Learning Beyond Textbooks - Life Skills - Child Growth

#Learning_Beyond_Textbooks

#Life_Skills

A home is the first environment where children can playfully learn a plenty.

Traditional textbook learning can lay a strong educational foundation in kids. But there are other skills which the pages of the textbooks can't teach to a child. For a holistic growth and development, learning shouldn't be confined to textbooks. Their learning avenues needs to be expanded. This doesn't need any fancy equipment or shunting between classes.  

How can we foster their learning?

Most of the time it can happen from their everyday activities. Doing some simple household chores can help them learn a lot of vital life skills and boost independence, self-esteem and help them with time management.

As parents, we can assign them some age-appropriate chores based on their capabilities. Children are capable of accomplishing much more than we might think. Even a two-year-old can pick the toys and clean up after the play time or just before the bed. By the time they become teenagers, they can manage to do most of the chores that an adult can do. The key is to start giving simple tasks at an young age and slowly move on to complex chores; at times they may need guidance and supervision though. If they find it hard to do any chores, then we can simplify it or ask them to do it partially and then gradually they can learn to complete it on their own. 

What are some common chores that children can do? 

* Arranging their toys/board games

* Putting the dirty clothes in the laundry bag

* Loading/unloading washing machines

* Drying/folding the clothes, start with smaller and easy ones

* Sweeping or arranging stuffs that lie around the house

* Start with washing their plates and slowly can help wash more dishes

* Sorting the grocery after shopping

* Going to the nearby shops for grocery/essential purchase

* Cleaning up their study table/room

* Washing their bicycles, two/four wheelers etc.

Children learn better when they are exposed to a different set of activities. We don't have to worry if the child would be interested in household chores. There may be times when they will be willing to help and when they show resistance. After all, kids are kids. They love playing and fun rather than doing chores. So, we need to identify their mood and gently involve them in the task. Helping them to take up responsibilities, guiding them into adulthood is what parenthood is all about. Let's equip them learn to face what life has in store for them.

Importance Of Social Awareness

How often do we give importance to the feelings of others? Be it a known person or a stranger. Are we socially aware?

Social awareness is nothing but, a person's ability to understand things that are going around. Right from observing people, their emotions, considering the perspectives of other individuals and showing empathy towards anyone without any difference. Building social awareness plays a vital role in building social skills. It is a significant skill for every individual including children in order to develop a positive relationship and make responsible decisions.

In order to build social awareness, an individual needs to be self-aware. Only when we can think of how we would feel in a certain situation, we will be able to understand other's feelings or emotions. Each one of us will have different ways of expressing our emotions. There is no right or wrong when it comes to how someone feels because of an emotion. When someone is socially aware they will eventually learn the appropriate ways of expressing those emotions. 

A person who is socially aware will be able to build strong connections, better at conflict management, can be empathic and show compassion. S/he will be able to see situations from different points of view, see positivity in every situation/person.

Also, it is of paramount importance to introduce social awareness to children. They are the torchbearers of a nation. Building social awareness helps them get most out of the education. Kids who are socially aware will be able to contribute in a better way to the community creating a positive impact to the world around them.