Gifting a Marathi Tutor Subscription: A Meaningful Present for Your Child
Choosing a gift for a little child is easy – they like most things. Gifting for older kids is fraught with peril – they are far less easy to please. While a new phone or other electronic gadget or gaming console may be something that a kid wants, it may not necessarily be the thing they need or the thing that is good for their mental development and emotional wellbeing.
Think of thoughtful gifts for your child
Ideally, parents should gift their child something that will grow with that child. Giving a child a tree sapling and the garden tools to look after it is a great example of a gift that grows; literally with the child. A puppy is another marvellous gift that helps boost emotional health of a child, teaches them responsibility… just the perfect friend that means unconditional love, companionship and years of daily fun.
Taking a holiday together as a family may be another great gift. It will mean quality time spent together and lovely memories, but it may not be perceived as a gift per se. Learning a new skill is another great thing to initiate a child to, at any age. Parents could gift their child music lessons to help them create a creative, lifelong hobby: something that is joyful and rewarding. Learning a new language can be another wonderful present from a parent to their child. If you are a Maharashtrian or have Maharashtrian ancestry, gifting a Marathi tutor subscription can be a truly meaningful present.
Why gifting a Marathi subscription is a great idea
Now a gift such as a language class or tutor subscription may not be necessarily one that the child is enthused about. For that busy child it could seem like more work on top of one’s academics and all of the other demands on their time. So, as a parent, it is important to explain to the child why a Marathi tutor subscription is going to be such an asset in the long run.
Mental development
Learning a language is actually seen to alter the brain, studies have found. The grey matter in bilingual people is denser than those who speak only one language. The acts of hearing new sounds, learning new words and rules of grammar are among the most complex brain activities. Hence, the process of learning a new language, is much like putting the brain through good regular workouts. It is seen to improve overall academic performance, which includes better math and science outcomes.
Not only is language learning seen to help improve academic performance of kids, it also helps stave off degenerative neurological conditions later in life. In fact, learning a new language at any age is beneficial. Whether it’s a little child learning conversational Marathi, an older child learning formal Marathi or an adult learning Marathi for professional reasons, this is beneficial at each state of life.
Reena Daruwalla
Improves focus
When a child learns any language that is new to them, in this case Marathi, it increases their overall concentration and focus. In today’s world where kids have notoriously reduced attention spans, this can actually be very beneficial. Studies show that other skills such as communication, recall and creativity all get a boost when one learns a new language. The result of trying to remember a bunch of new words and rules of syntax means that a child’s memorisation skills also improve. The improvement is seen in the case of both short and long term memory. Decision making and problem solving are other areas where the learner may see improvements as a result of learning a new language.
Makes the child appreciate their roots
Indians living abroad often bemoan the fact that their children have lost touch with their roots and that they are unaware or uncaring of their Indian culture. Language is a big part of this. Since children are unable to speak the language of their parents, this keeps them largely cut off from being involved with the extended family. They are unable to communicate effectively with cousins, uncles and aunts on their visits back home. They remain unaware of the rich heritage of their mother tongue and its wider culture context.
Learning Marathi will help your child develop deeper ties with their grandparents and the extended family. It will make visits to India vastly more enjoyable. They will be able to converse with local people, engage meaningfully with new people and manage social interactions a whole lot better.
Kids of Maharashtrian extraction who live in other parts of the world tend to lose this vital linguistic link with their roots. Very often, they feel alienated from the culture and customs of their home state. Learning Marathi from a qualified, experienced teacher will go a long way to remedy this. Learning the language will spark an interest now only in words and grammar, but also in the history, custom, music and literature of the state. Simply put, learning the language helps to prevent kids from missing out on their heritage.
Swati Banerjee
A valuable skill to put on one’s resume
Even if the reconnecting to their roots is not something that resonates with your child, the fact that a language is a useful skill just may. Learning any new language is a valuable skill and something useful to put on one’s resume. Between two candidates with similar qualifications, a recruiter may well prefer the one who speaks two or more languages over the candidate who knows only one language. Maybe your child will not appreciate that Marathi tutor subscription right now, but later, they just might.
Convenience
Another reason to gift a Marathi tutor subscription to your child is that it is the most flexible and convenient option. One can choose a Marathi tutor from several excellent language learning platforms based on their experience, reviews, availability and so on. Where available, book a trial session and then buy a subscription that suits your requirements and budget. Choose a class setting with more than one student or a one-on-one teaching session, whatever suits your requirements.
Buying a Marathi tutor subscription as is like gifting your child a learning habit – one that is always going to stand your child in good stead.
