Title: Enriching the Life of the Institutionalised Child

Introduction: The inaugural S. Manjubhashini Memorial (SMM) Seminar was held on 24 September 1999 at the Bala Mandir German Hall. This was followed by a workshop on the Hincks-Dellcrest ‘Learning Through Play’ Calendars (LTPC).

Participants: The participants included various NGOs working in childcare, Government representatives, professionals, parents, and teachers.

Topics & Speakers:

• Understanding the Background of Children Who Come to Us’ – Ms Githa Viswanathan, Secretary, Guild of Service Institutions
• Every Child is Potentially Divine’ – Ms Maya Gaitonde, Honorary General Secretary, Bala Mandir
• From Home to Home’ – Ms Uma Narayan, Secretary, SOS Villages, Tamil Nadu
• Resistance – Acceptance – Resignation or – Rejuvenation’ – Ms Girija Kumarababu, Consultant, Indian Council for Child Welfare

• Understanding the Needs of the Child’ – Ms K. Vedam

Programme Highlights: Participants gained hands-on knowledge on the use of the ‘Learning Through Play’ Calendars – Birth to 3 Years, and 3 to 6 Years.

Title: Parenting the Young Child (Birth to 3 Years)

Introduction: The second SMM Seminar was held on 16 December 2000 in collaboration with the Indian Association for Preschool Education (IAPE).

Participants: The seminar had over 200 participants, including Kindergarten teachers, crèche workers and heads of educational institutions.

Speakers:

• Dr S. Anandalakshmy, President, BMRF.
• Ms Shakuntala Sharma
• Ms Y. G. Parthasarathy

Programme Highlights: Expert presentations on the LTP Calendar – Birth to 3 Years, along with role plays, and songs performed by Bala Mandir children. Participants also engaged in small group discussions on the LTP Calendar – 3 to 6 Years.

Title: Child Rights & ECCD

Introduction: The third SMM Seminar on ‘Child Rights & Early Childhood Care & Development (ECCD)’ was held on 15 December 2001 at the Bala Mandir German Hall. The main aims of the Seminar were:

• To focus on the criticality of the development process in the life of the child below 3 years – the crucial early years of child development.
• To create an increasing awareness in the community for a holistic approach to childcare and development, within the framework of the Convention of Rights of the Child, and based on worldwide ECCD research.
• To strengthen capacities of parents and those in a parenting role to create a positive, nurturing environment for all children and especially those from the deprived and unreached communities in rural and urban areas.
• To equip mothers, fathers and caregivers with appropriate coping mechanisms in the light of rapid socio-economic changes.

Participants: The Seminar participants comprised of social workers from NGOs working in child welfare, as well as heads, faculty and students of schools, members of the Network for Information on Parenting (NIP), and ECCD professionals. Ms Mina Swaminathan, Honorary Director, Project ACCESS, delivered the Keynote Address.

Programme Highlights: The Seminar focused on the changing role of the social worker in the community, as well as ECCD issues in ‘Balwadis’ and ‘Anganwadis’.

Title: Adoption – Creating a Nurturing Environment

Introduction: Adoption is fundamental to Bala Mandir’s service activities. The Seminar delved into the need to emphasise, add and share information on the emerging new dimensions unique to the needs of adoptive families, and also to bridge the gap in the professional support services available today.

Participants: Participants included social workers and personnel from various adoption agencies in Chennai, as well as many adoptive parents.

Topics & Speakers:

• 'Grafting a Family Tree’ – Ms Vidya Shankar, Chairperson, Relief Foundation
• 'Building Harmonious Relationships’ – Dr R. Rangarajan
• 'Early Adjustments and Health Concerns’ – Dr Sowmya Swaminathan

Programme Highlights: Interactive panel discussion by experts in the field, delineating the combined role of parents, adoption agencies, social workers, and other stakeholders in building happy adoptive families.

Title: Kindergarten – Learning Through Play (3 to 6 Years)

Introduction: In the last twenty years, there has been a growing sense of unease at the curricular load for very young children. In fact, what is known as the trickle down effect (from the IIT-MBA entrance tests to the KG syllabus), has also reached our toddlers of one and two years. We are trying to teach too much, too early.

Participants: The Seminar participants included principals, KG primary coordinators, school management representatives from Matriculation, CBSE and Corporation Schools, as well as representatives of ICDS.

Topics & Speakers:

• ‘The Learning Brain’ – Dr Prithika Chary, Senior Consultant & Neurologist
• ‘Learning Problems’ – Ms Nirmala Pandit, Special Educator & Educational Consultant
• ‘Readiness Skills in Reading, Writing, & Math’ – Ms Prema Daniel, Coordinator, SCS Kothari Academy for Women

Programme Highlights: Participants gained insights into the psychosocial aspects of adult-child interactions, using the Learning Through Play Calendar. Special workshops were also conducted for Government Home matrons on ‘Handling Children in Institutions’.

Title: Network for Information on Parenting

Introduction: The Bala Mandir Research Foundation (BMRF) has been closely tied with the Network for Information on Parenting (NIP) since its inception. BMRF is not only the Secretariat of the Network, but also a living, growing part of it, sharing objectives, ideology and methods of working.

The Network has grown organically; today, it is defined by a marked sense of purpose, conviviality, diversity and a lack of hierarchy. Its members include child development experts, educationists, teachers, special educators, social workers and health professionals spread across various states.

Participants: The Seminar participants included NIP members from Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, as well as NGOs, medical professionals, and those working with children with special needs.

Topics & Speakers:

• ‘5 Years of NIP’ – Ms Maya Gaitonde, Secretary, BMRF
• ‘Parenting’ – Dr S. Anandalakshmy, President, BMRF
• ‘Networking’ – Ms Rama Narayanan, Research Consultant
• ‘Networking Experiences – Medical Professionals’ – Dr S. Jayam, Director, VICH
• ‘Networking Experiences – NGOs’ – Ms Hema Srinivas, BMRF
• ‘Networking Experiences – Children with Special Needs’ – Ms Usha Ramakrishnan, Chairperson, Vidya Sagar

Programme Highlights: Sharing of members’ experiences in their involvement with NIP, its impact on NGOs and the medical community, and the work being undertaken towards “inclusion” of all children.

Title: Dynamic Inclusion – Accepting Diversity

Introduction:. Every child is unique. Children develop their potential and well-rounded personalities when ALL areas of development are considered and nurtured holistically. This includes children with disability and with special needs.

It is a matter of great concern that children with disability are kept apart and their development considered differently. They have an uneven developmental profile, lagging in some areas of development while doing well in others.

Generally the focus remains on the area of development where there is a lag or delay and the emphasis is to ‘normalise’ the child. The child’s abilities and strengths remain unrecognised. Self-esteem and emotional well-being are adversely affected. As a consequence, the child is passive.

The early years, birth to six, are critical developmental periods in a child’s life. Much can be done to enhance potential at this stage.

• Parents of children with special needs play an important role in their child’s development and must be empowered to be partners with the professionals who are going to help their child.
• Community workers need information and skills that will help them to include children with special needs in their realm of work.

The package ‘Parenting the Child: Accepting Diversity’ addresses these vital issues.

• It helps to look beyond children’s disability or special need, to find their abilities, identify the child’s unique profile and effectively support development.
• It is designed to empower parents and caregivers, with knowledge that their child can be different yet equal, and be active partners with professionals in the planning of their child’s programme.
• It enables professionals to share expertise and skills with parents, caregivers and workers in the community.

Participants: Participants included members of the Network for Information on Parenting (NIP), ‘Accepting Diversity – Learning Through Play Calendar (ADLTPC)’ partners, special invitees, and potential partners. Mr Gauthama, Principal, The School KFI, was the Guest Speaker.

Topics & Speakers:

• ‘The ADLTPC – Sharing of Experiences’ – Ms Usha Ramakrishnan, Chairperson, Vidya Sagar

• ‘Partners in Inclusion’ – Ms Poonam Natarajan Dr Veda Zachariya, Community-based Doctor.

• Ms Nirmala Pandit, Special Educator.

• Ms K. S. Uma – Parent of a child with special needs.

Programme Highlights: The programme included a workshop on usage of the ‘Accepting Diversity – Learning Through Play Calendar (ADLTPC)’, with over 100 copies distributed to the participants.

Title: Every Child Needs Parenting

Introduction: The SMM Seminar on ‘Parenting’ was held on 23 December 2006. The Seminar aimed to commemorate Smt. S. Manjubhashini’s centenary by focusing on the projects, plans and achievements of the Bala Mandir Research Foundation (BMRF), which she had founded.

S. Manjubhashini’s path-breaking success in giving a home to destitute and orphan children and bringing them up as happy, well-adjusted, mature adults is now part of the social history of the 20th century. Her efforts since 1983 to spread the message of parenting children in the community, through the Research Foundation, gained momentum in the 1990s, and it is significant to note that on the 1st anniversary of her passing away on 23 September 1997, BMRF entered into an international partnership focused on parenting.

In 1999, the Research Foundation also initiated the Network for Information on Parenting (NIP), which has grown in stature and outreach, taking the parenting messages to various States in India – Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, and soon to Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Punjab, West Bengal, and the Hindi-speaking States of North India. The core materials have been translated into the different local languages and made user-friendly. Important principles of child development and parent-child interaction are conveyed pictorially and with disarming simplicity. By all accounts, their impact has been a resounding success.

In the process of developing materials for parenting, BMRF as the coordinator, realised the need for a nucleus in Chennai, where parents and children who have questions and doubts can converge. The Bala Mandir Resource Centre was consequently set up, offering a variety of services:

• Consultation and counselling to discuss children’s problems and appropriate parenting responses.
• Access to reference materials, books, videos and films to understand effective parenting practices.
• A seminar room for talks, brainstorming sessions, meetings, training and orientation programmes on different stages and aspects of the ‘Joy of Parenting’.

Participants: The participants comprised of members of the Network for Information on Parenting (NIP), the Bala Mandir family and partners of BMRF. Mr P. C. Ramakrishna, a well-known theatre person, and S. Manjubhashini’s grandson was the Chief Guest.

Topics & Speakers:

• ‘Remembering Manjumma’s Parenting’ – Dr S. Anandalakshmy, President, BMRF

• ‘Opening Our Doors’ – Dr Indu Balagopal, Council Member, BMRF

• ‘Listening to Children’s Voices – Widening the Circle’ – Ms Maya Gaitonde, Secretary, BMRF

Programme Highlights: Open discussion on future projects and programmes to further the work done so far on parenting.

Title: Adolescence – Journey into Adulthood

Introduction: Ah! Adolescence! The stage between childhood and adulthood; the period when a person is both, and neither child nor adult. The years of energy and exuberance, of downswings and despair! The time in one’s life, when academic pressure mounts to a bursting point, when growth spurts draw everyone’s attention, when idealism and cynicism have an uneasy co-existence. Important decisions have to be made, individually and with the family, on courses and careers, jobs and livelihoods, mating and marriage and the role of parents and peers in one’s development. Adolescence is a period about which, for any authoritative statement, its opposite or contradiction also seems to have some validity!

Participants: The participants included members of the Network for Information on Parenting (NIP), High School teachers, and representatives from various NGOs working with adolescent programmes.

Programme Highlights:

THE ABCs OF ADOLESCENCE:

S. Anandalaksmy: A time of growing up Bumpy ride to adulthood Comprehending their minds

Krishna: Academic achievement Beating family pressures Coping with peer pressure

Veda: Awareness of health issues Bearing the changes in life styles Competence for time management

Rajul: Acceptance of different abilities Barriers to normal life Creating opportunities

Suchitra: Attraction to opposite gender Basic knowledge of reproductive health Covering all aspects of education

Lakshmi: Across cultures Behaviour of adolescents Case studies of gender issues

Maya: Augmenting self-esteem Bridging relationships and role models Communicating core integrity and honesty

Click here to view SMM Seminar Invitation 2007

Title: TAO of Schooling – School Readiness

Introduction: The 2008 SMM Seminar was held on 21 – 22 October 2008, and marked the Silver Jubilee of the Bala Mandir Research Foundation (BMRF).<

Usually the term School Readiness in our country is used to describe children’s readiness to enter school and start reading and writing and numeracy.

The conference addressed the preliminary, activity-based steps children have to go through before formal schooling, and the parenting skills needed for fun-filled learning. The school’s readiness for the children, and the parents’ readiness for their children’s schooling were also included in the deliberations.

The TAO philosophy encompasses harmony with nature, value for the individual and the relevance of the present moment. This was a common thread through the seminar.

Participants: Local and international partners of BMRF, NIP members from Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, as well as distinguished scholars and practitioners in the field.

Programme Highlights: The Seminar covered many important issues relating to School Readiness, in particular the urgent need to address the problem of academic over-burden in Kindergarten.

Click here to view SMM Seminar Invitation 2008

Title: Parenting the Primary School Child

Introduction: In common usage, parents bring up children, ensuring their health and wellbeing, while teachers put them through their academic paces, ensuring that they master literacy and complete their school education. Their psychosocial development tends to get neglected. This is the key factor for their comfort level and happiness. Most PTAs function as though they are negotiating a temporary truce between two warring sides!

We are suggesting that good parenting is done by parents AND teachers and both groups are on the same side, the side of the children.

The children of the Primary school are at a wonderful stage, literally ‘wonder-full’. They are keen to know, ready to be astounded with the real facts of the world around them and full of questions. They can move out of the radius of the home with confidence. They discover talents in themselves, including that for friendship. They look to adults for support, approval and guidance. In this chapter of their lives, the roles of parents, teachers and counsellors seem like an exciting adventure.

Participants: The participants included members of the Network for Information on Parenting (NIP), Bala Mandir teachers, Primary school teachers, and personnel from NGOs working with young children.

Programme Highlights: The Seminar brought to light that, to date, focus has generally been placed on the institutionalised child, inclusion in schools and homes, infancy, childcare and preschool, the challenges of adolescence and universal parenting issues. Most often the primary school child is left out of the equation. The seminar highlighted that the primary school years are a very relevant stage that fill the gap between infancy and adolescence and should be prioritised accordingly.

Click here to view SMM Seminar Invitation 2009

Title: Values for Everyday Living

Participants: The participants included distinguished guests, as well as school heads and teachers, and NGOs working with children.

Programme Highlights: The Seminar featured many distinguished guest speakers, contributing to a series of thought-provoking presentations and discussions on the issue of values for children.

Click here to view SMM Seminar Invitation 2010

Title: Education as Parenting – Insights from Gandhi, Tagore, and Aurobindo

Participants: The participants included distinguished guests, NGOs, and school teachers. Ms V. R. Devika, Managing Trustee, The Aseema Trust and Gandhi scholar, gave the Theme Presentation.

Programme Highlights: The programme offered insightful discussions, and analysis on the different perspectives and priorities of the three sages:
Aurobindo’s system combined talent with academics, Tagore combined cultural skills with academics, while Gandhi combined basic skills with academics.

Click here to view SMM Seminar Invitation 2011

Titles:

2012: Children’s Rights and Responsibilities – Primary School.
2013: Children’s Rights and Responsibilities – Middle School.
2014: Children’s Rights and Responsibilities – High School / Adolescence.

Introduction: The 2012, 2013, and 2014 SMM Seminars were a breakaway from the past. Conducted as a trilogy, the Seminars presented Rights from the children’s point of view.

India is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is a step forward, of course, but it does not ensure that all children in this country are able to exercise their rights.

Participants: Participants comprised of teachers and children from the respective school levels: Primary, Middle, and High school, as well as other educators, and social workers in the field.

Programme Highlights: The children’s own presentations of their Charter of Rights and Responsibilities, expressing their hopes and dreams through a wonderful mix of song, dance, role play, mime and dialogue.

Click here to view SMM Seminar Invitation 2014

Title: Competition: Not the Best Strategy for Children

Introduction: The 2017 SMM Seminar was themed on competition, with the conviction that it is not the best strategy for children and that schools should focus on encouraging self- motivation based on each child’s aptitudes and preferences.

Programme Highlights: The ‘Patti Mandram’ gave enlightening insights into students’ own views on competition and its effects.

Click here to view SMM Seminar Invitation 2017

Title: Inclusion Beyond Barriers

Introduction: For the past two decades, BMRF has sought to redefine the concept of parenting, extending it beyond its biological confines, with a focus on accepting diversity and rejecting bias, differentiation and prejudice.

Programme Highlights: The session was presented by a panel of experts who have mastery of conceptual issues as well as years of rich hands-on practice.

Click here to view SMM Seminar Invitation 2018

Title: Learning Through Play In My Own Way

Introduction: The 2019 Seminar introduced a new resource, the Learning Through Play In My Own Way (LTP-IMOW) Calendar. The new inclusive tool is based on the highly successful original Hincks-Dellcrest Learning Through Play Calendars (LTPC) – Birth to 3 Years and 3 to 6 Years.
The LTP-IMOW is a resource for parents, caregivers and professionals, enabling them to discover enjoyable ways of nurturing their child at each stage of development.

Guest Speaker: Ms Usha Ramakrishnan, Consultant: Emotional Intelligences and Emotional Wellness (for Parenting, Teaching, Management and Leadership)

Programme Highlights: The programme included a practical expert demonstration of the resource which provided participants with an in-depth understanding of the tool, its applications and uses.

Click here to view SMM Seminar Invitation 2019

Title: Implementing Inclusive Education in Mainstream Schools

Introduction: The right to education in mainstream schools for children with diverse learning needs, providing proper facilities and accommodations is known as inclusive education. The 2020 seminar holistically addressed the notion of and need for inclusive education and strategies to successfully implement the same in schools.

Guest Speaker: Ms Kalpana D Kumar, Founder, Kare Therapy Centre

Programme Highlights: The keynote address provided valuable insights on inclusive education for all the teachers present, and was followed by an informative Q&A session moderated by Ms Mallika Ganapathy who is an Educational Consultant.

Click here to view SMM Seminar Invitation 2020

Title: I.M.P.A.C.T. of the Pandemic on Children and Our Role as Caregivers

Introduction: The 2021-22 Seminar addressed the critical issue of how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected children’s mental health and the measures that may be taken to support them effectively. Using IMPACT as an acronym, the speaker shared, through a PPT presentation, on how adults and caregivers can support and create safe spaces for children to process their emotions and recover from the ill-effects of the last two years.

Participants: The online seminar had an attendance of over 30 persons that included BM Management, staff, teachers and partners from Mumbai and Gujarat.

Guest Speaker: Ms Mina Dilip, Psychologist, Trainer, and Writer

Programme Highlights: The speaker had a very interactive session with the audience, with games in between the slides, which made everyone engaged in the subject. This led to a deeper understanding of the state of mind of children attending online classes, and not being able to socialise with others as before.

She shared a set of games in the pdf version and gave out names of some reference books and links for further reading which would enhance understanding of the subject.

Click here to view SMM Seminar Invitation 2022