Build children's intelligence

We are all born with the ability to sense emotions in others. It’s is a basic survival skill for humans and animals. This ability usually subsides in childhood as we learn to focus more on verbal cues than emotional ones.

Empaths, on the other hand, have a heightened sensitivity to other people’s emotions that keeps developing over time. As other kids stop picking up emotional signals, Empath children become totally overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of emotional information that they receive in social settings.

Since most parents do not know if they are Empaths, they don’t recognize the signs in their kids. It also prevents them for effectively teaching their kids how to manage emotional overflow. For a more in depth discussion on resources for adult Empaths, you can read my articles on this topic here.

Emotional Intelligence is defined as “the ability, capacity, or skill to perceive, assess, and manage the emotions of one’s self, of others, and of groups” (Salovey and Mayer, 1990). When you teach your children how to manage their Empath skills, you are developing their Emotional Intelligence.

There are three fundamental concepts that need to be addressed in order to effectively manage emotional information.

1. Empowerment: Do you control your Empath skills or do they control you (curse or blessing?)

2. Centeredness: Can you always hear your own internal self above all (raise above the chaos)

3. Flow: Does emotional information come in AND out freely (do you have an outlet?)

Is your child an Empath?

Children have a different way of handling their Empath abilities. Their range of available response is smaller, so they typically pick very quiet (as a way to calm down the emotional chaos they feel) or acting out (as a way to be louder than the emotional noise).

Keep in mind that children learn how to manage their Empath abilities by watching you handle yours. If you’re an Empath but don’t know how to handle it, get help for yourself first!

These are behaviors I have observed in Empath children who don’t know how to handle their abilities:

• Gets unusually quiet (often seen as shyness) around crowds but is fine with the immediate family or smaller groups. Your child is trying to feel empowered and centered by withdrawing from the world.
• Gets physically or verbally out of control around people but is mellow at home. Your child is trying to find an outlet to the overwhelming flow of incoming emotions.
• Resists going to bed or wakes up often. Your child is trying to stay centered while surrounded by the emotional activity of adults.
• Catches every illness available (cold, flu, ear infections, etc.). Your child is trying to feel empowered in shutting down unwanted emotional activity. Being sick is often the only way a child can use to withdraw from social situations.

Of course, this describes about 85% of children. I believe that most children do suffer from a mismanagement of their Empath skills. I also believe that more and more Empath children are born every day. So 85% is not a shocking number to me.

The bottom line is: can you help your child have a happier life by using Empath tools? If it does help, then you’re on the right track!

Disclaimer: This checklist is not a diagnostic or treatment tool. I am not a doctor or a mental health professional. Some of the characteristics of Empaths can be diagnosed as ADD, agoraphobia or clinical depression. Contact your health care professional if you have any questions, need diagnostic or treatment for a mental health issue.

In order to help your child, you need tools that address each of the three concepts (empowerment, centeredness and flow). This is a technique I developed with my son.

Empath Anchoring Technique:

When your child gets overwhelmed, she often just needs a point of reference to stay grounded. You can be that anchor.

1. Calm your own emotions. You can’t be a positive anchor if you’re upset or angry.

2. Tell her quietly “Look me in the eyes” (point to your eyes) and put your hand on her chest. Make sure you have eye contact for the next step!

3. Tell her “We’re going to take 5 breaths together and count them”. Let your child breathe however she wants. You’re just accompanying her, counting out loud with each exhalation.

Breathing quiets down emotional noise, re-centers the mind and helps children feel empowered by having something they can do when they feel uncomfortable. Include Empath anchoring it in your night time routine!

In a world full of digital advancement, it’s a privilege to access natural beauty and make the most of it. Playground structures in the modern times are more inclined towards installing different types of outdoor playground equipment. They do benefit kids in terms of maintaining physical health, but they aren’t as beneficial as natural playgrounds.

The term natural playground implies structures that use natural materials and existing topology to design a play area that promotes open-ended play. The existing topology includes trees, rocks, logs, water, and other natural elements that can be utilized for children’s playing. The reason why I am emphasizing on natural playgrounds is they stimulate creativity among children. Below are some of the most effective reasons to consider.

1. They Help in Increasing Growth
The fresh air that penetrates through lungs creates a psychological impact on children’s mind. As a result, they want to spend more time than they do in commercial playgrounds. According to a research, the length of kids’ playtime increases up to double in natural playgrounds, which, in turn, increases their level of fitness up to twofold.

2. Promotes Imaginative Play
The natural playgrounds are more charming, welcoming, accessible, and reject the idea of discrimination. Children are bound to play certain games in the commercial playground and this is a practice that restricts their mental capabilities and curbs creativity. On the contrary, a natural playground promotes free play where children are motivated to utilize their imagination and enjoy free play. Kids do not like to be dictated; this is a natural phenomenon that exists in them.

3. Easily Accessible
Natural beauty is everywhere; it’s we who are unfortunate of not using them for good. Even if a natural playground isn’t near your home, you can create one in your home garden. You can install a swing on a tree or ask kids to use them for climbing. There can be a lot of ways of using natural beauty for kids’ play and they would love it a lot.

4. Enhance Social Skills
Since kids are not bound and dictated to play a certain game, they interact with peers for sharing and gathering different ideas. Sometimes, they need team building, too, which also boosts their social skills. Apart from that, playing in the group always includes negotiation and problem solving that help in developing their leadership skills.

5. Develop Motor Skills
One of the greatest benefits children get from natural playgrounds is the development of their motor skills. They get the same benefits from commercial playgrounds, too, but not up to the extent to which they get while playing in a natural playground. The natural settings boost their senses of feeling and touching through the textures and natural sounds.

A natural playground is the one that promotes playing through natural settings. The benefits available in a natural setting can’t be found in a conventional setup. Allow your kids to be more creative by exposing them to natural setups. Don’t dictate them what and what not to play, but do take safety measures for them.

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In the last decade, studies have been conducted that look into the benefits of Yoga; and several have concluded that with regard to children, consistent Yoga practice is linked to improved academic performance, decreased misbehavior, greater physical fitness, and better overall health.

Use in Schools

Some schools, public and private, across the United States, have incorporated kids’ Yoga into their curriculum, and still others receive subsidies for offering Yoga classes as part of their physical education programs. The results are clear; Yoga definitely helps young people focus, feel better about themselves, and behave more appropriately in an academic setting.

Enhancing Intelligence

It must also be noted that Yoga can help enhance children’s intelligence. Due to the fact that inversion poses improve blood flow to the brain and change the way a practitioner sees the world while practicing, they stretch and stimulate the mind. Yoga poses also feature relaxation techniques that can halt the onset of anxiety, which is a problem experienced by more and more young people and which can block certain brain cells from functioning. As a result of decreased stress levels and increase circulation, children can be more receptive to learning situations. Young minds are so flexible and resilient, increased learning receptivity will naturally broaden the ability to think outside the box.

Storytelling and Kids’ Yoga

To enhance intelligence with Yoga, storytelling is a useful tool that provides a young mind with external stimuli to focus on, while the physical Yoga poses help the child work out excess energy, stress, or other negative emotions. Stories can be told from books, from story boards, or even from memory, as the instructor uses the stories to pace a Yoga asana series and to emphasize certain poses.

In schools, smart teachers can use kids Yoga story time to reinforce their lessons, especially given the enhanced receptivity children have toward learning when they are relaxed. Parents, too, in a family Yoga session, can utilize stories that impart wisdom or moral lessons, to encourage children to grow into kind and wise adults.

Keeping kids Yoga stories creative and fun can also enhance intelligence. One way to do this is to give the class a role in creating the story, by contributing one line at a time, or by giving children responsibility to come up with unique poses to fit the Yoga story’s contents. Allowing young people to author their own Yoga practice can be rewarding for them physically, as well as mentally.

It is a common belief that there were several Avvaiyars belonging to several periods contributing to Tamil literature. But essentially two Avvaiyars are well known.

Avvaiyar I: Belonged to Sangam period (1st to 3rd century A.D) who lived at the time of the famous kings Pari and Athikaman.

King Pari was a noted philanthropist ranked among seven such charitable kings.

Athikaman, was the Tirukovilur king. The story goes that he gave a nectar like Amla fruit which he got, to the poetess so that she should live for ever. She contributed for the recognition of Tirukkural by poets of SANGAM (Association of learned poets) of Madurai.

Avvaiyar II: In 13th century there were two great Tamil poets Kambar who wrote Ramayana in Tamil and Ottakkuthar. Avvaiyar was a contemporary to them. Her contributions were various poems in the form of sermons to children.
Contemporary

Tamil scholars who popularised Avvaiyar’s works include,

Shri T.K.Shanmugam, (a male actor aged 40 at that time), a doyen of Tamil drama enacted story of Avvaiyar who himself acted as avvaiyar and got laurels for his attempt. He was given the title Avvai Shanmugham after the play.

Shri S.S.Vasan, Moghul of Tamil cinema, produced the magnum opus “Avvaiyar” spending huge money in 1953. Though it was a commercial film, it was rich in literal values and was a money spinner.

The great Tamil poet Subramania Bharathi (Bharathiyar) was an ardent lover of Avvaiyar and followed her teachings in his poems for children.

There are several learned professors and Tamil scholars who have done extensive research on Avvai literature.

Sri Krishnan, well known as Vempattur Krishnan, named out of his village, has authored hundreds of books on Tamil Literature. One such book is “Encyclopaedia of Avvayar’s Tamil” in which a thorough research has been made about works of Avvaiyars, and articles from several doyens of Tamil Literature are published. Here below, a list of various works of Avvaiyar were consolidated and written as ‘Avvaiyar Tamil Literature’.

Her contribution to Tamil Literature:

1 Devotional poems, which are mainly on Lord Ganesa, the elephant God who removes all the hurdles in any attempt, if prayed. Secondly poems on Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning. Thirdly poems on Lord Siva, who is the ultimate authority controlling all actions. By virtue these devotional poems, a moral character is inculcated in school children. Hence most of the schools invariably contain these songs in curriculum.

2 Contribution to Sangam Literature::

i. Poems in ‘Aha nanooru’ which means four hundred songs on personal and family life.

ii. Poems in ‘Pura Nanooru”which means four hundred songs on adventure life in a kingdom.

iii. Narrinai which means guidance for good life

iv. Kurunthokai which means short verses.

3. Several moral teachings including,

Neethi Ozukkam: Moral justice
Nalvazhi: moral path of living
Moothurai: teachings of elders
Ulaka Nithi: rightful living laws on Earth
Kalvi ozukkam: morality of education.

And several moral teachings meant for students but applicable to elders as well.

What are Aththi soodi and Konrai vendhan?

Special mention may be made of about Aththi soodi’ and ‘Konrai Vendhan’ which are masterpieces of Avvaiyar Tamil Literature which the students start learning from kindergarten and which they teach their children in later age, and the teaching is continued for generations. Thus teachings of Avvaiyar Tamil is beyond chronological age and goes on for ever.

Aththisoodi means garland made up of ‘Aththi’ flower and Lord Siva is sitting under the tree ‘konrai’ wearing the garland.

Several English translations are also available. Rev Dr John, Rev Biiset and author Sudgen have translated both these teachings in English. ‘Moothurai’ had been translated by Robinson. These translations have been widely appreciated mainly by Rev Fr G.U.Pope who was a doyen of Tamil Literature.

Here is an attempt to redefine Aththisoodi by this author in his own words. It may be noted that it is not translation, but coining own instructions in English.

ATHTHISOODI, an alphabetical garland of instructions;
“Do’s and don’ts mainly to children, a trial in English:
(In author’s own words)

A: Abide by moral laws.
B: Be honest in all your duties.
C: Care for the weak and elders
D: Don’t delay good acts.
E: Eat minimum, live long.
F: Follow the right path.
G: Give only whatever you can spare.
H: Have a helping tendency.
I: Impart the knowledge you learnt to others
J: Judge not people by mere appearance.
K: Keep quiet in August audience.
L: Love thy neighbour as thyself (Christ teaching)
M: Mind your words.
N: Never stop learning.
O: Obey elders’ advice
P: Pardon others’ ignorance.
Q: Quest for enlightenment.
R: Respect the feelings of others.
S: Speak Truth always.
T: See good things, Hear good things, do good things. (Mahatma Gandhi)
U: use not hurting language.
V: Verify before believing.
W: Waste not your valuable time and energy.
X: Xerox not others’ actions.
Y: yearn for noble things.
Z: zeal to achieve.

Consonants with vowels:
In the same manner phrases can be formed for other combined letters like BA, BE, BU, BI and BU and so on. A guidance has been given in this article and readers may take the cue and form their commands.

The commands may appear simple, but the effect of moral teachings through these simple commands to children is tremendous. Instead of teaching only A for apple, B for bat and so on, if it is taught A: Always respect the elders and B: Be honest in all your duties, it will have a strong impression in growing minds, because it is Avvaiyar’s teaching that “CATCH’EM YOUNG’..

The internet has revolutionized the way we think and behave nowadays. Apart from keeping us connected with people who are poles apart, it provides us with a great source of information. To be honest, neither I nor my kids can imagine our lives without the Internet, but I was worried sick about how to save them from the dark side it holds. The commonly prevailing theft, pornography, and fake news on the Internet can be a hell of a lot more dangerous for your kids than you think.

Some parents think engaging kids in outdoor play and banning the use of the internet for them is a solution. But, it’s not! You can’t save your kids from using the Internet as it is everywhere. If they don’t use it at home, they will use it at school or at a friend’s place. The only thing you can do is aware them with the negative aspects and increase their maturity in the following ways.

1. Place your Computer in the Lounge

When your kids are below 15, avoid placing the computer in their rooms or anywhere private. Do not allow them laptops and install a common computer for them in the lounge or any shade structure in your home. You, too, might have to sacrifice a bit for them as they get attracted to devices when they see adults using them. In their presence, try to keep your laptops and tablets inside and use the common computer only.

2. Look at What they are Looking at

You don’t need to do it once they have grown up, but you have to be a little investigative when they are below 18. I try to browse through histories and my kids’ social media accounts to know what they are into. Once I found them browsing an inappropriate website, so I counseled them on how it can harm them.

3. Teach them Not to Publicize their Personal Information

Personal information is the most powerful tool for thieves and sexual predators for blackmailing and negative use. I have always taught my kids not to use their personal information including phone number, email address, photograph, passwords, and even real names on social media websites. Furthermore, aware them to only talk to people they know.

4. Block Unnecessary Material

Your kids may get access to some websites unintentionally. For example, they may reach some harmful pornographic websites while looking for their biology queries. You have to keep an eye and block such websites to keep them protected. They don’t know what they are looking at and it’s better they don’t till they grow up.

5. Be Friendly and Empathetic

The only way you can protect your kids from the negative aspects of the Internet is to be friendly with them. Don’t be too strict or bossy that they fear telling you things they experience. For instance, be frank enough to them so that they may open up to you in case they go through cyberbullying. That’s the only way you can protect your kids!

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Science is an integral part of STEM learning that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic. STEM learning aims to promote a better understanding of these four disciplines in a more ‘Whole’-istic way. In fact, a simple task like using a wagon to move something from one place to another involves number of principles of science, mathematics, engineering and technology. The children can be benefited by STEM learning especially if it is organized in form of science camps etc.

STEM learning aims to make science fun, enlightening and easy for kids. There are numerous hands on activities that can be done in the science camp that would follow the basic principles of STEM to make the learning impactful and long lasting. Researchers have proved that practicality helps learn faster. Going by that, STEM activities done in a science camp would be easily remembered and the principle behind those activities would be understood without difficulty.

As STEM activities are project based activities, it becomes easy for children to comprehend the principles of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in an easy going manner, especially if it is done under the guidance of teachers or facilitators of a science camp. There are many activities that can be done to create a base for understanding key concepts that would be required later on in life as well. Such as:

Heavy And Light
In a science camp, kids would be able to learn basic concept of heavy and light through STEM activities. As STEM requires everyday item, using glass, water and couple of oranges the concept of floating could be explained. Why heavy things go down the bottom of the glass and why light things float can also be explained.

Natural Phenomenon
Kids are curious and everything fascinates them. There are number of natural phenomenon that can be practically explained to them through STEM activities in a science camp.

Rain can also be demonstrated through some shaving foam, water and colour. This activity would fascinate children and would also be a great learning experience for them. they can in fact learn the concept of how rain is formed, how clouds are formed and so much more, which is very fascinating.

Building From Scratch
As STEM activities require the kids to use concepts of all four disciplines, such activities in a science camp would be of extreme importance. Child would do measurements, procure things of which a particular thing can be constructed, and brain storm to decide about the size etc. all this would require considerable amount of knowledge of STEM concepts. Activities such as building a bridge from sticks or Lego blocks or straws or designing a race track would come under this.

Science Of Water
Water is kids’ favorite. Period. There are number of activities designed around water, to make them understand various concepts of science.

E.g. States of Water through science experiments kids’ would understand all three forms of water i.e. gas, liquid and solid. How much temperature is required for it to turn into solid or gas, what are its properties etc. can be clarified through the experiments in a science camp.

Concept of Density can also be explained to them by using various liquids as plain water, dishwashing liquid, sugar syrup etc. This will make them learn a complex concept in a more comprehensive and understandable way.

Science can be made fun and educational for kids by using STEM learning. There are a lot of things a child learns in a science camp that would propel them towards practical understanding of concepts.
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Do you find your little one less enthusiastic about playing with her friends? Does she seem aloof to you about everything else? Do you find that she is deteriorating in her studies as well? If you nodded in affirmation, then there are high chances that your little one lacks self-motivation.

Self-motivation is the key that leaves a great impression on how your little one is pacing in her daily life. From performing well in the curriculum to building some good habits, a self-motivated child can do wonders with her life. Motivation comes naturally until the age of seven, but up till reaching this age group a kid is observing her surroundings and always learning something new. However, after the age of seven, she must be able to motivate herself.

Although self-motivation is an inside process and varies from kid to kid, as a parent, you can always motivate and push your child to nurture her ability to do better and better. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Stay Positive

Even if she is failing at something, always dwell on the efforts she is putting in rather than nagging about the things she is not good at. If there is a problem, try to be compassionate and come up with a solution. You will soon see this positive outlook and behavior being reflected in your little princess.

2. Appreciate Efforts

Rather than just saying ‘good job’ for everything, take some time to rethink how you want to appreciate all the good things that she is doing. For example, if she shares her toys with her friends, you can acknowledge her good behavior by complementing, “Your friend must have enjoyed and felt immensely good when you shared your toys with her”. This will motivate your charming daughter to always behave well and do good in other aspects of her life.

3. Tackle Failures

Tell your little bundle of joy that it is okay to lose sometimes. What is important is the attempt and what she learns from failing at it in the first go. This trait of gracefully accepting the defeat and moving on from setbacks will prove immensely beneficial later in her life.

4. Adopt Learning Style

When a certain subject is hard to learn for your kid, then you can encourage the learning through fostering her interests. Suppose if she likes baking, you can teach her the measuring concepts by teaching her how to measure the ingredients. This will teach her about size, volume, and density without even making it appear like a burdensome math lesson.

5. Build Self-Esteem

When she believes in herself, any difficult mountain can be moved with ease. Building a positive self-esteem will open the ways towards building self-esteem. Help your little one to build self-esteem and believe in herself, then there won’t be even a single thing that she would think of as unattainable. You can always try to look out what she enjoys doing the most and how she interprets the right from the wrong.

Final Word

Like any other parent in the world, you would also want your little one to be successful in school and later in her life as an adult. Set your little one on the path of success by inculcating self-motivation. Always encourage your pretty princess to go beyond the boundaries and achieve big. It is a vital skill that is needed for whatever she chooses to do in her life!

Have you ever faced a situation where you almost have to beg your young ones to tell you the truth because you believe his answer was not what you really hope to hear? You keep on begging and then, come the magic phrase, “it is sinful to lie!”

If you are smiling as you read this line, I am smiling at you too.I already know the answer. We all did that. Often times, after repeating the same phrase our words fall on deaf ears. The phrase, “it is sinful to lie” become too common on your lips and your child’s ears yet, you still want to instill the same values. What options are you left with? Not much, but there are a few hadiths (Prophetic words from The Prophet Muhammad PBUH) and verses from the Quran that you can gently instill into your child’s mind. Reading them with your loved ones each day may not only help you with your mission, but also is rewarding and beneficial for both you and the family members.

Here are some prophetic words & Quran verses to replace your, “it is sinful to lie” phrase.

The first one is this, from surah Al-Baqarah verse 42, in which Allah say in a very subtle way, “And do not mix truth with falsehood, and do not conceal the truth while you know.(2:42)”It is a good reminder to instill into your child about speaking the truth especially on serious matters where truth is the objective we seek. When using the Quran verse, not only you are doing an ibadah for enlightening the family with Quranic values, but also leave your child with very little room to go continue exaggerating his lies.

Secondly, there is also a whole lot of a chapter from the Quran named Munafiqoon which means The Hypocrites. Here, the munafiqoon are given 3 characteristics one of which is the liars. I will not advice you to use this verse towards your child as it is quite harsh to call someone a munafiq (a hypocrite). Instead, inculcate to them the danger and Allah’s restriction for being a liar.

Not only the Quran teach us the characteristics of a hypocrite, but it also teaches us what it takes to be forgiven. In the chapter, Al-Ghafir, verse 28, Allah said that, “If he is a liar, his lying will rebound upon him; but if he is truthful, then some of what he promises you will befall you. God does not guide the extravagant imposter (40:28).” This verse can be the best one to replace your judgmental, “it is sinful to lie” phrase. It is good sometimes to teach the young ones the consequences of their own action so that they are more watchful of what they want to utter every time they speak.

Beside all the verses from the Quran, the Prophet Muhammad PBUH also once said, that those who tell lies are not among his followers (Riwayat Muslim). As a Muslim, we take our Prophet as our leader, hence, whatever that he forbid us to do must also be followed. Again, it is so noble to be able to teach your child this value rather than nagging. Ibnu Qayyim also once quoted that the tongue will show you what’s in his heart whether he likes it or not.

Lastly, I would also love to share this verse from the Quran as a reminder for us, especially parents that in the Holy Quran, Allah said in surah Al-Taghabun (64:15),”your possessions and your children are a test, but with God is a splendid reward.” In another chapter, Allah mentioned in surah Munafiqoon, verse 9: “O you who believe! Let neither your possessions nor your children distract you from the remembrance of God. Whoever does that-these are the losers (63:9)”. We should all take our time to ponder upon these verses from time to time as we grow our children. Most of all, why don’t we remind ourselves about these verses first before we share them with others? Despite being adults, we too need to correct ourselves from time to time, insyaAllah.

Thinking back to our school days, we were taught various subjects, given a bit of guidance about what career we should follow and that’s about it. There weren’t, and still aren’t, any excellent coaching programmes in school unless you’re an athlete.

Furthermore, with recent UK government policy suggesting that all young people should have a coach or mentor, it’s difficult to see how this would work in practical terms.

This situation continues to be of concern since the education sector continues to cut budgets and careers services.

During my teaching career I’ve never seen or experienced how schools, colleges and universities and, for that matter, workplaces tap into the root passions that we are all born with.

Imagine if the education system tapped into our core passions and promoted educational subjects around those passions instead of trying to pigeonhole everyone?

Having worked with thousands of young people, my purpose in life is to inspire and support parents, guardians and those who meet young people to coach them towards a life and career filled with purpose and have fun doing it. That is the reason why I’ve written this article.

I love what I do because of the results I get working with both adults and young people. I see people’s eyes light up when they realize what’s possible and they see a future for themselves. This is particularly important for what we describe as the lost generation of children.

With young people I love to see them discover what they want to do in life as this helps them focus on their choice of studies. What’s your story going to be?

So, let’s get down to it.

I’d like to help you to discover your child’s purpose in life and potentially your own – are you ready? Remember that these exercises are best done with young people age 14+ as this is the time when the family unit starts to think about further education at college and university. In addition, this exercise is equally valuable for your older children age 18+, with or without help.

Without a purpose in life, it’s easy to get sidetracked or lost. It’s therefore easy to wander and drift and accomplish little in life. I’ve known hundreds of students like this who have attended college and university without any idea of why they are there or what they want to accomplish in life.

To start with try to chat with young people in an informal environment – don’t sit them down and start grilling them because they’ll just walk off – usually!

As a career coach I use The Jack Canfield Success Principles and one of the most important places to start is to ask the young people in your household this question.

Ask them “What do you want?” The first thing that will happen is that the young person will either a) start talking or writing things down or 2) say “I don’t know and shrug their shoulders”.

So the next question if they get stuck is to ask them what they don’t want e.g. to poor, homeless and jobless and just three examples.

Then ask “So if you don’t want to be poor, homeless and jobless what would you like instead”?

At this point either you or they can be writing a list. The list will usually contain ‘things’ like cars and holidays as well as more spiritual things like to be happy and content. It doesn’t matter what the answers are right now.

Once there is a list ask your young person to search on the Internet for pictures of what they want and print them out. The pictures can then be put on the wall to remind them every day what they are aiming for. Some people just like a list and that’s fine as well.

This is the first of many questions you can ask them. To work through the entire course you might want to buy a book I’ve written for parents and career advisers.

Kindergarten is the place a child gets introduced to the world. This is the place where they learn everything. There are so many things a child can learn in the kindergarten like cooking, painting, writing, playing, etc. to give them an idea of all the things they have to do in their lives. If you are a kindergarten teacher and are at a loss at new productive activities to teach kids then you should give these a shot.

Eraser Activity – Not the plain boring ones, but the mini one with cute and funny pictures on it. You can ask kids to decorate something. You can write a name on a sheet and the kids had to trace the line with it. You can also get erasers in different shapes and sizes like erasers in the shape of alphabets. Kids will not only find this cute, but also they will be able to tell the difference between shapes by this practical experience.

Festival Teaching – When a festival is approaching, then you can tell stories about the festivals and then ask kids to make cards for it. And not only cards, kids can indulge their time in making lots of things related to the festival. For example – for the upcoming Christmas children could draw Santa, make Christmas trees out of cardboard and decorate it with colors. This way kids will learn about the festival and will also practice art and craft.

Teach to Complete Sentences – Here is another idea. To teach kids complete sentences you can write small and easy words of a sentence on plastic cups and ask them to arrange it in the correct order. Apart from that, you can teach them to fill in the blanks. Write down sentences on the board, but with words missing in it. Make a few chits of the missing words along with few extra and ask them to pick the correct word.

Cooking – when it comes to cooking you can teach the kids, lots of things that do not require a gas stove like drinks, batter making, cotton candies.

If you teach kids to plant trees and make them understand how important plants are for us then it will be a good life lesson for them. They will understand the importance of greenery and will take an interest in plant roping. In this process, they will also understand the difference between types of trees. So, all in all, it will be a great experience of environment for them.

Teach Them to Draw Shadow Art – Many of the kids find shadows very interesting as they do not understand the concept of it. You must have seen some kid running away from the shadow as it is something bad. You can use this interest of kids to draw their attention to shadow art. Teach them a little physics knowledge about light and how shadow appears and the kid is set to go.

You can learn a lot about many such kindergarten activities and preschool curriculum which can play an important role in the physical, emotional and mental development of kids.