L for Learning

For today’s #GreenSpacesDictionary, I speak to parents and the people who still believe that it takes a village to raise a child.

Once the children are freed from being indoors during the ongoing pandemic, their feet will have to feel the rough grass and pebbles of the playgrounds and open spaces close to your home.

In several communities within Mumbai, the children are brought up not just by their two parents, there are whole networks of connections that make them part of the larger community. The choice is entirely the parents - you can choose the child to be schooled in matters international because you want them to be prepared to live in some city in Canada or whatever is a popular community when they grow up but that does not mean that they do not know the city or locality they live in.


For example, one of the images here is from Madh village where the kids are allowed to explore the mud at low tide and understand how and here marine life functions, with older kids.

Most kids don’t need that skill but you can still let them explore and meet people of all kinds, the people of the village or Mahanagar who will make them better at social skills and understand our interdependence. That often begins in a park or looking at the trees and birds with friends in your hood.

Learning how to repaie cricket bats in Shivaji Park


While walking with photographer Ritesh Uttamchandani (above) he paused to play with these kids.

We also learn by imitating, maybe if you explore and be more social in the urban common spaces, so will your kids.


Do you have ideas for Mumbai that you think everyone should know? Make your voice heard at the Ministry of Mumbai's Magic.




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