Child’s Play – Akshara Rajaram

or should it be “What to teach your kid!”. Akshara’s favourite TV channel is Cbeebies. She also likes to watch the Taka Sky Active Whizkids Rhyme thing. But the problem with the Active Rhymes thing is that there is no looping option and you have to manually replay the rhyme. This is ok for one or two times, but when you reach the 10th or more request to replay, it kind of gets boring even if you find the rhyme interesting. So, the obvious thing to do is to let Akshara take control of the whole process. Not sure whether this is the right thing to do, but i am at least relieved that i can do my stuff while the rhyme is replayed for the 22nd time!

 

written by Rajaram S

If you had missed the elaborate introduction-to-swimming sessions which Akshara was put through, check this post. After the brief unsuccessful attempt in Chennai, we continued trying when we were in Malaysia. Slowly, but surely the situation was improving. The swimming pool was visible from our hotel room and Akshara spent a lot of time gazing at the pool with us explaining about the possible fun that could be had by being inside it!

Then, we went back to the usual ploy of a photography session. The constant exposure to the pool seemed to have worked with this photo session happenning much closer to the water (and in contact too!) than the previous ones.

We were back in Chennai by then and back to the same old swimming pool. We noticed that Akshara was more forthcoming to the water this time and the only difference from before were the arm-balloons (or whatever you call them!) she was wearing. Maybe it was the security concern that was keeping her away all the time… But, the reason didn’t matter, the final result did and we were happy.

Next Step: Get her into the water. This happened almost instantaneously without any resistance. In fact, Akshara started to enjoy splashing and jumping around.

She wasn’t happy with my company and wanted the duck also to come in. She sat on the duck and started paddling around. This was a big improvement over the situation that i had to be next to her always.

Then came the part which had all us surprised. Since the pool was around 2 feet deep (just until her chin), she was actually moving around the pool by pushing her toes on the pool floor. She was actually moving from one end to another on her own. This was way too cool to watch!

I later became very ambitious and held her up so that she was in a horizontal position. She started pedalling her legs. Maybe, this comes to kids automatically. But the lessons had to stop here, as proceeding beyong this required the instructor to be knowledgeable, which i definitely wasn’t. So, the hunt is on now for a pool in Pune which takes in 2 yr olds.

written by Rajaram S

Location: Chennai, India
Step 1: Introduce the student to the surroundings and explain the scenario by using analogies like: This is a big bucket of water, just like the one you like to get into, after your bath.

Step 2: Do something which the student is very comfortable with e.g. take photos and very innoncently position the subject close to the water.

Step 3: Conduct theory classes by explaining the advantages of knowing to swim e.g capability to swim with the ducks, explore coral reefs in Australia, ability to rescue dad and mom etc.

Step 4: Introduce the student to potential classmates (Note: Classmates have to be carefully chosen based on similarity criteria such as height, weight etc.). If the student is introduced to the pot-bellied, big moustached next door uncle, the reaction of the student could be unpredictable.

Step 5: The first step, actually the first step towards the first step into the water.

Step 6: But appa told me that i can swim with the ducks.

Step 7(unexpected twist to the story): Student: I am so happy for the duck. I am glad that the duck can swim and enjoy. Let me sit back, relax and watch the duck.

Step 8: In goes the duck and along with it, the student. But, things may not go as planned. The student may realise that she has fallen for a trap and want to be taken out.

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Scenario: Exactly the same!

Steps 1-4 repeated as above.

But, the student sometimes notices the repetitiveness of the attempts, decides not to cooperate and just settle down.

To be continued…

written by Rajaram S

Akshara is already showing signs of things to come. Sometime back, we were to go out shopping. So, Vidhya had dressed up Akshara in a pink and white dress with matching hair-clips (of course they have to match, isnt it?)

I got the task of putting on the shoes. So, i got a pair (which i thought was the closest match) and started requesting/begging/pleading Akshara to stay put in one place. But, she was vehemently denying all such requests and was constantly pointing in the direction of the shoe cupboard and saying “Shoe, Shoe…”. I didn’t quite understand. But, after realising that she was not interested in putting on the shoes, i let her go. Off she walked to the cupboard, opened it and started searching inside. Then, with a big smile on her face, she came back with a pair and gave it to me and said “Shoe.Shoe..”. This time , she cooperated and in fact was happy was this pair. Well, if you are interested in the pair she picked, look below!

Well, my concern isn’t exactly towards her choice of the colour of the shoe. Being different sometimes is equal to “highly fashionable”, but the fact that she was insisting on wearing a shoe of her choice is what made me realise that she had grown up.

And, she is just one and a half years old….

written by Rajaram S

If you know, please do tell me!

Even laying her down on her bed in a direction facing away from the TV doesn’t stop her from watching TV!

written by Rajaram S