Encourage your child to play with numbers on bus and train tickets. Join him in the process. Use various combinations and add, subtract, multiply and divide all the numbers. Tables are also very important. Try and let your child take by heart tables up to 20. Initially it may seem like an impossible task by revising tables everyday will help your child to remember them easily.

A little inspiration and practice and your involvement with your kids in dealing with numbers and mental calculations will go a long way in sharpening your child’s mathematical ability.

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There are several things parents should keep in mind while their child is on the playground. Children love doing the completely opposite of what they are actually supposed to do. For example, if a slide wants them to come down of their back, they would want to come down on their stomach. Or even worse, they would want to jump down. Parents should be around their kids to avoid such mishaps.

Moreover, while making your child sit on the swing, make sure he is maintaining proper balance or there is a danger of him falling off. Don’t push the swing
Regards, too hard or he might fall down on his face and hurt himself. Be gentle and less excited.

Another essential thing is that you shouldn’t leave your child with a stranger as they won’t really take the responsibility. Remember, they would first think about themselves. If they have something else grabbing their attention, they would not consider your child, which is risky.

A Playground is an important place for every child and is helps his mental and physical growth. It is necessary for every parent to keep these safety precautions in mind. Don’t avoid taking your children to the park with the fear of risk. A little stumbling is alright and helps your child to become strong and for further safety, you as a parent, just have to be a little careful.

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The name of trampoline itself can itself make anybody jump with joy! Owning a trampoline is as exciting as it sounds. Trampoline can make your kids enthusiastic and active and no longer will they want to spend hours in front of the television box! You too can exercise on the trampoline and enjoy to your fullest. Most people want their work-outs to be fun and trampoline is a sure way to do this! Another advantage that trampoline offers is that one can use this outdoors. Trampolines are of various types and sizes. It is best to select the one that suits your need and budget. Most people think that only experienced people should use a trampoline. However, that is not the case. Trampoline can be easily used by anybody – it is a great tool especially for kids!

Apart from a trampoline, mini swimming pools that can be easily aired and used at home are also available or can be made by an interior designer. No longer one needs to go to expensive clubs and resorts for swimming. These easily foldable pools can make your little ones really excited. When parents jump on the treadmill, kids usually nag them and are unable to sit idle. Now with mini treadmills specially designed for kids, they too can hit the treadmill when you do! Indeed, most parents would wish these equipments were available when they were kids!

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Organize a drawing competition in the compound or a vacant space. Allow the children to use their imagination and make it a great time with a jig session. You could collect a small fee to organize for prizes and the children will be delighted to participate. Organize a brunch session or weekend dinner for the people to mingle around. Games and spot prizes are surely to delight everybody.

Let kids come over to your house to play a mind boggling board game in monopoly, ludo or scrabble. Pictionary is also a common choice enjoyed by children which also aids the educative aspect. Let them do a few things in origami, free hand drawing or help you with the pizza topping.

Clubs and sports foundations organize indoor sports like chess, carom, boxing, rink skating and other indoor sports which is also good for their growth. The idea is to keep them physically activity during monsoon so that their intellect is stimulated. Kids with interests in music or dance have great choices with leading dance academies. Engage them in a skate dance-artistic or the latest western dances.

Many groups also organize monsoon treks in the hill stations classified as easy/difficult and also allow parents to participate in the same. Exposure to these kinds of events will make them independent and the outcome is surely confidence. More importantly make monsoon time the best time to bond and enjoy the interesting DVD with family and friends.

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This is quite an old concept since my childhood. I still cherish those exciting moments spent with my friends.  But today’s scene is a bit different than the yesteryears.

Today’s generation enjoy more of video or computer games or even booster cards (with several cartoon or fighter characters).  These games involve less of sport and more of gaining points or targets.  They are only happy in achievements rather than enjoying a particular game.  This is due to the excess exposure towards media and computers.

Today’s kids are no wonder, faster than our (parent’s) generation in all aspects.  They have got tremendous knowledge beyond our imagination.  But, at the same time they should be able to have the sheer kind of joy in playing simple team games with the same spirit without using any electronic tools.  My son Tej, age 07yrs,  often wonders as if  how we used to arrange parties without a DJ or CD music, computer games as such.  I shared a few party games with him which he really wished to try.

1. Passing the parcel :  Can be played among 5-6 kids (minimum).  Any property as a ball or a pillow or a book has to be passed from one child to the other in a circle.  The youngest (a toddler)  or if interested even grand parent (either of the two) can play the role of a musician, let’s call it DJ in today’s world.  As the music stops, the member holding the parcel will have to undergo a punishment which can be anything from performing a dance or song, or acting (as per age).  The game continues till the last member is left out who becomes a winner.
2. Name, Place, Animal, Thing :   Again a group of kids, the more , the better. Each member has to say a name of any character as boy, girl, or even names of movies, celebrities, ministers, leaders, etc.  Followed by names of places, cities, temples, countries, etc.  Similarly follows a list of various animals and things. This will help the children to grow their knowledge skills and their  vocabulary.
3. Antakshari :  The best way to enjoy music.  Children love to sing here as there are no limitations as of their sound qualities.  They can be as loud as possible in their own manner.
4. Dumb Sheralds :  The all time favourites for kids as well as grown-ups.  This particular game improves acting skills in them, especially mono-act. Outdoor games like playing discs, stapu, land or water, colour games also give quite fun and energy. This way, their addiction will be reduced a bit and they will remain more energetic and happy with their buddies.
5. Blind Man’s Buff : Tie a handkerchief around eyes of a member of the group so that he cannot see and ask him to locate other members by walking blind folded. This game naturally requires the blind folded member to use all his other senses as he has to find the member by slightest of sound or some fragrance.

Author Sonali Jog

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Appliances and gadgets are surely to be kept at a distance from them. There is every need to supervise the use of cutlery and ward off probable accidents. The best way to add a fun element is to do it professionally that means arranging for chef caps, a bit of arrangement in cutlery and other kids stuff. Peeling and mashing potatoes, deseeding the watermelon and pulping out a mango, setting jelly is done with lot of mischief and relish.

This is also a party idea where the kids cook and eat it food with lot of relish. Fixing a sandwich can be done with ready sauces, lettuce/salad leaves, cheese and jam which can be kept in small bowls for them. They may be given an introductory lesson and the rest can be left to them. Pizza toppings can be arranged with corn, diced carrots and capsicum. Kids love spreading the sauce or cheese. Let them grate the cheese as a topping on mini pizzas or sandwiches.

Decorating the idli with smiley faces or squeezing jam over it is another idea they would love. In case it is possible gather a few friends to make it a mother-child session during afternoons. This can be a great bonding time and kids love making new friends. For an annual party in the society, arrive at a concept of cooking. Accept entries as per family and arrange for an open competition.

Bake a cake and let the kids do the icing. A bit of help and guidance is all they require. This encourages the fun element and helps bonding.

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First of all you need to make sure that child is getting appropriate sleep. Ideally it should be eight hours of sound sleep. Proper sleep helps in developing brain power. Child with less sleep tends to get stressed and his recalling power is also comparatively low. The second important thing is child’s initiation into games. The game of chess is extremely helpful in enhancing the IQ of the child. Parents must encourage their wards to play chess as and when possible. The thing about chess is it is different every day. The more they play it, better they will find different methods of solving a problem. They will also learn to analyze the problem and see different angles to solve it. Ultimately brain becomes more flexible.

The intake of sodium, read salt must be reduced to improve the brain power of the child. Ideally, a teaspoon of salt is all that is required by a child on a daily basis. It pays to remember that these habits are initiated by parents and stick with the child for the rest of his life. The IQ power also gets a boost when child revises what he has learnt in school. Parents should make sure that the child revises every day. If he does it next time or in hurry he is not likely to remember them for longer duration. Lastly, we all know the benefits of yoga. It does wonders to a child’s physical and mental well-being even if he does it for just 10-15 minutes every day.

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Jodogyan is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to research and development in elementary education specifically mathematics and environmental science.

We aim at developing better teaching learning methods and sharing our understanding and experience with teachers to help them improve their practices, which we have been doing for over a decade. We are also into designing teaching learning materials.

We are organizing an exhibition, display and demonstration of teaching learning materials developed by us and different NGOs like Eklavya from Bhopal, Navnirmiti from Mumbai and Third-Wave from Pune.

This exhibition is meant for teacher educators, teachers, parents and NGOs working in the area of early childhood education, more specifically 3-7 yrs.

On 6th May, we are organizing a workshop on different aspects of pedagogy and age appropriate concepts for pre-primary teachers of Delhi schools.

Programme details:

Playing Time, Learning Time….
An exhibition, display and demonstration of teaching, learning,
reading materials for the age group pre-primary to class II.

· Date: April 29 to May 10, 2009  (except for 7th May 2009 on account of election)
· Time: 11am to 6pm
· Venue: Jodo Gyan Resource Centre, 28 A/1,  Jia Sarai, Hauz Khas,(Next to IIT gate), Delhi-34

Contact: 011-27102820, 9999699619, 9310076613, 9871981636

Minal-9999699619,Kirti-9310076613

Jodo Gyan Educational Services, Delhi
E Block 12 & 13; above Sanjay Cloth House
Shakurpur (near Britannia Chowk)
Delhi -110034
Tel.no. 27102820

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