Creative Genie
Based on request by a number of parents - we are pleased to announce one group of CREATIVE GENIE in the mornings - 10am to 1pm.
You can start any Monday (start on 3rd, 10th or 17th May) recommended three weeks (min two weeks and max four weeks)
For Children 3 to 7 years
Inherently all children are creative. All they need are opportunities to be able to explore and express their creativity. An environment which is while very stimulating to their creativity, is non judgmental to the expression of their creativity.
Often when a child makes something we look the result, and many a times that could be disappointing from our adult view of aesthetics of finish. However, creativity is not the outcome but the process.
CREATIVE GENIE is one such program that totally focuses on creative process. Do not think its a art or craft program - its far from that - its actually program where each child can explore his own creative thoughts - hence what each child is making could be totally different, how he is making would be different and the end result would also be unique. Each child could be using different mediums or even experimenting and combining many mediums.
THEME - every week
: All activities for a particular week are based on the theme of a specific "country". So each week we take up one country and explore it. Explore the country's history; geographical specialties; people, stories and legends; Culture - their festivals, music, dance and food and so on
Child would explore and use mediums like art, clay, paper mache, paper and junk models, drama, music, movement, puppetry, food etc. The focus is on three step process towards creativity, that is:
- Observation - as the raw material - develops our knowledge and senses
- Imagination - as the processing of raw material - develops our thinking capacity
- Composition - as the expression or the act of giving meaning - develops our understanding & expressive skills
What kind of activities?
Lets say the children are exploring the country Africa - in which case the children will explore masks of Africa, Jungles of Africa, Tribal story through shadow drama, Tribals of Africa, Villages of Africa, Music of Africa, etc.
- Observation - observe the masks of Africa. See the details. Check what you like about them. Look how they represent different facial features; etc
- Imagination - think about the mask in different ways, elongate nose, change number of eyes, their position etc. Enjoy playing around with the facial features.
- Composition use different mediums to create your mask. Try different colours. Try different ways of making the mask the way you would want. Make it unique to you.
What we DO NOT do
1. We do not compare children - each child is unique and special and DIFFERENT. Comparison only demeans the compared.
2. Judgment - We do not judge the child nor the child's effort nor his or her work
3. We do not Push the child to produce results that we may want. What is important is what the child wants and does on his own to achieve that. His own motivation, efforts and result are his own learning. We do not want the child to carry home "stuff" that parents may like seeing - but which are actually not done by the child!
What we DO
- Awareness - Make the child aware of his strengths, abilities, interests etc. Make the child aware of his thinking and his feelings.
- Acceptance - We accept the child;s thinking, feelings, preferences etc. He has freedom without hurting himself, others or things.
- Encouragement - "You can do, we all are different and have different WAYS of doing".
- Emphasis is on Thinking and doing (not on outcome)- "How you do; What you do; What you think; etc (Read more about Thinking)
What will the child learn / benefit
Please realize summer programs are not about teaching anything to the child. While the whole program is based on countries - as theme - the idea is NOT to teach about the countries.
So the child essentially benefits from the exposure, the stimulation and the efforts the child makes in making!
What feedback will parents get?
Holiday programs are short duration. Since any feedback can only be based on sufficient observation - It is not fair for us to give any feedback about the child in such a short duration. We give feedback in our long term programs like Success Saturday or Khoj (preschool).
Program Notes:
- The program is now available in the morning 10 to 1pm - five days a week - Monday to Friday;
- Fees Rs1000 per week; Recommended three weeks (min two weeks, max four weeks).
- * Flexibility: Since each program* is designed on weekly basis - your child can start on any monday take any two to four weeks. You can also take a break in between weeks.
