4 Secrets to Raise a Happy Child! - In Association with PiggyRide

We are the school, we are the activities,

We are tutors, we are their new friends,

But in this unlocked lockdown

Running round the clock, up and down

How quick you are to make the amends!!

Children can always be moody

But that's not always how it should be!!

Let us try these 4 secret sauces🐯

To get that diamond smile on their faces!!

CHECK OUT HERE!!!

4 Secret Ways to Raise a Happy Child

 https://www.piggyride.in/blog/secrets-to-raise-a-happy-child-infographic/

Happy Parenting!

Vibha Gupta

How To Develop Your Kid's Creativity at Home!

https://www.piggyride.in/blog/ideas-to-develop-your-kids-creativity-at-home/

Seeds of Globalization

Seeds of Globalisation🌼

June 12,2020.Hyderabad,India

It was a bright sunny day. I was the 11th in the queue. It was for buying vegetables from the Saturday veggie truck in our township. Things changed so much in this Pandemic phase. Buying veggies was like a herculean task. Owing to social distancing the queue stretched more than two adjacent blocks. It became like an every Saturday affair to stand in that queue and study people covered with masks. Finally after a wait of 40 mins or so, I was the second  now in the line. The lady standing ahead of me went to the truck to  buy. What intrigued me was the way she was explaining the vendor the quantity of veggies. She asked the vendor to fill the weighing pan with tomatoes till full. Then she asked to slash the half quantity. ('aadha kilo').  I understood that she is not knowing the Local and Hindi language. The vendor is not knowing English. So this is leading to use of sign language (our ultimate communicator) to buy vegetables. But problem happened when she wanted to buy little coriander from a  huge bunch of coriander. The vendor was now irritated after slashing lady finger, tomato, potato, brinjals and even green chillies. I moved ahead and helped her out. Her eyes told me she has a beautiful smile and she is saying Thank You.  I asked her from where she was? She said, "I m from Philippines." "Nice to meet you!", I said. I was about to leave when I paused and called her, 'Hey, Happy Independence Day!' She stood mum, took her moment, and said in a faint but excited voice, " You know it!! No one wished me today. You just made my day! Thank You!".

Her moist eyes said it all. She later told me that she is a teacher in one of the International Schools nearby.  She invited me that evening to her flat in the adjacent block in our township. I finished my veggie shopping and came home. It was not even 2 seconds I kept the vegetable bag and washed my hands, my son came to me and said in his as usual excited tone, "Mom...do you know in Japan there is a robot restaurant! Cool na!". He looked at the bananas and continued. 'Oh, you brought the bananas! Arigato gozaimasu." I smiled and hugged him. 

That very morning, my son had told me that it was Independence Day for Philippines. This was not just one thing, but I guess, one of the hundred informative statements I listen from my son daily. Since the age of 7, he is kind of obsessed on reading and knowing about countries, the global events like World War I & II, Geopolitical tensions between countries, their culture as well, geographical features and also emerging global problems like forest fires, extinction of species as well as climate change. These days he has been learning 'Japanese' on his own watching YouTube Videos. No wonder, his knowledge sharing made me connect to a wonderful person from Philippines, Vangie. 

I told my son about Vangie and he was so excited to meet her.  Before going to Vengie's place he must have rehearsed almost 10-15 times in front of mirror a few greetings in Filipino. I think more than me, it was him who was prepared to talk on a variety of topics with Vangie. He definitely took over in real when we reached there. I, the illiterate :) chose to sit in a corner and let them talk on world affairs, countries and history and what not! In the middle of the conversation, Vengie asked him, "So what you want to become when you grow up?" My son told, " Well...a zoo keeper." Vengie couldn't help smiling and asked, " A zoo keeper! But why?" He paused for a moment and said, " Have you heard about bush fire in Australia? It killed so many koala bears and kangaroos and other animals. We humans are not caring about them. So I wanted to make a big zoo to keep all animals safe."  Vangie didn't speak. 

The world is indeed a small place. If not for us, then at least for the present generation of kids born in 20s. Their thinking has much broader scope and they are challenging the  boundaries of their school curriculum which will only focus on states and capitals and the famous tourist attractions. Water cycle will be limited to a concept and a cardboard project. It may teach them about religion, four types of weather, freedom struggle. But is that all we need? We think they are too small for their age to grasp what's going on in the world? Its not just about understanding the freedom struggle, but its about understanding what factors instigate a revolution? What made people fight for freedom? 

This is the era we are facing some major global problems posing a threat to our survival. Pandemic is the latest one to join in. And to fight against these global problems we need global solutions. The solutions can be worked out only with a mindset that is adapted to thinking globally. This is where. we sow...."SEEDS OF GLOBALISATION" in young minds who are set to become the torch bearers in future. It will only happen when we do not restrict their scope of knowledge to a particular section. If we provide the right exposure to a limitless source of information in a channelised manner, very soon the boundaries will dissolve and produce global citizens who are prepared to handle global problems, relations and differences as well as diversity. 

If not schools, then let there be some external source of knowledge that keeps them updated about world events, culture, languages and much more. The onus of educating them in real sense lies with the parents. Let us entertain their curiosities, tell them stories of global personalities and celebrate international days in minimum possible ways at home. 

"Mom! Where are you? See this. Vengie bought this from Africa. Nice na..." I woke up from my thoughts and came back to the cosy dim lit dainty living hall. Vangie and my son were having good time talking. May be that's why this talk allowed me to take my own time and think, what if these kids take the whole world in their stride. Let it be one big family resonating empathy and kindness...

The evening dusked and it was time for me to return back home. Before going back, we clicked some photos. Divyansh was all smiles. He said, " maganda ang pagkikita mo (it was nice meeting you)". Vangie was very happy to meet someone, who knows so much about her place.

Thank you Vangie. I didn't feel like I am meeting a person from other country. The seeds of globalisation nurturing in Divyansh simply made you my next door neighbour. Hope to see you soon!

Paalam!

LET US DISSOLVE BOUNDARIES..

After Notes

•  I thank channels like Nas Daily and  Drew Binsky  on YouTube for creating engaging and easy to follow videos. These short videos are very informative and kid friendly. Wanna know about the world? Follow these channels. 
• Let your kid ask you questions about the world. You may feel irritated, but encourage them to research and fulfill their quest.
• Arigato gozaimasu - 'Thank You' in Japanese. Now you know☺️. It is fun to use multilingual words on daily basis. Try it☺️.

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Labyrinth of Meanings

Reading was supposed to be my isolation dome. The only reason I left reading long back was,  my bad habit of being a 'do not disturb' tag holder once I glue my eyes to pages, start sniffing satisfactorily the bookish odour and hold the book in my hands in my typical reading style. Then, there is no end to my reading meditation, until the book itself wakes me, "Get off! I am done."

So now with ample idle time, I decided to re-enter my dome. I got hold of a book. 

It is my general habit to find meanings of new words even if in literal sense I could catch hold of word meaning by reading the sentence. 

Came across the sentence:

She admonished Daddy..

Admonished??...

Going by the contemporary solutions, I took my phone to tap my handy 'know it all' google search bar to find the meaning. To my disappointment, internet was pretty slow. But now ..I didn't want to stop the flow. 

My quest for word meaning led me to find out the much abandoned,  smaller than my palm, little black word genie...'Oxford English Mini Dictionary'. 

It was ages holding this word bible in my hands. Sweeping off the dust, my eyes met the pocket dictionary with its typical black cover titled in white font and stripped with red and green colour lines. 

I was lost in a nostalgia of carrying this old friend almost everywhere with me in my bag.

"Mom! Such a small book! Is it some story book?"

I realised my son standing next to me looking with his big square eyes, at my old friend. 

I smiled. "This is a dictionary."

"Whoah! This small thing has a big name. But what's a dictionary mom?"

So finally it was time to introduce this little genie to my son. Told him, how we grew up using this small wonder and found meaning of in-numerous words. 

"OK. See here.  Now I want to see the meaning of the word admonish. This dictionary will guide us the meaning in no time! "

So, as per the usual practice,touted as the dictionary expert,  I started flipping the a list of words..followed by ad...followed by adm......admo........admon...and ...it didn't take long time to stop my  finger. BINGO! 

"Oh wow mom! Its there."

I read out loud the meaning, 

admonish  v.   reprove.

𛲢 admonition n.

"Mom..what is the meaning of reprove?"

" Sure, let me tell you!"

reprove v. give a reproof to.

"Mom..what is the meaning of reproof?"

" Well, no big deal! Let me quickly find out. You see you can get any meaning from here."

reproof  n. an expression of condemnation for a fault.

"Mom...what is meaning of this ..con-dem-na-tion...?"

" Hehe...uh..yes..its easy.....wait a sec..."

Condemn v. express strong disapproval of; convict

𛲢 condemnation n.

"Mom..now what is convict?"

"Why on the earth do you want to know each and every word meaning?"

"Mom not each word...it was just ...admonish....I want this genie to tell me the meaning..pls Mom..plsss...."

"Aah..ok...I am finding."

convict v. (kŏn - vikt) prove or declare guilty

"Mom......."

 " I get you...I get you ..now guilty is some one who feels bad after doing  a mistake. Like I did by showing you my genie. "

" Mom... you didn't find it in the dictionary!"

" Some things are better off the experts. So now, can you go back to your routine???"

He didn't reply and busily started searching something in this newly found labyrinth of word meanings. Never ending words. Could there be a better way than this...?   I was tired, but happy that he learnt so many new words today. It took time, but so much fun. Will he continue to use it..or shall he too be dependent on google tap for expanding his vocabulary...?

"Mom......its strange. I can find the word 'lock-up'....but not 'lock-down' in this dictionary. It seems lock-down has no meaning???"

" Can you just climb down the labyrinth and go to your bed now...????" , I admonished. 

After-Feelings

I love you Oxford Dictionary. Thank You. You guided me with endless meanings of so many new words. Yes, today may be we don't need you much as we have some handy tools. But..being an educator, I would still recommend you as a fantastic vocabulary enhancer tool for kids in early years.

Student Speaks

Dedicated....

To my second parent and much missed ..teachers and my second home and lost ..school.

Today is May 26, 2020. 

What if........it was not 2020???

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Today is May 26, 2019. 

I wish the calendar forgets what is the next number, just like I forget the  definitions in my science subject. I wish my parents become so attached to me in the next two weeks that they just don't allow me to stay seperate in a school for good 8 hours. ( That's difficult after bearing an inquisitive restless 9 year old boy like me for 50 days ...too much...eh?)

I wish the GHMC slugs more this time and takes two months more to finish the pipeline work on the school road. After all every parent would care for the safety of their child. How can they manage to see us struggling through those....dugouts? No....never!

Pheewww! No more day dreaming. Its high time I accept. The school reopens on 8th June, 2019. 

Well I am ok. Its just.. I had so much fun this entire month, doing crazy stuff with cousins, hangouts, flying to my dream holiday destination...that...that...this school notification was like a power off in the last min of the game. 

Can't it be like ...we don't have any schools..no homework...no assessments...no circulars...wow....! Why are we so good in imagining the unimaginable...the unstoppable..Better...shut it down...It will never happen! 

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Present Day...

The sun rays filter through the Doraemon on the curtain, knocking my eyelids to open and begin my day. I wake up and come out to see the usual scene. Mom and Dad negotiating responsibility of home chores. I never knew that they too have a timetable...morning exercise..breakfast...home chores...work ...lunch...work..tea..work...dinner..sleep. I too miss my timetable now. And for sure my timetable was way better than theirs.

I am staring at the calendar. Blank. The calendar does have a good memory. Days pass by but not me. I am right here since last 50 days....?...or more.  I have my school, my activity classes, library, playroom all within my home. Cool...?? Not really. 

I miss my uniform. It was so much fun to get ready with oily hair stuck to my scalp as if nothing can move it. A nice pleated, freshly ironed uniform, with knee-length socks, ID Card, shoes. This is a different matter that when I used to come back home I was unrecognizable. Ruffled hair, half shirt out half shirt in, ID card now flunged on my back, a threatening stain of curry near my pocket, shoes now looking half formal half sport shoes....everything displaced....but...shouting out the fun I had in these 8 hours at..School..

Our bright, open classrooms. Where to sit was like a daily question for us. First bench...too much attention and last bench..too much suspicion. No wonder, there was lot of demand for the middle (safe) benches. In such situations, friendship played an important role. I wonder why it was so difficult to keep quite in a library, why the lunch and snack break was so short? Why it was so difficult for us to walk in line while going to wash or hands before eating our tiffins? Why it was so difficult to resist my friend Nair's bisibili bhaat and forget my curry paratha. It was an art to manage big food morsels in our mouth, talk our heart out with friends and also keep an eye on our lunch supervisor who was in turn keeping an eye on us. 

Our time table rolled, English...math...science ..social...library...playtime...music and swimming...so much..But every 40 min had its own story. The lead actor was you, our teachers. Our first interaction with you, used to begin with our standard salutation ringtone..."Gooooood Moaaarnnnnnnniiiiiiiing Teacher". 

Some classes were rocket, every single min I was looking forward to what's next. Some classes...well there couldn't have been a better lullaby for me. But still the energy that our teachers used to carry in the classroom, was contagious. We loved your scoldings, we loved your appreciation, we loved your mini threats too. How can I forget the way you used to walk in the classroom equipped with your tools and weapons. ( marker, pen, register, books, files, a chart....so much)! I remember how my allergy to Math made me almost most watched student in the math class. And how can I forget the PTM. The D Day! I never used to behave this well, unlike in PTM.  I just couldn't recognize myself on that day. But yes that was me, whose face said it all...." Ma'am, I am at your mercy, I promise to be good....just save me for the day...."

I do admit that I had drastic stage fear. I remember very well, my first news reading in the assembly. I realized it was easier to stand in the hundreds down and mimic names..Fatso.....Patla Papad.....Shinchan....Mumma's boy... What now? After 3 rounds of washroom and 10 mins of silence, I decided to give up, turned back and then....I find your hand giving me a pat and saying, ' common bravo, do you want to go without telling the world...who your are....?' That was it. That warm, courageous gesture of yours gave weight to my feet, cleared my throat and turned me again to face the audience. There was no looking back then...ma'am.

You were everywhere. Boarding the bus with us to the school, supervising us in the assembly, in the class, in our activity sessions, during lunch times, dispersal times, boarding the bus.  But now.. I miss you. I miss that one person, who is as good as my second parent. This endless Pandemic thing has changed my world. Earlier my screen time was like that precious slot of time given to me as a reward for completing my work on time. Now, I study, I play, I do my activities everything in front of that silver screen. 

I miss that  morning rush to catch my school bus and laugh my heart out with friends. I am fed up of eating from my own plate, not having anyone to share my paratha with. I miss you ma'am, your accent, your stimulating speech and your concerns. The roads are empty. The days are longer. The play park has been sealed and we are left to the mercy of mouse button controls. I miss eating your head out of my curious, silly doubts. I miss the patience and smile rendered by you, to a restless question bank like me. You never sulked, even when once I slept off in the class. 

Last week, the school did conduct few online classes for us. I was on cloud nine to see you and others. But that happiness too didn't last long. The classes were cancelled on day 3 itself.  Many parents and may be...including mine were not happy perhaps...the way these classes were conducted. But so what, at least I was beginning to feel normal seeing my teachers. I hope that the school comes back soon with some positive notification. 

 

I adored you, I made fun of you, I escaped you...but at the end I now realize how much I miss you. 

Did my wish of 2019 just come true......

Teacher Speaks

Teacher Speaks

 

To my all dear students and well-wishers,

Our profession thrives with a motto to impart learning. We absolutely love our profession and are proud of it. 

Our day gets started when we start interacting with curious eyes and minds. The mischievous smiles, the innocent questions and also the 'not interested' look is what fills us with gratitude to be in middle of this. 

We miss you. Our classes are empty. The hustle and bustle of our workplace i.e. school is dead. 

There was a time when we used to not get a minute to settle. The commotion in the corridors, the popping question banks in the class, the opening and the ending bell was like an anthem for us. 

But now,  we miss that music, that chaos and the effervescent laughter while you all rushed towards your school bus in dismissal hours. 

We felt proud whenever you grabbed the concepts well and came out with shining colors in assessments. We felt worried whenever you were not able to do up to the mark and we wished we could get some more time to guide you.

The pandemic Covid-19 stuck and the first thing to be done was to ask you to stay safe at home....and not come to school. The session was suspended for an indefinite period. Subsequently we too had to wind up our things and go home. Our livelihoods got little impacted. Along with our profession, the incoming finance was also at hault. Now...we were at the crossroads of uncertainty. 

For the first few days, we felt blessed to have some free time with family at home. Slowly routine became monotonous. Being a teacher....always a teacher.  

To our relief, the school came up with an instruction to conduct online classes. It was a happy and a bad news all together. We were so happy to see you all after a long time. The thought itself charged us and we were in our best possible form to restart our class soon. 

But...for the first time probably we were not confident. With whatever system available at home we had to conduct the classes now..through a video conferencing app. Didn't know how to reach out to you, with all those worksheets, textbook exercises. We struggled a bit. But we soon found that this may be just another opportunity to leave our traditional chalk and talk method behind and upgrade us with new teaching tools. May be we goofed up too in between not knowing how to explain the equation to you on screen. It was difficult to keep upright...especially while the parents were sitting very next to you. But...we tried our best. 

Children...a lot has been talked about us. May be we are not efficient in handling online classes. We even heard about the management now screening for 'technologically sound' teachers. We are trying our best to meet their expectations. We dont want to loose you. Whatever the case might be, we have enjoyed mentoring and teaching you all immensely. 

May be our jobs are at stake. May be we will not be paid salaries. May be we are judged on our communication, appearance and presentation skills. May be your parents shift you to other school in anguish of having to pay fees for April and May. 

Still...irrespective of all the circumstances, anytime you come to us, we will be happy to teach you, interact with you, mentor you with a smile. 

I hope that we see you all soon LIVE once again...in those bright open classrooms. For us,that is the normalcy. 

Till then...stay at home, be safe and keep learning new things. 

All the best!