Friday 19 February 2016

HOW TO OVERCOME CHILDREN’S FEAR OF THE DARK



All children go through a phase where they are afraid of the dark. It happens when children advance to a stage of having an active imagination. Their imagination uses the material they hear and saw in television shows, video games and stories in developing the fear. So that now any dark spots or little noises in the night mark the presence of a ghost.
Fears of dark or monsters in the children are very common and are easily excused by the parents but it can lead to serious fear and anxiety in the growing adolescent if not dealt properly.

Here are some suggestions to help your ward overcome such fears:

  • Identify the fear and its cause. Ask them to tell you about their fear and what makes them scared at night. Look out for anything that disturbs them in the daytime.
  • Show them that you understand their fears but do not support it any manner that confirm your child that the creature exists. Even suggesting that you will destroy them or will look for it encourages the thought.
  • Reassure them that they are safe. Tell them that you are here and will be checking upon them briefly.
  • Encourage them to speak and believe sentences like ‘I am not afraid; it’s just dark. I am not alone’.
  • Keep a small bulb on in the room or corridor outside the room at nights.
  • Establish a bedtime routine and keep the environment light and happy before they go to sleep.
  • Keep in check their television viewing habits and reading materials are appropriate to their age.
  • Don’t let them watch anything stimulating such fears especially alone. Specifically news footage, violent and scary movies and books should be avoided completely.
  • Work on building their self-confidence during daytime and reinforce positive behavior. Engage in activities which make them more confident about themselves like games involving physical work. Appreciate them on regular basis for small acts too.
  • Do not talk about their fears or any embarrassing thing about them like failure in an exam or activity, bed wetting and etcetera in front of others.

A healthy environment at home and school are necessary for children to cope with fears and Billabong high international School, Thane, one of the topmost schools in Mumbai has a faculty of experienced teachers and staff members who provides such an atmosphere of security and comfort to its children.

Tuesday 2 February 2016

Science exhibitions in Schools promoting overall development of Students

It is imperative for the holistic development of students that they are being imparted education with a pragmatic approach and not just with the purpose of making them mug up the curriculum. Exhibitions, Seminars and such similar events play a major role in enhancing the overall development of students. Every now and then, schools organize exhibitions to make learning a better and fun experience for students. In schools, the most common forms of exhibitions are science and arts.
The concern over alternative sources of energy, climate change, pollution and the whole environment in general as well as the need to improve telecommunications, transportation, operating and information dissemination are some aspects that solicit the need for a sound science based society. Today, teachers from Billabong High International School, Thane are discussing about some of the benefits of organizing science exhibitions in schools.
·Students are able to develop the skills of leadership and learn how to work in groups through such events. As they are supposed to work in groups, it teaches them how to work in tandem by co-operating with others.
·These science exhibitions encourage students to think out of the box and be creative and inventive. It makes them enjoy science and just not take it as a mere subject. Students are able to come up with their own ideas.
·Scientific temper among students is being developed which fosters them to become better scientists as well as better citizens who are capable of governing their personal thoughts and actions in a scientific manner.
·Science exhibitions generate deep interest in young minds of students. Students endeavour to comprehend every activity they are engaged in by asking questions and seeking answers.
·Scientific aptitude should be inculcated in students’ minds at an early stage of education. It is the need of the hour to exhibit the ideas of scientific education system in order to develop potential of individuals and communities so that sustainable development via science education could be achieved.
Billabong High International School, Thane is one of the best ICSE schools in Thane which organized a two days Inter School Science Exhibition under the banner of Association of ICSE Schools in Maharashtra in which over 38 schools took part.