KIDS VACATION IN KOZHIKODE 2014

Summer vacation is in progress for children in Kerala. Vishu the festival of prosperity was celebrated with gay. Firing crackers and gathering mangoes keep children engaged in this spring season. Blooming cassia's enhance the beauty of nature all over Gods own country. As every year almost all private schools had declared various activities and camps to engage kids during this vacation. Our personal pick on some interesting programmes are listed below.

MAD LIVE (TV fame)
Summer camp for a month
Time 10am to 12 noon
Age 4 to 12 years
Call- 9349019349, 0495 3273217

YOUNG CHEF'S CAMP by Abida rasheed for kids above 13.
first batch - April 8 to 18th.
second batch - April 21 to May 1.
Call - 2766756 or 9562691501

KSCIL 
Kerala State Institute for Children's Literature has declared camps on various activities in different locations for selected students. Please visit their website for details.

ADVENTURE CAMP
Age 15 to 40 years !
April 5 to 8, 23 to 26, May.
Jointly by State youth Development board, Devikulam National Adventure Academy
Call: 04865264494; 9497282233

CRICKET COACHING
by Universal Cricket Academy at St Josephs Junior School ground, PT Usha road.
Age 10 to 22 years
Duration 1 month
Call 9605423398, 9387490370

SANMARGADARSINI LIBRARY, Gandhi road.
Dance, Music, Keyboard, Drawing, chess
Call- 0495 2768344, 8281609344

SHUTTLE COACHING at Indoor court, Beach Hotel
call- 9400790711

SAMBODH FOUNDATION
April 23 to 28th
at NSS School, Tali
Call- 8547690774, 9745787519

OISCA 
Age 4 to 14 years
April 21 to may 3
call - 9567143157, 9639263840

MEDIA STUDY CENTRE & AMMAS COLLECTIVE TRUST
On film editing by Dr Benny Benedict
April 22, 23
Call- 9495864921, 9447373227

The following camps are in progress as usual or have just concluded successfully in Calicut this summer.
These are apart from the routine camps at various schools like Vidya Kendra, Start right and others.

VIDYA JYOTHI VACATION CAMP
by MASTERSAA SMART SCHOOL
April 3 to 6th
for Class 4 to 12th
on Magic, drama and others.
Call- 0495 2381402, 9037102135, 9037145258,9895860177

SATYANANDA YOGA RESEARCH CENTRE, Pavamani road
One month training
Call- 9847180023, 04952727505

POOMKAVANAM
April 1 to 13th
Chinmaya Mission School, Thondayad

BISMI HANDICRAFTS at Indoor stadium
Call- 9496424733
This covers different sessions every day. Making of bouquets with ornamental flowers, paper ornaments, clay jewellery, etc.

ROTARIAN CHEROOTY MEMORIAL SWIMMING POOL
Ozonized class I pool with separate batch for girls and the only lady coach in Calicut city.

upto May 31, 2014.

POSITIVE MIND

Silver plaza Building, Mavoor road

Spoken english, memory plus, public speaking, character formation, leadership skills...

Call- 9388451609

TEN INSPIRING COMMANDMENTS FROM NIZAR JUMA

Who is Nizar Juma?
Please read his profile at : http://ke.linkedin.com/in/nizarjuma
(Winner of Silver Star award by the President of Kenya for outstanding service to the nation in 1982)

ACTION PLAN TO BE A BETTER "SELF"
(In his words, honesty is spirituality. His words are truly inspiring for aspiring leaders who are on the path of righteous living)

• Control thoughts. Be positive, be neutral. 
• Stop anger: No multitasking
• Meditate: Focus your mind for good decisions
• Don't give sorrow.
• Don't take sorrow, either.
• Be responsible. Never blame others.
• Schedule personal meetings with your own self.
• Manage your energy.
• Do something selfless everyday.
• Reduce dependance on technology.

(Courtesy: Speech on Future of Soft Power in Calicut; 2013)

TRUTH ISN'T BITTER, ITS THE LIES THAT ARE EXCESSIVELY SWEET...

This post title refers to the message of the malayalam movie, Philips and the Monkey pen. It inspires in us the very words of Swami Vivekananda: "Awake, arise and stop not, till your goal is reached..."
A movie that thrusts on righteous living from children's perspective, its a must watch for parents, teachers and kids. it not only throws light on various issues of children in present society but also enlists numerous feasible suggestions on how best to solve them...

1.      Wake up with a smile :  Thank God for this beautiful human life. Count on all your blessings and start the day with a smile. Be conscious of your 'self', that is be aware of your strength, talent, abilities, opportunities and resources.

2.      Dream well : Dreams, dreams, dreams. Dreams transform into thoughts. Thoughts result into actions. ( Courtesy Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam)

3.      Maintain a visual notice board: List out all your difficulties, weakness and problems on the left. Seek guidance to resolve them. Remember to tackle one at a time.

4.      Greet your parents and teachers early in the morning with a sweet smile: Fold your hands together, close your eyes and bow to them or wish them from the depths of your heart.

5.      Share your food: At home share food with siblings and mates. At school be sure to share with your classmates. During play and at camps share with your play mates...

6.      Keep your surroundings clean: Cleanliness is next only to godliness. Always be organized. At home or at school use things carefully and replace them in proper places. Let it be your books, clothes, slippers, bags, umbrella or even utensils. (time is quite precious; this saves for ample quality time together)

7.       Wash your lunch box: Always wash your vessels, before and after food. Take enough drinking water. Try to set the table if you can. Even at school or at work, make it a habit to wash your vessels.

8.      Talk to your mother: To err is human. We have a crisis when we realize something has gone wrong. It puts us into confusion, it spoils our mood and diminishes our enthusiasm. These are situations that one has to seek support for confession, healing and relief. Mamma's lap is the best refuge.

9.      Surprise elders: Show your respect and remembrance by spontaneous obedience and good conduct. Celebrate their achievements. Profusely thank them for their care and guidance.

10.   Prepare a balance sheet every day: Before you go to sleep recollect all you experiences and interactions every day. Is there anything to be done or said in a different manner? If so make sure to correct it the next morning itself. Live as if you are going to die just now and make sure you reserve a seat in paradise.(courtesy: Sr.Shivani)

11.   Volunteer: Always find time to do something good for others. Recycle and donate. Be generous in appreciating others. It enhances your self esteem.

12.   Discipline pays: Follow rules and laws. At times, it would create some difficulty, still stick to them. Short cuts cause havoc. (courtesy: Malayalam Movie: Philips and the Monkeypen)

Team work always pays.

Smart work is better than hard work.

GOD is nothing but LOVE... Its taste is sweet...

Children are God's gift, love them to tap their creativity and intelligence...to mould them successfully...

MIGRAINE - A POPULAR “HEADACHE” AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN

Migraine or severe recurring headache is now a popular health concern with school children, even at the primary or elementary levels. 

Medical Professionals say the real reason for migraine is unknown. It is common among sensitive adults and IT professionals.

What causes migraine at such a young age?

Basically, children who fail to stick to a systematic routine and are over anxious are easily caught by such headaches.It has a hereditary factor also(an inherited neurological condition).

Children of 5 to 10 years, experience bilateral pain, abdominal cramps and vomiting during migraine. They usually sleep off soon in a cool, quiet, dark room. Blurred vision, photo phobia, phono phobia, irritability are also common. These kids are mostly allergic too. 

In children, migraine is often under diagnosed. So, keeping a headache diary is advisable. Depending on frequency and reasons, it helps in seeking treatment when required.ie, when kids start missing school and social functions...

Generally there are many factors that trigger migraine headaches. It can be anything that the person is unable to or has difficulty to cope with. Sudden change in climate, surroundings, loud noises, penetrating smells, vehicle exhausts, smell of gasoline, watching too much of television, playing too much of video games, working for long on the computer, vision corrections or change of spectacles, rush and crowd, heavy traffic, hot sun, untimely head baths, irregular food habits, some types of foods and junks, improper sleep cycles, out of the way physical exertion, over expectations, force to undertake undesirable tasks, anxiety to execute assignments, difficulty in handling project works, pressure to study well and be a topper, emotional strain, restrictions to get engaged in pastimes of hobbies of one’s choice, wrong postures while reading story books or using computers, stress as kids realize and face difficult situations in life  etc.

Most parents often fail to comprehend the real reason behind such headaches and assume it as an escape or excuse mechanism adopted frequently by their kids to keep off from certain situations like exams or visit to ancestral homes or social events. Employed parents seldom get adequate time to be with their ward and assess their genuine needs. Situation aggravates with single parents or when parents are incompatible or have divided opinion … 

Children often need a patient hearing during their growing ages. When left under the care of maids, the way some queries are handled varies widely. For example, girls enter puberty nowadays at the end of elementary level, unlike former years. As they observe a classmate in a different state, they may have innumerable doubts. The manner in which relevant details are communicated to create awareness and empower girls is quite important. It should not have a frightening element at all. Restrictions if any should be imposed after logically clarifying all the doubts aired. They should be given proper information on all aspects including exploitation and pedophilia. These are stages in the life of a growing child when they need parental support to the maximum. So parents should try their best to be with their kids or ensure care by grandparents.

Follow a better lifestyle to cope with migraine:

• It is always advisable to enroll small children in nearby schools, walk able distance, wherever feasible. This avoids chances of getting tired after to and fro traveling and saves a lot of time. 

• Children should sleep for minimum 8 hours continuously every day. This is essential for proper growth also. A good sleep refreshes you for another productive and healthy day. So children should be trained to go to bed early and to wake up early in the morning. So, depending on parental convenience and the biorhythm of the child it can be any slot between 8pm to 4am; 9pm to 5am or 10pm to 6am. 

• Children who have difficulty to cope up with travel should be taken on long distance trips every weekend. It’s a pressure that they can’t bear.  In the present day nuclear families, leaving kids alone at home is not at all safe either. So, adjust and find good options, depending on one’s circumstances. 

• Some kids are basically adamant by nature, while some others are perfectionists or day dreamers. All such behaviour discrepancies heavily affect their relations with peers and elders. It also causes lot of stress in generating good work outputs. Such cases should be handled carefully. Seek professional help where necessary for Cognitive behaviour therapy by experts. Kids should be facilitated properly to set a positive attitude for life and to mould them into good human beings. “Catch them young” is the agenda for success here. 

• Present day syllabus is heavy and needs lot of hard work on the part of toddlers. Competition is also quite high. All parents wish their kids to be toppers everywhere. It’s fine as long as the children have the talent and capacity to achieve their parents’ desires. Otherwise it would be a huge burden on small children. So I feel parents should shun their ego and evaluate their wards holistically, instead of academic evaluations alone. Targets should be on par with ability and attainable through hard work. There should be proper support where necessary, on time and appreciations for all achievements. 

• Every child is unique and is a personality unto them. Don’t expect kids to bloom out into either parent or grandparent; but facilitate them to identify their true self and help them follow their destiny. Let them have their choice and opinions where ever it affects them to the extent practically possible and as far as it is right. Parents should tune their minds to tolerate their wards and accept them as they grow as different individuals. Make rectifications or intervene only when their path is dangerous or futile.

• Most kids are now fond of junkies. A total ban on such foods is not easy. So limiting such items on rotation and offering any one, once a month is better. Even biscuits contain chemical substances that gradually affect human brain. Home made broiler chicken at frequent intervals cause hormonal changes in growing children. Preservatives and colouring agents in junk foods are mostly carcinogenic too. Children should be gradually be empowered to know the drawbacks of these items and promoted to GO GREEN!

• Kids who are fond of reading adopt cozy postures to read story books and play video games. This should be discouraged. Reading books in moving vehicles is also not advisable.

• Good foods – Dates, nuts, strawberry, carrots, beetroots, spinach, so on. Eat foods that contain vitamin A for eyes, enough proteins and other vitamins, minerals and anti oxidants.

• Eliminating body toxins in time is a major requirement for children. Proper bowel movements and urination go hand in hand. Children often with hold passage of urine simply because public toilets are untidy. This can trigger migraine in many children. So facilitate children to eliminate waste as and when they need without hesitation. It should become a habit. 

• Adequate water intake is another habit to be ensured. Dehydration alone can trigger headaches. So children should be trained to drink adequate liquids at hourly intervals. Let them carry pure filtered or boiled water where ever they go. On holidays, children can be given natural diuretics - say barley water, puncture vine(njerinjil) or natural foods like water melons, ash gourds, cucumbers, which help in flushing out toxins.

• Intake of water can also be encouraged in a different supplementary way. Taking a lime juice after brushing teeth; a fruit juice after bath; milk before going to school, buttermilk or lassi during snack time, plain soup and curd during lunch; rice/wheat/corn flakes with milk or ragi with milk during evening snacks. Let kids take variety of nuts to avoid hunger at intervals. Almonds, peanuts, cashews, walnuts, pista are all fine for kids. Substitute fried snacks with traditional and indigenous items like Rice ada, therali, kozhukatta(rice balls), banana stew, jack payasam, tuber puzhukku and so on. A plain vegetable or fruit salad is also a good option. Children should be given a sumptuous breakfast and should never skip their dinner or any meals. 

• Children should be provided with separate beds at proper age. This not only helps them to adopt proper posture for sleeping, but also instills an independent growing up feeling in their minds. Pampering too much followed by harsh punishments would only spoil kids. Train children to relax in “savasana” posture before they sleep. (keep legs apart; hands straight and by the side of body; looking at the ceiling …) 

• It is always good to provide proper lighting in study areas and while watching television. If children have spectacles and have to study at a stretch for long hours, tube lights and proper ventilation are the best options. 

• Its better that kids don’t watch television on weekdays. If permitted, limit time to less than half an hour. On weekends and holidays, let them watch for a maximum of an hour. Occasionally they can watch a movie on home theatre. Family get - together can also encompass theatre shows and movies as outings to help kids rewind after a term exam or some cultural event or youth festival or so. 

• Set a daily routine and stick to it. Follow balanced nutritious diet. Take food on time or before hunger strikes the bell. Empty stomach is an excellent triggering factor for migraine.

•  Take bath in regular time every day. An oil massage at least twice a week would do wonders. Better take bath after sunrise and before sunset every day. During severe periods, use of pre boiled medicated water using thriphala (amla/nellikka, kadukka thanikka- dry fruits of Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellarica) is also excellent. 

• Play outdoors every day with peers. Exercise daily – walk a short distance with grandparents, swimming, cycling are all fine. All these enhance “happy hormones” in youngsters. Yoga or sun salutation can tune one’s body with mind and spirit and in turn provide inner peace. 

• Maintain good inter personal relations by adjusting, cooperating, sharing and tolerating each other. Cultivate good habits. Follow good manners. Be obedient. Have a positive mind set and attitude. All this can ensure a stress free life as you take medicine.

 Lead a life free of stress and migraine…

A BIRD'S EYE VIEW - KERALA

Kerala is the southern most state of India.
It has 14 districts.
Formed on 1st November, 1956.
Capital is at Thiruvananthapuram.
Language is Malayalam.

Highest literacy rate - 99%
First computer literate state of India.

Long coastal length (seashore)
Climate is humid tropical.

Popular tourism location
Backwaters, house boats, water falls,
yoga, ayurveda, nature walks...

3 seasons - summer, winter, rainy(North east and South west monsoons)

3 geographic regions - eastern highlands(mountains); central midlands (rolling hills); western lowlands (coastal plains).

41 rivers -flows west -into Arabian Sea.
3 rivers -flows east- into Bay of Bengal.(Bhavani, Kabani and Pampar)
All 44 rivers originate from Western ghats.

Largest fresh water lake - Vembanad
Nilgiri biosphere reserve - hotspot of biodiversity.

Staple food - rice

Traditional industries - coir, handloom, handicrafts

Symbols

Emblem - Coat of arms
Tree - Coconut -തെങ്ങ്
Bird- Great Indian Hornbill - വേഴാമ്പല്‍
Flower- Golden shower (Cassia) - കണിക്കൊന്ന
Animal - Elephant ആന
Fish - Pearl spot കരിമീന്‍
Costume - Mundum Neriyathum for women; Dhothi for men.- മുണ്ടും നേരിയതും
Fruit - Jack ചക്ക
Dance - Mohiniyattom

SMART INDIA ONLINE EDUCATION by BHARAT SEVAK SAMAJ

SMART INDIA caters to students from LKG to class 12 and covers all syllabi - state boards, CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE. An enrolled student can access multiple choice questions as a practice test for all lessons in Science, Maths and English. This makes them thorough with the lessons learnt.

Apart from the significance of each day, remarkable quotations and links to popular newspapers, it provides a platform for studious students for current affairs update.
The class notes and animations facilitate easy learning, even for toddlers.

An excellent educational support extended by Government of India; at a reasonable cost.
For more details log onto https://www.smartindia.net.in

BIOGRAPHY - SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

"Arise, awake and stop not, till your goal is reached..."

an inspiring quote by Swami Vivekananda that comes to mind as one reads about the various programs associated with the 150th birth anniversary celebrations that are in progress all over the country. 

The greatest Hindu monk India has ever seen,that is Swami Vivekananda in most simple terms.

He was born on 12th January,1863 at Calcutta(presently Kolkotta).His first name was Narendra Nath Datta.His father, Viswanath Datta was an Attorney General in Calcutta High Court.His mother, Bhuvaneshwari Devi was a pious house wife. His brother is Dr.Bhupendranath Datta.

Narendranath (Swami Vivekananda) was an ardent disciple of Sree Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.Narendranath met him during his graduation studies and was attracted to his personality and gradually surrendered to his guru.

As a student, he was a genius. He learned not only literature, science and philosophy but also about all religions. he believed in One God that is formless and universal. In his words, service to mankind is the most effective form of worshiping GOD.

After graduation, Narendranath travelled all over India as a brahmachari under the name Swami Bibidishananda. He lived on alms and followed celibacy all through his life. As part of this journey searching the soul of his nation, he reached Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin in Tamil Nadu). The place where he sat in meditation continuously for three days is now a popular tourist centre- Vivekananda Rock. He gathered the famous Vision of One India here. Its also called Kanyakumari resolve. According to this resolve, Swamiji realised that preaching religion to empty stomachs is useless and so uplifting of masses should precede spiritual awakening.

Maharaja of Khetri, Ajit Singh, an ardent devotee, crowned him with the title Swami Vivekananda in1892.

Swamiji made a historical speech in September 1893 at Chicago.He introduced Hinduism at the "Parliament of the world's religions". The Indian philosophies of yoga and Vedanta gradually became popular all over the world. Swamiji was India's spiritual ambassador and our patriotic saint.

As he traveled all over the world, he felt ashamed at the degenerating plight of our nation and called it as a lunatic asylum. India was then filled with people who believed in superstitions, followed caste system, apartheid, and were vain talkers. Social tyranny was hindering progress. So, Swamiji addressed Indians to come out of narrow holes and to look abroad...

To uplift masses and gradually instill spiritual awakening, he established Sree Ramakrishna Mission and Sree Ramakrishna Math. Swamiji's had an extremely inspiring way and vision for our nation. India celebrate his birth anniversaries as National Youth Day.


Swamiji attained Mahasamadhi on 4th July 1902 at the age of 39 at Belur Math in Calcutta.
(Image courtesy: Belur Math)