Ranting...

There is one thing A keeps ranting about all the time...that nobody seriously considers her to be their friend. And she has enough incidences to quote to support her ideas!

Incidence One:
During her skating practice, her coach usually keeps a race between two students at the end of the class. She was competing with a girl who was behind her, A was happy she was in the first place. The other students cheered for the other girl. In the end the other girl won the race. This left A furious. She started crying. I thought A was weeping because she did not win. But... it was the cheering part that had hurt her not losing! Because her friends cheered for the other girl A thought that they were not her friends!

Incidence Two:
For the upcoming friendship day few kids brought friendship rings and exchanged it in class. A asked one of them to share one with her but they refused. That's it, the decision was made. "They don't consider me as their friends!"

Incidence Three:
She was chosen as the assistant class monitor. When she accidentally blurted this out I said "Wow! Congrats." But she didn't seem to be happy about the whole idea of being an assistant. She wanted to be the main monitor. The process for choosing the monitor also went against her idea. The whole class was asked who should be the class monitor. Fifteen hands went up for the main monitor and seven for A! Two of her 'so called friends' didn't raise their hands. So again, the conclusion is arrived at. They are not my friends!

She is not even seven years old and such burst of emotions!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Yes, That's the book I am reading to my daughter these days.

The story though interesting, she laughs in excitement when she knows that her mouth starts watering at the mention of all different kinds of chocolates that Mr. Wonka is capable of making in his factory: the colour- changing caramel chocolates, most delicious chewing- gums and sugar balloons.

Of course, we are yet to complete the book. But I am letting her make all the predictions about who wins the 'Golden Ticket' to see Wonka's factory. As she first saw the ticket given in the book, she was happy that she was the lucky one! But once I told her that the ticket's place must be inside a chocolate and not a book she was disappointed. She says it's too difficult for Charlie to get the ticket as his chance is 'one- time'. And I had a nice time contradicting it.

Today, truth about the Golden Ticket will be revealed to her and am waiting for her reaction.

Time for some serious Science Project...

So we chose to discuss about the 'Colour Wheel' for A's 'Science Spectrum'.

Here are a few images from her project:

Of course, she didn't explain the whole thing which is written but only the experiment.

But she did enjoy the attention which she got by the approaching students.

Grade One mania

She was waiting for these days from past two months- i.e to go to Grade 1.
At last she's there.
But, on the actual day when it all started, she wanted to be with amma and appa!
She had had so much fun during her summer break, that 'study' and 'school' went out of her list of 'to- do-things':)

There are two more reasons why she doesn't like it now:
One, she has to stay in school till evening. Her complaint for this goes something like this- " I am too tired. I have to stay till evening. My whole body is sweaty. I feel terribly hungry. You know how much difficulty we go through after the classes are over. We have to stand in the line to go to our respective buses, and it is too hot. You don't understand anything. You only know to send me to school".

Reason two, she doesn't get to eat her lunch with appa. Night, as usual, by the time appa comes home she will be fast asleep. The only time she gets to see her appa is morning when he is dropping her to the bus stop.

Such hardships of life!!!Ufff:)

A day well spent!!!

This day was completely dedicated to my daughter; to give her a sense of 'Holiday' that she was asking for from so many days.

A quiet drive 12kms away from Shimoga, Karnataka on the Teerthahalli road we found the 'Sakkare bayalu' elephant training camp. It's a popular destination among the locals around the area. Reason: More than being the elephant training camp it's a place where one gets to watch the elephants bathing!
Located next to the backwaters of Gajanur Dam, it offers a perfect setting for both nature and animal lovers.
Nestled in the camp are around 30 elephants who are bathed everyday and left in the jungle and brought back to the camp at night.
A's greatest concern looking at the elephants was "How come they are able to bring out sooo much potty?:)"
So she was hesitant to get into the water where they were bathed.

Spending the early morning hours at the camp, watching the backwaters on that partially cloudy day we returned to Shimoga to visit the much forgotten Shivappa Nayaka Palace. Of course, this place was least interesting for my girl.

From there taking the Sagar (10kms) route we entered the Tyavarekoppa Zoo and Animal Safari. 10kms away from Shimoga towards Sagar road, the place is famous for its Lion and Tiger safari. Lucky as we were, we could see almost 4-6 Tigers taking a stroll next to our van!!! That was the first time we all witnessed a Tiger from so close. Of course, my dearest daughter as usual was petrified of the Tiger and started a downpour of tears:( The subsequent visit to the zoo was a comforting experience for her. Spotting the Emus and the Ostriches (as she is fascinated with Australia somehow) she was joyous.

It was indeed a perfect holiday for her.

Strategy Planning

From past two days myself and mother of A's friend have become strategy planners- planning for bringing some definite structure for their play time.
Though the structure remains manageable when it comprises of only two of them: A and A.

But it seems to be going haywire when one more companion peeps into the picture: J.

At this point we feel that we are ruthless against own children but I think it's also necessary that we discipline them at the right time.

Now, my day passes by planning something for her; leaving no time for myself but I know what's of utmost priority at present.

Their companionship reminds me of "Two is company; three is crowd".

This is the third time she's been away from us now.
There is an unusual quietness around without her.
The whole house would be bustling with laughter and shrieks of cries in her presence.
Now, it's all STILL.
The otherwise unkempt corners of the house are now clean and tidy untouched by her foot prints.
The only noise that can be heard comes from outside: the shrill sound of the concrete mixture next to the apartment, children splashing water in the swimming pool, the brushing of the broom sticks on the floor as a maid tries to push aside puddle of water that entered the corridor because of an unusual downpour.

The heart felt bitter when she cried on first two days as she wished to be with her mother in Hyderabad.
Though regretful, some corner of the heart felt happy for this fact.

But now, she semms to be enjoying in her world with her grandparents. This is heartbreaking:(
Parents are SELFISH (for their children)... The only reason for that could be LOVE.

MISSING YOU my dear.

Away from parents

It's been exactly two weeks since she has been away from us.
She had waited the moment to go with her grand-parents to her favourite place where she would be as free as a bird.
She was even prepared that her mama won't be accompanying her in this journey.
But, the very next day she realised that she was missing her mother and cried inconsolably over the phone.
Guilt surrounded me as I heard her trembling voice; mind had already started making arrangements as how to and when to get her back.
But S asked that we wait, she would defintely need some time to get settled.
So we did.
The next few days, she missed her mother only in the evenings.
After a week she got the company of 'friends' and now she hardly has any time to talk to us.
She seems to be 'busy' (as she uttered these words when asked to talk to us) with her peers all the time.

Now, that all my guilt has flown away I am only concerned about the days when she will be back in Hyd., playing with her usual toys, working with her books and confining herself to the four walls inside the house.

My little girl has grown up a bit today.
She, at last, has learned to pedal her bicycle.
After pedalling, she exclaimed "Amma I can ride the cycle, I am a Big girl now!!!

Learning shapes

Circle, square, triangle, oval, diamond and star...these are the shapes she has started recognizing without any difficulty.
She has rather started generalizing these shapes in her daily activities.
The plate in which she eats is round, the TV she watches is square (though she cannot differentiate between square and rectangle), the road safety signboards are pictured on a triangle board, the rice grain she eats and the seed of the date fruit she eats is indeed oval in shape...
I was cutting cucumber the other day in circles and she said 'that's a circle'. Later, i cut them into sticks and chopped them.
'Now they have turned into squares' she remarked. I was impressed.

This is how learning should proceed...from knowing specific concepts to applying them to daily life.

How easily these children can sense the subtleties of human behaviour change:either good or bad.
Now, that Anvitha is going to her new school she is missing her old school extremely.
Is it the environment or the handling of children at new school or the way they are treated i and S do not know. But she is just not ready for it.
When she attended Daksha she had loads of stories to narrate.
We, parents never asked the school authorities what is being taught to her?
But we saw the live result of their teaching at home, in her way of spontaneous reproduction of everything that she had learnt.
They managed to give attention to each details of a child's routine.
This new place seems to be chaotic for her and she seems to be lost.
I only hope this would change as a little time passes.
But i also wish we hadn't shifted her from Daksha.

A Poem for every kid

Here's the poem for my girl from her school-Daksha...

"Your little one started school today
A first big milestone on the way.
She's not a baby, no not she
As big as any in the class, you see.
Till now you've been her shining sun
Your influence equalled by none.
But now I'll share in her work and play
Thanks for lending me your child today.
This little hands so small
Is starting school today.
This little hand so small
with others will work and play.
And I will try to train
this hand throughout the year, wonder if this hand will belong
to a scientist, doctor, engineer
to a teacher, philosopher or leader."

Very cute poem with my little one's palm printed on the paper.
(Please do not copy). The credit for this should go to Daksha school team.

Open House

Open House is Daksha's way of conducting so called 'exams' for preschoolers.
All the materials taught for the kids were neatly arranged in a room and we parents were the examiners who were free to ask anything.
Nowhere did the teachers make their presence felt (their way of getting natural responses from children without any fear).
Just a week ago Anvitha was crying to go to school and now she even faced her exams!!!
And the best part: Nobody even knew that it's her exam.

Now, after a week...

Now, that after a week she has completely settled down in her school (though she cribs about it while leaving home and enjoys once she enters) it's the school stories that i should be listening and training myself to be heard.

The rhymes and music sessions, the activities of her classroom, and her snack menu are the main topics for discussion.

But after all this, when she is asked as to what she did at school the first thing she says is that "she cried".

Day(s) out at play school

Anvitha has been attending play school since last week and seems really enthusiastic to play her favourite games there. Of course, that's only if her mother is alongside!!!
Even while playing her much adored slide or sand she wants me standing next to her.
Day before yesterday I was told go out for at least half an hour but her teacher called me back within 10 minutes as she was sobbing uncontrollably.
Every night while going to sleep she shows her interest to go to school next day and she doesn't forget to add about her favourite snacks also being served there (which she wouldn't even try if prepared at home) which she savours to the last bite.

Hope she understands soon that her mother can't be with her all the time.

Teach and Learn

Having studied psychology i thought i knew everything about children and how to modify their behaviour...
But now i realize i need to learn a lot while am trying to handle my own child...
I always try to teach in my own way because teaching in the right way from the beginning would be better than changing it later (that's what i had studied)...
But meanwhile, i realized i can't make her do so always...
Sometimes i need to go her way and try learning her way of doing things so that she will slowly follow me...
Now i know i shouldn't push her too hard while dealing with her...

Everyday i crib that she doesn't eat properly...
But a sudden insight creeped my mind-"when we like variety in our food why can't she have it"...
Of course eating the same food types everyday bored her...
So now, i change her menu everyday...

While i worked at the special school i held the parents responsible for all their children's misbehaviour...
But now i know how easy it is to overlook your child's misbehaviour and consider it as right as you love you child so much...
How easily children find out these things from their parents and blackmail them...
In the course of time it's difficult to judge who is teaching whom- whether you are teaching your child or the child teaching you...