Back to school

Back to School - It's been the first day Back to school, for many children here in town. New books, new uniforms, New school bags and all eye-catching stationery. For the beginners, it's really the first steps and testing times for parents who get interviewed along with the children by the Educators. In process, this year, I found many young five year old taking specialized tuitions on how to appear for School Interview for admission! Children throw tantrums while at Interview or during the first day of school. It is necessary to know more on parenting and stop cheating the child while grappling with a million things to do also taking care of the toddler. It's few tricks that ensure parenting is smooth, easy and fun but the most of it, know on Childhood Development too. (Find this article in GOA)

Earlier, I read about Robert Fulghum's best seller “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” He mentions of Life lessons to learn from the start which were: Wash your hands before you eat. Take a nap every afternoon. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Clean up your own mess. Flush

The book has a famous poem: Most of what I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in Kindergarten... these are the things I learned: Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Live a balanced life--learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. Take a nap every afternoon. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. Be aware of wonder.

Simple words of wisdom you call or call them manners. However, today Kindergarten is no longer the same but more a process of professionalism. The kids need to cope up with the curriculum set by the academicians. Many parents want their children to study academics instead of playing. On kindergarten, the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education Collaborative website has some teacher tested ways of learning. There are some good tips on Observing the Child at Preschool too.

Swagat Children Library opens Registration of yearly members from 12th june 2008 for children below 15 years. The kids enjoy 'Sit & Read' Once a week, round the year, Reading sessions with follow ups in Reading, Handwriting, Grammar, Narrating, Speech skills, Worksheets, Projects, Personality development, etc. Children who write 25 Book Reviews for stories read at the Library are given an Achievement Prize & Certificate at the end of year. Children residing anywhere in the world, can be Global Reading members of the Swagat Children (Kidsfreesouls) Library, details of which are available on Swagat Page.

- ilaxi patel
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for kids with resources for Parents and Teachers