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This article is an enaboration of Shishuvatika curriculum at Vidyakshetra.  

This article is an elaboration of Shishuvatika curriculum at Vidyakshetra.  

== Introduction ==

== Introduction ==

From birth up to 5 years is considered shishuavastha (शिशुअवस्था). This is the age when the developmental focus is on the Annamaya kosha (अन्नमयकोष) and for absorption of knowledge, ‘chitta’ (चित्त) in Anandmaya kosha (आनंदमयकोष), is most active. The mantra for this age is ‘लालयेत पंचवर्षानी’ and the goal is to fill the child’s life with love for 5 years.  

From birth up to 5 years is considered shishuavastha (शिशुअवस्था). This is the age when the developmental focus is on the Annamaya kosha (अन्नमयकोष) and for absorption of knowledge, ‘chitta’ (चित्त) in Anandmaya kosha (आनंदमयकोष), is most active. The mantra for this age is ‘लालयेत् पंचवर्षाणि’ and the goal is to fill the child’s life with love for 5 years.  

Shishuvatika, at Vidyakshetra, is an extension of home in many ways. It has a natural, homely atmosphere with motherly adults as its teachers. The environment is made as natural as possible. The main objective is providing good samskaras (संस्कार) to the child of this age whose ‘Chitta’ (चित्त) is just so receptive in this formative stage. These samskaras (संस्कार) become the guiding principles for the child’s life.

Shishuvatika, at Vidyakshetra, is an extension of home in many ways. It has a natural, homely atmosphere with motherly adults as its teachers. The environment is made as natural as possible. The main objective is providing good samskaras (संस्कार) to the child of this age whose ‘Chitta’ (चित्त) is just so receptive in this formative stage. These samskaras (संस्कार) become the guiding principles for the child’s life.

The other objectives for Shishu Shiksha (शिशु शिक्षा) at Vidyakshetra-

The other objectives for Shishu Shiksha (शिशु शिक्षा) at Vidyakshetra-

# Character Building (चरित्र निर्माण)  

#Character Building (चरित्र निर्माण)

# Capability Building (क्षमताओं का विकास)

#Capability Building (क्षमताओं का विकास)

# Provide rich life experiences (जीवन के घनिष्ठ अनुभव देना)

# Provide rich life experiences (जीवन के घनिष्ठ अनुभव देना)

At Vidyakshetra, child is encouraged to wear natural fabric such as cotton. The toys are handpicked, made from natural material such as wood & bamboo. A large play area is made available with fruit bearing trees such as mango and chickoo so the child has vision of auspicious trees and hears melodious sounds of chirping birds, has plentiful exposure to the rays of sun, and cool breezes touch its skin day in and day out. Play area is of utmost importance in this phase as play is nature’s mechanism to exercise the body (remember, Annamayya Kosha is in focus at present) and enable its growth. Children must run around, sweat and play. This keeps them active, ensures good metabolic activity, and therefore good food intake, ensures good growth of all internal and external organs and most of all keeps the child happy.  

At Vidyakshetra, child is encouraged to wear natural fabric such as cotton. The toys are handpicked, made from natural material such as wood & bamboo. A large play area is made available with fruit bearing trees such as mango and chickoo so the child has vision of auspicious trees and hears melodious sounds of chirping birds, has plentiful exposure to the rays of sun, and cool breezes touch its skin day in and day out. Play area is of utmost importance in this phase as play is nature’s mechanism to exercise the body (remember, Annamayya Kosha is in focus at present) and enable its growth. Children must run around, sweat and play. This keeps them active, ensures good metabolic activity, and therefore good food intake, ensures good growth of all internal and external organs and most of all keeps the child happy.  

== Classroom Rhythms ==

==Classroom Rhythms==

Shishuvatika children are at Vidyakshetra from 8:30am to 2:30pm. The day gets planned and divided such that children focus on playing, eating, experiential activities and sleeping in a rhythm. Rhythm means that the instructions are minimal. A naughty child is given no harsh instructions but is gently brought into the right space by the teacher using songs and rhythms which forms the primary part of inculcating disciplinary practices in the child. Rhythms of day, of the week, of the month and of the seasons etc. go deep in its understanding and lays the foundation of good discipline for the child.

Shishuvatika children are at Vidyakshetra from 8:30am to 2:30pm. The day gets planned and divided such that children focus on playing, eating, experiential activities and sleeping in a rhythm. Rhythm means that the instructions are minimal. A naughty child is given no harsh instructions but is gently brought into the right space by the teacher using songs and rhythms which forms the primary part of inculcating disciplinary practices in the child. Rhythms of day, of the week, of the month and of the seasons etc. go deep in its understanding and lays the foundation of good discipline for the child.

There is no scope for harshness, chiding the child or punishing it in shishuvatika as it has a deep bearing on its psyche. In this phase of Lalayet panchavarshani (लालयेत पंचवर्षानी), the child needs only love, care, warmth, and affection. Therefore, children are handled with utmost love and care.  

There is no scope for harshness, chiding the child or punishing it in shishuvatika as it has a deep bearing on its psyche. In this phase of Lalayet panchavarshani (लालयेत् पंचवर्षाणि), the child needs only love, care, warmth, and affection. Therefore, children are handled with utmost love and care.  

A typical time table for the day for Shishuvatika looks like the following:

A typical time table for the day for Shishuvatika looks like the following:

|}

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=== Panchanga (8:30am to 9:00am) ===

=== Panchanga (8:30am to 9:00am)===

The day starts at 8:30am in the morning. Though Vidyakshetra starts at 7:15am for elder children, Shishuvatika children start their day a little later. They are exposed to daily Panchanga Shravana and an attempt to recite along.  

The day starts at 8:30am in the morning. Though Vidyakshetra starts at 7:15am for elder children, Shishuvatika children start their day a little later. They are exposed to daily Panchanga Shravana and an attempt to recite along.  

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

एतेषां श्रुनियो नित्यम्,  

एतेषां श्रुनियो नित्यम्,  

गंगा स्नानम् फलम् लभेत ||

गंगा स्नानम् फलम् लभेत

सुदिनमस्तु ||

सुदिनमस्तु

|adytana paṁcāṁgama,

| adytana paṁcāṁgama,

kalyugābdaḥ dvāviṁśatiḥ adhika eka śātottaraḥ paṁca sahastraṁ

kalyugābdaḥ dvāviṁśatiḥ adhika eka śātottaraḥ paṁca sahastraṁ

eteṣāṁ śruniyo nityam,  

eteṣāṁ śruniyo nityam,  

gaṁgā snānam phalam labheta, ||

gaṁgā snānam phalam labheta

sudinamastu ||

sudinamastu

|}

|}

Huge emphasis is given to language development. The child is exposed only to Kannada (the local language & mother tongue of over 90% children in shishuvatika) in this stage of its development. Child is also exposed to Sanskrit shlokas and Bhagavat Gita recitation apart from daily Panchanga shravana.

Huge emphasis is given to language development. The child is exposed only to Kannada (the local language & mother tongue of over 90% children in shishuvatika) in this stage of its development. Child is also exposed to Sanskrit shlokas and Bhagavat Gita recitation apart from daily Panchanga shravana.

They reach the class by 9:00 am.  

They reach the class by 9:00 am.  

=== Class entry rhythm and Breakfast (9:00am to 10:00am) ===

===Class entry rhythm and Breakfast (9:00am to 10:00am)===

It is important to create a rhythm with children in everything they do. The first rhythm is for keeping their things in order. This includes lining the slippers outside the class, do Saraswati namaskar as they enter the class, keep their bags on the self and their water bottles on the table.  

It is important to create a rhythm with children in everything they do. The first rhythm is for keeping their things in order. This includes lining the slippers outside the class, do Saraswati namaskar as they enter the class, keep their bags on the self and their water bottles on the table.  

Once everybody is settled, lamp lighting with prayers happen. The lamp lighting is done by the teacher and children recite 4 prayers along with the teacher.<blockquote>

Once everybody is settled, lamp lighting with prayers happen. The lamp lighting is done by the teacher and children recite 4 prayers along with the teacher.<blockquote>

* श्री वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्य कोटी समप्रभा। निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्व-कार्येशु सर्वदा॥

*श्री वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्य कोटी समप्रभा। निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्व-कार्येशु सर्वदा॥

** śrī vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūrya koṭī samaprabhā। nirvighnaṁ kuru me deva sarva-kāryeśu sarvadā॥

**śrī vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūrya koṭī samaprabhā। nirvighnaṁ kuru me deva sarva-kāryeśu sarvadā॥

* कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः करमध्ये सरस्वती । करमूले तु गोविन्दः प्रभाते करदर्शनम ॥

*कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः करमध्ये सरस्वती । करमूले तु गोविन्दः प्रभाते करदर्शनम ॥

** karāgre vasate lakṣmīḥ karamadhye sarasvatī । karamūle tu govindaḥ prabhāte karadarśanama ॥

**karāgre vasate lakṣmīḥ karamadhye sarasvatī । karamūle tu govindaḥ prabhāte karadarśanama ॥

* समुद्रवसने देवी पर्वतस्थानमंडले । विष्णुपत्नी नमस्तुभ्यं पादस्पर्शं क्षमस्वमे ॥

*समुद्रवसने देवी पर्वतस्थानमंडले । विष्णुपत्नी नमस्तुभ्यं पादस्पर्शं क्षमस्वमे ॥

** samudravasane devī parvatasthānamaṁḍale । viṣṇupatnī namastubhyaṁ pādasparśaṁ kṣamasvame ॥

**samudravasane devī parvatasthānamaṁḍale । viṣṇupatnī namastubhyaṁ pādasparśaṁ kṣamasvame ॥

* यानि कानि च पापानि जन्मांतर कृतानि च। तानि सवार्णि नश्यन्तु प्रदक्षिणे पदे-पदे।।

*यानि कानि च पापानि जन्मांतर कृतानि च। तानि सवार्णि नश्यन्तु प्रदक्षिणे पदे-पदे।।

** yāni kāni ca pāpāni janmāṁtara kr̥tāni ca। tāni savārṇi naśyantu pradakṣiṇe pade-pade॥

**yāni kāni ca pāpāni janmāṁtara kr̥tāni ca। tāni savārṇi naśyantu pradakṣiṇe pade-pade॥

</blockquote>Then they wash their hands and have their breakfast. Children bring their breakfast from home. The teacher ensure that children are sitting in a mandala on the floor and then having their breakfast. Children are observed to eat slowly, chew well, finish what they brought, wash their boxes and keep them back. The rhythm of doing all this is the key aspect.

</blockquote>Then they wash their hands and have their breakfast. Children bring their breakfast from home. The teacher ensure that children are sitting in a mandala on the floor and then having their breakfast. Children are observed to eat slowly, chew well, finish what they brought, wash their boxes and keep them back. The rhythm of doing all this is the key aspect.

[[File:Breakfast.png|center|thumb|462x462px]]

[[File:Breakfast.png|center|thumb|462x462px]]

This typically gets over by 10:00am.

This typically gets over by 10:00am.

=== Morning Circle (10:00am to 10:15 am) ===

=== Morning Circle (10:00am to 10:15 am)===

[[File:Birthday.png|thumb|556x556px]]

[[File:Birthday.png|thumb|556x556px]]

Before starting the activities for the day, children are transitioned into the classroom space with the morning circles. All the children sit in a circle and sing the same song everyday to set started. The song is decided by the teacher. Post that, they greet the nature, do a revision of all the seasons (ऋतु) and sing 3-4 seasonal songs or do a revision of seasonal vegetables.  

Before starting the activities for the day, children are transitioned into the classroom space with the morning circles. All the children sit in a circle and sing the same song everyday to set started. The song is decided by the teacher. Post that, they greet the nature, do a revision of all the seasons (ऋतु) and sing 3-4 seasonal songs or do a revision of seasonal vegetables.  

Morning circle rhythm ends at 10:15am.

Morning circle rhythm ends at 10:15am.

=== Activity Time (10:15am to 11:00am) ===

===Activity Time (10:15am to 11:00am)===

Man has been gifted with hands to do work and serve others. This samskaar has to be developed right in shishuavastha. It develops through holding, breaking and throwing things. Further, hands develop by playing in water, in sand and soil. To develop the karmendriya called hands, sufficient opportunities are provided in shishuvatika- to clean up after play, to fold clothes, to water the plants, to dig, to sweep, to swab etc. If a child is prematurely introduced to reading and writing, its language development skill of proper pronunciation, tonality, meaning, sentence structuring etc becomes debilitated. So, activities do not include any reading or writing.

Man has been gifted with hands to do work and serve others. This samskaar has to be developed right in shishuavastha. It develops through holding, breaking and throwing things. Further, hands develop by playing in water, in sand and soil. To develop the karmendriya called hands, sufficient opportunities are provided in shishuvatika- to clean up after play, to fold clothes, to water the plants, to dig, to sweep, to swab etc. If a child is prematurely introduced to reading and writing, its language development skill of proper pronunciation, tonality, meaning, sentence structuring etc becomes debilitated. So, activities do not include any reading or writing.

# Drawing with block crayons

# Drawing with block crayons

# Painting, typically wet on wet painting

#Painting, typically wet on wet painting

# Fireless Cooking (bring ingredients from home) - Includes cutting, pounding, grating, peeling etc which help strengthen the hands.[[File:Cooking.png|center|thumb|427x427px]]

#Fireless Cooking (bring ingredients from home) - Includes cutting, pounding, grating, peeling etc which help strengthen the hands.[[File:Cooking.png|center|thumb|427x427px]]

# Beading

#Beading

# Nature Walk, to just walk and observe the nature around.[[File:Prakruti Parichay.png|center|thumb|806x806px]]

#Nature Walk, to just walk and observe the nature around.[[File:Prakruti Parichay.png|center|thumb|806x806px]]

# Krishi (कृषि), to participate in growing something.[[File:Krishi.png|center|thumb|794x794px]]

#Krishi (कृषि), to participate in growing something.[[File:Krishi.png|center|thumb|794x794px]]

#  

#

# Shrama Daan (श्रम दान), to organize and clean up the classroom environment.

#Shrama Daan (श्रम दान), to organize and clean up the classroom environment.

# Finger Knitting, to get control and coordination on their hands.

# Finger Knitting, to get control and coordination on their hands.

# Mat Weaving, to get control and coordination on their hands.

#Mat Weaving, to get control and coordination on their hands.

# Mud Play

#Mud Play

These are repeated in a 10-day cycle, spanning over two weeks. All the activities are made as fun activities to engage each child. Teachers are trained to engage children of different temperament and nature.  

These are repeated in a 10-day cycle, spanning over two weeks. All the activities are made as fun activities to engage each child. Teachers are trained to engage children of different temperament and nature.  

The activity time typically ends by 11:00am.

The activity time typically ends by 11:00am.

=== Play time (11:00am to 12:30pm) ===

===Play time (11:00am to 12:30pm)===

Post the activities, it is playing time for children. Play in shishuvatika is a serious affair. This time can be utilized between Indoor and outdoor games. The class teacher decides one of them. After that children play the games of their choice. There is supervision but no instructional regulations. Children form their own groups and play the game of their liking. At Vidyakshetra, we have made the following options available to children:

Post the activities, it is playing time for children. Play in shishuvatika is a serious affair. This time can be utilized between Indoor and outdoor games. The class teacher decides one of them. After that children play the games of their choice. There is supervision but no instructional regulations. Children form their own groups and play the game of their liking. At Vidyakshetra, we have made the following options available to children:

* Indoor Games

*Indoor Games

** Wooden toys, dolls, kitchen set

**Wooden toys, dolls, kitchen set

** Skipping

**Skipping

** Wollen balls

**Wollen balls

** Dupatta tents

**Dupatta tents

** Wooden blocks for house-making, zoo etc.

**Wooden blocks for house-making, zoo etc.

* Outdoor games

* Outdoor games

** Sandpit

**Sandpit

** MonkeyBar

**MonkeyBar

** Jhoola

**Jhoola

** Tree House

**Tree House

** Slide

**Slide

Children are allowed to get dirty, interact with each other, come back to the teacher to resolve any issues etc.  

Children are allowed to get dirty, interact with each other, come back to the teacher to resolve any issues etc.  

Play time goes on till 12:30pm.  

Play time goes on till 12:30pm.  

=== Lunch Time (12:30pm to 1:15pm) ===

===Lunch Time (12:30pm to 1:15pm)===

Lunch is prepared at Vidyakshetra every day. The menu is not decided by the children.  

Lunch is prepared at Vidyakshetra every day. The menu is not decided by the children.  

Lunch time typically ends by 1:15pm.  

Lunch time typically ends by 1:15pm.  

=== Rest Time and leave (1:15pm to 2:30pm) ===

===Rest Time and leave (1:15pm to 2:30pm)===

It has been a hectic day for the tiny once. It is time to take rest. Children engage in setting up the resting space. They prepare their own bed. Some of them sleep. Children are engaged by the teacher with songs and stories. This also has a rhythm. The same story is told for 1 week. Subsequent week children will tell the story.  

It has been a hectic day for the tiny once. It is time to take rest. Children engage in setting up the resting space. They prepare their own bed. Some of them sleep. Children are engaged by the teacher with songs and stories. This also has a rhythm. The same story is told for 1 week. Subsequent week children will tell the story.  

They rest till almost 2pm. Post that they prepare to leave for home. They keep their beds back and make the classroom ready for the next day along with the teacher. As they wait to leave Vidyakshetra, they play in sandpit or on tree house. By 2:30pm, they leave by bus or with their parents.

They rest till almost 2pm. Post that they prepare to leave for home. They keep their beds back and make the classroom ready for the next day along with the teacher. As they wait to leave Vidyakshetra, they play in sandpit or on tree house. By 2:30pm, they leave by bus or with their parents.

== Parent Engagement ==

==Parent Engagement==

All this is aided by deep engagement with parents to educate them as well for the right environment at home. This happens at three levels:  

All this is aided by deep engagement with parents to educate them as well for the right environment at home. This happens at three levels:  

# Arivu (3 times a year)

#Arivu (3 times a year)

# Study Circles and Manthan (weekly and monthly rhythms)

#Study Circles and Manthan (weekly and monthly rhythms)

# Sameeksha (twice a year)

#Sameeksha (twice a year)

=== Arivu ===

===Arivu===

Arivu is a class level discussion. This means that individual children are not the topic of discussion, but class in general is. This happens 3 times a year at one of the parent’s houses on rotation basis. One parent hosts the other parents for a simple dinner. All the parents get an informal environment to interact with each other and the teacher gives a glimpse of the dynamics of ShishuVatika. Behavioural patterns, ways to handle them, support needed from parents, environment changes at home etc. are typical discussion items.  

Arivu is a class level discussion. This means that individual children are not the topic of discussion, but class in general is. This happens 3 times a year at one of the parent’s houses on rotation basis. One parent hosts the other parents for a simple dinner. All the parents get an informal environment to interact with each other and the teacher gives a glimpse of the dynamics of ShishuVatika. Behavioural patterns, ways to handle them, support needed from parents, environment changes at home etc. are typical discussion items.  

=== Study Circles and Manthan ===

===Study Circles and Manthan===

All the parents engage in study circle with weekly rhythms of meeting. The content of study circle includes a set of books, videos, visits, expert meetings, writings and presentations. The study circle is lead by the acharya of Shishuvatika, supported by some senior acharyas in Vidyakshetra. The topics range from holistic development, Panchkoshas, Kutumb, samaj, Rashtra, varnashrama, seva, Purushartha, Ramayana, Mahabharata etc. The discussion also involves issues, problems, techniques, tools for shishu avastha (शिशुअवस्था) and how the children transition to baal avastha (बालावस्था). The study circle meets in a weekly rhythm on Saturday. In a month, 3 Saturdays are online meetings and 4^th Saturday is an in-person meeting. In-person meetings help do manthan (“मंथन”) of ones understanding of various aspects of life and education for life. The goal of this setup is to bring in the alignment between the understanding of the parents and teachers, so that there is consistency in what the child gets both at home and at gurukul. It is a deep engagement with parents to educate them as well for the right environment at home.  

All the parents engage in study circle with weekly rhythms of meeting. The content of study circle includes a set of books, videos, visits, expert meetings, writings and presentations. The study circle is lead by the acharya of Shishuvatika, supported by some senior acharyas in Vidyakshetra. The topics range from holistic development, Panchkoshas, Kutumb, samaj, Rashtra, varnashrama, seva, Purushartha, Ramayana, Mahabharata etc. The discussion also involves issues, problems, techniques, tools for shishu avastha (शिशुअवस्था) and how the children transition to baal avastha (बालावस्था). The study circle meets in a weekly rhythm on Saturday. In a month, 3 Saturdays are online meetings and 4^th Saturday is an in-person meeting. In-person meetings help do manthan (“मंथन”) of ones understanding of various aspects of life and education for life. The goal of this setup is to bring in the alignment between the understanding of the parents and teachers, so that there is consistency in what the child gets both at home and at gurukul. It is a deep engagement with parents to educate them as well for the right environment at home.  

=== Sameeksha ===

===Sameeksha===

This is an assessment of a child’s progress and happens as a 1-1 discussion between the parents and the teacher. Panchkosha development, habits, behavior, character etc. gets discussed. If there are learning difficulties for the child or inconsistencies in behavior, they are discussed and possible plan to address those is arrived upon. This Sameeksha happens twice a year.   

This is an assessment of a child’s progress and happens as a 1-1 discussion between the parents and the teacher. Panchkosha development, habits, behavior, character etc. gets discussed. If there are learning difficulties for the child or inconsistencies in behavior, they are discussed and possible plan to address those is arrived upon. This Sameeksha happens twice a year.   

== Conclusion ==

==Conclusion==

In an ideal scenario, children should not be sent to Gurukul till the age of 5. They should be at home so that the said home culture, traditions etc. are easily absorbed by the child. Unfortunately, we have a generation of parents who do not know how to make it happen. The situation is addressed with a deep engagement with parents and children for some duration. The hope is that in the next few generations the concept of Shishuvatika will cease to exist. Till then, we continue to create a home away from home for this important phase of the life of a child.

In an ideal scenario, children should not be sent to Gurukul till the age of 5. They should be at home so that the said home culture, traditions etc. are easily absorbed by the child. Unfortunately, we have a generation of parents who do not know how to make it happen. The situation is addressed with a deep engagement with parents and children for some duration. The hope is that in the next few generations the concept of Shishuvatika will cease to exist. Till then, we continue to create a home away from home for this important phase of the life of a child.

[[Category:Vidyakshetra]]

[[Category:Vidyakshetra]]