We might forget names, formulas and our history, but we never forget alphabets. “That’s because we learn them at an early age and practice them often. Just the way we learn how to react and control our anger and feelings,” says Shalini Sharma of ‘Pause’, a children’s club in Manimajra. Sharma insists that’s the reason good behaviour and positive emotions need to be inculcated in a child at a very early age. But these, she tells us, have to be taught not by books, but through a fun way. “Praise the positive attitude, rather than criticising the negative,” Sharma points out that games drive home the point in the most effective manner.

With ‘Count Your Blessings’ game, puppet shows and ‘Anger Freeze Dance’ organised at Pause, “we tell them alternate ways to release anger like reading, shouting in a mike, blowing bubbles and making them aware of the side effects of using foul language in times of bad temper,” chips in Uma Singhal, a team member, who has worked abroad for over 25 years, specializing in behaviour management using positive discipline. Working on teaching children a “feelings vocabulary” at an early age, “the only thing we emphasize on is that it is just as important as teaching them to read, write and do maths,” she chirps, elaborating that while children may excel at education, without the basic knowledge of how to deal with friends, people and relationships, they can never develop into good human beings.

Pause has designed the program to supplement regular school. “Our role is that of a catalyst, assisting parents in working towards happy, expressive and self-reliant children,” chirps Kimberly whose experience with children spans more than 15 years and she has been using experiential and hands-on methods including fitness for toddlers, science experiments, and organic self-sustainable living. Kimberly feels that while schools take care of the Intelligence Quotient, the Emotional Quotient helps them get a wholesome personality and has to be dealt with seriously. “Anger management, how to make responsible choices, problem solving strategies, benefits of cooperation and self esteem all have to be taught from very early stages in life and should be reinforced time and again,” adds Shalini.