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Though a lot of importance is given to the act of conceiving, many do noThough a lot of importance is given to the act of conceiving, many do not realise how critical ovulation is in trying for a baby.

Fact is that it is this process that will lead to conception in the first place. M&B tells you more

WHAT IS OVULATION?
Ovulation is de? ned as the release of the egg from the mature ovarian follicle – the time of the month when you are most fertile. If you are trying to conceive a baby, then knowing when you ovulate is very important as you can time lovemaking during this short ‘fertile window’.

“Ovulation is the ? nal step in the growth of an egg that a woman goes through during her reproductive years. Normally, the ovaries contain a lot of immature eggs and in the beginning of her menstruation, one of these eggs starts growing under the in? uence of various hormones. The egg grows in a ? uid containing bag called as follicle. Ideally, this egg matures in 12 to 14 days and it is then that the follicle ruptures, releasing the ? uid and the egg around the 14th day from the ovaries and which than enters the fallopian tubes. In short, ovulation means the release of mature egg from the follicle in the ovary. This egg is now ready for fertilisation,” explains Dr Hrishikesh Pai, gynaecologist and infertility expert, Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, and Fortis La Femme, New Delhi.

WHEN AND FOR HOW LONG DOES ONE OVULATE?
After the egg is released, it moves into the fallopian tube. It stay there for about 24 hours, waiting for a single sperm to fertilise it. All this happens, on average, about two weeks after your last period. According to Dr Pai, “In a regular menstrual cycle of 28 days, ovulation generally occurs around the  14th day of the cycle. However, it may vary in different individuals and also varies in different cycles. The process starts once puberty is achieved and lasts till menopause. But in either extremes, it is sporadic and often irregular.”

The timing of ovulation depends on the due date of the next period, rather than the previous one. In the average menstrual cycle which lasts 28 days, ovulation occurs on day 14. However, many healthy, fertile women have shorter or longer menstrual cycles. If your cycle regularly lasts 31 days, for instance, you should ovulate on day 17. So if you have intercourse between days 14 and 17, you have a good chance of becoming pregnant. Similarly, if you menstruate every 26 days, ovulation will be on day 12.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR CONCEPTION?
Conception is the word used to describe the process of falling pregnant. During intercourse, a man’s sperm will be released at the point of ejaculation. Fertilisation of a woman’s egg may occur if the sperm reaches the egg. When a man ejaculates the sperm travels from the testes to the penis, allowing for it to be released into the vagina. Around 60 to 500 million sperm can be released at one time, however only approximately 200 will arrive at the destination – the egg. Impregnation of an egg can occur up to 24 hours after it has released from the male follicle. In the event the egg does become impregnated, the tail of the sperm will fall away and the head will enlarge.

An impregnated egg will then travel to the uterus and attach to the lining of the uterine – this is called implantation. The woman’s cells will then begin to divide which will allow for the development of any embryo which will result in a baby being produced within nine months, providing the cycle of pregnancy encounters no dif? culties.

As Dr Pai puts it, “The released egg is caught by the fallopian tubes and meets the sperm there, the fertilised egg and sperm are than transported to the uterus. The lining of the uterus simultaneously is ready to receive the fertilised egg and if it successfully attaches to the lining, pregnancy results. The wall of the follicle which is left after ovulation also secretes hormones like progesterone, which is essential for the growth of pregnancy.”The man releases an abundance of sperm – around 250 million at each ejaculation – into the vagina. Each sperm has a long tail to propel it, so it’s well equipped to swim up to the fallopian tube, where fertilisation of the egg takes place. The whole distance, from the vagina through the uterus and up into the fallopian tube can be accomplished in hours. However, the sperm can survive in the vagina and the uterus for three-? ve days, meaning there is a window of around six days in which fertilisation can take place (an egg lives 12-24 hours after ovulation).

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF OVULATION?
Dr Pai states the obvious signs of ovulation:Increase in cervical ?uid – When you are ovulating, your body increases the amount of cervical ? uid. Many women notice that towards the middle of their cycle, they are a bit more moist, as the vaginal discharge has increased.

Pain in the sides This is called mittleschmormiddle pain. This is an achy feeling arising from the ovary just prior to or during ovulation. Not every woman notices this pain. But if you do experience it, it is a good clue that you have ovulated.

Shifting of basal body temperature If you are tracking your basal body temperature, you can see where your temperatures shift downwards then suddenly spike upwards. This is also an indication of ovulation. This requires that you take your temperature on a daily basis.

An Lh surge This one requires testing with ovulation prediction kits (OPK) there are various kits available in the market and you need to dip them in the morning sample of urine around the days of ovulation and once a line appears, it indicates that ovulation is likely in the next 24 to 36 hours. M&B

Words Swati Chopra Vikamsey

What mommy can do, daddy can do better! Here’s M&B’s humorous take on why daddy can be the more popular parent…
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SUPER DAD
Dad really loves to play rough. He won’t ever grumble about the sun. Heck, he’ll invariably be the one teaching me how to ride a bike, ? y a kite, hit a ball and shoot some hoops as I grow up. And for now, I’m pretty thrilled  with our games of Somersaulting Peekaboo, Toss & Catch Baby and the Aliens Ate My Food (he’s the alien!).

MONEY MAN!
While both mum and dad spend on me, it’s Dad who spends on the fun stuff (what mum calls frivolous!). Candy, hiking shoes, sports tees, an iPod… they may not always be age-appropriate, but I’m EQUIPPED for life,  and how!

DADDY COOL
He won’t gasp every time I turn over on the bed! He’s okay to let me splash in my little pool of pee without losing his head. For Christ’s sake, he even smuggles in some yummy choco chip ice cream in my mouth when mommy’s not watching… If there’s a little accident involving me, he does not rush me to the doc in a frenzy and add to the panic. Now, that’s what you mean by being calm and collected in an emergency!

FUSS FREE
While mum makes a big deal about matching mittens, and matching knickers, and matching bonnets, daddy will just dress me up in whatever he can lay his hands on, and pretty quickly at that. One green and one pink sock, quite a style statement for an eight month old, eh?

SHOP HAPPY
Dad wants to buy cooler things than mum. When he takes me to Croma in a handy backpack, we’re quite the A-team as we zoom through the aisles, picking up all the gadgets with those colourful LEDs, foot-tapping music and action-packed racing gear. He’s the one campaigning for my ? rst pink-and-purple laptop, while mommy insists that at my age, just a pot and ladle is enough to keep me entertained. As if!

GOOD COP
Good Cop allows a few minutes of playing with the food, because Good Cop is more laidback. Good Cop ? nds toilet humour funny at the dinner table, err, even looks at it as a bonding moment. And, of course, Good Cop never punishes, only rewards good behaviour… err, behaviour.

LIKE SON LIKE FATHER
Daddy thinks like I do more often than mum. If I throw my food to the ? oor, she would get busy cleaning up on the double. But dad? He just might start slopping his food around the room with a goofy grin on his face too! That’s why I keep trying 🙂

MACHO MAN
Daddy has bigger muscles and a smaller attention span. Undoubt-edly, he is more useful in a pillow ? ght and makes a better steamroller than mommy ever could be. But he can also grow a moustache if he likes, he has chest hair and can even grow hair on his knuckles!

GOD FATHER!
Pop’s word is the last word. He gets to say No, and say it with authority, because he is perceived to be the ‘head of the household’ and his word has power! (Even if he listens to everything mum says!)

Illustration Ajay Paradkar

How many times have you wondered about the futility of spending huge amounts of money on kids’ products which your baby will soon outgrow?

Well, here’s your solution. PreCared is India’s first used baby products online shop. Read on to know more… PreCared is conceptualised as an effort to re-use baby products and provide an economical and green option to parents. These products are of well known International and Indian brands, bought from parents who have used them with care and love. The aim is to provide world-class durable products at ‘smart’ prices to AsAs good  good the aspirational but budget-conscious Indian consumer. PreCared has been founded by Tabrez Khan and is based out of Mumbai. Here’s a one-on-one with the founder himself…

WHAT IS PRECARED ALL ABOUT AND WHO ARE THE PEOPLE BEHIND IT?
PreCared is an initiative to promote use of pre-owned baby products. Our endeavour is to provide assurance, convenience and economy to parents. The founders are themselves parents, who are aware and conscious about the needs of babies and parents. This concept was started by us from our own experience with baby products. While buying products for our child, we realised that most of the products are left unused as children outgrow them fast. City lifestyles limit the opportunities to pass the products and lack of space starts ruining the products soon. Many times, the products are given away to people or places that do not value these products or are not of much use to them. Many parents are now opening to the idea of using pre-owned baby products, but the current platforms (classified ads) are not transparent enough to promote this idea well. Hence, PreCared was conceptualised to provide the assurance of sanitisation and good condition of the product.

WHAT KIND OF PRODUCTS CAN ONE BUY FROM PRECARED?
We have different categories of baby products on our website and we keep on adding to that. Parents can buy strollers, walkers, cots, play gyms, rockers, swings, high chairs, toys, cribs, etc.

WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE TO BUY PRODUCTS AND HOW TRANSPARENT IS IT?
The procedure is very simple, just like shopping for any other product. We provide the images of products in their original condition on our website, along with maximum description and current market price. To increase transparency, we grade the ‘Used Condition’ of the product on a scale of one to five, depending on the wear and tear of the product. We also have a tab of Product Catch to mention any specific shortcoming of the product, which needs attention of a parent before making a purchase. Besides, we have a very simple refund process for products not matching the expectations of parents.

DO YOU OFFER ANY KIND OF AFTER-SALES SERVICE?
No. As we’re dealing in well-known brands, we expect no problems in the functioning of these products.

WHERE ARE THESE PRODUCTS SOURCED FROM?
We source products from parents who have used the products with great care. At present, we are sourcing the products from Mumbai.

HOW DO YOU ENSURE THE QUALITY AND SANITATION OF THESE PRODUCTS?
WILL THESE BE SAFE FOR THE BABY?
On procuring, all products are sanitised using detergents and disinfectants. After being brought to our warehouse, the products are dismantled and the cloth and rest of the parts are treated separately for complete sanitisation of every product. For most products, the process is manual so that each and every corner and part is effectively treated.

WHAT HAPPENS IF A CUSTOMER IS NOT HAPPY WITH THE PRODUCT PURCHASED FROM PRECARED?
We have a 10-day no questions asked return policy for the products not matching customer expectations. We refund 100 per cent of the amount for products returned within this period and we bear the total shipping charges even for products which are opened and used.

IF A PARENT WANTS TO SELL A USED PRODUCT, HOW WOULD HE OR SHE KNOW THAT THEY ARE GETTING THE BEST PRICE FOR IT AT PRECARED?
For parents using our Classifieds section to sell, they can put whatever price they feel their products deserves and an interested parent would then contact them. In Mumbai city, where the products are bought by PreCared, we ensure that the process is as transparent as possible. Based on our information, we tell them the current MRP of their product (or some comparable product with similar features) and then depending on the brand, product, and its condition, we offer 10 to 30 per cent of the current MRP.

For parents who are keen to contribute, we arrange for the proceeds of the sale (either in part or complete) to be donated to an NGO. M&B

Words Swati Chopra Vikamsey

Your toddler’s teacher is probably the second most important woman in his life. At least for now! It’s only natural then, that you may want to maintain a good rapport with her. M&B tells how you can effectively communicate with munchkin’s ‘miss’…

With someone new in your child’s life as well as your own, it may be hard to get on the right page. It is a good idea to do it from the start. Since teachers have a lot of influence in your child’s life. And since you two are on the same team in trying to ensure your child is successful in school, it’s important to know how to effectively communicate with your child’s teacher. Here are some ideas you can use to ensure you do that.

Words Swati Chopra Vikamsey
Visuals Mother & Baby Picture Library

THE NEW ARRIVAL
“This is the phase of life when the teacher is like God to every child. Toddlers believe more in the teacher than they do in their parents at this age. The teacher is, in fact, the most important person after the parents and what she does and says leaves a very strong mark on the psyche of the child and his development of the attitude towards learning,” says Salma Prabhu, well known clinical psychologist and director, Academy for Counselling and Education, Navi Mumbai, who does a lot of work with schools and school children. Agrees secondary school teacher Radha Venkatesh, mum to Keerthan, 4.5 years. She holds a diploma in Early Childcare and Education and a bachelor’s degree in education from the Mumbai University. “Like the mother is the first person a child bonds with in a family, the teacher is the first person he connects to in school. Children of three to four years need love and care, and an atmosphere to share their daily experiences, satisfy their curious minds and support intrinsic exploration. A teacher facilitates a child’s learning and also gives them a great sense of security.” Teachers are very important in children’s lives. Outside of their parents, teachers may be the adults that have the most impact on our children. This is why good working relationships with teachers are important, for your child as well as for you.

TALK TO HER!
Your child will benefit most if you and the teacher work together as partners in your child’s education. Most schools and teachers know that good communication with parents is an important part of their job. Some parents have had bad experiences when they were at school. Other parents have had bad experiences communicating with their child’s school in the past. Because of this, some people approach the school with a defensive or angry attitude. However, this can interfere with good communication and does not help your child. It is best to believe that the school and the teacher care about your child. Begin your communication with a positive attitude and a willingness to be a partner with your child’s teacher. Like Salma says, “She prepares him to read and write, she is the one who is going to be responsible for developing a confident personality. She will encourage him to do well and help if he makes mistakes. She will help him socialise and get along with other children in the class. She will guide him at every step.”

Apart from moulding him into a learned, polished human being, it’s your child’s teacher who will help you identify a lot about the apple of your eye. Remember that learning disabilities, hearing and vision problems are all first pointed out in the classroom. “It is very important for parents to have an open communication with the teacher, because the teacher can give an insight into the child’s abilities as well as his areas of concern. In case the child is facing issues with other children of his age or adjustment issues, you need to know it all and together the teacher and you could go for professional help required if any,” reminds Salma.

Additionally, children imbibe good habits like reading and social etiquette at the insistence of their beloved teacher. As experienced preschool teacher Jyoti Kothari, founder of Kinder Club, and mum to two, puts it, “The teacher is very important as she is the first formal point of contact responsible for incorporating the basic fundamentals in the life of a child in his formative years. The teacher enhances the strengths and works on the weaknesses of the child by motivating him in a playful learning environment.”

In turn, the teacher needs the co-operation of the student. In fact, if they don’t have one student’s co-operation or respect, it may be that the other students will follow suit. It is important for your child to have a good working relationship with his teacher. He needs to feel that he can approach the teacher if he has a problem. You’ll want to be sure he understands that he must do this in a respectful manner. Hence, the example that you set will go a long way in setting patterns for your fast-growing-up little one.

WELL BEGUN IS HALF DONE
If this is your child’s first time at school, you may want to schedule a time to meet the teacher face-to-face during the first week of school. It’s an opportunity to develop a relationship while neither of you has any preconceived ideas or any complaints. The teacher will probably welcome a chance to get to know you, and the student, better. “Open communication gives the teacher a clear understanding of the personality traits and other issues which may need to be addressed in absence of parents like medical, behavioural or other aspects. The communication establishes a bond between the parent at home and teacher at school. This is accomplished by giving accurate information at the time of admission and the orientation meeting to ensure a level of faith and trust in each other,” suggests Jyoti.

Let go of all your previous negative school experiences. The beginning of the year is the perfect time to make a fresh start and see things from a different perspective. Be proactive! Instead of waiting for the teacher to write you a letter, make a phone call. You can write an introductory letter to let her know a little bit about you and your child. Offer your telephone number or e-mail address and let her know she is free to connect with you if she needs your help. It is important she understands that your goal is for your child to have a successful school year and you want to work with her to ensure that your child will learn.

This type of communication will be a first step to setting a foundation of respect that will help if things get a little stressful because of homework, behaviour issues, etc. In fact, it would be a good thing to ask the teacher right up front which form of communication she prefers. “Trust, co-operation, transparency and an unbiased approach are the keys to maintaining a good working relationship between his teacher and you. Both must identify areas where a child has maximum potential and provide an appropriate environment to nurture it,” feels Radha.

Many schools provide parents with a school handbook or directory that provides information about how to contact the teacher and the best time to do so. If not, ask the teacher or the school principal how and when you could contact the teacher.

WHEN, WHAT, HOW AND HOW OFTEN
“The approach of the parents need to be very positive and open-minded. They need to approach the teacher with the ‘I need your help’ attitude rather than the ‘you could do this’ attitude. Teachers do not like to be told what to do, but if asked for help, they would go an extra mile. You should make it a point to attend all the open-day sessions with enthusiasm and an open mind. Don’t take the recommendations of the teachers as criticism, but consider them as an insight,” suggests Salma.

When to communicate? According to Jyoti, “Parents need to discuss or brief the teacher about the medical, intellectual, emotional, social and cognitive areas of their children.” Regular and ongoing feedback from the teacher will allow you to better provide the specific help your child needs. Often, you can anticipate a problem. Your child may have had difficulties in the past. Your child may tell you about a problem. You may also notice some problems with homework or class papers. If you suspect a problem, contact the teacher immediately. Do not wait. Also, do not think that just because the teacher has not contacted you that this means that there is no important information to communicate to you about your child’s education. 

What to communicate? It is important for the parent and teacher to discuss and agree on what concerns or problems need to be monitored. It is important to be specific about this information. Some examples include: specific information about homework assignments or test dates, the child’s level of participation, how well the child minded the teacher, or the percentage of work completed in class. Salma feels that the areas which could be discussed with the teachers would include academics, comfort level of the child, relationships with peers, extracurricular activities, difficulties such as inability to read, write or participate, aggression, if expressed, or submissiveness.

How to communicate? There is a variety of ways to communicate regularly with the teacher, including face-to-face meetings, phone calls, or through written notes. You will need to work together with the teacher to decide on which method of communication would be the easiest and most helpful. Make an appointment to visit, don’t just show up: Yes, teachers are more than open to meeting up with parents but remember, they have a job to do and a schedule to follow and can’t be expected to be available at your disposal. Hence, it’s better to enquire about when the particular teacher you want to meet is free and inform her that you would like to visit and have a chat. And remember, be punctual. Communication should always be honest and direct; gossip is not productive, and it compromises your own integrity. Don’t let big problems slide, but choose your battles wisely. If you are finding that you have problems with every teacher on a regular basis, you are likely the problem. Gather all the information before making any decisions or arriving at any judgements. Know that everyone appreciates a kind word. Thank her, praise her. Thank her for being sensitive towards your child or giving him extra attention.

How often to communicate? How often you need to communicate with the teacher will depend on the severity of the problem. For more serious problems, you may need to have daily contact with the teacher. Formal systems like a school-home note or a journal are easy to use and require little teacher time. For less severe problems, weekly feedback would be enough. The important thing is to communicate regularly. If you are facing a problem with your child, try to speak to the teacher. Try working out the problem. If unsuccessful, discuss with the supervisor (with the teacher’s knowledge). Include her in the discussion if possible. Salma opines, “It is not advised that parents smother the teacher with constant visits. You can stick to the meetings that happen during the open day. This can turn into an exception only if there are any issues which need very urgent attention, for example, the child not adjusting to the class, or disturbing others or getting bullied by peers, etc.”

 

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NOT SO GOOD NEWS?
You must stand with the teacher even if you don’t like her. We are humans. And we may not get along with every other human. However, know that this is not about you. It is about your child and his education. Of course, it helps if you and the teacher see eye to eye on everything, but it is not necessary. What is necessary is that the child knows that home and school are on the same side of one key issue: his education.

* When there are serious communication issues with the teacher, always talk about it. If she does something you do not approve of, give her a chance to explain.
* Don’t call the principal to complain about something that you think has happened, without giving it a fair hearing. 
* Undoubtedly, teachers should treat your child with respect and consideration, and should follow a code of conduct.
* However, don’t be quick to judge them. Of course, if the teacher is harming your child in any way, you must take action, but those kind of serious instances are, fortunately quite rare.

Also, consider a teacher’s view point. As put forth by Radha, “While discussing children in school, it is preferable to discuss about one’s own child rather than comparing or complaining about others. It is also important to consider the conditions children and teachers work in. A teacher usually is responsible for a minimum of seven-eight children in a class and unreasonable demands from parents may not be appreciated. Parents must also know that a teacher has limited authority and hence very complex or sensitive issues should be discussed only with the superiors in the school.”

Follow the chain of command. Not only will it be more effective, not only is it the right thing to do, you are sending a powerful message to your child. When there is a problem, you deal with it at the source.

Don’t rush to your child’s defence. Just as you feel protective of your child, as teachers, they feel equally responsible for those under their care. Hence, don’t rush to conclusions or accuse the teacher if she tells you something negative about your child. Instead, give her a patient hearing and let her explain her stand. Also, work with the teacher to find out the best way to help your child overcome his shortcomings.

“The teacher is the most important person after the parents and what she does and says leaves a very strong mark on the psyche of the child and his development of the attitude towards learning”

THE PROBLEM
Radha advises, “Specific problems concerning one’s child should be discussed privately and not in a general parents meet. It is always better to note down the points of discussion or the questions parents wish to ask the teacher. Whatever the problems are, the parents and teacher must come up with a common solution/understanding that will empower the child to deal with the problem. Too much adult interference may complicate small problems, especially when it is between two children.”

Particular problems are something that you and child’s teacher need to collectively deal with. In such cases, it is crucial to follow this through systematically. This is how you could do this:

1. Identify the problem. Is he bored? Has recess been eliminated? Is too much of the instructional time desk work? Is he trying to get his classmates’ attention?
2. Gather information. Talk with your child and listen. Get his teacher’s thoughts, and ask other teachers if they have observed any issues. Conduct some research. Perhaps your son requires physical play to help stimulate his ability to learn and therefore runs around during lesson time, disrupting the class.
3. Develop a plan of action. Communicate in whatever way feels most comfortable (for example, meeting, phone call, or written communication). Clearly identify the problem. Share your findings. Then ask for some specific changes. For example, you may ask that your child not lose recess as a punishment. Perhaps the agreement is that he loses privileges at home if he doesn’t come home with a complimentary note at the end of the week. Or you may ask the teacher to switch his classroom management style to acknowledge your son for good behaviour rather than punishing him for bad behaviour.
4. Always follow up. Parents, teachers, and students need to know what works so that those strategies can be repeated in the future or modified, as needed. Recognise your son for helping to solve his own problems. Also, thank the teacher for his flexibility and willingness to make classroom changes.

“Since you two are on the same team in trying to ensure your child is successful in school, it’s important to know how to effectively communicate with your child’s teacher”

HAPPILY EVER AFTER
A major communication problem reported by both parents and teachers is not doing what was agreed upon. If you told your child’s teacher you would communicate in a certain way or do a specific school or homework related task, do your best to follow through with what you said you would do. For example, if you agreed that you would check your child’s homework and sign off on the assignment, be sure to do this consistently. Be sure to let the teacher know if you are unable to do what was agreed upon. Any learning in school will be futile if it is not practised at home. To sum it all up, Radha states, “A teacher might have taken months to teach a child not to lie. But one instance of any adult at home lying can undo the child’s learning. Similarly a child’s self esteem can totally be destroyed when his teacher fails to appreciate his humble efforts. Both ways, the child is the loser. To make learning complete the child’s holistic development should be the common goal for parents and teacher to work towards.” M&B

In a dingy classroom, Urvi Wani, a 24-year-old lawyer, is trying get the children of Class II to pay attention to her story.

Urvi, a volunteer of the Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Awareness programme launched by the Childline India Foundation, is conducting these storytelling sessions in several schools across Mumbai. M&B attends one such session and takes note of this crucial and significant initiative to spread awareness on CSA…

Words Poornima Nair Iyer
Visual Akshay Kulkarni

The Jalbhai Dorabji Bharda School at Grant Road in Mumbai is not an easy place to locate, especially on a rainy day. Despite the precise directions, we have a tough time finding the building close to the railway station. After 15 minutes of dodging the rain and muddy potholes, we find the place. The first floor is where we come to a stop. From there on, the school is simply a maze. The narrow corridor leads the way to several classrooms; all the divisions seem to fit on a single floor! At one point we come to a standstill as it appears we are in the midst of an open classroom, which must have been a balcony at one time. The students curiously glance at us as we are obviously outsiders. Finally, we manage to find the volunteer Urvi, who will let us observe the storytelling session she is conducting in class II.

We follow her to class. All the desks and benches are too crammed to allow us to move freely, so we squeeze, twist and turn our way to find room. I prefer the back bench while Akshay has decided to stand by the door. The 50-odd students notice the big camera and enthusiasm runs like a ripple through the rows. Urvi, despite her delicate appearance, manages to divert their attention to the center of the classroom with her shrill voice. She has propped up a flip chart on the black board. The students are quickly drawn to it.

She begins her story of Bunty, a boy who is the same age as the students in class, she says, and who has a problem he can’t disclose to his parents or friends. He finally decides to go to a zoo where he puts his problem before the wise tiger Sher Khan. The boy doesn’t know yet but he has been abused by an aunt who gives him gifts so she can touch his private parts. Confused and agitated by what’s happening, the boy seeks Sher Khan’s advice. The tiger tells the boy that if he is brave enough to come to him, then he should be able to gather courage and tell his mother what has happened. Urvi flips the pictures while she is telling her story, each image explains Bunty’s predicament. Between the story-telling, she asks the students questions as to what Bunty must do and the students give some clever responses; it seems the message has been made very clear to them.

“Through Bunty’s story, children learn the difference between a safe touch and unsafe touch. The story is interesting and we use visual aids to keep the students engrossed. The session is an interactive one as the little ones always ask questions,” says Nishit Kumar, head of communication and strategic initiatives, Childline India Foundation. “The idea was conceived when in 2009, the high court discharged the three culprits accused in the Anchorage Shelter Case. It took us six years to gather evidence and convince the magistrate court to get a conviction. We are informed by the judge that current laws as described under Section 376 do not allow convictions related to crimes against children. So we worked on a draft law and submitted it to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) who then took up the matter with the Maharashtra government. The home minister of the state, RR Patil gave a commitment that Maharashtra would be the first state to take a tough stand  against child sexual abuse,” he affirms.

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The CSA Awareness programme aims at intervention, prevention and rehabilitation of victims of child sexual abuse. The aim of the workshop is to prevent kids from becoming victims of abuse and for victims to come forth and report the abuse. “Last year, we conceived, staffed and received funding to begin the programme. We did a couple of workshops where we created stories and embedded the concept of CSA within the stories. We also enlisted the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at about 160 schools. The Childline team attends to make a presentation and we address issues related to CSA, letting parents know how to react and how to talk to children. The focus of this programme is not to frighten but to sensitise children in their idiom and is designed for students in the age-group of six to 12 years,” he says.

The Childline team communicated with 1,000 schools in the state, inviting teachers to attend the four-day workshop for volunteers. In these workshops, volunteers, including teachers, parents and college students are given practical training to effectively communicate and are familiarised with the material to be used.  The programme was inaugurated on February 1, 2011,and so far 26 schools have been covered. “A lot of parents volunteered to be part of the programme. We have observed that even educated parents, at times, don’t know to communicate the issue with their children. So this workshop really helps. We have received excellent response from the school children,” he affirms.

Urvi, the storyteller, was familiar with Childline before she volunteered for this programme. “I had done a project with them when I was with Rotary International Youth programme (ROTARACT). I have always been interested in such issues, so I signed up as a volunteer. After the four -ay workshop, we were to give a moral commitment of covering as many schools as we wished. I committed to 10 schools and so far, I have finished six,” she says. Urvi recalls her first day with alacrity. “My first day as a storyteller was long and noisy. But you get used to it. As I’m not a teacher, the children respond to me easily; they are more forthcoming. I would like to believe that I get through to the kids at some level. Through this session, they can absorb and use the information. I feel now that we have started off with the topic, they will think and discuss it with their parents, cousins and friends. At some level, the taboo has been broken,” she adds with hope.

To spread the message to a wider audience, Childline conducted a one-day camp at various malls to convince parents about the need and usefulness of the CSA Awareness Programme. “School principals have welcomed our volunteers to conduct these storytelling sessions. They have also told us that incidents of CSA have taken place so this programme will certainly help the students,” says Nishit.  In our country, millions of children are affected daily. So this is just a small step in that direction.

“The storytelling sessions are conducted in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati and English. Our posters are multi-lingual and at the end of each session, the children are given notebook labels with a box where children can put down the name of the person they trust and a sealed letter for parents informing them about the programme. Currently we are conducting the programme in Mumbai, but with additional funding and support, we hope to begin the programme in other cities. We have received approval from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to conduct the sessions at their schools as well so now we can cover 1,400 municipal schools. We know that children across the spectrum of society are getting affected so we target all kinds of schools. Presently, we are not recruiting men as volunteers because the subject is very sensitive and we prefer to avoid any complications,” he informs.

Geeta R Unnithan, the principal of Jalbhai Dorabji Bharda School, tells us how her school got involved with the programme. “One of  our trustees works for CRY and during our talks, she mentioned Childline. We also had literature coming from the time we began the programme. We discussed our intent to start the programme with the parents of the students. Even though they are from the lower economic background, the parents work every day. The children are left on the roads literally; they are from the hutments near the footpath. These are places where you have drug addicts and alcoholics who engage in perverted behaviour. The parents were quite receptive about this programme because they can’t afford a maid or baby-sitter to look after their kids. The children are left to fend for themselves. They understood that through this programme something good could be imparted to their kids. They are not so progressive that they could address this issue directly with their children. So, a third party from the school is all the more welcome. This is the first day of the session and we will be repeating these in future,” she assures. That’s one small step for Childline and one giant leap for children. We salute the efforts of the foundation and hope that more parents and children are informed about child sexual abuse, so the crime can be prevented and childhood can be
protected. M&B