Jagriti 55th Batch

We have said this earlier, many times, but we think it merits a longer exposition. Whether it is science, art , behaviour, sexuality or safety - can we listen to the child.  It is important that we talk, but it is MORE important that we  LISTEN. Listen regularly, Listen whenever opportunity knocks, Listen when the opportunity doesn't. Listening (or Active Listening ) to me has three components: Connect , Clarify and Expand . First I need to connect with the child, acknowledge what he or she is feeling, doing, intending. ("You are curious") . Then I can ask questions that will clarify the child's thinking by accessing more details. This clarification will not only help me understand the child, but more importantly it will help the child understand himself or he rself . ("Tell me more") I can further the conversation by asking questions, or providing data or stories or ideas to the child who can use them as triggers to expand thinking more. ("What about ...

1. Here is one video of preparing children for escaping abuse  I n this video we (parents)  are talking to our son on the topic of child sexual abuse 2. We did a session with children (mixed age group of 6 to 14 yrs) on preparing them against child sexual abuse. It would be interesting to directly show this video to your children as a way to prepare / empower them.  Here is the link 3.  This page also gives you a design of a session with children: Do share these  with anybody who you think will benefit Or just share it with EVERYBODY in your various communities to create a discussion about this topic warmly Aditi- Ratnesh  (Ph: +91-98450-45833) Aarohi Website |  Aarohi on FB Aarohi is a community of self directed learners - Children who decide what they want to learn, how they want to learn, when they want to learn and use self assessment. We do not follow any philosophy, we follow the child. Aarohi offers an open learning environment at: Aarohi O-Campus: Bodichipalli...

Mamma bird rounded off her five little chicks in a circle and said in a solemn voice, "For us birds, it is important to be responsible". "But we are already responsible", was the immediate chorus response. "Okay", said mamma bird, "tell me how?" "We take care of ourselves by being neat and clean," said one chick. "We also take care of our little nest by keeping it clean," said another chick. "Mamma, when we keep our things neatly and in order, are we being responsible?" asked the eldest of the brood. "Maybe," replied the mother. "How else do you think you are responsible?" asked the mother, wanting her chicks to think more about responsibility. "Mamma whenever sis disturbs us when we are working, I give her a good whack so that she understands how to behave. I am teaching her responsibility." Listening to this, mother bird wondered if responsibility was about taking care of others' f...

Preparing children Against  (sexual) abuse Make a list of all the things you have done to prepare your children. Discuss with your spouse. Keep this list ready. What else can you or any parent do?  Discuss with your spouse. Make this list ready. As you watch this video , look for some assumptions  t hat have been made here .  Discuss with your spouse. List ready please. 4 True or False (according to you) Chances are my Child will not get abused. My child is still so young, I need not worry about sexual abuse. Girls get abused, Boys don't. Only bad people from some sections of society abuse My child is safe with my friends and my relatives. My child will tell me if something like this happens. Only men do sexual abuse, with women my child is safe. I can prevent abuse as I am very vigilant. My child will do what I tell him or her to do / not do. warmly Aditi- Ratnesh  (Ph: +91-98450-45833) Aarohi is an Open Learning Community for learners of all ages: Open to all kinds of inte...

Sex   education  has become synonymous with "reproduction science". Most of the time parents seek " sex   education " when a child asks "where does the baby come from? How did papa put the baby in your tummy? Why do people kiss? What are sanitary pads?" And so on. Let us look at the  sex   education  beyond this. When a child is born, the child is exposed to different vocabulary – mummy, papa, milk, biscuit, water and whatever is required. When it comes to the body we give vocabulary of hands, fingers, mouth, ear but this is not complete. We leave out organs like vagina, penis, anus and breast, we replace these with "that", "peepee" and so on. Child grows up with the same vocabulary in mind and when its time to know about how papa put baby in mummy's tummy, we all are at a loss "does that put sperm in that and that and becomes baby?" So, let us begin with vocabulary. Now the question arises "society does not approve t...

In a way, sex education is not about education, but about our sexuality , about us. In a way, education is not about studies, subjects, degrees, but about our life , about us . John Sinclair, the poet, once announced, at Harvard, a workshop on Writing. The huge hall was teeming with people, some even hanging on the windows for want of space. Sinclair walks in and asks, "How many of you want to learn how to write". Every hand in the hall goes up. He continues, "Then go home and write". And saying that he walks out. End of workshop. Isn't that true about almost everything - we just need TO DO. Learning, understanding and growth will follow. And so will happiness. When it comes to preparing children for sexuality (or sex-education) - its the same. The problem is that, with children, we do nothing about this aspect of our life. All we need to do is TALK , Converse. Talk regularly, talk whenever opportunity knocks, talk when opportunity doesn't. Here, (and in ...

Dear Honest People I am struggling to understand honesty, So I need your help. Sometimes people say to me that I am being dishonest. But I think that I am being honest. I am being honest to my needs and wants. I, according to what I need, share whatever will fulfill my needs/wants. Maybe what I am saying is not honest to your needs, but it is honest to my needs/wants. The other day I called an aunt of mine and I asked, "How are you?" and she replied, "Fine". But she was not actually fine. Her migraines have been active recently. Her washing machine was not working properly. Her son was having some problems in his college, etc. Obviously she did not   share her lists of problems with me. She said, "Fine". In a way   she was being honest to her desire of not burdening me with   her problems. Few years back, in my school, the teacher talked about the sun rising in the east. But then recently I figured out that the sun does not rise anywhere, it is our earth t...

In some ways the next two sessions, first on sexuality and second on sexual abuse, are  appplication sessions. We apply all what we have gathered in the last 11 sessions - on these topics. Obviously we have chosen these topics simply because they are the least talked, discussed and explored. So, do go through your notes from all the previous sessions, as you walk into both these sessions, with a plan to apply them. Session Preparation #12 SEXUALITY 1. See these  videos Its time for  'the talk' Cosby Show -  how mothers delivery a baby Do also share your favourite videos which explore the theme of SEXUALITY in the telegram group. 2. Think about these questions: What are your views about sexuality? What are some of your beliefs?  (make a long list) What kind of emotions do you go through when faced with topics related to sexuality? How do you deal with it? What are your views about teaching children about sexuality? What is the difference between sex-education and preparing child...

Dear Mummy and Papa Trust is such a big problem. I don't like it. Please do not trust me. When you say you trust me, this puts pressure on me. I don't like trust. You say you trust that I will keep my word. But many times I am not able to. Sometimes because I gave that promise because you wanted me to (and I didn't really want to) - like the promise of not eating that chocolate before dinner. Then you said that I had broken your trust. I don't like trust. You say you trust that I will not tell lies. But many times, when I'm simply scared to get a scolding, I tell lies. I was scared when I did not complete the project so I told you that my teacher liked my work. Then you saw my diary and teacher's note and you said that I had broken your trust. I don't like trust. You say you trust that I will live up to your expectations. But the other day when I was teasing my friend badly, you said I had broken your trust because I did not behave properly while you expecte...

There is a popular Buddha story, which goes like this: Once, when Buddha and his disciples were meditating  a man came up to Buddha and asked, "Are you meditating?" Buddha opened his eyes, smiled at the man and said, "Yes, I am, can we talk in the afternoon". Saying this Buddha closed his eyes. Later the disciples could not contain themselves, complained to Buddha, "Not only was his question foolish, any one could plainly see that you were meditating, on top of that you answered him also, breaking your meditation. We could have responded to him." Buddha again smiled and replied, "He had a need. I responded to it. He continued and so did I. That is meditation. If only I could learn from this story even half an ounce of its wisdom.  If only I could realize that relaxation, acceptance, respect, understanding - almost all of these do not emanate from what we see, but what we choose to see : Step back Change the window There was a time When my reasons wer...

Can we not adopt some beliefs and choose to relax? Can we not separate behaviour (act) from the individual (actor) and choose to respect ? Can we not look at intentions and choose to understand ? And since we CAN, let's choose to behave, so that children be+have :   (BE and still HAVE us). Find attached the Behaviour workout as a PDF in this email. Enjoy. warmly Aditi-Ratnesh   (Ph:  +91-98450-45833 ) Aarohi Website  |   Aarohi on FB Aarohi is  a community of self directed learners -   Children who decide what they want to learn, how they want to learn, when they want to learn and use self assessment. We do not follow any philosophy, we follow the child . Aarohi  offer s  an open learning environment at: Aarohi O-Campus :  Bodichipalli Village, Kelamangalam, 16km from Hosur, 55km from Bangalore (in Tamil Nadu) Google Maps:  https://goo.gl/maps/JQx0H