The Rat Race

 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 8^th 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