Education for the Babies?

Three years ago, we had a chance to visit Ulm, Germany, the birth place of the renown Einstein. There, we witnessed so many things being related to/named after the inventor of the infamous EFE aka Enstein's 10 equations, to name a few, Einstein Café, and this fountain ->



There were so many myths interwined the facts of his early history, especially when the genius himself can vaguely recalled his childhood. That, however, didnt change the legendary and shocking fact that the world renowned physician wasnt born a genius. In fact, some researchers claimed that he was born with mild manifestation of autism or Asperger’s syndrome, thus explained him being a slow learner (widely manipulated/exaggerated by the Hollywood film makers later on). However, his slow verbal development divert his attention to ordinary things that mostly left unquestioned – such as space and time. (quoted)



And what is this fuss with Einstein, suddenly? Well, nothing. Just me trying to reminisce the early education introduced to us back in 1970 to 90s, while at the same time, trying to figure out the best education to introduce to my not-so-little-anymore baby girl.

To coerce a single method to all child is obviously wrong. And to say that the learning method used by a mother is wrong, is absolutely wide of the mark. However, how far would you go in introducing your child to the world of abc and 123?

In Japan, my wonderful and sweet 30-something host mother, had his 9 to 5 work in an insurance company and yet, was forced to do another part time in a video rental shop (bideo ya san) from 3 to 6 in the morning. All for the sake of giving his 5 years old son the best education that money can buy, which costed them 50000yen per month. And the boy isnt the only child she has! The fierce competition among the preschoolers and the mothers/ parents in Japan wasnt a pleasing sight, after all. Traumatizing is the correct word.

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Sesungguhnya saya amat berterima kasih kepada ayah, sehingga kami adik beradik mampu membaca akhbar dan bersilangkata sejak sebelum tadika. Dan saya juga berterima kasih kerana ayah tidak pernah memaksa. Memori kecil tanpa buku-buku pelajaran semuanya indah-indah belaka...hehe.

Selanjutnya saya bertanya juga kepada si dia yang straight As, kalau2 ada rahsia didikan arwah ibunya dulu. Lagi teruk. Kehehe... Her mom was a typical chinese who wouldnt mind spending a fortune for her children's education. So she paid a fortune for his kindi. Tapi, him,being a typical malay boy, malas sungguh nak ke sekolah. Memangla dia tahu membaca, tapi ibu mana yang tak menitis air matanya, kalau sang anak langsung tak berkeinginan untuk ke tadika, sedangkan budak2 lain eager jer nak menulis mengira.

Sebenarnya saya kepeningan. Masyarakat kita dah bertukar jadi kejepunan dengan menyekolahkan anak2 dari usia yang terlalu kecil. Memang baguslah, tapi saya sendiri tak bersedia tengok si kecil saya terbeban. Tapi dalam masa yang sama saya tak nak dia rasa ketinggalan..Isk isk..Tamak, kan?

I didnt have enough time to enjoy my childhood. At merely 11++ yrs old, masuk asrama. Pastu straight belajar sampailah baru stop belajar 1 1/2 tahun lepas. Pada pendapat saya yang hina dina ini, masuk asrama terlalu awal memang membantu perkembangan pelajaran tetapi tak membantu sangat perkembangan mentaliti (ini merujuk pada diri sendiri, bukan orang lain). Belajar dari awal memang bagus, tapi sejauh mana paksaan dan pujukan yang perlu saya terapkan?

Cuma satu yang saya pasti, sikap ibu bapa yang ditunjukkan kepada anak-anak, secara sengaja ataupun tidak, akan mempengaruhi emosi dan kekuatan mental anak-anak. Kekuatan mental inilah yang akan menentukan kejayaan si anak dalam jangka panjangnya.

Cuma bab formal education di rumah/luar rumah yang perlu ditekankan pada anak, saya sendiri masih perlu belajar dan mengkaji. Ada cadangan?
Pening. Saya masih pening.

Hadith of the Prophet (s.a.w.): “The child is the master for seven years; and a slave for seven years and a vizier for seven years; so if he grows into a good character within 21 years, well and good; otherwise leave him alone because you have discharged your responsibility before Allah.”