It is a fact that corporates invest in training. Being in the field of HR, training, and education, I have observed the ups and downs corporates and employees undergo. Pandemic has proved that uncertainty is the norm.
With so much focus on adult
learning, what are we doing about Child development?
In India, much focus is on
getting into IIT, IIM. If one becomes an engineer or doctor then parents feel
that their child’s life is set.
One can see a rising pattern
for the past decade that children are groomed from the 8th standard
for competitive exams. Where is childhood?
Even if the child wants to do
something different, parents’ ambition takes over. Parents say, “No no, there
are no career options. Getting a formal degree is important.”
Then the same child struggles
later in life with emotional turmoil.
Education is important, but
do we conveniently ignore developing the other faculties of mind and becoming a
part of the rat race? Of course, if we are bought up in a particular way, it
becomes a challenge to do out-of-the-box thinking.
Do we as adults develop our
skills (other than professional skills)? Do we invest in pursuing our interests’
hobbies?
Three important things every
child must enroll, studies should be secondary. Creating a culture of learning
is important.
Sports –
Children must be a part of some or other sports. This creates a sense of
discipline and activity in the brain of a child.
Art –
Drawing or painting. Please note that this helps a long way in developing the
creative faculty of the brain.
Music –
Singing or playing an instrument. This opens avenues to the world of freedom.
The above three are vital to
developing focus. Which we now call mindfulness. Studies done without the above
three will have their limitations.
We need to gauge. Do we want
our children to be a part of the rat race?
With Gratitude
Dr. Sonali Wagle