TEACH YOUR CHILD TO DREAM

Every child is unique and born with special set of talents. This article talks, how parents can help their children to develop these special talents?

Status quo

Baby grows and learns new things. Parents become happy with their children actions. But after some time the magic is lost along the way. The responsibility fall on the parent to see that these natural talents which set the child apart are never lost. This is because for a child to grow into an adult and live abundantly, purposefully and enjoyably she/he needs to discover these hidden talents.

Important brief before the actual thing

It is common to recognize music, painting, sports, poetry etc as talents which parents can look for in their children. However, there are a few hidden talents which parents can easily overlook. They are: adapting to situations, using humour as coping mechanism, reasoning logically, collection and preserving things, setting long term and short term goals, showing compassion to less fortunate and having a problem solving aptitude.

Finding the solution

Coming to solution which talent the child should cultivate is never easy for a parent. To reach a decision the parents needs to follow signs. Observe what the child enjoys doing in free time. This will help the parent to identify the child’s natural interest. Teachers and coaches whom the child regularly interacts with are best suited to impart a general assessment about the child’s talents. Another option is to observe the types of activities that draw the child’s attention. For example, children with artistic bend enjoy creative activities like crafting, painting, designing etc. The kind of shows child likes to watch on television can also help the parent in spotting interest. Watch out for the kind of questions the child regularly asks. For example, if a child keeps looking through a telescope to observe stars at night, it shows fascination for the field of astronomy. Once the field is identified, then parents need to introduce their children to other children with similar interests. After this stage parents need to find a mentor, who will help the child in honing that talent. When parents praise a child’s natural talent, the child tends to become complacent, so parents need to remember ‘to praise the effort, and not the talent.’

Some clues

A few hints for parents to spot and the ways to hone the children special talents. If the child love to sort objects, like, pairs of socks, lines up toys or groups item by size, colour or shape. It may mean that the child is an analytical thinker. To hone that talent expose the child to games that involve patterns and matching. If the child talks nonstop, have an advanced vocabulary and make fewer grammatical errors. It is a good thing, because verbal proficiency can be an early sign of a gifted child. To enhance that talent, encourage the child by asking her/him to dictate stories. If the child has strong opinions, this may mean that the child is a natural born leader. The best thing for the parent is to let the child take lead in most situations. And, if somehow the child shows no sign of natural talent, then worry not, and stay open. The chances are child’s natural talent will become apparent sooner rather than later.

The downside

Parents always need to keep this is mind, that they are pushing their children to be better in an area where the children have skill and desire, and not because parents themselves want their own dreams to be fulfilled through the child.

To a new beginning

Teaching the child that talent is build, allows the child to look at failure in a completely new way. Parents need to remember, that prodigious talent isn’t passed down genetically, it is the consequence of: targeted practice, specific motivation and coaching.

COUNSELING OF STUDENTS AT SCHOOL LEVEL

Guidance and counseling is an important part of education at every level, especially at school level. Gaurav Goswami talks about the ever increasing need for appropriate counseling and guidance of school students in India.

A quick look back

In India schools are considered as the temple of learning and education is the preparation of life. In the past, Indian society with its strong family bonds, warm community feeling and spiritual essence has been working as a buffer in times of crisis and a support system to deal with various psycho-social issues. But, in recent times the Indian society have gone through a sea of changes from, the changing role of women, to a breakdown of the joint family system, rise in divorces, to increase in competitiveness in schools, rise in sociability of the children, increased technological advances, and peer and parental pressure, that have resulted in the formation of an environment that is loaded with stress and strain for students to deal with.    

Essence of education

Aim of education is the all-round development and harmonious adjustment of an individual in various aspects of student’s life. If this is to be achieved then education is not limited to imparting knowledge as the duty of a teacher, and accumulating knowledge as the duty of a student. Thus for self realization of the student guidance and counseling is needed. In short school counseling helps in reducing the effect of environmental and institutional barriers that impedes a student’s academic success.

History of school counseling

School counseling in India is relatively new. The first Child Guidance Clinic was started by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences at Wadia Hospital in 1938. The Wadia hospital also started a school health unit the same year, which referred children with behavioral problems to the hospital. The Ministry of Education, Government of India established the Central Bureau of Education and Vocational Guidance in 1954. After the 3rd five year plan; 1961, guidance services were initiated in schools by the trained counselors and career masters with assistance from school teachers. 1966 onwards the number of schools providing guidance service in one form or the other rose to 300. From the year 2000 the Central Bureau of Education and Vocational guidance has delegated the work of guidance professionals training to the regional institute of Guidance at Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhuvaneshwar and Mysore.   

Need for guidance

At adolescence the student must know about his/her capacities, potential, and job opportunities after higher studies, about the expenses towards higher education, availability of scholarships and the places of admission etc. The student needs guidance for right selection of courses of studies and personal guidance for his/her problems. Even if many students may have educated adults for assistance, but may be reluctant to approach them. In some families the parents or elders may be uneducated. There may be instances where parents and elders at home are busy with their own professional lives, and the adolescents are left without any help and in some cases without love and affection. Unfortunate students face heterosexual problems, which they cannot discuss with parents. Apart from these problems, students do not know the method of studying, the right method of preparing for the examination, how to allocate leisure time, and how better to adjust with siblings at home and with peer group at school. Guidance is needed not only for the adolescent in problems, but also for gifted students. Guidance is also needed to check the dropout from school, to minimize the incidents of indiscipline. For the adolescents who lack a sense of direction, purpose and a sense of fulfillment, guidance is needed.

Lot of work needs to be done

There is a better need to enhance the school counseling field in India. Plus awareness towards emotional and behavioral adjustment needs of students and its associations with academic performance should be created among the teachers, parents, educators, administrators and community.

I end this article with a question ‘what is the aim of counseling?’

The following tries to point out what counseling aspires for-

• ·         To bring about the desired change in the individual for self realization.
• ·         To provide assistance to solve problems through an intimate personal relationship.
• ·         To achieve positive mental health.
• ·         To help students to make proper and satisfactory adjustments for improved academic pursuits and useful life.