“Be Your Specialist” Topic ( Treat me as a whole )Series – 4

We contribute significantly to a child’s overall development by promoting not just academic success but also social, emotional, aesthetic, and physical health. We establish a nurturing and inclusive educational environment where our relationships and connections are essential:

  • With the child;
  • With others who form a part of the child’s environment;
  • With the environment where the child works;
  • With the constraints the child is facing, physical or mental.
  • How can we effectively work on these areas:

As we start our efforts, we understand these aspects are interconnected and cannot be viewed in isolation.

Consequently, how we structure and deliver our approach to the child’s learning requirements will influence the outcome, whether positively or negatively.

It focuses on being comprehensive, aiming to encompass all significant dimensions. Several vital components form the basis of education.

  1. ( learning to know ),

Example: This lady is my mother, this man is my father, the address, phone number Etc

  1. ( Experience it, to learn ): “Experience is a great teacher” means we learn valuable lessons through our actions and their consequences, gaining firsthand knowledge and understanding.

Example:

How to shell peas?

  • Explain/tell the child what you are going to do. “Remember, we bought some fresh snap peas at the market? Let’s shell them.”
  • The most important aspect is to involve the child in every part of the process
  • Introduce everything at a convenient place might be a table,
  • Tell the child what is needed and make the child gather them together.
  • Show the child the seam that runs along the pod on both sides.
  • Place the pod on the table to give more support (for the child)
  • Using the support of the non-dominant hand, i.e hand being less used, near the opening, press the thumb of the dominant hand into the seam to create an opening.
  • Use both thumbs in widening the opening.
  • Point to the peas in the pod.
  • Teach the child to look for any Insects that damage pea pods are commonly referred to as Pod Borers or simply insect or Keera( as called in Hindi).
  • The child can pull each pea out, do help, and place them in the bowl.
  • Show the child how and where to put the used pods.
  • Let the child press and open the pod whichever way they can. Alternatively, you can lend support by creating the first few openings.
  • Involve the child in putting the items back in their place or washing.
  1. ( Experience to Learn )

However, it is even more effective when what we experienced is explained  

The phrase “experience is a great teacher” signifies that we acquire important insights through our actions and the results that follow, allowing us to gain direct knowledge and comprehension. Nevertheless, it becomes even more impactful when our experiences are articulated.

Example:

If the child is bouncing a ball in the room and it unintentionally strikes a glass ornament, causing it to fall and shatter, explain to the child what occurred and how the broken glass could have injured someone.

Along with that, show him the right place to play then Learning from experience is a lesson that stays with us forever.

  1. (learning to be)

“Learning to be” highlights the importance of cultivating a well-rounded identity and grasping the world, prioritizing personal development, values, and perspectives over merely acquiring knowledge or abilities.

Example: 

Depending on the child’s age and developmental stage, they can cultivate empathy through activities such as participating in community service or helping at home by fetching water for visitors. Additionally, incorporating situation-appropriate phrases, such as basic social etiquette and polite expressions like “thank you” and “sorry,” can be beneficial.

  1. (Learning to do)

Example: 

Establish guidelines for managing different items, such as how to PLACE things into the bag instead of just DUMPING them in, and which hand should hold which part of the bag. Additionally, when putting on socks, it’s important to introduce the child to the components of the sock and their purpose, such as explaining that the opening at the top is where we insert our foot, leading down to the closed end.

  1. (Learning to live together) 

Sharing, having patience, and trust are important parameters for holistic development. 

The “Learn, Unlearn, Relearn” cycle describes:

  1. How we adapt to change by first acquiring knowledge (Learning),
  2. Then discarding outdated information (Unlearning),
  3. Adopting new knowledge and skills (Relearning).

Example: 

  • Learn: You learn to type on a I–pad keyboard using a specific finger placement method.
  • Unlearn: You realize that the method you learned is inefficient and slow, and you need to adopt a new, faster method.
  • Relearn: You unlearn the old method and learn a new, more efficient typing technique.

Thought-provoking Aspect:It’s not just the child who needs to acquire knowledge; we, as parents and guardians, must also engage in learning, unlearning, and relearningto grasp new ideas and adjust ourselves to create a supportive environment for the child to learn.

Treat Them Normal But... Put Special Efforts