Hi Parents,
We all know values guide our life. The way we feel about ourselves depends a lot on our values and most of it is learned in childhood. It’s better to teach children well-defined values than they picking them up randomly from their environment.
Source: Our Family 2 Yours…
So how do we teach values to children?
The best way is practicing them ourselves. Remember, children do what they see others do more often than what they are told to do.
The other ways by which we can teach good values is through stories, poems and teaching them when they do something wrong. Sometimes children ask about what’s wrong and what’s right. Their curiosity must always be answered with proper meaningful and logical answers.
So to teach values to children I wrote a poem which I like to share with you.
It’s a Parenting tool you can use for your kid and share with friends.
Let me share how I came up with this idea. It’s interesting!
When I was flying back to Mumbai from Hyderabad a few weeks back I found that I forgot to carry a book to read which I usually do. So I tried to get into a conversation with the person sitting next to me, but he seemed to be reluctant. You see, I just can’t sit idle! Then I tried to do some mindfulness exercises but could not do for long. So I took out a paper from my bag and started writing. Guess what I wrote? A poem for my daughter! When I came back home and read out the poem to my daughter, of course with a bit of explanation she was excited. She then wrote down the poem, each line with a different color and pinned it up on the green board.
You may be thinking “what in it for me?” Don’t worry; hold on!
Now let me share some incidents to explain how the poem influenced my daughter.
In her Tennis class, which she has started six months back, she could not return several shots over the net. I was sitting there watching her. After the class, I just casually asked her if she was feeling bad about her shots. She said “Don’t you remember what you wrote in the poem? I must not feel low when I cannot do something. I must try again “
One day back from school she told me that a boy, her classmate, was making fun about the dark complexion of a girl. So I asked her what she thought about the behavior of her friend. She told me “We must love and care for people irrespective of class and color”
I was amazed and proud to hear her answer. I also asked her to teach the same to the boy in her class.
Noticing how the poem influenced my daughter’s mind, I decided to share with all of you.
Now let me tell you about the poem and what to do with it.
The poem is called ‘My Song’
Now follow the following steps.
- Read the poem
- Fill in the name and gender of your child and take a print out
- Read the poem to your child and explain the meaning
- Ask your child to write it, each line with a different color
- Take a video of your child reciting it or reading it
- Show the video to your child
- Pin the poem written by your child somewhere in your house
That’s it. Now watch what happens! you will be amazed to see the way it will influence the life of your child.
My Song
Let me share one more incident about my daughter.
One day while playing in the house she fell and hurt her knee and started crying. After ensuring that no damage was done to her knee I comforted her and asked her to stand up. But she refused. So I just started reciting a line from the poem, “I get up every time I fall, …..” She immediately stopped me, completed the lines “Pull myself, to stand strong and tall” and stood up!
You will enjoy many such amazing incidents with your child. Trust me!
By the way, there is no study or research done with this poem. It’s just my perspective, my view. However, it has been seen poetry does have positive effects on children.
By reciting poetry children can learn to use their voice in terms of pitch, voice inflection, and volume. they also develop a sense of rhythm.
Read the 5 Benefits of Poetry Recitation in a Child’s Literacy Development
Remember the future world depends on our children and how we raise them now.
MY SONG
Rashi Ghosh is my name
The girl with lots of love and fame
My family is proud of me
They are the roots…I am the tree
Winning is that all I know
Failure does not make me low
I get up every time I fall
Pull myself up, to stand strong and tall
I turn my critics out of my way
But I do learn from what they say
My goal is clear shining bright
I never keep it out of sight
I Thank You, Lord, for giving me strength
Courage and wisdom to move at length
To care for people of all color and class
And serve my land as long as I last
Note: when your child writes this poem change the two words underlined
My Song
Guide to Mental Wellbeing - Dr. Amitabh Ghosh 