Comments on: Stop whining and start improving your child’s Indian education http://neoindian.org/2009/02/11/stop-whining-and-start-improving-your-child%e2%80%99s-indian-education/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=stop-whining-and-start-improving-your-child%25e2%2580%2599s-indian-education Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:40:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: neo http://neoindian.org/2009/02/11/stop-whining-and-start-improving-your-child%e2%80%99s-indian-education/#comment-1745 neo Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:17:37 +0000 http://neoindian.org/?p=193#comment-1745 Thanks. And anyone who gets why the pickle/cucumber thing is funny gets a free pass to my "check first" Google reader folder. :-) -Neo Thanks. And anyone who gets why the pickle/cucumber thing is funny gets a free pass to my “check first” Google reader folder. :-)

-Neo

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]]> By: Aurora http://neoindian.org/2009/02/11/stop-whining-and-start-improving-your-child%e2%80%99s-indian-education/#comment-1700 Aurora Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:17:30 +0000 http://neoindian.org/?p=193#comment-1700 "And so Neo’s house is an English-only house. The only time Neo and Mrs. Neo use their mother tongue is when they fight. And even then, its mostly Mrs. Neo talking in the mother tongue, and Neo saying “Yes, but..” every 18 minutes." ...Auroracoda would like to thank Neo for the belly busting, bray-like, snort ending laugh she enjoyed while sitting at her desk at work today after reading the above statment. Auroracoda's co-workers also wish to thank Neo because not only do they emphatically agree with the "Yes, but" 18 minute rule...they especially enjoyed the racoon look Auroracoda sported after reading Neo confess to it. :) “And so Neo’s house is an English-only house. The only time Neo and Mrs. Neo use their mother tongue is when they fight. And even then, its mostly Mrs. Neo talking in the mother tongue, and Neo saying “Yes, but..” every 18 minutes.”

…Auroracoda would like to thank Neo for the belly busting, bray-like, snort ending laugh she enjoyed while sitting at her desk at work today after reading the above statment.

Auroracoda’s co-workers also wish to thank Neo because not only do they emphatically agree with the “Yes, but” 18 minute rule…they especially enjoyed the racoon look Auroracoda sported after reading Neo confess to it.

:)

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]]> By: How much money do you need to save before you move to India ? | neoIndian - Confessions of a newly returned Indian http://neoindian.org/2009/02/11/stop-whining-and-start-improving-your-child%e2%80%99s-indian-education/#comment-1662 How much money do you need to save before you move to India ? | neoIndian - Confessions of a newly returned Indian Fri, 29 May 2009 17:43:44 +0000 http://neoindian.org/?p=193#comment-1662 [...] the Big Bang Theory (highly recommended btw). But if you can use it to start a part-time business, teach your kids, or even just to exercise regularly, this time is worth real money. Surely that deserves to be a [...] [...] the Big Bang Theory (highly recommended btw). But if you can use it to start a part-time business, teach your kids, or even just to exercise regularly, this time is worth real money. Surely that deserves to be a [...]

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]]> By: Mallika http://neoindian.org/2009/02/11/stop-whining-and-start-improving-your-child%e2%80%99s-indian-education/#comment-381 Mallika Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:48:18 +0000 http://neoindian.org/?p=193#comment-381 Loved this post as well..I agree with you on all counts, except for the English, English bit. I think there is a difference between someone who speaks English only and grows up in India and someone who is never exposed to an Indian language(ie speaks just English) and grows up elsewhere. Though English is widely used in India, my toddler son totally connects when he is in India given his knowledge of the native tongue. I guess what I'm saying is - there's more of a "need" to expose children to native languages if they grow up outside the native environment, so they feel more at home when they actually visit.. Loved this post as well..I agree with you on all counts, except for the English, English bit. I think there is a difference between someone who speaks English only and grows up in India and someone who is never exposed to an Indian language(ie speaks just English) and grows up elsewhere. Though English is widely used in India, my toddler son totally connects when he is in India given his knowledge of the native tongue. I guess what I’m saying is – there’s more of a “need” to expose children to native languages if they grow up outside the native environment, so they feel more at home when they actually visit..

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]]> By: Return to India myth #4: Moving to India will make you happy | neoIndian - Confessions of a newly returned Indian http://neoindian.org/2009/02/11/stop-whining-and-start-improving-your-child%e2%80%99s-indian-education/#comment-238 Return to India myth #4: Moving to India will make you happy | neoIndian - Confessions of a newly returned Indian Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:40:40 +0000 http://neoindian.org/?p=193#comment-238 [...] have to work the school situation significantly to make it work for you and your kids. (See: Stop whining and start improving your child’s Indian education, Return to India myth #19: School education is generally better in India (than in the [...] [...] have to work the school situation significantly to make it work for you and your kids. (See: Stop whining and start improving your child’s Indian education, Return to India myth #19: School education is generally better in India (than in the [...]

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]]> By: litterateuse http://neoindian.org/2009/02/11/stop-whining-and-start-improving-your-child%e2%80%99s-indian-education/#comment-88 litterateuse Sat, 28 Feb 2009 08:44:01 +0000 http://neoindian.org/?p=193#comment-88 lol@worm. Amazing how they watch us, pick the basic concept and give it their own turn :) Thanks for stopping by. So now I have to come to your space to read feedback on mine? :P (Don't grouch - you promised you wouldn't :D) gauri lol@worm. Amazing how they watch us, pick the basic concept and give it their own turn :)

Thanks for stopping by. So now I have to come to your space to read feedback on mine? :P (Don’t grouch – you promised you wouldn’t :D)

gauri

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]]> By: neo http://neoindian.org/2009/02/11/stop-whining-and-start-improving-your-child%e2%80%99s-indian-education/#comment-83 neo Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:52:42 +0000 http://neoindian.org/?p=193#comment-83 @litterateuse - Great point about "letting them be". No matter our intentions, we always have pre-set notions on the "right way" to do something. This inherently hampers our kids' natural way of exploring. Last week I watched with fascination as my son made a worm out of his play-doh and then used a small old box as the "worm's house" so the worm could rest. He then put the worm inside a toy car and drove the car to the doctor's house because my son (oops I mean the worm) had a tummy ache! Lastly - great blog. Welcome to my RSS reader. And I promise not to be grouchy. :P @litterateuse – Great point about “letting them be”. No matter our intentions, we always have pre-set notions on the “right way” to do something. This inherently hampers our kids’ natural way of exploring.

Last week I watched with fascination as my son made a worm out of his play-doh and then used a small old box as the “worm’s house” so the worm could rest. He then put the worm inside a toy car and drove the car to the doctor’s house because my son (oops I mean the worm) had a tummy ache!

Lastly – great blog. Welcome to my RSS reader. And I promise not to be grouchy. :P

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]]> By: litterateuse http://neoindian.org/2009/02/11/stop-whining-and-start-improving-your-child%e2%80%99s-indian-education/#comment-80 litterateuse Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:08:08 +0000 http://neoindian.org/?p=193#comment-80 Bingo! And Amen to that. Our philosophy, to a tee. Well maybe except the English, English, English bit. But since he (the dad) and I have different native tongues, the kids have been hearing mostly English and it's worked out well. I switch easily - and often consciously - from English to the native tongue mid-conversation (but not mid-sentence). Not so much because they "need to know our culture", but the earlier you start them multilingual, the better it is. And they do pick up. #4 - We haven't bought our second son <i>any</i> toys. Not one. He plays with what he finds, from real tools to kitchen vessels. They have good supplies; just the ones you mentioned. I like Melissa & Doug toys. No nonsense, no noise, immense scope for imagination and creativity. I do a puzzle / play-doh / origami / Tangram once with him, to give him start. After that, I just let him be and lurk around him doing my thing. That is one place I'll differ - spend a reasonable amount of time with them, yes. Tell them "stories" about facts, build with them. But for a good bit, just leave them alone; let them figure it out. Nothing like exercising the imagination when they're by themselves, or peers. He has developed a good interest in theater. I tell/read him the story a few days before I take him to a show - it's mostly classics/fairy tales. If you have this much to say, write a post yourself; don't make long comments on others' blogs. Else, apologize saying you got carried away reading how uncannily similar someone else's views are to yours. So yes, thanks for letting me use your space :) I did get carried away. And I blame you for documenting pretty much what I preach to others :-| -g Bingo! And Amen to that. Our philosophy, to a tee.

Well maybe except the English, English, English bit. But since he (the dad) and I have different native tongues, the kids have been hearing mostly English and it’s worked out well. I switch easily – and often consciously – from English to the native tongue mid-conversation (but not mid-sentence). Not so much because they “need to know our culture”, but the earlier you start them multilingual, the better it is. And they do pick up.

#4 – We haven’t bought our second son any toys. Not one. He plays with what he finds, from real tools to kitchen vessels. They have good supplies; just the ones you mentioned. I like Melissa & Doug toys. No nonsense, no noise, immense scope for imagination and creativity. I do a puzzle / play-doh / origami / Tangram once with him, to give him start. After that, I just let him be and lurk around him doing my thing.

That is one place I’ll differ – spend a reasonable amount of time with them, yes. Tell them “stories” about facts, build with them. But for a good bit, just leave them alone; let them figure it out. Nothing like exercising the imagination when they’re by themselves, or peers. He has developed a good interest in theater. I tell/read him the story a few days before I take him to a show – it’s mostly classics/fairy tales.

If you have this much to say, write a post yourself; don’t make long comments on others’ blogs. Else, apologize saying you got carried away reading how uncannily similar someone else’s views are to yours. So yes, thanks for letting me use your space :) I did get carried away. And I blame you for documenting pretty much what I preach to others :-|

-g

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]]> By: Roshni http://neoindian.org/2009/02/11/stop-whining-and-start-improving-your-child%e2%80%99s-indian-education/#comment-53 Roshni Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:07:23 +0000 http://neoindian.org/?p=193#comment-53 Just LOVE this post!!! I can't even tell you which part I liked best coz I just LOVED all of it..... thanks!!! Just LOVE this post!!! I can’t even tell you which part I liked best coz I just LOVED all of it….. thanks!!!

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]]> By: sri http://neoindian.org/2009/02/11/stop-whining-and-start-improving-your-child%e2%80%99s-indian-education/#comment-46 sri Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:56:04 +0000 http://neoindian.org/?p=193#comment-46 Awesome.. My heartiest sympathies ..er.. best wishes to Neo Jr.. :P Awesome.. My heartiest sympathies ..er.. best wishes to Neo Jr.. :P

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]]> By: neo http://neoindian.org/2009/02/11/stop-whining-and-start-improving-your-child%e2%80%99s-indian-education/#comment-33 neo Sat, 14 Feb 2009 06:05:38 +0000 http://neoindian.org/?p=193#comment-33 @yad True. Although yesterday my son and I played "hit a small chair with a (soft) ball" for hours - its awesome for hand-eye co-ordination. It ended badly with Neo Jr refusing to sleep (but then it always does). @roop Thanks! BTW - your blog is cool, and now it has a prominent spot in my RSS reader. :) -Neo @yad True. Although yesterday my son and I played “hit a small chair with a (soft) ball” for hours – its awesome for hand-eye co-ordination. It ended badly with Neo Jr refusing to sleep (but then it always does).

@roop Thanks! BTW – your blog is cool, and now it has a prominent spot in my RSS reader. :)

-Neo

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]]> By: roop http://neoindian.org/2009/02/11/stop-whining-and-start-improving-your-child%e2%80%99s-indian-education/#comment-32 roop Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:29:49 +0000 http://neoindian.org/?p=193#comment-32 hilarious!! just what i needed today. lovin' the blog!! :) hilarious!!

just what i needed today. lovin’ the blog!! :)

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]]> By: yad http://neoindian.org/2009/02/11/stop-whining-and-start-improving-your-child%e2%80%99s-indian-education/#comment-28 yad Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:08:19 +0000 http://neoindian.org/?p=193#comment-28 you are right about battery operated toys. However, with two boys, it is hard to avoid them completely. I have some rechargeable batteries for their favourite toys. They love puzzles and they keep them occupied for a long time. good post. you are right about battery operated toys. However, with two boys, it is hard to avoid them completely. I have some rechargeable batteries for their favourite toys. They love puzzles and they keep them occupied for a long time. good post.

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