As part of the Kidz Ultimate Challenge (KUC) – a year-long holistic child development programme – special seminars for parents and guardians of children were organised across the UK between March and June 2016.
More than 700 parents, grandparents and carers of children attended the Parenting, Education & Gujarati Seminars at 10 centres, from Preston in the north down to London in the south. The sessions were delivered by skilled volunteers who manage educational, parenting and Gujarati activities within the Bal-Balika Mandal.
A specially prepared booklet with information and guidance was available beforehand for all attendees, which provided them with opportunities to prepare fully for the discussions. Videos, presentations and various activities formed the basis of the seminars which focussed on methods to motivate children, boost their self-esteem and enhance their potential.
Speakers elaborated upon different learning styles of children – particularly visual, auditory and kinaesthetic – and explained how these techniques can be used to identify a child’s dominant style and thus maximise their learning. Presenters also talked about the different aspects of the brain that can support the ability to record and recall information.
The language section was geared towards developing the learning of Gujarati, which was supported with information on scientific research confirming that multilingual children benefit from better memory skills and stronger general education.
Rohit Patel, one of the lead volunteers, explained, “We wanted to the share the skills and explain the ideas and practices which not only bring out the best in children but also build the foundations for development as they mature into young adults and beyond. It is rewarding to see how eager the parents were to help their children become the best – not only at home but also at school.”
Parents conveyed very positive feedback about the event through personal testimonies recorded on feedback forms. One parent wrote: “Incredibly useful. We gained so much from the seminars and are now better prepared to help our children become the very best that they can be.” Another parent shared: “Excellent seminar! Refreshed my memory and found the whole day fantastic and well organised. I learned so much which will help my children develop greatly.”