Waiting to turn "Paddy's Pages"

It's amazing how kids figure out tech gadgets ...i mean while i agonize trying to get my head around some app that's supposed to make my life easier, a child would have it figured in a couple of minutes. no wonder that the present generation of kids are referred to as the "wired" generation ..... they are happiest when they are wired to some gizmo....else they feel lost.

turning over a new leaf!

whilst technology blazes on, in playschools the debate is whether we should introduce preschoolers to the wonders of the computer. call me old-fashioned but i believe we should encourage them to open books and lose themselves to the fantastic world of reading.There's no denying computers are here to stay, but since reading is fast becoming a declining skill, i'll cast my vote for a good storybook any day. i'm hoping that the animated series "Paddy's Pages" being brought out by Toonz will draw many children to turn a page!

Have tree, will climb

Climbed in a flash......
                                 recorded for history.....

                                                                       framed by the branches of a tree!

Splish-splash, let's have a blast!

Watch me do the hula hoop!

In the playschool,  on rainy days the kids soon exhaust and are exhausted with all manner of indoor play 

Upto to no good! 

Puzzled???!!!!

and as soon the sun peeks out from the chinks in the clouded sky, they clamour to be let out. Of course with all promises that they will only run in the yard.

Dirt is delightful!

But soon they will be digging in the dirt (yucck!),
poking at scrambling beetles and bugs (eeeek!),

                 

Community gardens

        uprooting tiny plants to make their own gardens (oh ho!), 

Mud sculpting!

shaping little mud balls and best of all splashing in puddles(oh no!).

We try not to be fussy when they get messy, and let them do their exploring and discovering with out any interference. Back in class this can become a lesson in hygiene and safety, in botany and zoology, geometry and physics- what a wealth of information, from a romp in the yard.

You know what they say, if you can’t beat them(at their game), join them! Next time round, we’re going to join them and Splish-splash, we’ll have a blast!

Ra-Ra for teachers

On September 5, Teachers’ day chances are that you would remember a teacher who played an important role in your journey to adulthood.

Someone who challenged you to do better

or who inspired you to think

or who allowed you to dream and imagine,

or who has drawn out and polished an inherent talent,

or who opened a door , but gave you the confidence to enter by yourself

In the larger scheme of things, kindergarten teachers are just considered as the ones who introduced you to alphabets and numbers, full stop!

But if you think about it early educators often are the ones who

 taught you to use your words to express your feelings,

and to use your muscles well in the playground so that your writing improves,

 and to not be afraid of new things and situations,

and to make you aware of the consequences of your actions.

We’ll consider our job well done if we teach our children that it’s essential  to be kind, easy to be smart and  important to be happy! 

How's the weather?

On Thiruvonam day this year we had a copious downpour. Though it was unusual and must have put a dampener on many a gathering, it has refreshed and revived the earth. The MET office of course were caught off guard, but hesitantly put out a prediction for the next 2 days, of more showers to come. When they predict every possible combination of weather for the next 24 hrs, without committing to anything specific it reminds me of a day in a kindergarten. The weather bulletin would read somewhat like this: "Sunny for the most part, cloudy with a threat of a shower, and unless strong gusty winds blow there is bound to be a storm! "

As expressed in a poem "Storm Warnings", by Adrienne Cecil Rich,

Weather abroad and weather in the heart alike

 Come on regardless of prediction.

 Fair-weather or stormy, kids follow Dr. Seuss’s dictum- "Don’t let anything be ordinary".
There's never a dull moment in a playschool !