A few likes on their Facebook profile pictures or a scolding from a parent is enough to get kids depressed today. This has left child psychologists surprised at the low emotional quotient among children. To help children deal better with situations, Bangalore University professors and a private organization have come together to prepare a curriculum for emotional literacy among primary schoolchildren.

Meant for children below 11 years of age, the curriculum consists of self-awareness , recognition and labelling of emotions and self-management . Kids will attend classes on controlling anger, overcoming fear, facing failure, handling relationships as well as on decision–making and problem-solving . Lessons will be imparted through mediums like storytelling, music, role plays and theatre. The curriculum is being introduced in two schools from the next academic year.

The initiative is part of Kid and Parent Foundation, a private organization that works for child development , and VHD Central Institute of Home Science.

“A major problem we find among children today is the fear of failure. They are under constant pressure to perform. They need to know how to handle failure and accept rejection. Their attention span is so less that they are unable to sit through a storytelling session. They need to be taught how to live one moment after another,” said Aparna Athreya, founder, Kid and Parent Foundation. “Another complaint we regularly get from teachers and parents is children becoming aggressive. This can have a lot do with their exposure to television . They get irritated at small things and can even start beating up others. When they get into higher classes, things like Facebook and the identity crisis it brings with it come into play,” added Athreya.

Subject experts from Bangalore University are in charge of framing and reviewing the curriculum. They will develop the module and run it on the field. There will be specific periods allotted for the subject handled by facilitators who are trained in child development. Children will be evaluated through conversations and activities.

“Earlier, it was the joint family that took care of the socio-emotional development of children. With nuclear families and working parents , the task is mostly left to schools and daycare centres. Unfortunately, not many of them are doing a good job. Our curriculum is focused only on academics,” said Rajalakshmi MS, associate professor, early childhood education and administration programme, department of human development, VHD Central Institute of Home Science.

Date: April 9th, 2014

Source: TOI