The Positive Aspects of Covid-19 for Parents

CORONA virus is an epidemic and lockdown is going on to prevent this disease. In general, educational institutions all over the world and especially in Pakistan have been closed for the last two and a half months, and there is no sign of reopening yet. That's why schools, colleges and universities are trying to get their courses online. As high school, college or university students somehow manage to create some activity for themselves at home and also succeed in following the guidelines given by the institutions. However, primary level children face many difficulties in terms of their engagement and activities at home and parents are also much worried about this situation. Most of the schools have started providing educational materials to the children for learning at home so that the children can continue their education in their own homes along with the necessary steps taken to avoid this disease.
As parents, if we try to focus on the positive aspects of this difficult and disturbing situation instead of taking it in a negative way, we can make this situation pleasant for ourselves and for our children at home. We are all well aware that we and our children have to be confined indoors to protect ourselves from this epidemic, but this closure should not be painful or detrimental to everyone in the home. Under normal circumstances, spending time at home or having some quality time with your children, even if you want to, is rarely available. Therefore, taking advantage of this opportunity, this rare opportunity can be used positively. It is not absolutely necessary for all parents to be able to help their children in their educational activities, you cannot become a teacher and complete your children's curriculum at all. School teachers are working hard for educational activities and to help complete the curriculum; the government is broadcasting on tele-school channel and cable networks are also continuing educational activities locally. So there are a number of activities out there that allow you to spend quality time with your children and keep them engaged in a constructive manner. Activities that you can easily perform with your children all together and you can make this closure, fun for yourself and for your children. Remember, when things will get better, Inshallah, and we will all return to our normal lives, then you will remember these days and these engagements as precious moments of your life. You will often mention them in future. The following are some of the activities you can easily do with your children. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX9qm_JCTlg
1	Prayers and Religious Sermons: In the current context, we all cannot participate and perform religious duties as we normally do As parents, we all have an important responsibility to provide a conducive environment and opportunity for ourselves, our families and especially our children to perform religious duties at home. The role of parents is most important in performing prayers on time, discussing religious matters, teaching ethics and performing other religious rites.
2	Housework: Teach them to do laundry, ironing, and so on. Involve children (boys and girls) equally in such activities and appreciate their work, then they will participate in these activities with more enthusiasm. Children can be involved in all household chores, including washing clothes, ironing, polishing shoes, cleaning the floor, sweeping, washing dishes, cleaning glasses, and many more.
3	Story Time: In the olden days, the elders of the house always use to tell stories which has been now abandoned.  At home, parents need to be aware and let the children know the stories of the past, the difficulties and conveniences of the past and the difficulties and conveniences of the present time, the games of the past, the equipment, their names and uses, etc.
4	Talk about Corona: Children are often frightened by Corona epidemic. So parents should talk about corona at home, children should not be intimidated at all, but should be encouraged to avoid it. Don't pay too much attention to the news and propaganda on television or social media.
5	Indoor games: The games you know, and the games you've been playing at home, the same games you should play with the kids again, tell them the rules of the game. Teach them the skills to win. The games includes Carom board, Ludo and card games etc.
6	Watch movies together: Watching family favorite movies together is a great way to spend time. After watching the movie, ask the children to write a review of the movie or make a movie poster. Discuss the characters in the film. Talk about your favorite characters and which part you like the most and why.
7	Theater: If your children like to perform, help them present a show in front of other family members. Help children create story and dialogues about the show. Encourage children to take part in a play or magic shows. They can even use other people's clothes for costumes in the house. If you have a camera, you can film it. Which can be seen later
8	Horticulture and farming: Show your child how to take care of plants, teach them to sow seeds in the yards, level the ground, water, etc. Believe that children will become your admirers.
9	Treasure Hunt: If you have a yard next to your home, engage your children in a treasure hunt. You can hide some things in different places and get the children to search for this interesting treasure.
10	Establish your family tree: You can create an art gallery in your home and display your child's artwork. Can draw on different topics. You can present your genealogy in a beautiful way.
11	Take over the kitchen: The way “One Day Kingdom” is celebrated in schools, in the same way, activities can be done at home under the name of Kitchen Day. All the kitchen chores can be handed over to the children. However, it is important to guide and monitor them. Ask children to work in the kitchen often, help them with cooking, ask them to make a cake or biscuit or any dessert. They will do this job with great enthusiasm. Arrange to make a dish of children's choice and involve them in the work, so that children will start helping parents in the kitchen.
12	Make homemade gifts or cards: During this lockdown, most of us may have a special day, such as a birthday, wedding anniversary, or any other important day. So on the occasion of the days, encourage your children to make homemade gifts or greeting cards. Children take part in such activities with great enthusiasm.
13	Memoirs: Ask the children to sort out the old pictures in the house and make a script book of memories associated with these pictures. You will spend a lot of quality time with your children in this work. The children will ask you about the occasion in each picture and you have to make the children note all those memories. This will become a beautiful book of family memories.
14	Room rearrangement: Ask children to rearrange their rooms. Change the old settings. Rearrange the furniture in the room and take out the things in the room they don't need or use.
15	Read: Most schools have an activity called “Dear Time”. That is DEAR - Drop Everything And Read. Parents can start this activity in their homes. Remember that it requires the participation of all the members of the household. Ring a bell at a certain time, and by the time the next bell rings, where ever one is, or doing whatever, everyone will has to read something. In the beginning this activity can be of 5 minutes only and over the time, that is likely to increase. This will not only develop the habit of reading in children but will also increase the tendency of reading in parents too. Likewise, start a family book club at home. Talk about your favorite characters and which part you like the most and why.
THE END

Karim from Altit - a great entertainer - Video Dailymotion

Karim from Altit - a great entertainer - Video Dailymotion

Choosing the field of education

Choosing the field of education

By: Darvesh Karim

Entering the education field has been a very motivated decision for me. This particular decision is completely based on the former experience I had had all the way to the moment I decided I will connect my future with it. Nowadays, when parents are very busy the workers of the educational field are the people, who teach the young generation what is beautiful and what is ugly, what is right and what is wrong and million other things. Every person someday used to be an ordinary pupil that had teachers. The schooling experience of every person may develop either positive or negative attitude towards education in general. It is a fact of common knowledge that one of the most important parts in the educational process is the teacher. Choosing the education field has to be connected with a “calling” of a person, because it requires a lot of professional and personal qualities and constant self-perfection.

My personal experience in school taught me that a teacher could really make a difference in the process of education. A teacher may develop respect to the subject, to the teacher’s personality and to the education in general. A pupil may even see the difference in the manner of explaining and presenting the material teaching the same subject.

I discovered this difference when I had a substitute teacher coming to class and making my most hated subject one of the most interesting in the whole school program. I decided that I do want to make children love teaching and show them how fun and interesting learning can be. I decided to make it the reason of my life.

There have been lots of debates on good and bad teachers. And this particular experience made me realize that I do want to make a difference for children and make their education interesting for them in the first place and therefore motivate their own educational activity. I want to become a “good” teacher, not just a teacher reproducing the material student knows, but sharing attitudes, experience and reveal all the interesting sides in the educational process. It is vital to make sure the pupils get only the most positive experience from teaching. My experience made me realize how many mistakes some teachers do and gave the greatest desire to learn everything in order to become a real professional in the field of education.

Such a position towards education may reveal more talented young people among pupils and students. By making the process of education more productive we increase the educational level of the whole nation and I want to make my own personal contribution into this “highly professional education”. I have also thought that sharing the knowledge you have with other people is wonderful, and maybe one day I will inspire a young person to dedicate him/herself to the field of education. And this will be the best reward for me and for all the forces I plan to contribute in this field now. This experience was a “push” in the direction of the field I admire so much.