Chennai: Not all children who use smartphones are addicted to online games. With proper guidance, they can be made to use technology in the right way. Just like Anirudh does.
This 9-year-old boy from Porur, Chennai, surfs the net on his tab and learns to make different kinds of craft work, and that too using waste materials.
Speaking to ‘News Today‘, Anirudh shares his love for art and craft. What strikes us during the conversation with him is that he is so aware of his environment.
While children of his age group throw away ice cream sticks after gulping down the ice cream, Anirudh saves it like a treasure. He loves making different craft items using them.
“I don’t prefer buying plastic pencil box, pen stand or flower vases. Rather, I make them myself with the help of YouTube videos,” explains Anirudh.
“He doesn’t buy craft materials from shops, but instead makes them using recycled and waste materials, such as old newspapers and charts,” pitches in Sunitha, Anirudh’s mother.
“Anirudh is quite popular among his teachers, friends and family,” reveals his mother. He takes initiative and makes special craft work for all commemorative days, such as Teacher’s Day, Children’s Day, Mother’s Day, Grandparent’s Day and more.
“Apart from that, I am also interested in writing stories,” quips Anirudh. “Because his father is a script-writer, writing comes to him naturally. It’s in his genes,” says Sunitha, backing Anirudh’s statement. She also adds that Anirudh excels in sports.
So, what’s her advice to other young mothers to help their kids do what they love?
Sunitha says, “Nowadays, even children complain of being stressed out. This is only because teachers and parents set goals on behalf of their children and push them into doing something that they do not like. The responsibility lies with the elders to relax their hold on kids and help them discover what they like and where their talent lies.”
“Parents must concentrate on their child’s talent and promote it. Education is mandatory, there is no doubt about it. But talent is what is going to give them their identity,” Sunitha says.
“Technology is fast developing and everyone owns a smartphone these days. So, it is only natural that our children, too, use them. There is no point in restricting them. There are websites that teach phonetics, and there are even some math-solving sites. You can help your kids explore such sites. I guided Anirudh in the same way.”
Anirudh can be reached at 97918 86608.