Every rainy season, its academics, rains, water, everywhere, umbrellas, fancy and varied rainy wear. And when I say academics, my attention is drawn to the toddlers…, the chubby, cute toddlers making their first adventure of life in the world of books, slates, chalks, crayons, clay, etc, oh yes, the water bottles, the tiffin box, fancy bags, the list can go on… Above all, very interestingly, the mushrooming of the kindergartens with advanced toys and the like, to draw many admissions!
Together with the fun and frolic, one must not forget the most intrinsic thing that happens during this delicate journey or adventure of life. In fact it’s a period where you can make or break your child! What? Make or break your child? Absolutely!
If I only realise and know that how to live and what to do and how to be was perhaps learned in the kindergarten. (Earlier, we might not have had kindergartens but we surely had the lap of our grandmas!) Don’t take a wrong. Yet this is the place where we pick values not knowing that one day they are going to turn out to be the most treasured and precious belongings of my life. This is where we begin to imitate our teachers and do a lot of practicals at home.
One important principle the teacher makes sure is instructed: whenever you go out always hold your hands and walk; don’t run or push the one in front of you; another important aspect is – fair play. No cheating and to learn to accept defeat, defeating the big self-centred ego, and please, no fists blows, not to hit anyone. When it comes to interval, to inculcate the habit of sharing… There are also other things children are taught – to put things back in the place be it books, pencils, toys, etc. Well, an incident strikes me, where the students would untidy the place and every day it was continued till it caught my attention when I went for rounds… how the students were trained to clean up their own mess which in return made them more careful not to drop things or muddle up! Yes, they became more responsible as they had to clean.
As children this is always the case with those who are not so responsible with their belongings… they are always found everywhere in the classroom except their own place. While a few who love to have a collection of different kind of pencils and rubbers, etc…Ophs! At last, like a thunder comes the voice at the end of the class, Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
Another most valuable thing that is taught is to say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody. Please, may I, can I when you need something, and the words of gratitude when you receive – thank you. Though it does come easy for all but it is taught with love and care. There are many other values that are taught but go unnoticed and are seldom appreciated or given credit to – the toddlers teachers. They are the ones who mould and shape the mind, heart and all that that goes with it during the important stage of one’s life.
