Young parents get insight, skills on child’s upbringing

(Left) Administrator of Hope Academy Pre-School Mrs. Sashila speaking during a program on parenting skills (Right) A section of the parents of children studying in Hope Academy attending the programme at its school premises, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur on Friday.

Dimapur, October 16 (MExN): Young parents of children studying in Dimapur based Hope Academy, a Montessori based pre-school, received some useful insight and skills on parenting through a presentation made by Mrs Alongla Aier, a well known teacher and mentor here at the school premises on Friday. Speaking to the young parents, many of them professionals, Mrs Alongla, while admitting that it was a tough job to be a good parent, nevertheless encouraged those present to take a holistic approach in bringing up their children.
“It’s a tough job to be a good parent but if you want the best out of them, you must spend more quality time with your children”, Mrs Alongla said and added that “there is no short cut to parenting”. Using the theme of parenting and pointing to its importance for the healthy growth of the institution of family, Mrs Alongla reminded parents of the social responsibility they have. “I believe in the family. If parents know how to bring up their children our future is secured”, she reminded giving a biblical perspective that “children are the heritage from God”.
On the practical aspect of parenting, Mrs Alongla asked young parents to be good role models saying that children learn more by imitation and example. She also urged parents to create a conducive atmosphere at home so that children can grow with a healthy frame of mind. She spoke about the importance of love in a father-mother relationship saying that this was the “best emotional security” parents can give to their children. She also touched on the ‘positive equation’ that can come about by way of bonding and cultivating ‘strong relationship’ with the children. On this, she encouraged the men folk to be more involved and engaged.
Later in an interactive session, several other areas of parenting skills were discussed ranging from disciplining, pros and cons of hostels, impact of television and mass media etc.
Earlier Administrator of Hope Academy Mrs Sashila informed the parents that the academy would be upgrading to Class 1 from next year onwards and there will be up gradation to higher classes each year. The Administrator also explained to the parents about “iDiscoveri XSEED”, a comprehensive program for schools to enable all children to learn better. According to Mrs Sashila this is the only researched program in the country which integrates the requirements of various school systems in India and abroad. Parents were informed that the coverage of topics in the program has been built along the recommendations of the National Curriculum Framework and the guidelines of the Indian examination boards including the CBSE, ICSE and State boards.
The early program curriculum of XSEED is designed and based on 6 areas namely language development; mathematical development; knowledge and understanding of the world; creative development; motor development and personal, social and emotional development. According to Mrs Sashila this program has been introduced partially in all classes at Hope Academy from the month of August 2009 and teachers as well as students have received it very well.
It may be mentioned that Hope Academy is a Montessori based pre-school encouraging children for excellence and creativity. According to the school’s administrator, its core strategic objective is to give the child the opportunity to fully develop the best of his/her ability within a structured and stimulating environment.