Friday, September 06, 2013

Reading on back seat?

Sometime ago, a Gujarati Newspaper featured my Library article in its Supplement Page. City Bhaskar in Divya Bhaskar (www.divyabhaskar.co.in) mentioned about the rare and unique collection of Books in my Library.

As an Author, I always feel that reading is very important. I almost stopped blogging on all my blogs as frankly speaking, most of my time was occupied at social networks esp. Facebook. Secondly, a lot of reading session were held at my Library and Books have remained my first choice.

Sometimes I wonder - Is reading on the back seat? Are more kids getting tech savvy? Has gadgets and internet websites taken over more time that they have no time for reading? How many teachers help children with the reading class and make them write Book reviews. I see a lot of change in five years in my own classroom. Today's generation is distracted. They know a lot yet they lack a lot of confidence when it comes to reading and learning out of the box. Classics and literature sessions are almost done with Projects and we have a whole lot of children who want creativity most of the time.

Well, here's my articles on Moms Zone on newly redesigned Kidsfreesouls and you can watch this space as I update with my Book articles and also on many other Parenting articles. Also stay connected for Books and Book reviews too.

- ilaxi patel
Author of Guardian of Angels (My blog on Kidsfreesouls)
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com

Friday, April 27, 2012

Facebook: Teen Privacy Matters!


Predators crawl on the web everywhere waiting for naive kids and teenagers to introduce themselves. Especially, if your children are on 'Facebook' hanging for hours playing games or chatting with friends, it's a red alert to be aware, beware!

Social networking sites appeal to kids and teenagers, mostly because they encompass so many of the online tools and entertainment activities that they know, love and talk over with friends. These networks provide a centralized control center to access real-time and asynchronous communication features, blogging tools, photo, music and video sharing features, and the ability to post original creative work – all linked to a unique profile that can be customized and updated on a regular basis.

My recent observations with children who are active on Facebook and the parental concern who complain about their child's activity on web, call for Privacy matters that matter the most!


- ilaxi patel
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com 

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Negativity - Hurts n shatters!

How many times we find ourselves surrounded by people who have their toxic negativity affecting our minds? Negativity affects a person’s well being drastically. It is we, who need to identify the ones who make us cranky, irritated and who pushes us forth to edge, forcing us to lose our patience! Their Negativity signals a sign of a sick mind.

And, our children are watching! It concerns. When we come across Negative people, it concerns You – your family – your Children. Children are good observers and at every stage follow your footsteps. If you stumble, chances are they can stumble some day. If you are pessimist, they could turn to be pessimist too. A parent or a teacher transmit their qualities and unless and until, you don’t chance your negativity, chances are children may adopt your style of character traits.

Follow Kidsfreesouls Moms Zone and read on 'Negativity - It hurts n shatters' - Maybe, the guidelines are useful to ban negativity within - We all some or the other time need to challenge Negative Thoughts. And, some or the other time, we all are 'Unfriended' in some way, whether we are at Social Networks like Facebook or in real time. However, it is important to 'Unfriend the Negatives' because they aren't good for us either.

- ilaxi patel
Author of Guardian of Angels
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Commandments of Parenting

A simple message I read on a school poster is what children learn from parenting.

• The child who lives with criticism learns to condemn
• The child who lives with hostility learns to fight
• The child who lives with ridicule learns to be shy
• The child who lives with shame learns to feel guilty
• The child who lives with tolerance learns to be patient
• The child who lives with encouragement learns confidence
• The child who lives with praise learns to appreciate
• The child who lives with fairness learns justice
• The child who lives with security learns to have faith
• The child who lives with approval learns to like himself
• The child who lives with acceptance and friendship learns to find love in the world.

I think, Commandments of Parenting is the need of the hour. Children need love. Love nurturing the relationships. They need the physical protection and discipline with appropriate experience for their individual development. They need the community support with the cultural experiences and faith. They need to build a better and protective future. These are the factors that the parents too need for their own development in today’s time!

Asking a few questions and the truth finds way! Do the kids get particular kind of teaching it needs to learn in school? Do they get relaxed time with parents, communicate with them or watch TV, video or games on their own? How far are the limits set for them? Are they socially sound? How good they eat or keep the faith? These and many questions raise an eyebrow and one finds that many times, parents lack in their upbringing unknowingly.

Read more in Commandments of Parenting in 'Guardian of Angels' - My book is available @ amazon.com

- ilaxi patel
Author of Guardian of Angels: A practical guide to Joyful Parenting

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Parents want their kids to write Poetry and so do teachers give assignments

Parents often come to me and request that their kids learn to write poetry - Just because their poetry need to be selected and they have to recite at a Recitation competition or get it printed in the school magazine. Even Teachers give assignments and want kids to write poetry on their own! Without even teaching the first steps to build vocabulary and teaching how to write.

Learning to write poetry in two to four sessions is not a miracle. Kidsfreesouls suggest Poetry Soup Ideas and here's some simple steps:

1. Build Vocabulary - two-three-four-five-six letter words - Be familiar with words and just words
2. Rhyme words - Find all rhyming words and make a list
3. Select topics from Poetry Soup - Write on school, hobby, animals, etc.
4. Say some Tongue Twisters - To get familiar with rhyming words with pleasure when you say "Betty bought some butter, but the butter was bitter, so betty bought some better butter, to make the bitter butter, better."
5. Let imagination swirl - Write down all your great ideas.

Now, when I talk of Rhymes, words rhyming together give a musical chime of sound and this is the reason why rhyme is so much used. I am fond of rhyming words and I think, Internal rhymes also add music. For eg.

"The Ice was here and the Ice was there,
The Ice was all around;
It cracked and growled, and roared and howled,
Like noises in a sound!"

Vowel and Consonant sound words like long open vowels and soft consonants like l, m, n, v, w, z, etc produce sweet, soft, soothing music. Alliteration is yet another way to add zing to poetry. Repetition of words and phrases in poetry not only emphasize the meaning but often give musical effect to the poem.

For eg. "In ever climbing up a climbing wave" (Tennyson) or "The western tide crept up along the sand, And o'er and o'er the sand, And round and round the sand" (Kingsley)

Another thing I observed while writing Poetry. Poets have three ways of making us see mental pictures as we let our Imagination soar higher to pen down:

1. By Description : Describing a scene, character, real or ideal, in words. Eg. Henry Longfellow's 'Rain in Summer' (Search in Google Here)
2. By Figures of Speech : Such as simple, metaphor and personification. Compare one thing with another.
3. By Picturesque way : A poet can call up for a picturesque image with descriptive words like, eg. "All in a hot and copper sky, The bloody sun, at noon" (Coleridge)

Imagination and Emotions - two things to blend for an appeal. And which other poetry can go best than 'Daffodils' by William Wordsworth (Search in Google Here) - It touches the heart as we recite to end up,
"...They flash upon that inward eye, Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils."

Click to read my Poetries and find Poetry Learning Page on Kidsfreesouls. Josie Whitehead writes lovely poetry and you can find her poetry too and follow the link to buy her books too.


- ilaxi patel

Author of Guardian of Angels: A Practical Guide to Joyful Parenting


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