Children have an aptitude to resolve puzzles and crosswords, to listen to stories, to paint sketches of images so on and so forth. Their inclination towards these areas and interest for developing their skills is best utilised to impart values to them and thereby mould their character.
A spiritual development camp for children organised by Yuva Vikas, a unit of Kinchitkaram Trust in Srirangam, for two days evoked an overwhelming response from students of various age-groups. The objective of the camp was to inculcate three major values — “gnanam (wisdom), bakthi (devotion), and vairakkiyam (resolve)” among children.
Divided into topics such as storytelling, yoga, games, puzzles, word games, and bhajan, the camp was alive with all the 220 children participating with enthusiasm all through the sessions.
A team of volunteers V. Badrinarayanan, Ramanujan Iyengar, N. Venkatesh, and U. Madhusudan kept the children active through distribution of booklets, pamphlets, storytelling sessions, and by imparting moral values.
“We distributed sketches of Sri Ramanuja, Sri Krishna, and other deities and children evinced keen interest in painting them,” said Mr. Ramanujan Iyengar.
R. Sridhar and T. Santhanakrishnan explained the intricacies of yoga to the students with focus on hand movement, leg movement, and simple ‘asanas’. Intermittent ‘bhajans’ marked a short intermission and children enjoyed it too.
Velukkudi Krishnan, inaugurating the camp, said that every individual was fully aware of good practices and values and the camp aimed at its practical application such as offering prayers daily, regular practice of yoga.
At an exclusive session with parents, he gave useful tips on identifying the children’s talents and nurturing them properly.
Mr. Ramanujan Iyengar said that Yuva Vikas has planned to extend similar services in other towns and cities. Interested persons and institutions could contact him at yuvavikas@kinchit.org for details.
