Ours
is a time of sea change. New systems, new sensibilities, new perspective, new
technology and newer gadgets are zipping past all around us in the social
arena. A new ecosystem is being formulated at a startling speed. Learning and
teaching methods should also adapt to this change at the early years itself.
The
way parents and care-givers used to communicate earlier should change to a more focussed
and more responsible approach. You can’t give examples
of your childhood anymore. They are not relevant anymore. This is going to be a
‘touchscreen ready’ generation therefore older ways of communication and
perceptions are redundant to a large extent.
Now we need to be more logical,
precise and caring while giving any instruction to the child. In other words,
your instructions should be convincing, to-the-point and empathising. This is even
more significant during the foundation years of early education. While dealing
with small kids it is important that we come at the eye-level of the child and
then interact lovingly with him/her. Sitting down or lying down beside the
child makes it easier to connect and communicate.
It’s true that every child
inherits many things genetically that help shaping up the body and the brain
but in today’s world equally crucial is the way the child is nurtured. Child’s
mental abilities, cognitive development and social achievement largely depend
upon the early experiences and environments. So don’t impose, rather interact.
Don’t go onto a long speech and confuse, rather be short and clear. Don’t
behave as typically ‘grown-ups’, rather see the world through the child’s
sensibility and you’ll discover that the key to raise a smarter, achiever and
happy child is to build two way bridges of communication and care at early
stages of childhood.
You’ll be rewarded with great insights, sense of
accomplishment as parent and blissful experiences… I can assure you that!
