Posted on: 17-01-07 11:47:03
I don't know if its only me, but now that winter is finally upon us, I cannot see my pre-schooler locked in the house for the whole day. It really breaks my heart to see him playing all by himself. Though there are occassional visits to the malls, grocery stores, etc and weekend visits to friends places, I feel they need some daily interaction with kids of their own age. And then just out of boredom they demand to put on something on the television. Well I really cannot blame them as how much would they play by themselves of even with us. I feel that just like in India, evening times should be play times for kids of their own age.
If there are others who share my plight and live in the North York/ Vaughan/ Richmond Hill/ markham/ East Brampton area and would like to get together either during the day or on evenings please reply.
Also useful suggestions from other parents out there are more than welcome as to what do you do with your kids during these winter months.
1.There are special classes/groups for preschoolers in the schools which have kindergarten. This involves story telling, learning about shapes, colors and all other relevant information for the childe.This also helps in the parent taking an active role in the kids life and they learn how to read a book for a child.This is free and the only condition is that a parent/relative has to accompany the child to this program.
2.You also have story telling hours in your local community library. You need to register for this sessions and this again is mostly free in many libraries. You could go down there spend time in doing research on your career goals, while your child can play in the children section.
3.Please avoid TV as much as possible for your kid so that they do not get controlled/addicted to TV.There are special bookstores which cater to children of that age where they can get activities to do at home. This would create a habit for the children so that when they start going to school they do not throw tantrums. The best way is to dress up your child with a proper backpack with a snack/water bottle and walk her to school one time atleast so that they go to school and see other children walking into classes. This way you would prepare your child for school and they will not cry/make life miserable for the KG teachers when you drop off when they start going to school. Believe me I have seen enough of this type of behavior from Desi Children when their parents drop them off at school initially.
The four most avoidable stuff for your child in the earlier life are:
TV/ Internet/Video Games & MP 3 Player.
Good Luck !
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Speech by Thomas Friedman of The New York Times....
"When we were young kids growing up in America, we were told to eat our
vegetables at dinner and not leave them. Mothers said, 'think of the
starving children in India and finish the dinner.' And now I tell my
children: 'Finish your maths homework. Think of the children in India
who would make you starve, if you don't.'"
Check with the nearby elementary school for Readiness Center. They have programs for kids from 6 mths to 4 yrs without any cost to you.
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4z4z
Something more on these lines under the topic of Parenting by Mukesh Ambani.
http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/jan/17inter.htm
Our own childhood was totally different. I guess when you are left on your own, you find your true potential. I remember my father never came to our school even once. Nevertheless, he was hugely interested in our all-round development for which he did some amazing things.
By that time -- the early '70s -- Vimal was a fairly successful textile brand. So everybody expected me to do textile engineering. I shocked them by saying that I would go to IIT. Interestingly, 4-5 of us friends studying together for Inter-science were all among the top 10. Ajay Parekh, who runs Pidilite, topped Bombay University. I stood fifth or sixth.
Since Inter-science results were announced after the IIT entrance, I joined IIT, Bombay. After the Inter-science results a few weeks later, I left and joined University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT) along with my friends.
Did your academic choices help you in the process of self-discovery?
From the beginning, it was clear that we would have to find our own path. Along with that came the self-realisation that we would have to propel ourselves to achieve excellence. I am trying to learn how to do that as a parent. There is a trick somewhere; sometimes we do a lot. 
I feel that I am more ready for ICSE exams than my daughter. I know everything and I can beat any parent of my age in ICSE exam hands down.
How do you get the time to do it?
I am passionate about it, so one makes the time. My daughter says it is wrong. 'I will have to study it myself,' she says. The trick is to light a fire. It is not about pouring knowledge into the brains of kids but lighting that spark so that they learn by themselves.
With us, my father achieved it without trying as hard as we do. It also depends on circumstances, friends and luck. Probably, we were fortunate to have everything in place.
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Speech by Thomas Friedman of The New York Times....
"When we were young kids growing up in America, we were told to eat our
vegetables at dinner and not leave them. Mothers said, 'think of the
starving children in India and finish the dinner.' And now I tell my
children: 'Finish your maths homework. Think of the children in India
who would make you starve, if you don't.'"
Quote:
Originally posted by shankaracharya
How do you get the time to do it?
With us, my father achieved it without trying as hard as we do. It also depends on circumstances, friends and luck. Probably, we were fortunate to have everything in place.
Thank You Shankaracharya for the previous suggestions and the above quote. And this is exactly what I am saying. Yes I am extremely passionate about his all round development and that is exactly why it hurts. He goes to a montessorie every morning and I make all the efforts to take him to other activities organized by community centres, public elementry schools, libraries etc. But all these places I find do more or less the same things. They all have almost the same activities for the kids. Thus there is nothing different except for the atmosphere. And to top it all, they all put too much effort in safeguarding their individuality. This is not to say it is wrong, but what I mean is that there is absolutely no effort to make them social beings. And I feel this is extremely important for their all round development. This is the age when kids start making friends and that gives a new dimension to their thought process. They wont play together all the time and may even fight at times, but all that is required to make him a balanced individual. (Am I thinking too much)
The other thing that is missing in these centres is unstructured active play. Most of the facilities read stories or give some play dough or something similar so that the kids can sit and play. THEY GET BORED. I have not found a single facility near my area which would allow kids to be kids. Where they can run, shout and be kids once again. Dont you think this is very very important. I see older kids here and though they may or may not have knowledge of things, they are definitely not smart and agile. From childhood itself they are trained to have a structure to everything. So when they grow, they just are not able to think out of the box. I feel the education system and the lack of social interaction turns kids into docile creatures. And I feel they should be kids, full of enthusiasm.
Thus what Mr. Ambani said is absolutely right, that perhaps when we were kids, things fell into place naturally. But having said that I don't want to leave the development of my child on LUCK.
Thus I am trying my best to make him a well rounded individual and thus this post - to call like minded people to get together just for the sake of our kids. Is there any one on this site who agrees.
Quote:
Originally posted by PinkPetalsThe other thing that is missing in these centres is unstructured active play. Most of the facilities read stories or give some play dough or something similar so that the kids can sit and play. THEY GET BORED. I have not found a single facility near my area which would allow kids to be kids. Where they can run, shout and be kids once again.
I'll Second this thought. Kids live with so many restrictions & expectations these days that they dont get time to enjoy themselves.
Most of the Facilites, as you said, do similar activities with their legs folded. This is required too, they need to learn to listen & all. But what I think is that if they are tired & exhausted - they will listen if placed at perspective. And with active physical play, they'll eat better as well. I have heard so many parents complaining about food habits.
How do we do that? Thats the Question.
Basement Time ... they can do whatever they want. Basement is open there is nothing to worry about (Except my Desktop - which she would not touch without permission, I know). Its indoor, but it lets them play without supervision.
Snow Time ... again only Visual Supervision.
She misses Park (Monkey Bars, Swings, Water Park ... ... ... ) but she has to learn to live with it
Can't help that part. But 'Chuk-E-Cheese' (Too crowded, but she likes to be there).Every Evening she goes to Recreational Activities. We registered her for Gymnastics, All Sports, Swimming, Skating, Kinder Dance. She missed all these when we had a break of 20 days or so in Dec.
I dont mind if she wants computer or tv (ofcourse not always). They are not Necessarily Bad. She has learn spanish from Dora. Caillou has taught some. She plays online games. Different games everytime. Might prove bad - who knows. I dont need to teach her 'how tos' ... she figures out of her own. She does not just play ... She uses Paint Brush, Notepad & she knows 'Google' is the answer if you dont know. She will use it some day
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Mumbai Maazi Ladki ...
great challange to every parents rather than to fight to our boss or find the ways out from our couleages.
we should make the group near by leaving so if our wives can meet to geather
and share our ideas and try to make their kids come nearby.
our problem is to live far from our neighbours and try to keep realationship with a person who leaves thousands of kilometers away!!!!!!!!!!!!!
