EARLY YEARS OF EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

QUOTES FROM CHANAKYA NEETI on CHILD NURTURE                             

लालयेत् पंच वर्षाणि दश वर्षाणि ताडयेत् ।
प्राप्ते तु षोडशे वर्षे पुत्रं मित्रवदाचरेत् ॥

For first five years, one’s kid should be pampered (meaning treated with only love and affection), the next ten years he should be scolded (meaning must be disciplined) and once he turns sixteen he should be treated as a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends.

Birth of a child gives meaningfulness to the life of mother. Entire family feels happy and gets busy around the new arrival. Elders bless child to grow up as great and competent human being to make family, society & nation proud.

We are reviewing the ways and means that will show how to put in efforts to accomplish this. The body, brain and behavior of the child will be synchronized properly for the future successful life.

Structure of Brain

Efficiency and development of brain is vitally important in the success and failure of a human being as brain plays very important role between mind (desires) and body (action).

At the time of birth, brain is not completely developed. Development of brain structure continues during entire lifetime. But the sizable important part of this process takes place in the childhood. All Neurons in brain are ready at the time of birth. But connections (synapses) between these neurons are built after birth. The structure of brain is shaped after shaping these complicated and long connections.

Two third structure of brain is ready during first three to four years after birth. During this period neurons are connected very rapidly. At the same time,cortex, limbic, reptile,  process of learning also takes place at faster pace than any other time of life. Emotional education is an important part of this learning. If child undergoes stressful situation during this stage, there is possibility that it might harm learning centers and intelligence of the brain. The brain research has proven that emotional education received during this period has lasting effects

Parts of Brain and Their Functions

Three main parts of brain are as follows:

•                   Cortex

•                   Limbic System

•                   Reptile Brain


Cortex - Learning, thinking and imagination are main functions of cortex. It can rationally think using logic and intelligence. The ability to use this is generally developed after 7 years of age. Thinking is the main function of cortex.

Limbic System – It is related to emotions. Emotions can be often mixed, complicated and many times paradoxical. They are rarely simple and straightforward. Structure of limbic system is complete till 5 years of age. During these first five years of childhood, love, affection, care and warmth of parents favorably affects the development of its structure. Many times in our life, we see that during struggle between thinking (logic) and emotions, mostly emotions overpower logic.

Reptile brain - 200 million years ago, during evolution, brain developed among reptiles as a body part. Humans inherited this brain from them.  The main function of this part is securing existence and reproduction. This part is completely developed at the time of birth. It is generally more effective than two other parts of brain. The basic instincts generated in this part always influence the emotions and logic in future.

Reptile brain that is active at the time of birth, limbic brain that develops during first 7 years after birth, and cortex that develops after 7 years - are the stages of brain structure. We should plan the nurturing efforts accordingly.

First Five Years of Love and Affection

Indian traditional culture is based on years of observation and logical deduction with the intuition of learned sages. The quotation from the Chanakya Neeti is cited above. Formula of education says that first five years child should be brought up adoringly. They should get ample love, care and appreciation during this period. While child is growing according to his or her tendencies, they should get love and only love from their parents. A child also gets micro vibrations with this love. These vibrations of love, affection, care & warmth create emotion of trust and security in the spirit of child. The brain connection process that creates correct emotions remains active through the unconditional love given mainly by parents and grandparents. Nothing but love has power to create the filling of security during these years.

Do not scold or beat children during this period or burden their minds with anything. Their Nervous System should not be overburdened. Do not disrespect their emotions. Do not neglect them. In every situation elders must deal with child understandingly without compromising own balance.  Earlier there used to be joint families. Today we have nuclear family (i.e. Husband, wife and two or one kid). In such family husband and wife both normally are bread winners. It is really very difficult to manage this (child’ demands) in their hectic life.

Even though it’s difficult, it is also inevitable from the perspective of nature. We can consider some options such as staying in joint family where grand-parents can look after child or one of the parents may sacrifice his/her career for child.

Day care is the next option. But can day care be substitute to unconditional love of parents & grand-parents? We need to find answer to this question.

Guidelines for Parenting

• The brain grows faster in the first five years than at any other time in your child’s life.
• Each new skill your child learns helps him develop more skills.
• Both genes and experience influence skill development.

(https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/signs-symptoms/developmental-milestones/skill-development-from-birth-to-age-5)

Children are mainly dependent on parents till the age of seven years. Children need parents’ proximity during this period. Thus this period is very effective and important for parents from the point of view of child’s development.

Children understand the language of emotions. They learn from your behavior towards them rather than what your words tell theYoung children consider their parents and teachers both as their ideals

The behavior of parents and teachers affects child in both positive and negative way and such effect can last for long term.

Stages of Growth (Till The Age of Seven)

Development of ego: The ego develops or mainly initiates taking shape from 2 to 7 years of age. ‘I am the center of the universe, All things are living’ – this feeling prevails more in this age group of childhood. These are the characteristics of child’s behavior during years of development. Curiosity to ask continuous questions is another characteristic.

Development of emotions: Awareness and development of subconscious mind takes place during these years. During first 6-7 years, emotional development of a child takes place normally in the following order - Happiness, sorrows, worries, proud, shame, friendship, jealousy and competition.

Social sense: Knowing mother, father and other people; sense of family and togetherness; beginning of discipline; friend circle; study – these stages of social development occur till 6-7 years of age. 

Emotional Personality of A Child

Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. It is generally said to include three skills: emotional awareness; the ability to harness emotions and apply them to tasks like thinking and problem solving; and the ability to manage emotions, which includes regulating your own emotions and cheering up or calming down other people. (https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/emotional-intelligence)

Having parents with emotional intelligence are very beneficial to children. How parents treat child is important, but how they treat each other on emotional level is equally important in this regard. Child observes every minute thing happening in the family and he is eager to learn new things. Thus it has far- reaching impact on a child. Research has shown that couple, emotionally involved with each other proves to be more capable in nurturing child with love.

Kinds of Parenting

Parents behave with child in a different ways. Following are the kinds of parenting we generally see around us:

Completely neglecting emotions of child: Parents either completely neglect emotional upheaval of child or immediately get angry. They neither use emotional imbalance of child to get closer to him or her nor try to make child’s emotions healthy.

Indifferent: Parents understand the feeling of child. But they are indifferent to bring any change. They do not have tendency to help child to deal with his or her emotions in a different way. They try superficially to calm the child. Sometimes they try to bribe crying or angry child with candy or toy to calm him/her down.

Disrespect towards emotions of child: Such parents think opposing the emotional upheaval of child is a better option. Their solution to the problem is scolding or punishing child. They repress the emotions of child using harsh language - “shut up! Don’t you dare to utter single word!”

Teachers of emotion: Such parents see emotional upheaval of a child as an opportunity to improve him or her. They try to find root cause to the child’s trouble (For example, Are you angry because Raju hurt you?). Then they help child to find positive solution for his trouble (For example, why don’t you play some game alone for some time? After you calm down go and play with Raju again.)

Each and every person is unique and so are the styles of different parents.

Day-to-Day Care of Young Children’s Brains

Research on early brain development and school readiness suggests the following guidelines for the care of young children:

Ensure health, safety, and good nutrition: Seek regular prenatal care; breast feed if possible; make sure your child has regular check-ups and timely immunizations; safety-proof the places where children play; and use a car seat whenever your child is traveling in a car.

Develop a warm, caring relationship with children: Show them that you care deeply about them. Express joy in who they are. Help them to feel safe and secure.

Serve-and-return: Like a tennis match, how you respond to a child’s cues and clues makes a world of difference in their learning. Notice their rhythms and moods, even in the first days and weeks of life. Respond to children when they are upset as well as when they are happy. Try to understand what children are feeling, what they are telling you (in words or actions), and what they are trying to do. Hold and touch them; play with them in a way that lets you follow their lead. Move in when children want to play, and pull back when they seem to have had enough stimulation.

       
Recognize that each child is unique: Keep in mind that from birth, children have different temperaments, that they grow at their own pace, and that this pace varies from child to child. At the same time, have positive expectations about what children can do and hold on to the belief that every child can succeed.

Talk, read, and sing to children: Surround them with language. Maintain an ongoing conversation with them about what you and they are doing. Sing to them, play music, tell stories and read books. Ask toddlers and preschoolers to guess what will come next in a story. Play word games. Ask toddlers and preschoolers questions that require more than a yes or no answer, like “What do you think…?” Ask children to picture things that have happened in the past or might happen in the future. Provide reading and writing materials, including crayons and paper, books, magazines, and toys. These are key pre-reading experiences.

Encourage safe exploration and play: Give children opportunities to move around, explore and play (and be prepared to step in if they are at risk of hurting themselves or others). Help them to explore relationships as well. Arrange for children to spend time with children of their own age and of other ages and support their learning to solve the conflicts that inevitably arise.

Use discipline to teach: Talk to children about what they seem to be feeling and teach them words to describe those feelings. Make it clear that while you might not like the way they are behaving, you love them. Explain the rules and consequences of behavior so children can learn the “why’s” behind what you are asking them to do. Tell them what you want them to do, not just what you don’t want them to do. Point out how their behavior affects others.

Establish routines: Create routines and rituals for special times during the day like mealtime, nap time, and bedtime. Try to be predictable so the children know that they can count on you.

Become involved in child care and preschool: Keep in close touch with your children’s child care  Occasionally, especially during transitions, spend time with your children while they are being cared for by others. The caring relationships they form outside of the home are among the most important relationships they have.

Limit screen time: Limit the time children spend watching TV shows and videos as well as the type of shows they watch. For very young children, there is no research evidence suggesting TV helps children learn.

Take care of yourself: You can best care for young children when you are cared for as well. Learn to cope with your stressors so that you can help your child learn too. Your child’s well-being depends on your health and well-being.

(Source: Shore, R. (1997). Rethinking the Brain: New Insights into Early Development. New York, NY: Families and Work Institute, pp. 26-27.

Efforts of Manashakti Research Center - Mendu-Kranti (Brain Revolution) guidance to the parents, basic course.

Considering the points mentioned above and in order to help parents in nurture of their kids till age 7, Manashakti offers guidance through training courses for last over 30 years. The three days programs conducted in main center and the workshops at main and outstation local centers have trained thousands of curious parents till now. The efforts are appreciated by parents and the events are very popular. All the events are conducted as part of social service at no profit, no loss basis.

This course (Mendu kranti, brain revolution) is specially meant for parents having kids between 1 and 7 years.

As seen, the state of brain changes every seven years. The first stage of brain development is seven years after birth. The efforts taken to nurture the kids in this phase help them all along their lives. These children have a great understanding power and receptivity, and the ignorance towards them can invite various problems. This course offers detailed guidance regarding the steps to achieve physical, psychological and intellectual development of the child as well as the right approach to be taken as parents in this process.

Parents must have emotional intelligence and understanding to raise child properly. Being mother & father is easy but being parents is bit difficult. But it is equally true that efforts in right direction can make parenting easy and enjoyable. At Lonavala, Manashakti conducts 3 day study camp that help parents in the proper emotional development of a child.

Mendu-Kranti (Brain Revolution) – Advance

This 2-days advance study course is meant for parents of kids between 1 and 7 years of age; and only for those parents who have previously attended the basic Mendu-kranti course as above. A rational parenting approach for it is discussed in this course.

Features:

1. How to nurture kids?

2. Various experiments for kids explaining how to make the kids participate in such experiments

3. Unique action plans (activities) for kid's brain development

4. Achieving emotional & social development in kids

5. Guide lines for rational parenting

6. Communication skills for parents etc.

Day work shop is also designed for the parents who would not be able to spare more time.

Mind Machine tests are available to find out aptitude/interests/ inclination of children. For better nurture impact, parents must do self-analysis to bring changes in own behavior. Parents are told some simple tricks to do this. If the parents endeavor to assess the inherent tendency or inclinations of the child in these early years, then probably they can help him for proper career or learning discipline in the later years.

Books. A number of relevant books and Mind-Body machine tests are available at Manashakti for the help of parents and children. The details can be seen from the website:  manaashakti.org.

Efforts in the next stage.

We have seen briefly how to take care of our young children in their early years. Second important stage in development of child is 8 to 14 years of age. This period is of transformation from childhood to youth. Also it is an important period that shapes personality. In next article let’s discuss what to do for this age group.

Vijay R. Joshi,

Save your Child from Yourself - Swami Vijnananand.

(Extracts from book)

S.V. authored a book around year 1960 titled “Save your Child from Yourself”. In this book he has critically analyzed the role of homes (parents) and schools (teachers) in nurturing the child to develop an adult of proper character. We will see the extracts from this book highlighting his views in this regard.

In 2017, now also, we see that the analysis he has put forward before over 50 years; is still worth of consideration.

1. THE MYTH OF OUR AFFECTION

As parents (also teachers), our role anent child­ education stands out as an outstanding illustration of our capacity to delude ourselves

.

Thinking in terms of intelligent influence, children rarely exercise it on the elders and hence the question is unquestionably reduced to, whether our obligations towards the youngsters are duly discharged. An assertion unhesitatingly survivable is, far from proving worthy of their task, instead of educating the children properly, the parents head the battalion that spoil the child. Amongst neighbors, friends, relatives, doctors, servants, nurses, teachers and the mass amidst which the child is developed, the parent can be easily accused of stealing the march in the undeclared but continuous war against the child.

I beg no pardon of parents who relentlessly toil to caress their dear one. For, the blandishment and endearment the parents evince to their children; is merely a reflection of their own personality.  A kind mother is so, because she cannot but be kind. Without embellishment, the mute point to be taken into account is whether the kindness conducts her to any rational action or simply to an emotional impulse. Not infrequently, "kindness" is a misnomer to the mother's emotional outburst. Howsoever harsh and obdurate the statement sounds, the irrefutable truth is, if at all one chooses to believe that an external entity can influence a subject to that extent, parents lead the attack on the child. No matter what kind of weapon the parents employ anger, harshness, kindness, love or affection in their parenting activities for the child.

2.  Single sanguine hope - Determination to face the facts-acceptance of the unvarnished truths that corrects ourselves-is our single sanguine hope. It is never too late to mend.

3.  The wishful thinking of the parents is of no material consequence. Their progeny is neither a mechanical duplication of themselves nor a model that they like to produce. What is produced is the new-born unfathomable individuality. No father or mother ever has any control over the child before the birth with respect to anything whatsoever. Nature manifests a variety at each child-birth, using a pair of father and mother as medium.

4. Academic education - The parents who can afford to send their children to school should certainly send them for coaching. But it should not be lost sight of that a grudging and unwilling child is a nuisance to the school.

Citing several examples, author says famous authors, philosophers, heads of religions, scientists, artists, Play-writers had no rich academic background.

(Buddha, Shri Krishna, Christ, Mohammed, Zoroaster, Confucius, Nanak, Mahavir, Moses and Marx. Socrates. Bacon, Tolstoy, Omar Khayyam, O'Henry. Galileo, Copernicus, Kepler, Pasteur, Lister, Newton. Mozart are some such persons)

5. The purpose of life of the New Born - It is of paramount importance to bear in mind that the new-born springs up into existence on his own and has a pur­pose to serve. It is far more desirable to visualize that latent animus (a feeling of hate or anger towards someone or something) vicariously (experienced as a result of watching, listening to, or reading about the activities of…) assists him in understanding that purpose.

6.  Lessons of life -The ingenious (“cleverly inventive,”) baby remains concealed under the bodily protection and nourishment of the mother for nine months. Certainly, the child breaks cover, pushes himself out, only when he ascertains for himself that the zero hour has approached. He makes himself sure that he deserves independent existence and is capable of it. Child commences taking lessons of life at the very moment of existence, on his emergence as a distinctly separable individuality.

7. Purpose of education and life- For imparting true training to the child, we have ourselves to perceive the purpose of education and life, in a very comprehensive sense. Not only from the moment of birth but even before the birth, child can learn, Parents be aware of this.

8.  Aim of education. - What constitutes the pronounced objective of education today? Are we or our institutions capable of carrying out the responsibility set out before us? Positively not. At the outset, ascertain the aim, the directive and the motive of education. In formulating them (objective of education) we shall not go far wrong if we remember Morant's two top priorities, the formation of character and the development of intelligence; and it is well to have regard, also, to Mill's aim of transmitting and, where possible, improving  cultural heritage.

Kalnin held a high post in Russia and is taken to be an authority on education. Speaking before a celebration meeting in honor of "decorated rural school-teachers" as they call, he addressed, "What do we mean by education? We mean influencing the physical and moral attributes of the pupil, influencing him in a' definite direction throughout the whole of his ten years of study i.e. molding him as a human being”.

The champions of the cause of ideal education the world over, unreservedly give assent to salient features of model education we have underlined thus far.

(a)       The primary necessity is to impart moral education, a mission which is hardly mechanical.

(b)       The pupils possess receptivity beyond our stretch of imagination. They of course learn by our actions. Equally our words subscribe to build their wit, wisdom and personality.

(c)       The essence of education is character-building. Parents in the uphill task should share the bulk of the burden.

9. Too many cooks - Instructors, guides, relatives, priests and parents are too many cooks that spoil the broth. Ordinarily most of them are incompetent to take up the task, when they themselves lack moral conception as well as character. Over and above, they hang fire having no courage to admit it. It is in this sense that the proclaimed aims of education have admittedly ended in smoke.

10. Where the shoe pinches - The most serious weakness in modern education is the uncertainty about its aims: It is imperative to check up where the shoe pinches. The shoe, pinches where our own imperfection is evidenced.

11.  Can we “educate” the child? - The delicate embarrassment experienced in acceptance of the moral measure by the parents themselves becomes apparent. They accept moral education as the aim not to be ever fulfilled in practice. None dare pit against canons of morality in theory, therefore - `morality in education’ is an accepted goal. But none cares implementing the conditions put forth by ethical law, in the name of formidable ‘practical difficulties' in life. As if, all concerned; the parents-and the educationist, have come to an unwritten understanding that, `truth' should be talked of with unrestricted vigor; but practiced or taught strictly when remunerative.

In this world of unbounded, chaotic selfishness, the child only learns pure selfishness-more than his parents goad (to make a person react or do something) him to learn. Obviously because the child excels the parents in intelligence. When the child himself ascends to the adult age he learns by heart unqualified selfishness. He himself becomes chaotic. The parents have no clue to the Gordian knot because they themselves were very small kids some decades back and were taught untruth, howsoever inadvertently.

12.     WHAT DO WE TEACH THE CHILD - The children are zealously told the stories of fairies, deities, ghosts, demi-gods, angels, imaginary kings and animals who talk. Nothing is deemed heretical (of or relating to adherence to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma: characterized by heresy). The narratives are depended upon for increasing imaginative prepotency (the ability of one parent to impress its hereditary characters on its progeny) of the youngsters. No story-teller has ever given any thought to the damage certain fables (a short tale to teach a moral lesson, often with animals or inanimate objects as characters); bring about.

From purely logical point of view, no fault can be found with the kid. Aesop's logic itself is manifestly unsound. This is the case where a meritorious moralist like Aesop is concerned. He has mostly written good fables. Many other stories by various authors teach deceit (dishonesty), theft, robbery, mischief, spoliation and are frequently narrated to the children. This point of view conducts the parents to, enunciate four inferences.

(1) If the stories are to be fervently told to the children for having some "effect" - on the children the deceit, untruth and wrong reasoning poured out from the fiction must produce effect of equal measure, on the children. It cannot be eschewed.

(2) Therefore it becomes imperative to discard spinning stories apparently divulging amusing, harmless gist-­inherently leading to undesirable consequences.

(3) Publications of books which possess potential strength to build the character of the child should be encouraged.

(4) There is nothing wrong wholesale, in telling the child tales that conjure up a vision or indulge in reverie (a state in which you are thinking about pleasant things). Nevertheless, the narration must precede a necessary preamble like: Look here, boys, I am going to tell you the stories, so that you should develop into true, illustrious and wise men. The stories are imaginary and their detailed implications or meanings would be understood as you grow to maturity. Animals do not talk. But Aesop conjectured from their behavior what they would talk, and for the use of children, for you all to take lessons, he has written these tales. Now listen....

A suitable preamble on these lines for a parable of any author may mend matters and mitigate the injurious consequences.

These are small details. But they count. If at all we believe that children have elastic, tender impressionable minds, they cannot exclude the impression of cunning, guile, deceit untruth, revenge and the wrong outwitting the right.

The decisive question is whether we ourselves believe in the everlasting triumph of sin. If we apprehend sin to win, being honest to conviction let us tell no tale of moral value. On the other hand, if contrary is our faith, select such stuff as would elevate your child to a higher level, may be at the risk of some initial temporary passing setbacks and recurrent difficulties.

13.    GUILTY: PARENTS AND SCHOOLS

Kalinin, the deft authority on Russian education repeats the need to train the teachers, to the extent to which blame in a country like Russia could be isolated. He says, "Many teachers forget that they should be pedagogues, and a pedagogue is an engineer of human souls. Of course to be able to influence pupils in the required direction one must possess the appropriate talent. But that is not all. To be able conscious to exert a definite influence, the teacher himself must be a highly cultured and-let me say outright-a highly educated person."

The piteous plight is not different in England. 'In the past, many parents assumed that education was a function only of the school and not of the home’.

When the dad or the mom is in a catalepsy (nervous condition characterized by muscular rigidity and fixity of posture) about the children's behavior, they frantically hasten to lay the blame at the door of schools.

Prof Bell has furnished ample evidence indicating how both the parents and the schools neglect child welfare. His surmises are represented below in five points, so far as they affect the American situation.

Higher living standards,

Changing social conditions,

Small houses,

Nuclear families,

Both the parents doing job.

These are some of the problems due to which parents are not able to take proper nurturing care of the young kids. Then they expect schools to do this. Schools, for various reasons and aims accept this mission, but teachers alone can’t comply these needs. The role of parents is vitally important.

Teachers have to have themselves role model of ideal character and teach the values to the students. But this can’t be achieved by superficial means and guidance. So the methodology has to be newly devised.

The first school of every child is his home, and his mother is his first teacher. The education which he received on his own hearth (living room) remains with him for the rest of his life, because early influences, as a rule, make the most permanent of all impressions. The lessons and guidance received by the kid under the warmth of affection and love at home leaves long lasting impacts on his/her memories and are of use in all future life. To that extent the first school of the kid is his/her home and the first teacher is the mother/father.

Obviously the picture is disquieting. Education has frightfully failed to ascertain its aim, though parents have half irresponsibly and half in faith, entrusted their children to schools. The schools appear to be ignorant, parents either foolish, selfish or knave. The perplexing paradox is, even though the ruinous predicament is brought to their notice, instead of a melioration or a saner argument, they adhere to dilatory action and destructive criticism.

Whereas all concerned are conscious of the detrimental consequences, none finds courage to bell the cat, because the real cat is every parent's personal ego. None can encroach upon one's own personal ego-not even for the putatively darling fondling.

S.V. concludes the grave consequence due to the above situation as follows:

Whether one finds it convenient or inapt, there need be no two opinions on the assertion that a large share of blame arising out of the disturbed situation goes to apathy of the parents. Mr. Fine asks, "Something has gone wrong. The headlines tell us this, and the figures bear it out. Something has gone wrong either in the life of the child or in the life of the community, or probably in both. Have we as a society been deficient in developing laws to protect children from the delinquency (illegal or immoral behavior especially by young people) disease? Have we been cheating our children?"

Parents of the other nations should be under the illusion and fertile fancy that the crisis is exclusively restricted to America.

14.    THE ONLY HOPE

There is something wrong in education, in a wider sense, more educated nations naturally swallow more bitter pills. That by no means absolves parents in the rest of the world from being on guard.

Education is necessary; it must be spread subject to proper modifications. I, for one, am an ardent follower of knowledge and science. But foundation of knowledge must necessarily be TRUTH, inexorably. (impossible to prevent or stop).

In my other works of this series, it has been established, as authenticated and supported by the pure laws of physics that TRUTH echoes the only categorical answer to our problems of health diseases, fortune and every impediment in life. TRUTH constitutes the singular means and the end. Truth is not an empty bubble, a vain talk: it is the only hope of self-deceiving humanity. To the discernment that TRUTH alone teaches and nothing else, a responsible apostle of education can take no exception. The contrary is not valid. All teaching is a waste, provided untruth is cherished.

It is thoroughly going amiss to conjure up a vision that the child has no insight in the potential power of truth. He has. You have rendered yourself powerless to comprehend that he has. We talk of promoting equality in this world. Nature has bestowed upon us a supreme equality, equality to know truth. Barren discussions on ultimate Truth, absolute Truth, are of no avail. For practical purposes, "subjective truth objectively known with detached mind" formulates a workable definition.

In whatever manner our parental accountability has been glossed over (unrecognized, unseen, overlooked), the error may be a page of the past. Let us turn a new page. Let us indoctrinate and tutor the young children in the environments of pure truth unvarnished, unadulterated truth. Talk plain truth, teach plain truth to them. Certain inconveniences, awkward situations, impassable or impossible circumstance may crop up like a bolt from the blue. Ultimately, truth alone will disentangle all the riddles. In the ultimate philosophical sense, we are not answerable to anyone except to ourselves. Nevertheless, the expression "our children" then boils down to a mere pretense. Till Mr. Fine and Dr. Bell conclude that the parents cheat their own children and till parents offer no satisfactory rejoinder, onus on them to instruct them remains unchanged.

Parents are no doubt engaged in their own vexed questions. Modern life has pressed people too hard. Unbiased truth is not even occasionally flashed across the memory in daily hazard of life. But then is it not incumbent on us to fathom as to why we invite the vagaries (unexpected events or changes that cannot be controlled and can influence a situation) of this modern mode of life? We asked for it. If^-something is gone wrong, let us wait, search, explore, unearth and begin accommodating Truth.

With or without involving religion, truth stays over a desirable and wholly acceptable value. No argument that discards truth in this respect will be incontrovertibly tenable. Therefore we must at the cost of myriad inconveniences, recommence to realize truth. The nightmares of life in the ultimate sense, originate from our cravings and consequent rejection of truth. Let us revert the process. Begin on a clean slate, begin with the newborn.

The authorities working on child behavior have courteously accepted the sacred value of truth. But their approach is still improper, inadequate, and insufficient to deal with the outstanding issue. To illustrate; S.V. quotes as follows:

For instance, Dr. Arnold Gesell, who conducts world's foremost child-study-center, quotes the following illustration:

"Jimmy's mother had just come home from the store. She had left Jimmy at home alone for the few minutes that she was gone. After all, he was six years old and old enough she figured, to take care of himself and not get into too much trouble.

"But Jimmy's mother was wrong. Just as she entered the house, she heard a loud crash. Jimmy had climbed up on to the pantry shelf and had managed to knock over and break one of her best vases"

"'Jimmy, you naughty boy, what have you done?' she scolded him.'Did you break that vase?"

"'No, Mummy, no. I didn't,'" denied Jimmy vigorously, very much frightened. He hadn't meant to knock over the vase, and certainly he hadn't expected his mother to be back so soon.

"Now, Jimmy, I have always told you to tell me the truth. Admit that you broke the vase".

"But Mummy, I didn't”, protested Jimmy.

"So off to bed went Jimmy while his mother cleaned up the pieces.

"'It wasn't so much just his breaking the vase though that was bad enough," she told Jimmy's father when he came home. "But it was his lying about it that I minded so much. So, I did the only thing I could have done. I sent him to bed. He's just got to learn to tell the truth, and he's old enough to take the blame when he has done wrong."

"We don't blame Jimmy's mother for being upset at broken bric-a-brac, but she was wrong here on at least two counts (aside from her questionable move in leaving him alone and unsupervised while she was out).

"The average child of this age just does not have the maturity to admit his own wrong-doing and if questioned directly as to whether or not he has done a 'bad' thing, he will almost invariably deny it (or at best, if he doesn't deny it, will claim, Well, I couldn't help if).

So Jimmy's mother was expecting too much in wanting him to admit his own wrong-doing, especially right after it had happened. And when she asked him directly if he had knocked over the vase, she was literally pushing him into a lie. Because it was almost a certainty--had she but realized it-that a child of his age would deny his guilt when he was accused directly."

Four paragraphs later Dr. Gesell suggests that ‘though at the age of six the boy denies his responsibility at the age of eight he is likely to accept the guilt’.

S.V. says: So, according to the learned doctor. Truth the laudable, commences at eight.

No, dear doctor, truth is a continuous process. It is a habit. It does not operate on installment basis or leave gaps. Before irreparable damage is done, we sound the timely alarm:

Save your child and your 'self’ from yourself.  As is said by Goethe, "Man wird me betrogen, man betrugt sich selbst" (We are never deceived, we deceive ourselves.)

15.  THE CHILD IS MORE AWARE

Dr. Gesell's prediction that a child repudiating nuda veritas (the naked truth) at the age of six, may accept his charlatanism (cheating) two years later is merely hoping against hope, if not a rigmarole (a long, complicated, and annoying process). The child lacking courage to admit wrong at six cannot suddenly change over to unfeigned behavior as a rule. Without practice, meditation, persuasion how can he leave the habit of prevarication'? A mansion or an acropolis cannot be fabricated where an architect or an engineer can put on the eighth story after the sixth, without constructing the seventh one. There is no rationale in speculating that a youngster holds back a good habit unused for one or two years.

A child can, besides inborn inclination, go in for untruth only if an opportunity is available to him. Notwithstanding the inborn instinct towards favoring untruth, the pivot of the problem is, how could he first express a misstatement in the present life, unless parents allow him an opportunity?

Imagine an infant nurtured to the age of three. The child for three years is fondled without a word being uttered. As an inborn urge, the child will emit sound and twang, but in which language can he talk? No language. Belike, for some reason if parents do not give the little one an occasion to manifest untruth, the newborn may not reach renewed horizons of falsehood. It amounts to apparently negative yet practically positive gain. As the boy grows, he is more truthful in a sense, he remains exposed to evil attacks for a lesser period and so can be called a less corrupt individual in terms of untruth.

16.  NONE DENIES TRUTH THEORETICALLY

Parents, teachers and the taught formulate three sides of educational triangle, which, in effect, shapes itself into a perplexing (mentally confused) tangle. No party rejects truth in theory, yet accepts

It in practice. Children are, comparatively and intellectually, less conversant with paradiddle (typical sound of drum). Parents endorse truth. Supreme role of moral education has long been acknowledged by educationists. In spite of this unanimity, mal-effects of misconduct look increasingly periscopic (different views from periscope). From ancient Greek or oriental educationists, supporters of moral education have struggled to strengthen their point of view. Except for periodical lapses, when morality^, went in the background, moralists never lacked generous support, though in theory.

Not to mince matters, it can be asserted that an all ­sided solemn support for moral curriculum and Truth is diffused through. What is the apology and excuse which forecloses practice'? All concerned baffle description of the accepted solution in sheer bewilderment and pusillanimity (cowardliness). Someone has to bravely break the cover. It is hypocrisy on one hand, to say that Truth stands first and foremost and on the other hand to put forward excuses or palliations, when matters come to brass tacks. One can chime in with parents if they accept teaching unvarnished truth in principle, begin earnestly but slowly and ask time for integrated achievement. Such request is plainly discernible (noticeable, can understand). Nobody is in that impetuous scramble. On our commencement right now the next generation will be slightly invigorated (to make someone feel fresher, healthier, and more energetic):  which in turn can bear a hand to elevate its youngsters. 

The process may call for the endeavor of four generations-may be forty, but the responsibility of the present generation to draw^- on futurity (future time) becomes imperative.

To parents:  The author can predict how much annoyed the impatient parents may feel on going through the present essay. Some of them would be inclined to investigate whether the expostulation herein could be undone. An erratic may make a row that the innocent parents have been scurrilously insulted by my surmise. The author pleads not-guilty. The Truth is to be told for the perpetual, transcendental good of the parents. Aristotle said, "Plato is dear to me, but dearer still is truth". Howsoever fanciful, a dream is a dream. Romance of chimera (a hope or dream that is extremely unlikely ever to come true) does not last eternally. Fumes of fancy are bound to fade away in face of reality.

John Macy has bluntly remarked, "The notion that the parents are entitled to respect simply because they are parents is preposterous (absurd; senseless; utterly foolish). The stream of obligation runs strongly the other way."

The new-born, if accorded leave to pause for a second; may himself pray that his parents be endowed with strength to abstain from untruth. The little newcomer may like guardians to employ harsh means instead of false, misdirected affection. Mr. Fine suspected whether we deceive our own children, subconsciously having the same pinch of guilt. It is no use deceiving children, even assuming that they do not see through elder's selfishness and pretense (pretend, make believe) of love. Oscar Wilde observed, "Children begin by loving their parents. After a time they judge them. Rarely, if ever, do they forgive them." The way children take revenge on their parents is by becoming ungrateful and unworthy themselves. It amounts to a very hard, unexpected luck for parents particularly for those who remain oblivious of their own diabolical (cunningness of devil, evil) wrongs.

To keep clear of afflictions originated from ill-defined affection, a serene satisfaction for yourself and your dear ones, re-draft a new program for child-education. Impart ethical education having an excelling import that gives meaning to life. Our immediately being alive to the grave situation and taking instantaneous action is the only silver lining of the cloud.

After making initial observations as above, Swami Vijnananand, did not stop. As a real zealous social worker, he worked out plans to help the homes (parents) and schools (teachers) to assist in properly nurturing the child’s character development from prenatal stage to the stage of an adult youth. Without any institutional help, support, donations, grants on his own, he took his plans to the interested groups of people. Convinced by the merits of the mission slowly, one by one seekers joined the mission and the organization “MANASHAKTI PRAYOG KENDRA” took shape. We will see in the articles to follow the detailed outline of the activities carried out by this organization for last many years in the service to the society in nurturing the youths.

Vijay R. Joshi.