With each passing day more attention is being paid by society to fun filled activities. The trend of modern educational system is being questioned as lacking in both – there is neither fun nor activity. It is leading to worldwide concern about flaws that are leading to alarming rise in obesity and diabetes among children. Life style and lack of fun filled activities in the system is being blamed for it.
The basic flaw has been to separate academics from physical activity – as if the two are different in one human body. By fun filled activities is meant not only physical but also mental activities. The typical type of book learning, although essential, does not activate the mind of the child. Even if it does there is no fun factor in it. This leads to the child losing interest.
This concern about fun filled activities has led to many suggestions and proposals. The individual child is made up of three things intertwined and not separates – the body, the mind and the spirit. From dawn to dusk education in the true sense that is comprehensive must develop all three simultaneously to produce mature productive adults. The present system is mass-producing destructive immature individuals that are spelling doom for the world.
The child has to be taught to be responsible and this begins at home with it being given certain responsibilities in the house. The adult might balk at the idea but the child will love to polish school shoes or wash his or her own cup. It will bring harmony in the house – the family being the base from which builds up the concept of the entire nation.
Running around is a vital part of childhood but under special training the body can be trained to listen to the mind. Lessons in arts like Yoga or Kung Fu will channelize youthful energies properly that will develop the concentration and co-operation power latent in the child apart from learning self defense with self respect for the body. Connected with this is food. The child will love to chop and slice to decorate a salad while an older child will enjoy gradual introduction to the all important factor in human lives – fire.
One time should be set aside for the child to independently dabble with anything he or she likes from clay to sand or water. Alternatively packets of crayon, plasticine, scrapbook, scissors and paper will add to the fun. The child will soon find his genetic inclinations and run along the course destined for him.