By now it would be clear to our readers that we are aspiring to bring back the wise learning from the Ancient Scriptures in the form of Toys. Strictly the “Toy” is not a comprehensive term to describe the scope of Krida. In fact the meaning of “Toying” is in quite contrast to what it should be. Generally, “toying” is defined as “doing or considering something without seriousness” but actually playing with a toy is such a serious business.
We often fail to gauge the depth a child learns while playing with an object and that is the primary reason for our failure in selecting the perfect Toy for them. It is very easy to get convinced by marketing gimmicks of big toy making companies’ claims backed by paid child psychologists. In fact many parents have started to believe that giving that ergonomically designed, non-toxic, digital toy helps their young ones to learn (rhymes, numbers, phonics, whatever.) quickly. They are right in a way that a kid really learns it much faster by listening to that repeated circuit at the press of a button. As I said the learning is much deeper for children, so there are other things that we fail to observe. Along with toy’s primary function a child also learns that, (i) s/he is the controller, (ii) there is no need to obey anyone to learn something from them, (iii) there is no rhythm, i.e. I can do anything anytime, (iv) no big deal to appreciate the mother nature for beautiful flowers and singing of birds since the same thing is available at my will, whenever and wherever I want. The list can stretched as much as we dive deeper into the different learning dimensions a child explores simultaneously. Believe me after certain extent it becomes beyond our preoccupied mind to understand what a child understands with his little open mind.
Now we are not analyzing the after effects of each of these learning on a long run, that get so deep-rooted at this tender age that are too difficult to unlearn during the entire life time. Let’s discuss only one of them, probably the most important among the listed – rhythm. First we need to understand why a child will not learn a rhythm by playing with such electronic gadgets. There is rhythm everywhere in the nature, our ageing process is very rhythmic, coming and falling of milk-teeth, singing of cuckoo (koel) bird at the arrival of Vastanta Ritu (Spring), ripples in the water and spiral of the shell to name a few. And to witness them (thus learn something from mother nature) one needs to be in sync with that rhythm. Simply to watch the beauty of fireflies, you must visit them at Night. With the luxury of playing digital equipment at will, one loses the very taste for this beautiful gift of nature. This is a gradual process, that do no happen in a matter of couple of incidences. We can go on counting the drawbacks of not learning to be in rhythm, right from the personal habits like not going to the latrine in the morning, not following appointed time, difficulties in maintaining relationships, fails to observe natural wonders around us and ultimately unable to feel the presence of supreme being.
I’m keeping it up to the reader to think how a small change of replacing a digital equipment with yourself or their dear granny to sing rhymes, would make a difference. They will have to be in rhythm to make it happen, and that will make all the difference down the line.
ShastraKrida 