Play time: Toys for toddlers and Outings

Long time since last post. I am kind of busy with teaching, practice and a research paper I am intending to present in the coming week. At home everything is going well. Finally my toddlers are potty trained, although at night we still use diapers, mainly because they sleep late and wake up late, so it is difficult to wake them up in between to use the potty. Next week we should start play school, which might make them sleep early and wake up early.

Sunday afternoon is outing time. Temples (especially Vadakkumnathan temple at Thrissur), parks, zoo, beach and malls are the favorite places of visit for my trio. Vazhani dam is also close by, and the view is stunning here, although what they enjoy in Vazhani is the long walk and playing in the park rather than the view. They now know many animals and a few birds (some from the sound also, like crow, koel, magpie robin, babblers etc), flowers and vegetables. They understand colors and can arrange toys according to colors&sizes. 

Vazhani Dam

These are some of their favorite toys and cycles. The stacking cubes, stacking rings and First blocks are good to develop sense of shape and color. They love the Magic car (though they call it train!!). That and the BSA cycle are their favorite mode of transport. Also the card board box transformed to be a favorite toy for the toddlers!

Wonderful handmade toyhouse :) !!

                                       

                       

                          

                                           

Animations and other movies for children

These are some videos liked and enjoyed by our triplets. This is by no means a complete list, and the first few listed are Malayalam, however these can be a start. Feel free to click the links- they are not ads, but videos on YouTube or info on wiki.

Kathu is a Malayalam 3D animation that tells the story of a kitten and her family and friends. It has two parts of 45 minutes each interlinking a story line and songs about values like honesty, courage, respect to elders, helpful attitude, self-confidence etc. There is not a moment of boredom, and it is enjoyable to adults as well.

Manchadi has four parts, all with stories and songs/rhymes. The stories are from Panchatantra, Aesop’s fables and folktales. Most stories have some value to teach, and the rhymes are very nice- the familiar ‘Kunchuvammakk anchu makkalane’ rhyme is made with a catchy tune and interesting animation. The very familiar story of the elephant and tailor is made into a song, which any child would love to sing along. All in all, it is a great collection.

Pupi is a very curious puppy, and in his explorations and adventures we learn about chameleons, honey bees, spiders, birds and bats, earthworms and many other living beings on the earth, and the dynamics between them. Very informative, very entertaining, it is guaranteed to arouse curiosity about surroundings in a child.

Torpido is a Malayalam superhero- a boy who fights aliens with the help of a pair of spectacles that his father gives him. Then there are many animation videos like Mayavi, Meesa- Elumban, Ambili Maman, Kilukkampetti, Minnaminni, Kuttikurumban, Chakkaramamazham etc. which are entertaining.

Pachilakkoodu (My Home is Green) is a wonderful animation movie that tells us the evils of insecticides, particularly endosulfan.  It is a touching story of the friendship between an ant and a caterpillar. My kids were totally engrossed by the movie, and I am sure they got the message. I would say it is a must-watch. This award-winning movie is available in both English and Malayalam.

Jungle Book and Tarzan are available as 2D, 3D animation as well as movies. The 3D animations are worth watching for the art of making the animations, the pictures, the images, the scenery and the effects. These animations are sure to awaken and inspire the artist in your child.

Lion King is a 2D animation movie with two parts. The first part tells us about the ‘Circle of Life’ where everything in nature is connected to each other and obeys nature’s rules. ‘You must take your place in the circle of life’, the lion tells his cub. It also tells us a great story of love, friendship, travel and adventure, loyalty, rivalry, sacrifice and most importantly, duties and responsibilities. Lion King-II tells us never to give up hope, and that love can conquer the whole world, without shedding a drop of blood. It is lovely. And my kids have a great time watching the two movies, imitating the characters and delivering the dialogues. The songs are irresistible.

Little Krishna TV series made into two DVDs are available in English, Hindi and a few Indian regional languages. It is about the adventures of Lord Krishna as a little baby and child in Vrindavan. It is a beautiful animation and if your kid likes stories of Krishna, or if he likes superheroes, he is sure to enjoy this cute animation.  Your little girl will love to watch baby Krishna and his adorable ways. Krishna and Balram, and Chota Bheem feature adventures of part mythological part superhero characters as 2D animations. Children will like them, but it is better to sit with them while they watch these videos, and tell them what to absorb and what not to. For example, Chota Bheem gets his strength when he eats a handful of ladoos (sweet). While we can tell the child that Bheem became strong when he ate his food, we also need to be careful to let him know that ladoos are not good for health if eaten in such quantities as they show in the cartoon. There are many such loose ends in both these series; however they are very good to learn good English pronunciation and usage.

Once your son starts enjoying Spider-man, there is no turning back. That is all I need to say about this brainy-and-wimpy Peter Parker turned superhero. I am sure same is true for Ben10, Tintin and Batman, but I have not tried those. Nor have I tried Pokémon, Narnia, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park or Dora the explorer. I might, soon, and then I shall get back with reviews.

In conclusion I would like to add that whatever movies you choose for your children, it is ideal if you also watch it with them, and explain to them the story. Then you can tell them what important messages are given in the movie- it can range from instilling a deep moral value to understanding the way colours can be used to make a scene attractive. When the video shows a lion roaring, I tell them to notice the sound and how it differs from a tiger growling. When Jungle Book shows a cobra, I tell them to notice the difference it has from Kaa, the python. You will be surprised at how fast they absorb the information, process it within their minds and come up with endless questions. You might have to give an answer when your son asks why the jeep in the animation flies, as well as rides on the road- the maker of the film might have thought it would arouse the kid’s imagination, but most of the time it arouses his suspicion! But you can come up with innovative answers and help him be more imaginative, without ignoring the facts.  Just like during their various play, you need to actively involve while he watches movies also, to make it an entertaining, pleasurable and learning session.

Most of the videos are available for purchase online. The links below will take you to the amazon store, however, they are also available in other shopping sites. 

Happy Viewing!! :D And please don't forget to share your experiences and how your kids enjoy watching movies in the comments column below!

'Vidyarambham' ('Ezhuthiniruthal') - first peek into the world of letters

In Kerala, children start their formal education after a ceremony called Vidyarambham. A child is not supposed to read or write before his/her Vidyarambham (ezhuthiniruthal). Vidyarambham is usually done when the child reaches age three. If not, then it has to be at age five. At ages two and four, the ezhuthiniruthal ceremony should not happen according to texts like ‘Muhurtha Padavi’. The first letters are to be written on ‘onakkalari’(raw rice with bran). It is spread on a large bronze plate. The plate should be cleaned to the point of sparkling like gold. There will be a lamp with seven wicks (‘ezhuthiri vilakku’) decorated with auspicious flowers like thumbappoo. On a banana leaf (‘thoosanila’) we should keep a ‘niranazhi’(a measure of rice), lots of ‘unniyappam and ada’(tasty snacks of  Rice, jaggery, banana, ghee and sugar), ‘malaru’(puffed rice), ‘Kadali’banana, tender coconut etc. This is called ‘Ganapathykkopp’. Ezhuthiniruthal is to be done by an Aasaan (It is a colloquial term for Acharya or Guru- traditionally we had ‘Ezhuthupallikkoodam’ or ‘Kalari’ also called ‘Aasaan Kalari’, which served as primary school where an Aasaan or Aasaatti (female) used to impart education to non-Brahmin children). Aasan Kalari does not function anymore, so the ceremony can be done by a learned person, a grandparent or parent. This has to be done with utmost respect, good thoughts and in a spiritual state. Guru sits on a folded white dhoti placed on the ground, and the child sits on his/her lap. Then Guru guides the child’s index finger on the rice in the plate to write ‘Hari Shree’, at the same time pronouncing the letters. The child’s eyes follow the formation of the letter in rice, grasping the image, at the same time listening to the sound of the letter and repeating the same sound-mouthing it, while writing it and feeling it.  According to Guru Nitya Chaitanya Yathi, this process brings together and rouses the two Jnanendriya(Senses of knowledge- eyes and ears) and the two Karmendriya (senses of activity- finger and mouth)- a unique sensation to the child making him enter the infinite universe of knowledge.

They write "Om Hari Shree Ganapathaye Nama: Avighnamasthu" (Om, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha, we pray to you- let there be no interruption to our learning or actions).This is done in front of Lord Ganesha (the One who helps to overcome obstacles and is the epitome of knowledge, wisdom and kindness) and Goddess Saraswathy's idol, as She is the Goddess of all kinds of Learning and Arts. For Christians in Kerala also the ceremony is done with some modifications. 

Vidyarambham is done on Vijayadasami day, which is the tenth and culminating day of the Navratri festival. On Mahanavami which is the ninth day of the Navratri festival, we keep all books and tools for Ayudha pooja in a temple or at home. (Ayudha Puja is an integral part of the Navratri festival (festival of triumph), a Hindu festival which is traditionally celebrated in India. It is also called "Astra Puja", the synonym for Ayudha Puja. In simple terms, it means “Worship of Implements”). We are not supposed to use any tools on Mahanavami. I used to love the day as a kid as I was never asked to study on the day :) And on the tenth day of the festival- Vijayadasami day- we get up early in the morning, bathe and go to the Devi (Goddess) temple and take back the books. Then we write all the alphabets and numbers and read our books and refresh ourselves for another year of learning and gathering knowledge The freshness and enthusiasm I used to feel as a student on that day  is beyond words.

After writing the alphabets we also recite the Sanskrit prayer

Saraswathi Namastubhyam

Varade Kamarupini

Vidyarambam Karishyami

Siddhir Bhavatu Me Sada

The beautiful Malayalam song "Manassilunaroo Ushasandhyayay.."  has a line which says 'we pray to you Goddess Saraswathy, come to us in the form of books and in the form of ayudha' (ayudha literally means weapons, or arms, but here it means any tool with which we work).

Our trio also had their Vidyarambham on Vijayadasami in October 2014. My father formally introduced them to the art of writing. After writing the prayer they gave Dakshina to my father. The whole ceremony has a certain elegance to it. Respect of knowledge, of elders, of teachers, of God.

'Vidyarambham' ('Ezhuthiniruthal') of Raman

'Vidyarambham' ('Ezhuthiniruthal') of Kutty

'Vidyarambham' ('Ezhuthiniruthal') of Balu

'Vidyarambham' ('Ezhuthiniruthal') of triplets in Kerala

Kutty loves to look at books. Whenever she goes out she makes us buy a book- small picture story books which she makes me read to her. Hopefully she will maintain her passion for books when she grows up.

Link to Rice-eating ceremony- 'Choroonu' or annaprashan http://www.tripletshouse.blogspot.in/2012/11/babys-first-solid-meal-choroonu.html

Books and Websites

I came across Penelope Leach's 'Babyhood' at a second hand books' sale, quite by chance, and bought it for an incredible two hundred rupees! But I'd say it is worth every paisa of its actual price in the range of Rs.2500/- (paperback). In the first page itself she says how a new mother and a new father are totally inexperienced, and how not to feel bad about it. When I started reading, I thought she was actually telling my story. Except that she does not mention multiples much, or the unique challenges a multiples' mother has to face. Apart from that small shortcoming, I loved 'Babyhood' and I bought two other books of Ms.Leach- 'Your Growing Child' and 'Your Baby and Child'. 

The great thing about those books that they understand the child psychology well, and that helps the parent to comprehend what the child wants. Ms.Leach also understands what the parent is going through. For example there is this part on the conflict between breastfeeding and formula feeding. I was feeling quite guilty of not breastfeeding my babies (see post on Breastfeeding vs Formula). However Ms. Leach says that the bond a baby has with the mother develops when the baby lies on the mother's lap and drinks milk, whether breast milk or from a bottle. Similarly she says that a baby's vision is two dimensional until she is three or four months old, so she will enjoy looking at pictures kept at 30 cm away from her face. She advocates reading to the child, ways of choosing the right playschool, dealing with baby sickness, sibling jealousy and a lot more. Hugely informative and greatly inspiring! It is a must-read for all parents I should say.

One GREAT website that helped me throughout was www.tripletsandus.com It shows stage-by-stage development of triplets during and after pregnancy. I still go back to the site often.

http://crappypictures.com/ is a fun site. Illustrated with cartoons, it deals with the stress of parenting in a very light-hearted way.

The Barnes blog is too good to miss, and describes very similar experiences to mine- http://barnesdailycircus.blogspot.in/

https://www.rie.org/

Babyhood, Your Baby and Child, and Your Growing Child by Penelope Leach

Three great books by Penelope Leach. 'Babyhood' I found extremely useful in babies' first months. At times parenting triplets brings a nervous breakdown. Our mood swings will be instantly reflected on the babies' also. In such situations I take Leach, and she will have a solution for me. Or at least her narratives will make me feel much better, and make me look at the world from my trio's viewpoint. Thank you ma'am! 

I think all three books are must-reads for all parents.
Here are three pictures from two of the books- about eating veggies, problem eaters and about jealousy. I bet you have never thought about these things in this perspective.

My kids with the books

Onam and Vishu

Triplets growing up - development milestones

Kutty was the first one to start rolling over (6 months), and crawl (7 months)

Balu was and still is the fastest in his movements

All three playing happily

Raman showing off his first tooth- Ninth month

Kutty has two teeth in the ninth month

Balu happy on his high chair

                            

Raman sitting up at five months and trying stand up on his own at 10 months

Triplets First Months