries, working with supplementary material like workbooks and CDs, etc. Not only will this give him a wider perspective on

TV, the Internet and social networking sites are never a good idea when ‘taking a break’. They lure the child into taking a longer break than he intended to and the images and conversations can linger on long after the TV or computer is switched off, distracting him when he gets back to studying.

a subject, but will also make studying more fun and impactful by varying the monotony of reading from a textbook. While this kind of learning is especially relevant for older children, you can start early by introducing younger children to different resources as well.

• Many children think nothing of copying copious amounts of information from the internet or from an encyclopaedia and reproducing it as is. While this was ignored, and even accepted until a few years ago, schools and teachers today do not take such a lenient view of plagiarism. Encourage your child to understand, analyse and synthesise as opposed to merely reproducing. Train your child to read from different sources, understand the topic, and then synthesise what he has learned in his own words, while adding on his point of view as well.



The role of motivationUntil they reach a certain age, most children need to be motivated to study. There are many ways to motivate a child, but perhaps the best is intrinsic motivation. Encourage the child to study in order to learn and discover something new; get him excited about the learning process itself, and then studying will not seem so much as ‘pegging away’ as ‘exploring and understanding’. If a child is self-motivated and realises early on the importance of good study habits, he will carry with him the values of discipline and hard work through life.

One of the best ways in which to motivate your child is through goal-setting behaviour. While planning out his work, encourage him to set goals and objectives for himself. Having objectives to accomplish helps him plan how he will achieve them and encourages him to work steadily towards them. Goals could be as simple and specific as – “I am going to work on two comprehension passages per week” and “I will work on the map of one continent per week”, or more generic – “I want to strengthen my understanding of the history of English Literature this month” or “I will learn how to count this month”. They could be time-bound – “My aim is to complete this project by the end of next week” or more long-running – “By the end of the year, I will strengthen my understanding of Physics concepts”. Encourage your child to set goals that are relevant, realistic and just beyond what he can achieve easily. Setting goals that are too easy will make studying boring and unachievable goals are de-motivating. It may be a good idea to allow him to start with relatively simple goals (achieving them will motivate him further and enhance his self-esteem) and then move onto more challenging ones.

If intrinsic motivation does not work, there is always extrinsic motivation, in short – ahem! – bribery. For some children, just doing well on an exam is not enough; they look for a reward for good results. In the same way, you can also ‘bribe’ children to study regularly and the carrot does not always have to be a gift or something material. An assignment completed on time could mean an hour of play in the swimming pool, a mathematical concept

grasped could mean his favourite dish for dinner, etc. If you prefer the ‘stick’ approach, withholding allowance, cancelling treats, and not allowing them to go out to play can all be powerful tools to get kids to study. But do keep in mind that positive reinforcement gets you better results and less resentment that punishments or negative reinforcement.

Finally, keep in mind that different children learn differently. Some children respond better to auditory cues whereas some are more visual. Yet another child’s strength may lie in spatial thinking, while his friend may need to just read a page to retain information (refer to our Cover Story on ‘Multiple Intelligences’ in the first issue of our magazine). It is left to teachers and parents to recognise which method works best with each child. Encouraging your child to learn in the way he does best can also improve study effectiveness.

Parental involvement is a powerful tool that encourages children to study. If you are involved in your child’s day-to-day study – questioning, helping him understand concepts and revise, and discussing topics – the daily drudgery will be more palatable to him. This does NOT imply that you do his homework and projects for him, but simply that you are aware of what he is studying and willing to discuss his subjects with him. Of course, while daily involvement is appropriate for younger children, maybe until they reach middle school, older children can, and should, work independently.


Bean and Cheese QUesadilla

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!

(serves three)

What you need:Six 10-inch tortillas• Two cups salsa• Two cups cooked beans (black, pinto

or kidney beans)• Two cups shredded cheese (mozzarella,

cheddar, or Monterey Jack)• Sour cream • Guacamole (check out the recipe for

guacamole in Issue 8)

What to do: • Place three of the tortillas on a large

cutting board. • Spread the salsa evenly over all three. • Top up with the beans, and sprinkle

the cheese.

• To close your quesadillas, place the other three tortillas on top of each of these.

• If using an oven, pre-heat it to 200 degrees Celsius and bake the quesadillas for 15 minutes on a baking sheet.

• If using a frying pan, spread some oil over a non-stick pan and place the closed quesadilla on it. Cook each quesadilla for four to five minutes, two minutes on each side, or until the cheese melts and the tortillas turn golden-brown.

• Cut each quesadilla into six pieces and serve with guacamole and sour cream on the side for a hot and tasty meal.

Tip:• You 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.


Scrumptious


(serves two)

What to do:• Heat the oil in frying pan, and add the

jeera to it.• When the jeera starts turning brown,

add the ginger and the green chillies, followed by the chopped onions and capsicum.

• Fry for a minute, then add the coriander leaves, coriander powder and chilli powder and mix well.

• Add the milk and salt. • Cook for two minutes or until the milk

evaporates. • Finally, add the crumbled paneer and

mix thoroughly. • Fry for two minutes or until dry.• 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

Paneer BhUrjiWhat you need:

• Two cups crumbled paneer• One tbsp. oil• One tsp. jeera (cumin seeds)• One tbsp. finely chopped ginger• Two green chillies (add more or less

depending on desired spiciness) • Two onions, chopped fine• One capsicum, cut into small-sized

pieces• ½ tsp. red chilli powder• One tsp. coriander powder• Two tbsp. finely chopped coriander

leaves• Two tbsp. milk• One tsp. lemon juice• Salt to taste

Tip:• For a low-fat version, substitute

the paneer with tofu, or use low-fat paneer that is made from skimmed milk.


Scrumptious


College: 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!

Preparing for


That’s why we’ve put together this checklist for high-school students who are evaluating their undergraduate options in India.

Choose your course wellIn India, this is a decision that has to be made in the tenth grade itself, which is the last year when you will be studying all the subjects. The following year, your classmates and you will take up different paths or streams (Science, Commerce or Humanities) based on your long-term interests and preferences. Sadly, given the lack of flexibility in most standard Indian colleges, what you pursue in grades 11 and 12 will pretty much set the tone for later – for instance, if you choose to take up Humanities in grade 11, dropping maths and the sciences, it is almost impossible to take up engineering or pure sciences later in college. If you’re uncertain or torn between options, take up the Science stream as you can always switch to Humanities later; it is difficult to do the reverse if you change your mind.

Seek professional helpThis is understandably a time of uncertainty and an educational counsellor can be of great help in analysing your inclinations and aptitude, and helping you make a choice. Mrs. Annapurna Murthy, an educational counsellor based in Bangalore, summarises what she does for high-school 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.”

You can also talk to college students who are pursuing the course that you are interested in to get a feel for what it involves – this can help you decide if it is really what you want to do. Also try meeting with experts in your chosen field to ask them about their profession and decide if it is for you.

Do your initial researchOnce you have decided on the course you are going to pursue in college, do some initial research on it. Remember that many ‘professional’ or ‘vocational’ courses require you to take competitive examinations. Not only must you be aware of the dates of these exams, the registration process, etc., but you should also start preparing for them early on. For instance, coaching for the CET begins when you are in grade 11! Of course, if you are visiting an educational counsellor, she will be able to guide you in this as well.

Enhance your profileThis is an important step, one that will strengthen your college applications. A college is more likely to look favourably on a student who has strengths beyond the academic. Being an all-rounder shows that you can manage and excel in more areas than your academically-oriented counterparts. Hone and strengthen skills that you already have

– whether it is playing an instrument, pursuing tennis as a hobby or even painting in your spare time. Keep every certificate, news mention, or honour that you earn.

Of course, building an attractive resume is not just about extra-curriculars. Colleges will appreciate initiative, passion and genuine interest – so if you have your heart set on a particular profession, show that you are motivated enough to build some experience in that area. The summer break after you complete your grade 10 exams is the ideal time to intern in your field of interest. If you want to be a journalist, work with a newspaper, contribute articles to local publications, and submit your video reports to websites. Ensure that you mention bylines and achievements in your application form.

If you are an aspiring architect, make sample drawings, learn to rough out blue prints, get them evaluated and find new opportunities to learn from experts in the field. Take summer courses in essential skills required in your field – computer programming, interpretation of languages, animation, etc.


Shortlist your preferred collegesYou should start thinking about which colleges to apply to as you near the end of grade 11. Here, technology can come to the rescue!

There are countless college ‘matchmaking’ websites that consider your choice of stream, financial status, and location preferences to give you an extensive list of institutions that match your wants and

needs. Using these lists, do some online research, send enquiries, talk to former students and teachers and ask around to see if these colleges are right for you.

“I’ve had a pretty firm idea about the colleges I’ve wanted to get into for a long time. Researching them on the internet has helped a lot as you can see what different colleges have to offer. It’s easier to shortlist when you know what you want to do and get out of going to a particular college. The college you choose should offer exactly what you want and need. If not, then it isn’t the right college for you,” Says Smriti Sundar, aspiring architect and grade 12 student.

• When you begin shortlisting your choices, be sure to check not just courses offered, but also financial

Useful websites:• www.indiacollegesearch.com• www.studyguideindia.com• www.shiksha.com• www.indiacollegesearch.com/about-

us.php• www.educationplanner.org

viability. An educational counsellor can help you identify the different scholarships that are available.

• Maintain organised and systematic notes or a spreadsheet with the essential information about each college, including application process, required documents, deadlines for form submission, etc.

• While it is natural to be desperate to get into that one perfect college, ensure that you have some back-up choices as well.

The application processOnce you have your shortlist, you can begin the arduous process of submitting application forms, hoping for a positive reaction, an interview opportunity or even better, an acceptance.

Dress neatly, be punctual and introduce

yourself with confidence and poise.

Keep your portfolio handy.

Answer questions calmly, try not to be

provocative, and avoid formulaic responses.

Ask relevant questions to show that you have read up on the college.

Interviews

In a GD, you will be evaluated on your

interpersonal skills, so be sure to show them in a

good light!

If you’re not sure about

a question ask for clarification. If you don’t

know the answer, or don’t have an opinion, it is better

to remain silent for the duration rather than

spin a yarn.

Make your points with utmost politeness and courtesy, especially if you’re disagreeing with

something that’s been said. Emotion and aggression will

not endear you to the evaluators.

Give everyone a chance to speak, but don’t become a passive listener yourself.

Group discussions

Tips and Tricks

Don’t rush to fill in your application form before you have read through the sections and understood what information is needed.

Read the guidelines thoroughly.

For written applications, write neatly and legibly,

checking for errors.

Stick to the word limit.

List your recent achievements first and

work your way backwards.

Be original, formal and polite.

If asked for a ‘personal

statement’, use it to tell the college why YOU are the one they need to choose from all applicants. Show how you fit into the college culture, and with

its requirements.

Filling in applications

“Most students make mistakes during GDs by dominating a discussion, trying to prove that only they know the answer. Such behaviour will be negatively marked. Students have to know when a point has to be made and how to make it politely.”

– Annapurna Murthy


Prepare for changeWhile getting in to the college of your choice can be thrilling, both the fun and hard work are just beginning!

College marks the start of an academic life that is very different from what you have known so far. While many students seem to believe that college is a time for having fun and expanding your social circle (true!), for the serious achiever, it is also a time of grabbed opportunities. In the midst of all the parties and socio-cultural activities that you are going to be involved in, don’t forget that college is also a place of study, and one where there is no teacher breathing down your neck, telling you what to do!

In college, no teacher will make you kneel outside the classroom for bad behaviour. Nor will indiscipline earn a note in your diary. Moreover, your teachers will be more approachable and friendlier than those who taught you in school. They will be open to more informal interaction and questioning.

However, all this means that you are responsible for your own academic performance and results. College demands that you be a self-starter, so learn to

organise your time well, schedule your assignments and avoid procrastinating. And, most importantly, get into the habit of self-study!

“In high school, we’re generally spoon fed. Teachers constantly badger you for your homework or keep warning you about any drops in your academic performance. In college, the biggest change that I had to deal with was how everything is left to the students. Attending college is up to you, as are the grades that you earn! But rules are rules. Excuses are never accepted. Lecturers are just that – lecturers. Nothing more!” exclaims Gayathri Mani, a student at Anna University, Chennai.

Getting the most out of collegeOf course, college is so much more than just academics – there are cultural events, excursions, student council activities, clubs, and parties. Participating in everything that college has to offer is the best way to make friends and hone your social skills. Sign yourself up for as many activities as you can manage, while balancing out your academics. You will never again have these many

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!

An aside for the boarders: tips to make the transition easier

• Accommodation: Plan your accommodation well in advance. You can choose to stay in the college dormitory, or find hostel/PG accommodation at close proximity to your college.

• Rooming: You will be spending a large part of your time outside college with your roommate, so get to know her! It is a good idea to discuss practical matters and delegate responsibilities before-hand, so you can avoid confrontation and problems.

• Budgeting: Open a local bank account to allow you access to funds. Don’t splurge on non-essentials, and maintain a notebook to keep track of all your financial transactions.

• Be flexible and learn to expect 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!



Sometimes it really becomes hard to get going when it is cold and foggy outside. As the temperature drops, most people prefer to be cozy, staying indoors snuggled up with a good book or movie. Along with the laziness that sometimes comes with the season, the weather can keep everyone locked indoors. However, it’s important to ensure that your child gets as much exercise during the winter as he or she would during any other season of the year. Some parents aren't very happy with their child playing outdoors, feeling that the drop in the temperature might have an impact on the child’s health. While you may choose not

KEEPING CHILDREN FIT DURING WINTER

to send your children outside to play, he or she can still remain fit with other options.

Generally, in winter, children suffer from colds, and upper and lower respiratory tract infections. While contagious viruses are active year-round, autumn and winter are when we're all most vulnerable to them. This is because we spend more time indoors with each other when the weather gets cold, allowing the viruses to spread faster.The parents and other adults need to understand the child’s limitations, fears, skills and abilities and guide the child properly. Each child can grow to his or her fullest potential with the right amount of support and guidance.

As cold and flu are common and unavoidable in the winter, it is difficult to protect your children from them. But there are certain ways to help them improve their resistance against these seasonal disorders. Here are few tips to help you protect your child from those winter diseases:

• Teach your child to keep his / her hands clean. • Teach your child to use a tissue or a handkerchief while coughing or sneezing.• Get the children to eat food rich with Vitamin C.


Sports And Fitness For Kids

Contact: Dhanalaxmi - 98455 15438370, 1st Floor, 4th Cross, 3rd Phase,J P Nagar, Bangalore – 560078. Ph: 080-26585960 Email: [email protected] www.jumpbunch.com

• Ensure they take proper rest and sleep well.• Encourage your child to be physically active.

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education recommends that all children, including infants and toddlers, should be physically active every day.

Toddlers and preschoolers should have at least 60 minutes daily of unstructured physical activity (free play) or structured physical activity where adults supervise their play. This doesn't need to be all at one time, and can be broken up over the whole day.

Activities during winter should focus on keeping the children’s bodies moving and their minds engaged. There are a lot of fun-filled and interesting indoor games which ensure that the children are moving about and are active, helping them burn off a lot of energy and calories.

1. Children's jump ropes aren't very long, and hence this activity will not take up much space. All it takes is the removal of breakables and moving around some furniture to create space for this activity. 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 you provide close supervision. 3. Play Simon Says and make it as active as possible.4. Have a dance party, crank up the music and get moving. Push back 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

in cold weather. 11. Aerobics help the child be physically active and improve cardio-vascular endurance. 12. Hoop activities like hula hooping keep the children happy and active. 13. Climbing the Agility ladder keeps children active as well as agile. 14. The garage space can be cleared to let the children have fun playing Dodge Ball.

Winters do not mean just playing indoors; instead bundle up the children for some fun outdoor winter activities 1. Feed the birds with your children - Help your children identify the different migratory birds that visit your city/region during winter. . 2. Family walk – Bundle up with everyone and go for walk. 3. Hide and Seek - Everyone has played this game. The general idea is that one child is “it,” that person closes his or her eyes and counts to a certain number without looking and then he or she tries to find the other children.

The winter season can also be so much fun with friends and family. Don’t let the cold stop your child from being active and being fit!


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.



What are the different aspects that parents should pay attention to in order to ensure that children have a ‘healthy lifestyle’?

There are three aspects which, if considered carefully, will ensure that your child adopts a healthy lifestyle. The first is the food a child eats, which must necessarily be wholesome and well balanced – but more about this later.

The second aspect is one of the most important but compromised areas in a child’s life today. With the influx of ‘children’s media’, playtime is being replaced by TV watching and gaming. Children lead a sedentary lifestyle. Encourage your children to play in the evenings, to participate in sports or other physical activities they enjoy for at least 45 minutes to an hour daily.

The third is the emotional development of the child. Parents today want their children to develop all the skill sets possible. So it’s dance and music and drama and craft and drawing…..put a brake on this anxiety to build too many activities into your child’s life! You may do more harm than good. Children need some time to themselves to do what they want and explore on their own without either their parents or teachers telling them what to do. Parents, in turn, must understand the nature of their child, what he likes doing, and nurture that.

What should the ideal diet of an urban child be? What do you consider the key issues in children’s diet patterns today, and how can these be addressed?

Well, this is an extremely broad subject that cannot really be covered in one short conversation! Basically, the parent has to be knowledgeable about what the child’s body requires. While most of the information is available on the net, I would encourage each parent to visit a nutritionist to understand her child’s needs and the food pyramid, and then analyse whether her child is eating right.

There are five food groups – carbohydrates – cereals like bread, rice and wheat; proteins – beans, eggs, meat, fish; milk and milk products; fruits and vegetables, and fats and sugars – besides cooking oils, ghee, butter, sugar, these must include good fats like walnuts, almonds and olive oil.

A child’s diet must include a good mix of foods from these groups. If he is eating from the different groups regularly, then individual preferences for different foods in a particular group and small variations in quantities do not really matter. Parents need to be aware of how many servings of each per week the child requires. This is specific to each child – his body structure, appetite and metabolism. Most kids will decide for themselves how much and what they want to eat, and we should allow this since their body knows best what it needs.

The main issue today is that a lot of children are not eating balanced meals; while one child is picky about vegetables, another maybe fussy about milk while yet another may just not want fruits. They probably eat too much of one food group, and not enough of another. At the same time, as parents, we also need to recognise that the food pyramid allows for a lot of flexibility, more options than that you can imagine. Let me give you an example. Children are generally fussy about eating fruits and vegetables and often have strong likes and dislikes. Did you know that fruits and vegetables can be categorised into five different colours, depending on the kind of anti-oxidants they have? These colours are yellow/orange, red, white, purple/blue and green. If a child likes and chooses at least two fruits or vegetables from each colour category, then he will be fine! If a child does not like tomatoes, but likes red bell peppers, and is also eating pomegranate, then that’s enough. Instead of forcing spinach on him, try okra, beans, methi or broccoli.

Also remember that it’s very rare for a child to accept a new food at the beginning. You will typically need to offer him the same thing around eight to 12 times before he starts enjoying its

flavour. So be patient!

A big problem is the prevalence of convenience packaged foods all around us. It’s very tempting for the tired and busy parent to give the child a packet of chips to eat. But this is absolutely NOT the right thing to do! Giving your child a packet of chips once a week is okay, but it cannot be given regularly, making it something he can’t do without. Packaged foods have strong flavours and are, hence, extremely addictive. Flavours present in natural foods are not as strong. Once kids get used to stronger flavours, they become insensitive to the subtler flavours of natural foods and don’t enjoy these as much. Ideally, foods like chips, instant noodles, candies and cookies MUST NOT BE KEPT AT HOME. Eat them once in a way when you are out, yes, but don’t stock them!

What are the nutrient gaps that we see in children’s diets, and how can these be bridged?

The deficiencies that could crop up are those related to vitamins and minerals (micronutrient deficiency) due to poor consumption of fruits and veggies. As I mentioned, there are five main food groups and children are supposed to eat some items from all of these. But sometimes we deviate, either by giving in to children’s whims, or to suit our own convenience. For example, dinner is not ready and your child is hungry – you give him three biscuits to hold off until dinner. He has such a tiny stomach. If you fill it with three biscuits now, he is not going to eat his usual quota of chapattis and vegetables one hour later! If this practice is a regular feature of your household, the nutritional gap appears.

The first thing a parent must do to bridge nutritional gaps is to educate herself on healthy eating practices as well as keep track of what the child is eating. Maintain a food diary for seven days. ‘Have I given him carbs today? Proteins? What has he eaten?’ Soon you will understand where the loopholes lie and can work towards addressing the same.


Children follow their parents. Practice healthy eating principles yourself, and in all probability your child will follow suit. At least one meal a day should be eaten all together, as a family – this allows your child to observe how you choose your vegetables, eat slowly, munching your food well, and drink enough water.

How does a parent ensure that her child, who is a picky eater, gets enough nutrition?

First find out why your child is a picky eater. Is it because he doesn’t have an appetite, or because he does not like what you are giving him? Are you giving him enough variety and choices? Parents have to take time to understand what healthy food their child enjoys. Try enhancing vegetables and fruit flavours in different ways, through soups, vegetable juices, fruit milkshakes, fruit salads, stir-fired with cheese. We must understand and deliver their choices patiently, WHERE NECESSARY. Reinvent your cooking but do maintain a sense of balance between delivering your child’s food choices and getting him to eat within the family culture.

Some children will eat in smaller quantities but frequently, some in larger quantities but

only three to four times a day. Understand these basic aspects first. Keep a tab on his height and weight – if these figures are within the normal range for his age, (and remember, ‘normal’ can be a different number for every child!), there is not much to worry about.

Of course, there are some children who will eat less no matter what you do! But, only 5% of children will not eat anything despite your best efforts. If your child falls in this category, just to be on the safe side, do consult a paediatrician or nutritionist.

If a child suffers from childhood obesity, what can a parent do to regulate her diet?

Again, pause to consider why he is obese – maybe he is eating too much processed food, or too much sugar or salt? Stay away from food products that are high in salt, fats or sugar. And make sure that your child understands this too. Just as you educate yourself, educate your child as well.

In India, we feed children a lot of ghee, and high fat and sugar foods, to make them ‘healthy’ and chubby. This, however, will only kick off health problems for your

child at a young age. It is essential that we feed our children right when they are very young so that their eating practices are set right, and the rate of increase in fat cells is also controlled (which happens until the age of five). An overweight child will, in all probability, carry these attributes into his adult life.

Another typical problem that arises in joint families is that some grandparents tend to overindulge children with sugar-laden foods — chocolates, sweets, and biscuits. Mothers may not like this, but will remain silent out of respect. You have to get the older generation to understand why you don’t want the children to be overindulged. If they still don’t understand, be firm about your rules with the children – remember, you are doing this for your children.

While regulating the diet of your child, be careful about how you go about it. You don’t want to hurt his self-esteem! First try to prevent obesity by not over feeding your child; if he is obese, then try and understand where the problems are and work on them together with the child. Never use confidence demeaning statements like ‘you’re so fat’ and ‘you can’t run around 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.



Children need hobbies. Hobbies allow them to relax and unwind from a stressful day at school. Music has the power to soothe some children; for others, a picture says what a thousand words cannot. We have discussed theatre, dance, music and art in previous issues of our magazine; in this one, we bring you the benefits of gardening and how it can be a delightful pursuit for children.

Children and

A child as young as three or four years of age can be taught to develop an interest in gardening, and can continue this hobby throughout her life. All she needs is a little help. You may not have a green thumb and may know next to nothing about gardening, but if you know where to start, a ‘task’ might turn into a hobby for you too!

Growing green childrenGardening is a non-competitive and relaxing activity that takes children out into the open. It teaches them to be socially and environmentally responsible, and can be 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.

Gardening

61


Mumbai-based Smita Kharbanda has dedicated the last 18 years of her life to spreading awareness about the environment by conducting gardening classes for young children. She is the founder of ‘EcoKids’, a project she started in 2009 to provide a hands-on experience of gardening and other environmental topics to young children. Kharbanda has worked with kids ranging from three to 12 year-olds, and she believes that “gardening is very good exercise for children who are hyperactive or are going through depression. Children who garden are never aggressive since they develop sensitivity to nature. They never pluck a flower because they know that it will then die. They don’t catch butterflies, which, they know, help in pollination. They associate worms with vermin-culture, and when they grow older, they learn about biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials. They know what is good for the planet. I think that gardening should be made mandatory in schools, with every school scheduling a gardening period in their weekly timetable.”

How does your garden grow?Children can start gardening from the age of three or four years. However, the tasks they do can increase in complexity as they grow older.

It is a given that gardening will hold a young child’s attention, since most love to play with mud (although parents may not be as enthusiastic about this!). The most exciting aspect for younger kids is ‘pouring water’ for the plants (use colourful and manageable water cans or mugs). Children between the ages of three and five can easily manage such activities as watering and digging. You can also help your child grow grass or small plants like mustard or coriander in coconut shells (draw a face on the coconut shell to make it even more interesting).

As they grow slightly older, children will enjoy and learn from more complicated activities, such as planting seeds, pruning plants, weeding, plucking ripened fruits/

vegetables, making compost, and even taking care of bonsai. By the time they are about 12 years of age, they can be completely responsible for the garden and be well able to prune plants, add fertilizer, and trim plants not just for beauty, but also to encourage maximum growth.

Here are some practical tips on how to develop and encourage your child’s interest in gardening:• Take a walk in parks with your child and

collect leaves – make posters, cards and tablemats with these.

• Visit flower and horticultural shows and exhibitions.

• Organise family picnics at parks where there are different plant varieties. This will make children curious about plant types.

• Involve children in planning the garden – what to grow, how to design it, etc.

• Paint and decorate pots for a colourful look.

• To get younger children to join in the fun, use colourful, kid-sized gardening tools. Gardening gloves come in wonderful colours and patterns as well!

• Even cleaning the tools can be made fun by splashing water around.

• Weeding can be a boring chore for children; so be creative – enact stories of a prince saving the beautiful garden by destroying the monster weeds.

• Use good quality seeds of plants that are easy to grow. When your child sees results, this will motivate her further.

• If you are growing vegetables, use them in your cooking. This is one meal that your child will gobble up!

• Make greeting cards using pictures of the plants your children have grown.

• Invite neighbourhood kids home and have a garden party or gardening playdate. This will help motivate not only your children, but their friends too!

• Make sensory gardens with plants like touch-me-not, lavender, etc. This is perfect for very small children or children with disabilities.

Once your children are interested in caring for a garden, it is time to teach them how

“Children love to garden. They do what they are told and they are so excited. They rarely ask ‘when will this flower?’ but simply revel in the whole process. They see the plant growing and feel proud that they were a part of this.”

– Reena Chengappa, My Sunny Balcony

“We grow plants by telling stories. If I just plant a seed, these children will not come back to my class the next time! I have to make gardening interesting by playing music and telling stories. The present project that I am doing with my students is a ‘Pizza Patch,’ where we are growing tomatoes, basil, onions. These are a few things that I have to keep introducing to get the children motivated.”

– Smita Kharbanda, Founder, EcoKids

to go about it. Start by giving them seeds to take care of and grow. Then you can slowly introduce them to the various jobs that need to be done in order to maintain a garden. Gardening can be a fun hobby or a daunting task; it all depends on how you teach your child.


And if you think growing a garden requires a big bungalow with acres of space or a yard large enough to grow enough fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs, think again! You will be surprised at how much you can grow in the smallest of spaces. From innovative vertical gardening systems to hanging pots and easy-access planters, there are many methods that maximise space and allow you to have a little green oasis even in your balcony. Varying the size and height of plants with the help of plant stands and hanging baskets can turn a corner into a mini-garden (Check out www.mysunnybalcony.com for ideas on how you can have a veritable botanical garden in your small balcony at home!).

Making a Career out of a HobbyIf your child is very interested in gardening, and would like to pursue a career in this,

don’t worry. Passion in gardening does not mean that she will only become a gardener! You have a number of options today which demand knowledge of plants and gardening techniques, from landscape architecture, landscape design, and horticultural engineering to botanical engineering and environmental engineering.

Useful Resources• The Gardening Book by Jane Bull• Sunflower Houses: Inspiration from the

Garden – A Book for Children and their Grown-Ups by Sharon Lovejoy

• Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children by Sharon Lovejoy

• http://indigarden.blogspot.sg/• http://www.homeandgardenideas.com/

category/gardening• www.geekgardener.in

General Gardening TipsBe 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.

Gardening classes teach children how to take care of a garden and to be environmentally responsible. Here, your child can meet other like-minded children. These classes are led by an experienced teacher who can guide them, using small, easy steps. Most of these classes are in a group setting, which helps children bond and develop lasting friendships. As parents, our job lies in sustaining the same interest at home, by having the child demonstrate what she learned in class. Gradually, your child will start applying what she learnt in the class and help you in the garden and perhaps grow and maintain it too!

- Anupama Sridhar, 15 years, Irvine, California

Image courtesy: EcoKids, Mumbai


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.

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 incinerators when it could become useful and environmentally beneficial compost instead! Composting reduces what I throw away, it reuses my kitchen waste and it recycles all organic material for my kitchen. Children should be taught the art of composting, which, albeit a little messy at first, can become an immensely satisfying activity.

What is composting?Composting is a way of breaking down organic matter such as kitchen waste and garden trimmings into useful nutrients for the soil. It improves the health of the soil by breaking up clayey soil and enhancing its structure. It is a valuable resource for any garden and the results will be visible for all to see.

How does one compost?Composting can be done in special compost bins that are available in the market, or even in ordinary pots, by using the waste generated in your home and garden.

What you need for composting:• Used flower pots (in terracotta or plastic)• Soil • Lid for the pot

• Kitchen waste• Garden trimmings• A rake

The process:• Use a plant pot with holes in the bottom

for drainage. • Cover the bottom with coconut husk or

cork. You can also use coco-peat which is readily available in gardening shops and supermarkets.

• Cover this with a layer of soil. • Put your kitchen waste for the day over

this soil. Chop up banana peels and orange rinds to aid faster composting.

• Cover this waste with another layer of soil. • Add a layer of garden trimmings. • Cover with soil. • Repeat with kitchen waste and garden

trimmings on alternate layers till the pot is full. Covering the waste with soil ensures that there are minimal flies and smell.

• Stir the contents of this pot with a

rake twice a week. Keep it covered at all times.

• You can begin the process with about four to six pots. As the first pot fills up, move on to the next and so on. The fourth or fifth pot will be full in about six to eight weeks, and that is enough time for the contents of the first pot to be ready for use!

• Remember to stir regularly twice a week. • When the compost is ready, use it as a

top layer around the plants. It can be used on garden beds and in containers.

• The bacteria that break down your compost need air to survive. A week or two after the pile is made, these bacteria will start to die as they use up the available air in the pile. This drop in the amount of bacteria will result in the compost pile cooling off a bit from its peak temperature. When this happens it’s time to turn the pile to get more air into it. When turning your compost pile, move

Teach your Child to Make Compost at Home- Contributed by Renuka Vaidyanathan

“Recycling waste into compost teaches children that they have a responsibility to the planet that goes beyond their own home.”

– Chengappa

Image courtesy: Renuka Vaidyanathan


Vegetable and fruit peels

Uncooked and rotting vegetable scraps

Tea bags,

Coffee grounds

Crushed egg shells

Dried flowers

Grass clippings*Egg shells and banana peels are my absolute favourites as they break down very quickly and provide instant nutrients to plants. They take less than a month to break down, while an orange peel takes much longer.

Shredded paper (non-glossy)

Used kitchen tissues

Kitchen and toilet paper cardboard rolls (cut up to speed up the process)

Dryer lint (if the fabrics are cotton)

Dried leaves

Small twigs

Non chemically treated saw dust, if available

Corn cobs*I do not use newspaper as the newsprint may be chemical-laden.

Green materials Green materials

the drier material from the outer edges of the pile into the centre and break up any clumps to get as much air into the mixture as you can. Moisten any of the materials as you go if they seem dry.

You may be squeamish in the initial weeks at the sight of the gooey, wormy mixture, but as the weeks go by and the compost is formed, it starts smelling good (like soil and rain, which is a wonderful smell) and does not look slimy anymore but becomes crumbly. You can even keep a dish under the composting pot to collect the excess water, which can go directly to the plants.

Getting the right mixture of brown (carbon) materials and green (nitrogenous) materials will make a big difference to your compost. Adding too much brown material will result in a compost pile that takes a

long time to break down. Adding too much green material will result in a compost pile

that is slimy and smelly and doesn’t break down well.

Some useful websites:http://www.compost-info-guide.com/make_better_compost.htmhttp://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Compost-Bin

Image courtesy: EcoKids, Mumbai


Children’s Books

by Indian Authors

Hanuman’s Ramayan

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.

Ages 3-5


Bookworm


Faces in the Water

Ranjit Lal

Penguin

The Adventures of Feluda

Satyajit Ray

Penguin

Ages 10–12

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.

What Young India Wants

Chetan Bhagat

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.

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!

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!

Ages 13+

Non-Ficti

on

for Tee

nagers

Ages 6–9

Bookworm


The Indian Parenting Book

Meenal Pandya

Alchemy

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.

Parenting Books

by Indian Authors

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.


Bookworm


WorkingVS

Xchange


Stay-at- Home

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 necessary educational qualifications and 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 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.

Xchange


Akshay Sivakumar, Chennai, is in grade 10 and a movie buff. Working mother – Hema Sivakumar

Vijayalakshmi, Bangalore, is a homemaker and an innovative cook. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and participating in group prayer recitals. Working daughter – Sudha Kumar

Sraddha Kartik, Florida, USA, is a seven-year old who loves visiting her extended family in India over the summer. Working mother – Abhirami Kartik

Shyamala Lakshmipathy, Delhi, enjoys reading the newspaper, is an ace at stitching and mending and loves to cook all her food by herself. Working daughter-in-law – Uma Ravishankar and working daughter – Shobha Sundar

Priyanka Kumar, Bangalore, is an 11th grader who pursues ballet, piano and writing. Working mother – Sudha Kumar

Neela Ramamurthy, Chennai, is fond of Carnatic music and is part of a singing group. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. Working daughter – Hema Sivakumar

Respondent ProfilesHouseholds with a working mother

So which is better for the family? Can a working mother actually be there for her children when they need her? Can a stay-at-home mom teach her children to be independent and self-reliant? The ParentEdge team decided to bring this controversial but 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!


Xchange


Varun Hariharan, Chennai, is a 10th grader, deeply

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

Shobana Vijay Sampath, Mumbai, enjoys reading, travelling and singing film songs. Her daughter is a stay-at-home mother – Kajal Bohra

Sreerangapriya Mukundan, Chennai, learns Carnatic vocal

music and is in grade 11 in Vidya Mandir School. Stay-at-home mother – Aparna Mukundan

R. Sulochana, Chennai, is the retired chief engineer of TNEB. Her daughter is a stay-at-home mother – Sujatha Hariharan

Respondent ProfilesHouseholds with a stay-at-home mother


Xchange


Your mother is a working mother. Do you think that working mothers are able to spend adequate time with their children?

No - not all the time - because moms work even at home after coming back from the office, doing all the housework.

– Sraddha Kartik

I don’t think I miss out on time with my mom because she always puts aside time for me no matter what the circumstances are. I think all mothers do that. They keep a constant check on us, communicate through cell phones and are just as concerned as mothers who don’t work. My mom insists that the family eat dinner together every day and lunch as well over the weekend. She also discusses school issues, homework, etc. with me regularly.

– Akshay Sivakumar

We may not spend hours talking together, but my mom knows all my friends, what I am doing….I think it’s about what you do with the time that you have together.

– Priyanka Kumar

Children with working mothers tend to be more independent and self-reliant than those with stay-at-home mothers. Do you agree or disagree?

I agree. For example, stay-at-home mothers will sit by their children and check their work constantly. I complete my homework on my own when I am at daycare, and my mom just checks my work when I get home.

– Sraddha Kartik

I disagree. After a certain age, all children are expected to be able to function on their own. Children should learn to be self-reliant, whether they have working mothers or not. Risk-taking, for example, is behaviour that all mothers monitor

Households with a working mother

Children’s Take

carefully. My mother weighs all the pros and cons before letting me do anything and never lets me take unnecessary risks; so it’s not just about independence and self-reliance.


Responsibility is a quality that depends on the individual. What I can say though is, that in my case, having a mom who was not at home has really helped me – my mom would sometimes reach home late and I would be alone until 7.30 at night. This just taught me to grow up that much faster. If my parents now were to go out of town for two days, I could confidently manage the house on my own.

– Priyanka Kumar

How do you think having a working mother affects children, both positively and negatively?

I like going to my mother’s work place and meeting her colleagues. This has made me comfortable with adults. But, I miss my mother when I see other moms being volunteers at school every day. She needs to plan beforehand when she volunteers since she has to let her boss know that she will be late to work.

– Sraddha Kartik

On the positive side, children tend to look up to such mothers as hard-working and high achievers – a good role model for them. Of course, if the mother is unable to balance her professional and personal life well, then this could affect the family and children negatively. Some children are left unmonitored and indulge in wrong habits. These are rare cases though, because most mothers give priority to their children, rather than their jobs!


On the positive side, having a working mother makes the child more independent and self-sufficient. I have also noticed that the child has a greater tendency to think on his or her feet. It makes the child more adaptable to different sorts of situations since the mother isn’t there to sort out every problem she faces. The negatives are that the mother may not always be able to give complete and undivided attention to the child at all times. And there could also be times when the mother may be having a busy week and so maybe stressed out – so she may lose her patience faster with the child.

– Priyanka Kumar

Have you developed certain qualities that you feel are a direct result of having a working mother?

Having a working mother helps me in being independent – doing homework on my own and learning my spellings on my own.

– Sraddha Kartik

From my mother, I learn the value of hard work, perseverance, and also how to deal with problems. Plus, I get lessons in how to handle annoying colleagues – useful for the future!


I prefer having a working mother because I think, in some ways, the working mother lets the child find her own way through a problem. There’s a lot more independence established from a younger age. And this directly results in the ability to make our own decisions – an important skill to have.

– Priyanka Kumar

Do you feel that your lifestyle is different from that of children with stay-at-home moms? If yes, in what way?

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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.


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!


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

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Your daughter/daughter-in-law is a working mother. Do you think that working mothers are able to spend adequate time with their children?

My daughter is a teacher, and she is quite busy with her work, but she makes time for her family and takes care of them well. She doesn’t lose out in communication, time spent with children and interaction with them.

– Neela Ramamurthy

Working mothers are definitely able to give enough time to their children! I have three daughters, all working, who give more than adequate attention to their children.

– Vijayalakshmi

If they (working mothers) are smart enough, they will know how much time they are devoting to their profession versus their family. If you are confident of your capability, you can work and still spend adequate time with your children.

– Shyamala Lakshmipathy

Working mothers are less involved in their children’s daily affairs than stay-at-home moms. Do you agree or disagree?

My daughter has got a cell phone and is always connected to everyone at home. She gives instructions over the phone whenever necessary, talks to the family regularly, etc.


Personally, I don’t differentiate between the two. But all working mothers are not the same and whether they are involved in their kids’ lives or not depends on the individual.

– Vijayalakshmi

When a lady stays at home, she tries to do the clothes, tries to clean and takes care of all the household chores in addition to looking after her children, but a working mother will give all this work to the maid. She will know that her main responsibility is to the children and to look after them when she is at home. She involves herself in their daily lives despite a busy

working schedule. With coordination and organisation, everything is possible.


Do children of working mothers tend to be more independent and self-reliant?

It really depends on the mother. Before the mother starts working, she should teach her young children to be independent so that they can manage on their own and know how to handle any problems.


Of course, children of working mothers tend to be more self-reliant. Many times they are left alone to learn for themselves.

— Vijayalakshmi

Financial independence and confidence while going out are some of the values that I see in children of working mothers. They definitely seem to be more self-reliant.

— Shyamala Lakshmipathy

In general, how do you think having a working mother affects children, both positively and negatively?

There are both advantages and disadvantages to working mothers, just like there are in the case of housewives. You may have a mother who is at home, and still does not attend to her children!


As long as the working mother spends adequate time with her family, I appreciate the fact that she is using her qualifications. Of course, the husband also has a say in the matter, and whether the mother works or not should be a joint family decision.

– Vijayalakshmi

Because working mothers are not at home, they are not there when the children want them and a grandmother has to deal with them. This will have some effects on the children – being brought up by indulgent grandparents. Also, working mothers tend to spend more money on their children as they are not able to spend time with them. The children also know this very well. Mothers should only work if they

are confident of being able to look after the children and family as well.


Can you comment on the role of the working mother in relation to the rest of the family?

Even if the mother is working, her attachment and commitment to the family and children will always be more than to her workplace.


Generally, family and children come first for any mother. Even while working, some mothers are very particular about their children’s affairs. What role she plays within the family really depends on the individual and her attitude and priorities.

– Vijayalakshmi

Because the mother is working, she has better financial resources and will be independent and capable, whether it is sending the car for servicing or managing the bank account. That’s how I feel. Working mothers are smarter and more capable.


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

The children are proud of a mother who achieves things at her workplace – generally children will automatically co-operate with their mother.


I don’t think there are any particular benefits in having a working or stay-at-home mom – to me, there is no difference between the two and the role they play as a mother.

– Vijayalakshmi

There will be double income in the family due to a working mother and there will be better facilities in the house, like cars and air conditioners. The additional income will be most welcome for education of the children.


Grandparents’ Take

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Households with a stay-at-home mother

Children’s TakeYour 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

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In families with stay at home mothers, the children will have someone to turn to any time of the day, starting from asking for help in homework to helping you search for the lost pencil and getting food when you’re hungry. On the negative side, unless the parent is really careful, the child will start depending on her for everything.


Do you feel that your lifestyle is different from that of children with working moms? If yes, in what way?

There are working moms who are absent from their kid’s lives, missing out on a lot, all the little experiences. I argue and fight a lot with my mom, but we also laugh a lot and are an important part of each other’s lives – we have all the time we need for this!

– Ananya Ramesh

I feel that my family has better communication than that of one with a working mother since my mother is around all the time.

– Varun Hariharan

In terms of lifestyle, a child with a working mother will obviously have more money and the luxuries of life will be more. With a non-working mother, the child will have moral and emotional support but limited luxury.


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 am less likely to explore things on my own and venture out. All children learn to be independent when they are old enough!

– Varun Hariharan

It is really upto the mother to shape the child. It’s up to the mother to make sure the child is independent – I don’t think it is necessarily true that all office-going mothers would have independent children. They may, rather, feel lonely and insecure and not independent!


What benefits do you see for the family in having a stay-at-home mother?

A stay-at-home mom gives you a sense of security, not to mention healthy food and support in everything that you do. She is actively involved in building and strengthening the character of her child. The mother and child develop strong bonds and the child will look to her mother for everything. I, for one, much prefer coming home to mom than to an empty house!

– Ananya Ramesh

With a stay at home mom my family gets a ready-made, trustworthy, loyal, faithful, awesome, free of cost watch-woman, cook, driver, teacher, advisor and friend who requires only love and respect in return!


depends on the mom. Some moms might have the ability to hold the family together perfectly well even if they are working…others may not even if they are not working.


How do you think having a stay-at-home mother affects children, both positively and negatively?

Stay-at- home moms bring up proper and disciplined children. They take pains in doing the best for their kids all by themselves, but when they do so, the kids grow more dependent. I am reliant on my mom for every little thing.

– Ananya Ramesh

With a homemaking mother, I get more support and that is the positive aspect. On the negative side, there is less privacy and naturally, less free time.

– Varun Hariharan


Your daughter / daughter-in-law is a stay-at-home mother. Do you think that stay-at-home moms actually do spend more quality time with their kids than working mothers?

My daughter is at home when the children are at home – she ensures that she attends to all the household needs and keeps everything ready for her two children when they come home from school. She is definitely able to spend more time with her children than a working mother would.

– R. Sulochana

Of course! I feel that, in general, stay at home mothers spend more time with their children. Working mothers also spend time with their children but somebody else, like a grandparent, takes the main responsibility for the children. However, many housewives who are at home may not spend quality time with children. Working mothers and fathers, on the other hand, will almost certainly spend quality time with the children when at home.

– V. Kalyani

I definitely think so. I have experienced this myself, and now see it with my daughter too. Homemakers can spend good time with children whenever they want to; working mothers are tired after work and can’t spend as much time.

– Shobana Sampath

Non-working mothers are a result of a traditional upbringing that believes that a mother should be at home for her children. Do you agree or disagree?

I don’t think non-working mothers are a result of a traditional or restrictive upbringing because they have responsibilities and equal rights in all household activities as well as the children’s activities. Responsibilities and rights are not only about the workplace.

– R. Sulochana

Traditionally, mothers do look after children, so it does not really have to do with upbringing. If the mother is comfortable with the family situation, in terms of help with her children, support, etc., then

Grandparents’ Takeworking will not pose such a big problem.

– V. Kalyani

She needn’t be at home all the time. Maybe she can do a part time job. Children will also realise that the mother has to do something for herself too. They don’t have to ‘work’ but can go for classes like yoga, something they really do for themselves.

– Shobana Sampath

Do your grandchildren appreciate the fact that their mother is around all the time, or do they find it a bit stifling at times?

The children enjoy the presence of their mother with them all the time as it gives them moral support and a feeling of security.

– R. Sulochana

That’s tricky. Children might not want the mother around them all the time. They want free time too. Sometimes, the mother should also give liberty to the children and let them do whatever they want to do.

– Shobana Sampath

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

I don’t think this is true. Even children with stay-at-home mothers are nowadays more independent and confident. Parents interact with kids in a more open and friendly way and children are also more confident and secure in the presence of their parents.

– R. Sulochana

When it comes to independence and responsibility, I don’t think the situation of the mother makes much of a difference nowadays. Children these days go to classes, tuitions, and are used to getting around on their own. They also have more exposure so develop independence and responsibility in any case.

– V. Kalyani

This does not depend on whether the mother is working or not. It depends on how the child is being raised.

– Shobana Sampath

Many people believe that stay-at-home mothers are ‘wasting’ their educational qualifications. What do you say?

They are not ‘wasting’ their education; it is just a choice that they have made. However, I guess it is true that non-working mothers are not putting their education and qualifications to good use.

– R. Sulochana

One cannot say that housewives are wasting their education. You have to look at each family and their circumstances. Their education is not wasted just because they put their children first!

– V. Kalyani

Mothers can use their education in raising their children well – maybe teach your child yourself instead of sending him for tuitions. They are not ‘wasting their education’ – they can freelance or work from home and do courses from home.

– Shobana Sampath

What benefits do you see for the family in having a stay-at-home mother?

The stay-at-home mother is fully involved in the affairs of her children and makes many important household decisions.

– R. Sulochana

A stay-at-home mother has more free time and can spend more time with her children. She probably will not need to send her younger children for tuition since she can work with them at home. Mothers and children develop a good understanding and learn to communicate well. A stay-at-home mother can do all this; a working mother, even if she wants to, will not have energy for all this when she gets home from work as she will be tired.

– V. Kalyani

The benefits of the non-working mother is that she can attend more to the children, husband, cooking activities, etc., keeping in mind the likes and dislikes of each member of the family.

– Shobana Sampath

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Things to DoChennai

Know Your Kid – Parenting WorkshopThis is a parenting workshop that aims to equip you with effective parenting skills. The workshop teaches skills that will bring about more co-operation from your children, more than all the yelling and pleading in the world! Date: 5 January, 2013 Time: 8:00am to 5:00pm

Contact: IITM Research Park Kanagam Road, Taramani, ChennaiPh: 9840927660Email: [email protected]

Flying Elephants The Flying Elephants workshop will teach children how the brain works. Learn creative thinking techniques for approaching problems in unconventional ways. Learn how to be rid of personal limitations and negative emotions. Through fun and thought provoking exercises, you will learn to boost your brain power in ways that will amaze you!

Date: 25-28 January, 2013Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm

Contact: IITM Research Park, Kanagam Road, Taramani, ChennaiPh: 9840927660Email: [email protected]/event/flying-elephants-2

Smoke-fire Pottery Workshop An 8 day-long workshop where participants will make pots, burnish them and fire them. The participants will then decorate their pots with various resists and smoke-fire them. Once smoke-fired, the resists will be removed to reveal decorations where the smoke had touched the pots.

Age: 12 years and aboveDate: 16-21 January, 2013Time: 10am to 1pm

Contact: DakshinaChitra, East Coast Road, Muttukadu Chingleput DistrictPh: 27472603, 24462435Email: [email protected]

Vipassana Meditation CentreVipassana is one of India’s most ancient meditation techniques. The word Vipassana means 'seeing things as they really are'. It is the process of self-purification by self-observation. Children’s courses are open for all children aged 8-12 years old who wish to learn to meditate. Teenagers’ Anapana courses are also conducted here.

Date: 17 February, 2013Time: 8:30am to 5:00pm

Contact: Vipassana Meditation Centre, ’DhammaSetu’, 533 Pazhanthandalam Road,Thirumudivakkam (Via Thiruneermalai), ChennaiPh: 94442-80952/94442-90953Email: [email protected]

BASF Kids’ Lab BASF Kids’ Lab is an interactive chemistry education programme that focuses on educating children about the role of chemistry in building a sustainable future. Through simple, fun-filled experiments, students get to understand the role that chemistry plays in enriching our daily lives. Students will perform these experiments on their own with the help of photo guides and BASF mentors as facilitators.

To participate, please email your name, grade, age, school, parents' name, mobile

number to [email protected]

Age: 9 to 11 years (5th grade and 6th grade)Date: 11-20 January, 2013

Contact: BASF India Limited, 1st Floor, Vibgyor Towers,Plot No. C - 62, ‘G’ Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, MumbaiPh: 66618000www.india.basf.com/apex/India/India/en/content/sustainability/sustainability_KidsLab

Pune


Early Language & Communication WorkshopSee your chatterers turn into confident speakers. This programme will enhance confidence, listening ability, expression and vocabulary. It encourages discussions and healthy debates on a variety of issues and trains children to think out of the box.

Age: 3 to 10 yearsDates: 16 January to 13 March, 2013Timing: 5pm to 6pm, every Wednesday

Contact: Think Box Library and Playzone Anmol Plaza, Above Bank of India, Opp. Vignan Nagar Bus Stop, Malleshpalya Near Bethany High School, ThippasandraPh: 9611755233/080 64569955www.mylittlechatterbox.co.in

Travel Season - Globetrippers India Join the globetrippers as their imagination travels to four different states of India, starting January 2013. Explore the historical aspects, culture, handicrafts, artisans, music, and dance forms Kerala, Gujarat, Orissa and our capital, Delhi, through a fun and impressionable experience.

Cost: `4000/- Age: 6 to 12 years Date: 12 January to 16 February, 2013

Contact: HIDE and PEEK 102/7, 1ST Main,

Bangalore

Jayamahal Extn, More Super Market Jayamahal, BangalorePh: [email protected]/globetrippers

Colour Palette Institute Of ArtOffers various drawing & hobby courses for children and Camlin Ltd. certifies these Drawing and Hobby courses. Students will receive certificate from Camlin Ltd. on course completion.

Age: 4 to 15 yearsDate & Time: Weekend Classes

Contact: I Play Island School, 4th Sector, HSR layout, Next to Mom & Me, Near Mac Donald Circle - HSR Layout, BangalorePh: 9731985565www.colourpalette.co.in

Krshala Dance TheatreOorja - Creative DanceChildren in the age group of 3-5 years learn a combination of modern dance, rhythmic movement and basic dance elements picked from a range of Indian, western and contemporary dance forms. Children learn how to move to clapping and percussion instruments, and to the rhythms, phrases and melodies of music and song.

Footloose – Mixed GroupA combination class where six different forms are taught over a period of six months, with a different form each month.

The cycle repeats through the second part of the year. The six forms include Contemporary, Bollywood, Western, Kathak, Kalaripayattu and DanceYoga. This gives children an insight into different types of dance forms to help them identify the form they like best, and maybe take it up seriously later on. A fun-filled, exciting, energetic and highly enthusiastic series of classes.

Age: 3 to 15 yearsDate & Time: Monday to Sunday, 4pm to 7pm

Contact: No. 681 10th Main Road,4th Block, Koramangala, BangalorePh: 25633849/9886759716/9880212072Email: [email protected],www.krshala.com

Hyderabad

Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) 2013 The Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) is an annual event that celebrates creativity in all its forms. It draws over a hundred writers, artists, scholars and publishers from India and abroad each year. Its programme includes conversations with authors, readings, panel discussions, workshops, book launches, cultural programmes and

events for college students and school children. Special programmes will be organised on 19 January, 2013 for school children, which will keep them engaged and entralled for the whole day. Date: 18-20 January, 2013Time: Starts at 9.30am on the 18th of January and continues till 20th January 4.30pm

Contact: Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Gachibowli, HyderabadPh: 9848345490/40159613www.hyderabadliteraryfestival.comEmail: [email protected],[email protected]


Ben10 Live - Time MachineWatch an international entertainment extravaganza - Cartoon Network's BEN10 LIVE: TIME MACHINE. Featuring the number one superstar himself, Ben Tennyson, his cousin Gwen and Grandpa Max, this action-packed show also includes Ben's alien heroes Four Arms, Diamondhead, Swampfire, and Big Chill.

Age: 2 to 14 yearsDate: 30 January to 3 February, 2013Time: Shows at 10:30am, 1:30pm, 4:00pm, 6:30pmTicket Price: `500 - 2500

Contact: August Kranti Marg, Siri Fort RoadPh: 7838453000 - Mr. Akshat Singh

Simi Sahnan's Theatre Group The director, and theatre teacher from England, Ms. Simi Sahnan works personally with every child. A personality assessment is done, with the target being to maximise the potential that the individual can reach by teaching him/her personality developemt, leadership skills, confidence building and communication skills.

Average Fees: `3500Age: 9 to 14 yearsDate & Time: Holidays - 11:30am to 1pm; Monday to Friday 4pm to 7pm

Contact: E 375, Greater Kailash 2, New DelhiPh: 66579001Email: [email protected] www.facebook.com/SimiSahnansTheatreGroup?ref=hl

Rupali’s Cookery ClassesRupali’s Cake Craft & Culinary Arts, is the centre of Rupali’s Epicurean Cookery School, where you learn classic and creative cookery in a professional but informal atmosphere.

Rupali’s practical, fun and informal approach makes the learning process 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.

New Delhi

Average Fees: `600-700/courseAge: 9 to 14 yearsDate & Time: Monday - Saturday, 2.5 hour class 11.30am to 1.00pm

Contact: C-632 Sushant Lok-I, New DelhiPh: 2577264/9811236567Email: [email protected]

Kids’ GalleryKids’ Gallery was founded in Hong Kong in 1996 as a unique concept in arts enrichment education for children. Today, Kids’ Gallery operates centres in Hong Kong, China, Singapore and India. At Kids’ Gallery, the aim is to create awareness of and arouse interest in the arts among children of all ages, and to develop a solid foundation of creativity and arts appreciation, through a wide range of arts enrichment programmes.

Age: 2 to 8 yearsDate & Time: Monday - Saturday, 10.15am to 5.45pm

Contact: 60, Vasant Marg Ground Floor, Vasant Vihar, New DelhiPh: 66579134Email: [email protected]/newdelhi/en_index.php

Sharp Academy Of Fine Arts Sharp Academy of Fine Arts is organising a roadshow of painting exhibits, to encourage awareness and knowledgeof the Arts.

Age: 4 to 15 yearsDate & Time: 6 Days a week; 4pm to 9pm

Contact: 304, Krishna Mall, Sector 12 Dwarka, Plot 5, Pocket 2 Near Ayushman Hospital, New DelhiPh: 66579134Email: pradeepmann1980@yahoo.co.inwww.sharpinstituteofartandcraft.blogspot.com


Mumbai

Colour Crates At Colour Crates you are the taught basics and then guided to explore colour and design yourself. Artistic concepts are based on actual touch and feel. You can do research work on artistic subjects, study different cultures and discover new perspectives. The programme also offers toddlers’ pre-interviews, training, coaching for government recognised art certified elementary and intermediate drawing exams. Courses can be customised and do not require an artistic background.

Age: For children, and adults upto 60 years Days: Monday to Saturday Time: 10.30am to 7.30pm

Contact: Shop No:5, Ground Floor, Swarup Building Kemps Corner, Opp. The Shalimar Hotel, MumbaiPh: 61245865Email: [email protected]

Inter Schools Premier League (ISPL 2013) - The Sports Gurukul Inter Schools Premier League (ISPL 2013) organised by the Sports Gurukul is a special platform for schools to showcase their skills in cricket, to recognise the best talents and encourage fair play and team spirit.

The best school gets a chance to be trained under Mr. Balwinder Sandhu, part of the 1983 World Cup Cricket winning team. Age: 6 to 16 yearsDate: 3-21 January, 2013

Contact: Stree Mandal Santacruz, Tagore Road, Behind Asha Parekh Hospital, Santacruz West, MumbaiPh: 9322181849/9833313108Email: [email protected]

Graphic Design For Kids Graphic Design for Kids is a programme that will open the doors to your child’s natural creativity through visual design. Each lesson will challenge children to think innovatively and create designs with brilliant, fresh ideas.

Through different art and design activities they will learn the following :

• Fundamentals of Graphic Design• Art of thinking creatively• Effective communication of ideas• To approach assignments with creative

solutions• To critically analyse one’s own work• Improving school presentations• Discovering design softwares Age: 8 to 15 yearsDate: 5 January to 27 April, 2013Time: 8-11 years: 11am to 12pm; 11-15 years: 12pm to 1pm

Contact: C/o Jetha Properties Pvt.Ltd.Jetha Compound, 1st Floor, Dr. B. Ambedkar Road Opp. Nirmal Park, MumbaiEmail:[email protected]

My Music Gym Music Together is an early-childhood music and movement programme for children upto 12 years old, and their parents. Music Together classes are based on the recognition that all children are musical. All children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat and participate with confidence in musical activities, provided that their early environment supports such learning. Music learning also supports cognitive, language and physical development.

Age: upto 12 yearsDate: Monday- Saturday, 9:30am to 7pm

Contact: Opposite Byculla Railway Babasaheb Ambedkar Road, Byculla, Next to The Byculla Zoo, MumbaiPh: 23712781Email: [email protected]

Barry John Acting StudioParticipants will be engaged in directed activities based on the Barry John method – the students create the drama. Daily warm-ups, group and individual exercises and improvisations get the kids in touch with themselves, each other and their home, school and neighbourhood environment. Students learn observation, character development, acting techniques and scriptwriting, working together to make real drama from their own life experiences. The Summer Theatre Workshop culminates in a final performance at a theatre venue.

Age: 4 to 60 yearsDate & Time: Monday - Friday,9.30am - 5.00pm

Contact: 301, Nanak Chambers, New Link Road Andheri (West), Opposite Fun Republic, Mumbai Ph: 9967977967/9967977966www.imagoindia.com/bjas


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.


Places to See


Bangalore to Kanyakumari (650 km)A visit to Kanyakumari, the southern-most point of India, where the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean meet, is well worth the drive from Bangalore to get here. A drive on NH7 can make for an interesting history lesson as well. En route, make a quick stop in the temple city of Madurai, and stretch your legs in the vast Meenakshi temple complex there. Rameshwaram, an important Hindu pilgrimage centre, is another small island-town that merits a visit. The town boasts of a famous Jyotirlinga Shiva temple and is also the scene of an important passage from the Ramayana.

While the beach in Kanyakumari may be nothing to write home about, be sure to visit the Vivekananda Rock and check out the Kanyakumari temple with its glittering goddess. A must-visit gem is the famous Suchindram temple about 11kms away, dedicated to the Hindu Triumvirate.

Kolkata to Darjeeling (630 km)A character in a book by Satyajit Ray once said, “It may only be an accident of geography, but can you think of any other state that has lush green farmland, dry and arid areas, a forest like the Sunderbans, huge rivers like the Ganga, Padma and Meghna, an ocean at its bottom and the Himalayas at its top?” Discover elements of this wondrous state on a drive from Kolkata to Darjeeling. The most direct route for the car journey is straight north on NH34/31; the route will take you along the border of India and Bangladesh, allowing you glimpses of the landscape in both countries. Be sure to visit Ghum, about 6kms away from your

destination. Ghum is famous for Tiger’s Hill, a spot that provides a spectacular view of Kanchenjunga and Mt Everest. The monasteries in Ghum are also well worth a visit.

Delhi to Amritsar (460 km)Apart from the attraction of culture-filled Amritsar, this drive also introduces you to a host of other delightful towns such as Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Panipat, Karnal and Kurukshetra. Use this opportunity to visit the land of the Mahabharata and make a quick stop at Kurukshetra to visit its museums of mythology. In Amritsar itself, shed a tear for the innocents massacred at the Jallianwala Bagh, and then take in the breathtaking vision that is the Golden Temple. This temple draws in thousands of visitors, tourists and devotees of varying faiths each day and binds them together with a communal lunch. Round off your trip by driving another 30 minutes to visit the Indo-Pak Wagah border.

Chennai to Kochi (680 km)While you’re spending some long hours on the road for this trip, you are traversing the whole of South India between the eastern and western coasts. Kochi is not only famous for its stunning beaches but also for its backwaters, the famous Jew Town with its historical artifacts and curios, and delicious food! Places of interest en route include Salem, Coimbatore, Kanchipuram and Palakkad. Visit landmark temples in Kanchipuram, a region that has endured the Cholas, Pallavas, Carnatic Rulers and even the British rulers. Palakkad, the ‘Gateway to Kerala’, has a rich heritage of carnatic music and good food.

Hyderabad to Pondicherry (780 km) Beaches, temples, pilgrimage and good food. And that’s not the destination - we’re talking about the drive to get there! To get to Pondicherry, you drive through Tamil Nadu, a state that’s bursting with life – drive through Chennai and stop over at Mahabalipuram. Resuming your drive with the beach for company, enter Pondicherry. And you will feel that you have entered a completely different country! Explore the warren of cobbled streets and winding roads á la France and try to pronounce the names of all the ‘Rues’ there. The cuisine is delectable and the place retains its old world charm. Also visit the Mother’s Shrine, Auroville and the myriad of handmade paper shops. Finally, unwind on the golden beaches before heading back.

Mumbai to Goa (600kms)This surely has to be the one of the most scenic and romantic drives in India – stretching all the way along the beautiful and lush Konkan coast. The condition of the road is not very good, but once you take in the beauty en route, rest assured that no one will gripe about the potholes! Stop over at the Karnala Bird Sanctuary, boasting over 150 species of birds that migrate here for the winter. Forts in Ratnagiri and the Koyna Dam in Chiplun, surrounded by rich greenery – all this and more as you wend your way to Goa. When you finally reach your destination, you will like nothing better than to relax and unwind on the beautiful white beaches, eat good food and enjoy the old-world charm of the city.


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