Month: January 2020

Teaching your child that it’s okay to lose!

Posted on by amelioadmin

Who doesn’t like winning? How wonderful it is to see our children winning at things. And when they lose it breaks our heart to see the look of disappointment on their faces.

Say that your child has been practicing for a race for a month, or been studying for days for a competitive exam, and they don’t get the place or grade that they thought they would. You might think that that would be the main reason the loss has upset them so greatly – all that hard work coming to nothing. But another major aspect that contributes to their disappointment over losing is that they feel they have let you, the parent, down.

Think about it. From when your child is young when they win a race, or score a goal or get top marks on a test, as the parent you can’t help but praise them. You celebrate their wins and they pick up on that. So, when they do lose, it hits them hard. They feel like they’ve failed you. This is why it’s important to teach your child that it’s okay to lose.

That losing is a part of life, and when they do lose you aren’t any less proud of them.

• Say that your child didn’t win the 100-metre race that they were so sure of coming first at. Or, your young one misspelled a word on a spelling test and got a lower grade than expected. Allow your child to express their hurt and disappointment when this happens. Make sure that they know it’s okay to feel bad when they lose.

• When your child is upset and wallowing in their loss, don’t tell them to cheer up and to get over it. What your child feels is natural, and when you brush it off you can make them feel worse. Let them work through their emotions and feelings and come out of it without being labelled as a ‘sore loser’ or a ‘bad sport’.

• Empathise with your child. Accept their losses. Talk to them about it, and share your own experiences with losing, so your child knows you always have their back no matter what. This allows the child to feel secure, and to heal quickly and move on.

When your child learns that it’s normal to lose at times, and that it’s a part of competition and life, they are better able to process the loss and take it in their stride.  They are also able to learn from their mistakes and try to improve themselves in a healthy and healing way. After all, we all have lost at some point, so let’s teach our kids from a young age that it’s okay for them to lose too.

Fun Activities to Celebrate Republic Day with Your Kids

Posted on by amelioadmin

Republic Day is coming up! We know it’s the day when our country’s constitution came into effect. But how do we teach our little ones the importance of this day? You might think your 4 –year-old is too young to understand big ideas and words like republic and constitution and patriotism. But, we’re here to tell you it’s never too early to start. Here are some fun activities to introduce Republic Day to your child so that, over time, they understand the significance of it all.

Watch the parade together

Idea number one is pretty obvious. Every year there’s the grand Republic Day parade held in Delhi. Dignitaries are in attendance, the army, navy and air force put on a grand display, states showcase floats representing their unique culture or contribution to the country. It doesn’t get better than this when it comes to introducing your child to the country they call home. So, on Republic Day, gather in front of the television with your family and watch the parade. Talk about it with your kid, answer any questions they might have and get the ball rolling.

Read the books!

Nowadays, children’s books cover every conceivable subject out there. In simple language and lovely stories all manner of complicated topics are conveyed in a way your child can understand.  In ‘We, the children of India,’ by Leila Seth and illustrated by Bindia Thapar, the former Chief Justice of India breaks down the preamble in easy terms. There are captivating illustrations and photographs to further draw the child in. You can find the book here. You also have children’s books on freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, the history of India, elections and democracy told in creative and interesting ways. So grab a few, read them with your child and help them understand their country better.

Make a Map

Take a sheet of chart paper and draw out a map of India. Mark out the states with your little one. Have your child stick pictures of historical landmarks in specific states, or you could even draw it out and have them colour it in. Which state grows the most rice paddy? West Bengal, as I just learned. So have your child stick grains of rice on the map where West Bengal is. What’s the state dance form of Manipur? Manipuri, that’s an easy one. Find a picture of a Manipuri dancer with your child and have them place it where the state is.  So on and so forth you can fill up the entire map. This is a great way to teach your child about their country and its diversity.

Attend a flag hoisting

Your neighborhood, apartment complex, or even the local community centre will have a flag hoisting ceremony come Republic Day. While it’s a great idea to take your child for it, before you go do a couple of activities so that they’ll get more out of the event. Make a flag with your child, teach them the words of the national anthem, show them pictures of the people who helped frame our constitution and built our country. This will make them more excited and interested and they are sure to have plenty of questions and observations.

We hope the above ideas help you introduce this red-letter day in our country’s history to your child. And may this just be the beginning in raising responsible, inclusive and woke citizens of tomorrow.  Happy Republic Day!

Teaching Kids About Personal Space and Boundaries

Posted on by amelioadmin

We’ve all been through it as kids, aunties pinching our cheeks, relatives pulling us on to their laps to sit. With our own kids we’ve at one time or another told them to hug an uncle bye, or said ‘how cute’ when they’ve kissed or hugged another child. There’s a lack of respect for personal space, privacy and boundaries in our country, especially when it comes to children. You might wonder what all the fuss is about; after all isn’t it just showing affection. 

Personal space and boundaries are important social skills that will teach your child how to behave with their peers and adults, they will learn etiquette and decorum, and most importantly it will keep your child safe! When you teach your child about boundaries, they will not only learn to respect others, but also respect themselves and their bodies.

We’ve got you covered with these helpful ways in which you can teach your child about personal space, privacy and boundaries.

Show them 

  • Fold a mat into a square and ask your little one to stand in the middle of it, or use a chalk to draw a large square around your child. Ask them to play or do an activity within the space and explain to them that the area they are in represents their personal space. This will help them identify their own personal space and other people’s as well.
  • When you’re going to shower or to the loo, tell your child you need privacy and will be closing the door. If your child needs to change or use the potty, take them to the bathroom and tell them to keep the door closed or ajar (if your child is too young). This will teach them about the need for privacy and personal space to perform certain activities.
  • Kids learn from the adults around them. They’re learning and absorbing from you even when you think they aren’t. So make sure you model good behavior when it comes to boundaries and personal space while interacting with one another. 

Talk to them

  • While watching a cartoon with your child or reading to them, take the opportunity to point out examples of situations where characters do and don’t respect personal space and talk about it. If your child grabs another kid’s toy or pushes, intervene immediately, ask them to think about how the other child felt. By talking and discussing, you can teach your child empathy and respecting other’s boundaries.
  • Ask your child what they are comfortable with when it comes to physical affection. Always check with your child before you or anyone else hugs or kisses them. If they tell you they don’t like that a kid or adult greeted them with a hug, tell them that they have a right to feel that way and can always say No. Also, talk to them about other ways in which they would rather be greeted—maybe, a wave or a hi-five.

Listen to them

  • When your child says ‘No’ to being tickled by a friend, or if they don’t feel like giving grandma a goodbye kiss, do not force them to. Make sure your child knows its okay if they don’t want to be touched and they haven’t done anything wrong by refusing. You need to respect your child’s personal space to empower them to be in charge of their own bodies.
  • When your child tells you they’ve been pushed, or were uncomfortable in a particular situation, listen to them! Don’t brush their feelings aside. Also, list out certain scenarios when they need to call a trusted adult to intervene.

When your child is aware of their boundaries they will be able to speak up when they are in an uncomfortable situation. They will be empowered to say ‘No’ to a hug or a kiss or if their personal space is being invaded, thereby keeping them safe.

2019 – The Year that Was at Amelio

Posted on by amelioadmin

The past year has been a spectacular one for Amelio, and we hope it has been for you as well!

Everyday we strive to do better – for the parents who trust us with their little ones, for our corporate partners who place their trust in and associate with us, for our teachers and employees who believe in us and uphold our values, and most of all for our children who are at the heart of everything we stand for. As we begin the New Year, we’d like to reflect on our pursuits this past year, in our efforts to be there for more parents – across old networks and new, building a support system that works for everyone involved.

Early this year Amelio began operations at Zoho Corporation in Guduvancherry, shortly followed by a stand alone Infant Care facility in their main building. It has been a privilege to be there for the working parents at Zoho!

Amelio at Zoho Corporation

Zoho Infant Care Facility

Amelio at GAR Laxmi Infobahn

Amelio at Ascendas V-IT Park, HITEC City

Our Bangalore family has grown, with a new Amelio centre in Whitefield, at Brigade Metropolis. Amelio has collaborated with The Hive, and we have a new centre at their lovely co-working space on OMR in Chennai. And of course, we couldn’t forget our old centres! Three of our iconic centres at MEPZ, Siruseri and Mahindra World City in Chennai have been renovated, paving way for new and improved, bigger and brighter centres. This December, Amelio held its first Annual Conference on “Workplace Childcare to Build Diversity”, in partnership with the Consulate of France in Chennai & Pondicherry and the International Finance Corporation. Through this conference, Amelio brought together the best minds in business, the childcare industry, the government and influencing organizations to brainstorm and ideate on strategies to build a workplace that is relevant for the future, and to enable more employees to pursue guilt-free careers. Our commitment to enable working parents to “have it all” has inspired our growth this year, and Amelio’s expansion plans continue to materialize, with multiple new centres planned in the next year!

We would like to thank you all for the confidence and support, thereby enabling us to be there for more parents across new networks.

Happy New Year!

Team Amelio