Lifeskills Through Games - Activity Focus
ParentEdge|November - December 2019
Dr. Jeyakar Vedamanickam, after a rich career in the Aeronautical industry had a stint as an academic – as the Director of the Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship in Bangalore. He has authored a book for parents, ‘Sculpting Angels: Parenting Lessons to Foster Creativity in Children’. He conducts corporate workshops on ‘Creativity and Innovation’, ‘Behavioural Economics’, Strategic Management and ‘Risk Management’.
Dr. Jeyakar Vedamanickam
Lifeskills Through Games - Activity Focus
The previous edition of this serialised feature, in the July August issue of ParentEdge, distinguished between ‘Skills’ and ‘Knowledge’. Further, the episode suggested a method to encourage children to develop various skills. This episode, closely related to the previous one, distinguishes between Activity and Passivity. The importance of spending time on what would be considered Activity as distinct from what would be considered Passivity, is highlighted. The episode also introduces the concept of Flow, a state of complete absorption in an activity. Great achievers often are found to be in this state. The house was unusually quiet as Raj was lazing in bed after a Sunday afternoon nap. It was past five. He could hear the turning of a page from time to time from the children’s room. There was a sizzle heard from the kitchen, now and then. Taj was frying bondas for tea. Raj stretched out his hand lazily to reach for his phone. He couldn’t find it on his bedside table. That’s where he had left it, just before he had dozed off.

Raj sauntered out looking for his mobile. He noticed Sam, completely immersed in a Harry Potter title, The Goblet of Fire. He moved on and found the hall in disarray. Part of the dining table had turned into an easel. The jug and cups had given place to a palette, brush, pastels and crayons. Some chairs had given place to a divan, and kneeling on the divan with her torso on the table was Shama, feverishly hatching yellow lines to depict sunrays streaming from behind a rock. Her tongue pushed against her left cheek with each stroke of her brush; a mannerism that surfaced whenever she concentrated on something.

This story is from the November - December 2019 edition of ParentEdge.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the November - December 2019 edition of ParentEdge.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM PARENTEDGEView All
Releasing Your Teens From Internet Lockdown
ParentEdge

Releasing Your Teens From Internet Lockdown

The new normal demands a large chunk of time to be spent online. For teenagers, time spent in online classes, assignments, project work, homework, tests and exams - all these add up to many hours a day, glued to screens. Furthermore, the current generation's usage of social media and online gaming is increasing day by day. So is parental anxiety about their children's wellbeing. How do parents help their teens and themselves?

time-read
5 mins  |
March - April 2021
Helping Children Manage Big Emotions
ParentEdge

Helping Children Manage Big Emotions

Parenting is a roller-coaster ride filled with loads of fun as well as moments where we feel as if we are walking on eggshells. When our child has an outburst, we either make frantic attempts to soothe them or end up having a fit ourselves. Though it appears as if we are stumbling in the dark when it comes to understanding our child's emotions, there is still hope. When armed with information about how to help them deal with their emotional challenges, we will be able to sit back and enjoy this ride. Read on.

time-read
10+ mins  |
March - April 2021
Preventing Obesity In Children
ParentEdge

Preventing Obesity In Children

Obesity in childhood has wide-ranging consequences hypertension, cardiac issues, emotional disturbances such as inappropriate behaviour, relationship problems, depression or an inability to learn.

time-read
2 mins  |
January - February 2021
Boosting Immunity In Children
ParentEdge

Boosting Immunity In Children

Children who learn to love physical activity in all of its forms will grow up to be adults who are active.

time-read
2 mins  |
January - February 2021
FATS & OILS
ParentEdge

FATS & OILS

– the more you know, the better for you and your family

time-read
3 mins  |
January - February 2021
ParentEdge

Healthy Children - PERSPECTIVES FOR THE NEW YEAR

An important part of nurturing children is to ensure their bodies and minds are healthy. With widely available junk foods, extended screen time and lack of physical activity because of the pandemic, the last year has been a particularly challenging one. Here are some perspectives from our expert authors to help you plan a wholesome year ahead, for your children.

time-read
2 mins  |
January - February 2021
ParentEdge

THINK BEYOND COW'S MILK FOR YOUR CHILD

Cow's milk is a parent's best friend during a child's growing years. For centuries, milk has been regarded as a rich source of nutrients. However, off late, reports of adulteration in cow's milk have triggered concerns among parents. In such a case, what is the solution?

time-read
5 mins  |
November - December 2020
Healthy Snacks For Children
ParentEdge

Healthy Snacks For Children

With the current pandemic that has taken over the world, the phenomenon of binge eating is at an all time high. A great way to combat this problem is to find snack options that are both healthy and tasty. To save you some trouble, here is a list of snacks that will not just satiate your children’s taste buds but also supply their bodies with healthy nutrients.

time-read
3 mins  |
November - December 2020
LIFESKILLS THROUGH stories PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER
ParentEdge

LIFESKILLS THROUGH stories PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER

In the last article of the serialised feature 'Life Skills through Games', Dr. Jeyakar described the Seligman's Method of Learning Optimism and showed how this can be applied in families using a brainstorming exercise. In a series of 'storicles' to follow, Dr. Vedamanickam will address each of the habits from Stephen Covey's book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' and how these habits can be inculcated in children and in families. This storicle, based on the first chapter of the book lays the foundation for the seven habits and highlights the importance of parents being principle-centred for character building in children.

time-read
9 mins  |
November - December 2020
Expectations Versus Reality
ParentEdge

Expectations Versus Reality

For every couple, becoming parents is like stepping into a brave new world: it is an uncharted territory and expectations rarely match reality. Any number of books or any amount of advice will not prepare you for the experience of being a parent. This is because it is the unique for everyone. Parents have some common expectations of their children and some impressions about the parenting experience. Let us take a look at these to understand if they are on the mark or if reality is another matter entirely!

time-read
7 mins  |
July - August 2020