100-Day Family Fun and Learning Lab – 2

In this blog post, I will present our emerging roadmap for life. The folded circle showing a star was created by Ananth using Wholemovement..  The six small triangles represent six key variables that we are continuously balancing.  This roadmap organizes our daily shares during the 100-Days of Family Fun and Learning Lab.  For example, our shares this week include blog posts on each of the three components (daily rhythms, family fun, and joyful investigations).  Read about our roadmap, review the resources for the 100-Day Family Fun and Learning Lab, respond to the questions, and join the conversation!

The visual map includes the following key components:
Green: Calming experinces
Orange: Energizing Experiences|
Purple: Environmental Influences 
Red: Past Experiences
The six small triangles are our design targets.  A balanced set of energizing and calming activities enhances nervous system harmony.  We view experiences in terms of three components: 1) Daily Rhythms, 2) Family Fun, and 3) Joyful Investigations.  Each of these three components can have energizing and calming components.  For example, watching a theater show can be engaging and energizing but it may not be relaxing.  In contrast, going on a nature walk can be a calming family activity.

Achieving balance in the six components is dependent on the individual.  A child/adult with sensory issues and other challenges may need more mindful implementation of calming experiences.  Past experiences and environmental influences impact each of the six components.

Enhancing Nervous System Harmony: Identifying Individual Needs

Nervous system harmony depends on a combination of individual and environmental factors.

Expecting children/adults with sensitive nervous systems to self-regulate without considering enviromental factors is not likely to succeed.  We have to look at the combination of environmental influences and experiences that an individual needs to successfully regulate themselves .  Ananth is now quite aware of the combination of influences and what he needs.  If a child/adult is unable to discern for themselves, professionals/ parents have to be able to do so.

100- Days Family Fun and Learning Lab

Join the Conversation
https://chat.whatsapp.com/G3ugGAtcQOK0sGQg5X8LnP

Days 1 – 7 (Starting September 20, 2024)

Resources

Day 1
Creating Experiences Together (video)
https://youtu.be/gGlRalDaNxY?si=bk0M5miZOrTc_fV5

A. Reflect on the parent role.
B. Identify steps to be more effective in this role.

In this video, I introduced the idea of Life is Theater,  Theater is Life. If we see parenting as theater, the key question is: What is the parent role? Whether we are parenting an NT child or ND child, enjoying experiences together is an important part of the parent role. When the child is young, the parent does a lot of work in creating the right experiences.  Today’s questions are about the parent role and how we can do it better.


Day 2
Soothing Daily Rhythms and the Six Ss (Ananth’s blog)
https://specialsaathi.com/2024/09/04/soothing-daily-rhythms-and-the-six-ss/
Today’s questions:
A. List energizing activities for you and your child.
B. List soothing/relaxing activities for you and your child. 

Excerpt from Ananth’s post: Nervous system harmony means keeping the sympathetic system and parasympathetic system in balance.  The sympathetic nervous system speeds up and energizes processes. It also activates the fight/flight response. In contrast, the parasympathetic system calms down the system. 

Descriptions of “regulation” usually focus on the individual. Often, the focus is on addressing behaviors (meltdowns). “Nervous System Harmony” cannot be achieved independent of the environment.  We have to be proactive about nervous system harmony every day.  Further, the capacity to regulate in the moment depends on addressing nervous system harmony in the long run.

Day 3
Tranquil in Tiruvannamalai (Ananth’s blog)
https://specialsaathi.com/2024/09/11/tranquil-in-tiruvannamalai/

A. How do you weave in energizing and calming activities throughout your day?
B. How do you weave in energizing and calming activities in your child’s day?
Excerpt from Ananth’s blog:
Tiruvannamalai trips tops the list of places where I naturally get calm and peace. Ten reasons why my Tiruvannamalai trips have been peaceful are:

1) Rhythm of going to ashram and specific places in Ramanasramam regardless of other activities in Tiruvannamalai
2) Quiet of the meditation hall
3) Listening to Ramanasramam Tamil Parayana chanting
4) Long walk (girivalam)
5) Visiting temples
6) Exploring small pieces of dance on walk with Ujwal anna
7) Digital detox
8) No pressure to perform anything
9) Calming environment
10) An experienced guide Ujwal anna) to take us through the experience smoothly

Day 4
Happy in Hammersmith (Ananth’s blog)
https://specialsaathi.com/2024/09/18/happy-in-hammersmith/

A. How can you combine energizing and calming activities for family fun and learning?

Excerpt from Ananth’s blog
Hammersmith trips have also become a part of our daily rhythms.  Hammersmith trips are calming because there is a predictable flow to the trip.  Even though we started going to Hammersmith because of the bus stop, it is working well because it is a part of our routine.  At the same, it is fun because I spend time chasing pigeons and exploring Hammersmith with my nephew Ishaan.  Ordinary moments can be calming and enjoyable.

Day 5 (Ananth’s blog)
https://specialsaathi.com/2024/08/21/the-white-peacock-joyful-investigations-1/

A. Design an experience with your child that is enjoyable and addresses specific learning outcomes.

In the blog post, Ananth describes learning experiences with specific goals.  In contrast to the family fun activities that are freeflowing (e.g., going to Hammersmith with his nephew), this blog post describes more intentional explorations.

I have been sharing almost daily for many years.  Now, I am excited to have arrived at a point where we are able to share in a structured way for parents to engage more easily in the process through our 100-Days of Family Fun and Learning Lab. 

Author Dr Dasaratha Rama
Dr. Dasaratha Rama is a professor and home educator. She was the editor of a monograph on service-learning published by the American Association of Higher Education. This monograph was a part of a series of monographs on service-learning published by AAHE. She was also an Engaged Scholar with the Campus Compact, an association in the US dedicated to higher education civic and community engagement at colleges and universities. She has served as the Chair of the Teaching and Curriculum Section of the American Accounting Education. She is a certified leader in systems thinking, mapping, and leadership under a program offered by Cabrera Research Lab. She is currently doing a certificate in Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD) from RASA (Ramana Sunritya Aalaya).