Category: Education

Kid- friendly activities to celebrate the day of love

Posted on by amelioadmin

February 14th is just around the corner. And you know what that means– Valentine’s Day! This day celebrates love and affection in all its forms. So, why not get the kids involved? From heart-shaped cards to creative crafts check out these list of activities to keep your little ones entertained as we approach the day of love.

  • Heart-shaped cards are a staple when it comes to Valentine’s Day, but you can get your kids to up their card making game. Try this heart symmetry painting, cut a piece of chart paper into the shape of a heart, fold it in half and then open it. Have your child add splotches of different coloured paints on one side and fold the card again and press. Open to see a one-of-a-kind artwork that doubles as a card. 
  • You know how kids love to collect rocks and pebbles, combine that with Valentine’s Day for this next activity. Have your little one go out and pick some smooth rocks, wash them clean, and allow them to dry. Apply glue on the rock in the shape of hearts, stars, etc. Have your child apply glitter or sequins in different colours where the glue is and shake of the excess to create a sparkly shape on the rock. You could also cut out fabric in the shape of hearts and have them stick it on the rock, this is a great way to upcycle old clothes and create something special. 
  • Valentine’s Day calls for sweet treats. So why not bake something with your kids. Heart shaped cookies are a great idea. Your child can help you make the cookies and also decorate it with everything from colored sprinkles to pink and red icing.  Another idea is to get heart shaped molds and make chocolates together, check out this easy recipe. Place the chocolates in little pouches and tie a ribbon around it to gift to loved ones.
  • Here comes the sun, why not make a Valentine’s Day inspired sun catcher with your child. All you need is a clear cellophane sheet, coloured cellophane, coloured chart paper and the craft must-haves glitter, sequins and glue. Cut out the outline of a heart on the chart paper and stick it on the clear sheet and remove the excess clear sheet to make a transparent heart. Cut out smaller hearts out of the coloured cellophane. Let your child stick the cutouts on the transparent heart and sprinkle glitter and sequins here and there. Place the finished product against the window and you have yourselves a sun catcher.
  • Check out these heart-shaped bookmarks. This is basic origami and you can use red or pink chart paper (maybe, even newspaper) and make a few. Gather some sketch pens, stickers, glue, sequins etc and have your little ones decorate the bookmarks. Finally, help them write little messages on it for their friends or loved ones. 

Not only are all of the activities mentioned above fun and interactive for the entire family, your little one can hand out the final products to loved ones on Valentine’s Day to show them their love and appreciation.

Why the arts matter!

Posted on by amelioadmin

Your toddler dips their hands in paint. They squeal with delight as they press their palms on to a piece of paper. They grab a paintbrush and smear colour all over the paper and themselves. Yes, it’s a sweet and special moment, but there is also a great deal of mess to clean up!

Developing motor skills

You might wonder what the value is in allowing your toddler, who can barely grasp a spoon, to paint and play with colours. However, the process of finger painting, drawing and wielding a paintbrush helps develop their fine motor skills. By allowing them to practice and explore, when they are out of toddlerhood and starting school they’d have developed dexterity and control, and should even be able to draw shapes and cut with scissors.

Expressing themselves

Nothing allows you to be inspired and express yourself like the arts do. Whether your child is reciting a poem or playing a piece of music – their creative juices are flowing. They will be thinking in a completely different way than when they do for math or a science experiment. This ability to express themselves and think creatively will help your child for the rest of their life!

Confidence building

Allowing your child to learn an art form – be it playing the violin or dancing Bharathanatyam – will help them build confidence.  As they learn and grow and see themselves becoming more adept and improving day by day, they will develop better self-confidence. They’ll also learn to make decisions and solve problems in the process.

 Teamwork

Singing in a choir, being part of a dance troupe or even putting up a play is filled with fun and camaraderie. But being part of a group like this will also teach your child to work with others, to own up to mistakes and to help their teammates when they slip up. They also learn to persevere and not give up! By interacting with others in these groups your little one will also learn social niceties and how to treat their peers with respect.

Growing up, most of us were asked to concentrate on math and the sciences in school, so that we’d have a successful future. But, now things are changing. Children are exposed to a lot more career options, everything from journalism and business to graphic design and sports management. So when they are allowed to practice the arts, their world is broadened and they develop mastery over a particular skill. This mastery helps them academically and emotionally, and they learn to follow their passion.

Celebrating Independence Day!

Posted on by amelioadmin

August 15th, Independence Day, is a landmark day for our country, and no one can contest that it’s important for our kids to understand the significance of the day. Yes, you could go about it by informing them about the history of the day, but is that enough?

Here are some fun classroom activities to help kids understand the relevance of the day and learn more about their country.

  1. Show the kids images and photographs of the various freedom fighters. Let each child come dressed as a particular freedom fighter and have them say a short note about the person they are dressed as. The kids could discuss and learn more about these iconic Indians.
  2. Watch a patriotic movie together (that is age-appropriate, obviously), and learn a little bit about our country’s history together. You could talk about the movie after and see what the kids felt and learned from the film.
  3. We are a country that’s rich in culture. There are particular languages, dance forms, arts, textiles and foods that are special to each region. Why not have each child represent a state or region and have them come dressed in that area’s attire, and perform a dance or art form that is synonymous to that area? Are there well-known authors or poets who are from that state? Have the children read out excerpts by them.
  4. Let the kids get creative making Indian flags – they could use bits of paper to make a collage flag or even create the flag using coloured grains.  Why stop with flags, you could have the kids draw, design or craft the national animal, national bird, and even the national flower, using interesting materials.
  5. Ask parents and people in the community to share more about their culture, the food they eat and the language they speak with the kids. Set up an Independence Day buffet or picnic. Have the kids bring in a food that the state or region their family is known for. This way the kids will get to taste and explore a range of flavours and learn more about each other.
  6. Plan a cleanup drive or a plant-a-tree drive for Independence Day and teach your kids the concept of giving back to society. Let them learn the importance of keeping their country green and clean by planting trees and cleaning up their surroundings.

May we teach our children to value the freedom they have, appreciate the diversity of our country and learn from our history.

What to Look for When Picking a School for Your Child

Posted on by amelioadmin

Your child’s school years are perhaps the most formative time in their lives. This is when their ideas and values are shaped, and when they learn constantly and grow at a rapid rate physically, mentally and emotionally. What they learn and experience during these initial years will have a strong influence over them for the rest of their lives.

It is no wonder that picking a school for your child is a daunting task. From syllabus and the rating of the school, to fees and extra-curricular activities offered, there are numerous things to keep in mind while choosing a school for your child. Once you have shortlisted a few schools based on fees and syllabus, here are some basic things to look out for, which will make all the difference when it comes to your child’s future.

The Teachers

A teacher plays an extraordinary and vital role in a child’s life. They not only educate your child, they also engage with them and shape their ideas. During these impressionable years, a teacher serves as your child’s role model, counselor and mentor. Remember, a school is only as good as its teachers. So, make sure that the school you put your child into has a stellar faculty – teachers who are skilled at educating, are up-to-date with their information, and who truly care about teaching the citizens of tomorrow.

The Environment

A large part of your child’s day is spent at school. Which means the infrastructure and surroundings should be safe, clean and conducive to learning and growing. Check out the classrooms to see if they get enough light and air, make sure the libraries are well stocked, and the laboratories have the latest equipment and tools. You wouldn’t be remiss in ensuring that the bathrooms are sanitized and the cafeteria hygienic. Finally, choose a school that has ample room for your child to run around and get some fresh air.

The extra-curricular activities

Yes, learning to read, write and do math is very important, but life skills and creative pursuits are necessities as well. We need to raise citizens who are well-rounded, have the right values and care about the world around them. Go with a school that has facilities and teachers for art, music and sports. Pick a school, which gives importance to learning new skills and encourages socially useful and productive work. In this way, you ensure that your child explores their interests, and is allowed to grow into a confident and considerate person.

A school should not only educate your child, but should also ignite an interest to learn, encourage creativity, and help them be the best they can be. By choosing the right school for your child you put them on the right path for a great future and life.

Ten Great Ways to Keep Your Kids Engaged This Summer

Posted on by amelioadmin

The summer holidays are nearly here, and as the long summer days stretch ahead of you, it might seem like an impossible task to keep your kids entertained without turning to screens and devices. Luckily, we are here to help! Here are some simple and creative ideas to keep your children occupied and entertained.

Do it yourself

Why not get your kids to make their own playdough, or slime? There are tons of easy recipes online like this and this, which you can follow to help your kids make some colourful playdough and stretchy slime. And once they are done, you’ll get some peace as they sculpt and craft.

Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

Gather the kids together, give them a checklist of things to find outdoors and unleash them in your garden or the nearest park. A dried leaf, a spider, a chirping bird, a pink flower– have them tick off what they spot. They are guaranteed to have fun and learn with this activity.

Explore your city

Play tourist in your own city this summer. Take the children to a famous landmark in your locality, a well-known park or a walking tour of a historical site or building. Both your kids and you will learn something new about the city you live in.

Kiddie Olympics

Set up some outdoor activities for the kids and their friends. You can organize a lime-and-spoon race, a mini obstacle course, a crab race, hula hoop competition. The options are endless when it comes to outdoor games. This is a great way to get children moving and get some fresh air!

Learn more!

Children are obsessed with everything from planets to dinosaurs. Borrow some books on the subjects that interest them from the local library, and then take them to the planetarium or museum to learn more. They will have a magical time and you will ignite a love for learning in them.

Cooking 101

Introduce your kids to the joys of cooking with simple recipes. You could have them help pound the roti dough and cut out some fun shaped rotis. If it’s a rainy afternoon, bake something together. Get the children involved in the kitchen by having them wash fruits and vegetables, mix together a salad or spoon out ingredients. It’s never too early to learn the basics.

Creative Clothes

Buy some white cloth and give your kids some fabric paint and let them get creative. You can turn the decorated cloth into clothes for their dolls and in the process, teach your children about the basics of sewing. Another cool idea is to use cloth to do a tie-and-dye project with the kids. There are some excellent tutorials online that can guide you through the process.

Children’s theatre

Have the kids and their friends get together and put up a play. They can be in-charge of the story, acting and directing. Have them use things around the house for props and costumes. Once they are ready, they can perform their play for friends and family. It will be a lovely evening at the theatre for all!

Build a quiet corner

Have your kids put together an indoor tent or fort. Give them cushions and sheets to build it. Let it be their Zen zone. It can be the space where they pretend play, colour, work on puzzles and read. The children will be occupied and you will get some quiet time as well.

Last but not least…

Summer Camp

By sending your kids to summer camps, not only will they be engaged, they will also socialize with their peers and learn new skills. At Amelio’s summer camps, your children will be exposed to a range of activities and subjects—everything from robotics and photography to art and nature—taught by experts. Learn more about our facilities and resources and give your kids a summer to remember!

Why Vijayadasami is the Perfect Time to Start Your Child at a Preschool

Posted on by amelioadmin

Admissions open at Amelio's preschool program

Your toddler is one little busy body and you are probably wondering when might be a good time to start her off at preschool. Have you considered enrolling her in a preschool this Vijayadasami?

Vijayadasami is an auspicious time in South India for initiation of formal education for children. It is usually on this day that children start their learning of music and the arts. Since this is a wonderful day for new beginnings, it could also be the ideal time to start your toddler on her preschool experience. Here are some reasons why:

  1. Rituals encourage readiness:

When the child and the parent go through a ritual of initiation, both ready themselves for commitment into that endeavour. If you think about any ritual you follow at home, notice how it requires commitment, planning and involvement. And these three ingredients are key to any successful initiative. When you start your child with a ritual such as the Vidyarambham, there is a greater chance that you are more committed, planned and involved. And that would mean a much easier transitioning process for your child.

  1. Get a head-start on learning

Most schools start enrolling children from June but initiate admissions only around December/ January of the previous year. Your child could greatly benefit from spending time in a preschool environment as a start to her formal schooling. A good preschool program such as Amelio’s will give your child a safe environment with loving and supportive teachers. She will be encouraged to learn through her own initiative thereby building her self-esteem and readiness to formal schooling.

  1. Make those first besties

Usually, many children enroll in preschools around Vijayadasami therefore creating a lovely, cosy group of children and parents who start their journey of education in each other’s company. They form friendships for life and proceed on to schooling and other experiences together. It’s a beautiful way to get your child initiated into learning, also socially.

At Amelio, we have an award-winning preschool program that is designed to enhance your child’s learning outcomes.

We have limited seats for our preschool program and they fill up fast! To know more about how we help your child get a head start, call us at 91760 24000 now!