Category: First Steps

Let’s lose those learning myths

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur
Free learning as a concept can make a huge difference in the child’s ability to think, imagine, make decisions and develop confidence. In free learning, there are no expectations, no comparisons and no right or wrong. By encouraging this, teachers can give children the gift of exploration, experimentation and enjoyment.

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I have confidence in me

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur

Confidence is an attitude that we all try and build in our children. But what is confidence? Do we have to force children to do things they don’t like in order to become confident at something? The authors tell you.

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The myth of the misbehaved child

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur

Does a child really misbehave? Can the parent or teacher respond in a more understanding manner to the act of misbehaviour ? Afer all, isn’t misbehaviour too a part of the child’s learning process? Find some answers to these questions in this article.

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The myth of Gandhiji’s three monkeys

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur
Should teachers or parents build a shield around a child or inside a child, is the question that is discussed here. Instead of teaching children what is right or wrong, it is better to teach them how to decide what is right and wrong, instead of thrusting our beliefs on them, it is better they build their own thoughts and perspectives.

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No right way

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur

“You are not doing it the right way!” How many of us have said this to our kids? As adults, teachers and parents we think we are setting children on the right path by directing the way they think. But are we really? Think about it.

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I believe I can change

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur

How can teachers help children to differentiate between good and bad habits? What happens when teachers constantly correct a child’s habit? How does the child feel? This article calls upon teachers to think about their own belief systems and see if they can consciously try to change their own beliefs.

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The myth of learning

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur

Do children learn only when they are taught in a systematic and structured way? This article shatters some myths where learning is concerned and points out that learning can happen most naturally,oftentimes on the job itself especially when children are engaged in their own endeavours.

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Of rewards and behaviour

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur
Do rewards and good behaviour go hand in hand? Connecting rewards to disciplining gives control to the parents and is parenting all about control? What then is the ideal way to discipline a child? This article talks about how rewards create more problems than solutions both for the parent and the child.

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A myth called child

Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur

Beginning with the March issue, Aditi Mathur and Ratnesh Mathur are writing a series of articles breaking down popular myths related to children and learning. This first article encourages readers to stop propagating this myth of the child and childhood. Want to know why childhood is a myth? Read the article.

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