Ilaxi Patel's Blog: Moms Zone, page 28

Vote for your favorite Google Doodle 2016

If I could Teach anyone anything, it could be…..

Yep, the Google Doodle 2016 Competition for students have finalised 12 finalists for this year’s Google Doodle Competition. Vote for your Favorite Google Doodle and make them win on 14th November 2016.

The winning doodle will be displayed on the Google India homepage on Children’s Day, November 14, 2016.

Doodles are grouped by the student’s class. Class groups are broken down as:

Class 1 – 3
Class 4 – 6
Class 7 – 10

4 participants are selected for the final and your Vote Counts. This does not mean that the losers will not win because in the process, all the participants who could not make it, have also learnt, explored and experimented that drawing, coloring and used their thinking caps to explain with the medium.

Warming up the brain tools and doing the classroom activities has been fun for many students and Teachers.Classroom activities were designed to help students (and individuals) stretch their creative muscles and warm up for the Doodle 4 Google competition with featured videos here on Google Doogle Page.

Imagine, Create, Share and Collaborate – the classroom activity nevertheless has been fun even at the Swagat Children Library Classroom. Ideas always mean something to derive to great results whether some children participate or not. Google just gives an opportunity and the Learning Process is on.

Save Environment, Stay safe with Traffic, Save Water, Good Habits, Books and Reading, creativity, Excersie for Health, Discipline, sign language, enjoying moments to relieve stress, etc. topics were covered as children conveyed their message.

Enjoy the Doodles. Go, Vote at Google Doodle as Public Voting ends on 10th November 2016.

The post Vote for your favorite Google Doodle 2016 appeared first on Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers Wonderland of Information – Education – Entertainment - kidfreesouls.com.

Happy Diwali & Prosperous New Year

 

 

Happy Diwali and Prosperous New Year to all Readers,  Followers, Fans n passerby …

Creativity takes courage – often little things make biggest impact. Making Collage often gives peace of mind and like Rangoli, gives concentration, perfection and steady mindset.

Creativity is Inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risk, breaking rules, making mistakes, And Having Fun, building memories and over n above 2getherness and closeness.

May your life be easy, healthy, wealthy n wisely fun filled with creativity.

Enjoy our pics. Hridaan’s collage pics are his choice with a Technology n gadget world as he dabbed in colors on paper, got clicked and engaged in collage making.Follow Hridaan’s Blog on Kidsfreesouls in Kids Blogs. 

Sources: Such Images can be made with Instamag App, Fotorus creativity. Download from Google Play Store.

The post Happy Diwali & Prosperous New Year appeared first on Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers Wonderland of Information – Education – Entertainment - kidfreesouls.com.

Freedom

Freedom

By Tulsa Ved

‘Freedom is found when we let go of who we’re supposed to be and embrace who we really are !’

Freedom means many things to many people. It means one’s possibility to act as one wills to satisfy one’s tendencies. It means self fulfillment by internal harmony between reasons and feelings.

Freedom is not about the size of your cage of power of your wings. Freedom is about being so truly , madly & deeply attached to your own soul that you can’t bear a life that doesn’t honor it. Freedom is not merely absence of bondage. Freedom means you’ll have to be responsible for every act, for every breath. Freedom and responsibilities – these two come together or go together. Our generation believes that chilling till late night and being negligent to the other responsibility is freedom but no! Freedom and responsibility are relatively superficial.

We are surrounded by the people who consider freedom as smoking and drinking. Skipping the college /school and lying to the parents is in the list of coolest things. People everywhere are demanding that they should’ve left to act on their own judgment. And it is a healthy sign of maturity, if they enjoy the responsible freedom rather than restraining forcefully.

However most of us believe that lows are incompatible with real freedom. In our thinking, laws seem to limit freedom. But these are the necessary limitations which helps us to organize. Freedom has to orbit the laws and has to stick to the safety measures. Freedom ,if not practically followed than it can even lead to disaster.

Thus, ‘ Freedom is not merely a privilege to be enjoyed; it is rather a task to be fulfilled.’

The post Freedom appeared first on Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers Wonderland of Information – Education – Entertainment - kidfreesouls.com.

Windigos Howling by Jannifer Gregory

Windigos Howling Showcases National Park Treasures

Imagine you’re 11 years old and your parents take you on vacation to a remote island where you have to survive the elements and a menacing mythological creature that your little brother has warned (to no avail) your parents about…but there is more to Isle Royale, Windigos, and just being family that you will learn along with Sierra as she solves the mystery of Windigos Howling…

Windigos Howling by Jannifer Gregory is a newly published book for the holiday season for pre-teen readers.  Windigos Howling playfully spins a mystery that will keep kids laughing and simultaneoulsy gets them thinking about the value of nature.

Sierra Reitar, an eleven year old from Louisville, Kentucky, travels with her family to Isle Royale National Park for a weeklong camping trip.  Not a fan of the outdoors, Sierra resists all attempts by her parents to make the trip “fun”.  Her little brother, Levi, surprisingly, embraces the trip.  Sierra is astounded by his enthusiasm until he tells her about the Windigos that live on the island.

Windigos are a local legend.  Levi finds a story about them on the Internet.  ‘They usually eat moose and sometimes a wolf, but last fall a hiker disappeared and lots of people believe a Windigo did it!’ Levi explains to Sierra.  Levi intends to catch one on video so that he can become Internet famous.  While Sierra believes the Windigos to be a crazy Internet tale not worthy of her attention, when they get to Isle Royale, a couple of hikers have gone missing.  To Sierra’s disbelief Windigos are blamed for their disappearance.  Sierra and her family help the park rangers find the missing hikers all the time trying to not get trapped by a Windigo!

Sierra’s witty demeanor makes this adventure fun and suspenseful at the same time.  Windigos Howling takes middle school readers through a beloved national park and highlights the importance of the environment in our daily lives.  Readers will laugh as Sierra ponders her younger brother’s antics, ‘Being young came with one serious drawback.  You were completely oblivious to large dangers when they presented themselves…She wondered about Levi’s odds for survival to adulthood.’

“If I were 11 again, I would love this book, possibly reading it again and again or at least waiting for its sequel,” says LeAne Rutherford, Associate Professor Emeritus at University of Minnesota Duluth.

Inspiration for the novel comes from Gregory’s childhood in the vast nature of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and her travels to Isle Royale and many other national parks.  “Our national parks are filled with fantastic natural sights and rich cultural histories.  So many kids never get a chance to visit these parks or don’t appreciate them when they are lucky enough to go.  It’s hard for them to see the uniqueness of these parks when their heads are bent over electronics.  I created Sierra to introduce kids to the parks in a fun and intriguing manner.  Plus these parks are one of our children’s links to their environment that will be so important for them to protect as they grow older.  Hopefully, Sierra and her family will help raise kids’ consciousness of their environment and their willingness to preserve it,” explained Gregory.

Windigos Howling is the first in an upcoming series by Jannifer Gregory.  She lives in Duluth, Minnesota with her family enjoying the outdoors as much as possible.  She loves finding the improbable and imagining the impossible on the hiking trail.  Sierra brought those stories to life for her children and, hopefully, many more.

Windigos Howling is available now on Amazon.com.

The post Windigos Howling by Jannifer Gregory appeared first on Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers Wonderland of Information – Education – Entertainment - kidfreesouls.com.

Reading

Encourage Reading by Ilaxi Patel

Reading aloud to children helps them develop oral language. It teaches them how to listen and how narrative is structured.

They also learn vocabulary and how print works and that it is read from left to right,” says UAB Associate Professor of education Kathleen Martin. She further says, “Reading aloud helps to develop oral language. It teaches children how to listen and how narrative is structured. They also learn vocabulary and how print works and is read from left to right.”

Swagat Children Library (http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/index.ph...) conducted ‘Read Aloud’ Sessions. The results are not only amazing, children wanted to read more and even narrated the stories with expressions. Enhanced vocabulary and fluency in reading was found. Also provided stage platform to break stage fear and face the audience. Voice modulation is evaluated. Short stories/lessons to be taken for loud reading. Kids friendly books, magazine articles will spark interest and discussion to add dimension to reading. Reading dramatically will draw interest to kids keeping in mind the phonics and style of reading. To add creativity, add the word cloud theme online. Just go for Creativity online for Projects – A word Art ‘Words as image’ and choose words from read aloud. Word clouds, shapes and different text, colors etc is just fun esp. when images are needed for Projects. I have used this in my Swagat Children Library classroom assignments and kids love to explore online smile emoticon Tagxedo, wordle.net, typoeffects.com and many more….‪#‎Parents‬ and ‪#‎Teachers‬ only need to explore with the children and have fun.

Why Read Aloud?

Reading aloud is more than fun – it’s an effective teaching strategy.

Provides an opportunity to share your favorite stories, novels, and poems with the whole class

Provides a chance to address important themes like friendship, courage, prejudice, bullying, etc.

During Reading Workshop, allows to teach strategy mini lessons to the whole class (or stories) since everyone is listening to the same selection (having read the same book in library)

Models fluent reading for students

Introduces students to vivid and specific vocabulary

Offers a chance to use questioning strategies to explore concepts in the selection

Responsibility n Test

Responsibility
By Tulsa Ved
 
What is responsibility? Is it just a taking control of your responses to the events  and circumstances in your life? Nope! The habit of expecting ‘others to do something for me’ smothers self-confidence and dampens initiative! But the man who knocks off every prop, flings away his crutches and stands on his feet will progress. Self- dependence always develops the power of achievement.

Most of the teenagers has passed through this plight where our elders has screamed on us for being so irresponsible. Memories fade back about my high school days when i was careless as one could be. One day, I kept key to unlocked the door and misplaced it. Later, we went out and when my sister came back she saw the door was half opened. Fortunately it was just a coincidence but I was so guilty. That day I realized that responsibility is self regulated.

A man who has ability to stand in his own feet is not quite a man as long as he is irresponsible. Responsibility takes the irk out of work.Zeal lightens the burden and enthusiasm cheers and sweetens  the work.We just need to make a firm act of will and put our foot down, Choose your course, set the wheels in the motion and be responsible. Your mind is where your heart is so put your heart into what you do.

So here comes a responsible test. Stay true to yourself 

1. When you borrow your friend’s favourite book,you… 
   a) dog-ear pages.
   b) make sure you cover it and use a bookmark.
   c) use a bookmark.

2. If you go out for a date late in the evening, it is usually to…
   a) go to a discotheque.
   b) spend some time alone at a park.
   c) go to a movie or go to a restaurant.

3. You/your BF has borrowed your friend’s bike to go to a movie. After you’ve parked it you…
   a) double check the ignition and the handle lock and stop the flow of the petrol.
   b) check the locks but walk away without paying guy at the parking lot.
   c) come out of the movie to discover that the bike has been towed away as you’ve parked in a ‘No parking zone’.

4. When you go on a school excursion/picnic,you…
   a) asked to look after your classmates
   b) are usually in charge of booking the tickets, arranging the bus, the food.
   c) are usually given the list of the instructions on ‘what not to do on a trip’.

5. You’ve got a sudden invitation to a party after school. The telephone at home is out of order.You…
   a) turn down the invitation.
   b) go home,tell your folks at home, and go to the party.Never mind if you turn up a little late.
   c) go to the party.You can explain the situation to your folks home later.

6. When you ask your friend to lend you his double-deck recorder to record a few cassettes for a couple of days,he or she…
   a) refuses.Politely but firmly.
   b) lends it to you,without any ado.
   c) offers to record the cassettes for you.

7. The night before the first day of you school concert/play,you…
   a) stay up all night rehearsing your part.
   b) go through your part in your head and then drop off to sleep .
   c) forget to go for a rehearsals.

8. You’ve gone on an outing and somebody from the group falls and fractures his/her foot.You..
   a) hang around with those who are taking him/her to the hospital.
   b) just stay away.You can’t handle it.
   c) call an ambulance, help to carry him/her, stay with him/her while the tests and X-rays are done.

9. When you’ve to meet somebody, you always…
   a) make a note on your planner.
   b) make a mental note.
   c) hope that you remember.

10. You have promised to go the station to pick up your cousin but you simply hate going through the railway station, especially early in the morning.You…
   a) set the alarm, get up early and be there before the train arrives.
   b) plead a bad headache and don’t go.
   c) reach the station after the train arrives.
 
Score board:
1.a)0 b)5 c)3
2.a)3 b)0 c)5
3.a)3 b)5 c)0
4.a)3 b)5 c)0
5.a)3 b)5 c)0
6.a)0 b)5 c)3
7.a)3 b)5 c)0
8.a)0 b)3 c)5
9.a)5 b)3 c)0
10.a)5 b)0 c)3

Analysis:
 
Between 36 & 50:
hi! It’s pleasure to know that in this day and age some people still do what they promise to do and really mean what they say! Some people may call you boring, but it is better to be boring and responsible if the other option is to be fun and irresponsible.

Between 15 & 30:
You don’t really shrink responsibilities but neither do you take the initiative. That shows that it doesn’t really come from within. You do some things only if there is no escape and you have to do them.

Between 0 &14: 
You seriously need to get some idea of the word responsibility because you’ve no clue. You need a lot of improvement.

The post Responsibility n Test appeared first on Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers Wonderland of Information – Education – Entertainment - kidfreesouls.com.

Judgement Call – Maturity, Emotions and the Teenage Brain

How oft Parents are confused and lost with the behavior patterns of their children ! Especially, the Teenagers. These new generation lot have access to almost everything which their parents did not. Inspite of this, their brains are wired withs irritation and rash attitude. The reason to this is that the brain may not fully develop until around age 25, meaning that teenagers are left with a brain going through growing pains, just like the rest of their body.

Teenagers aren’t ready to face the world as they’re not fully equipped with solutions or remedies and can’t face the real world problems.

There’s no point in making an issue bigger with a conflict with a teen as matters may get worse. As a parent, understanding this stage in your teen’s development could make the difference in getting through to them. Talking to them and understanding them from their point of view is good and if they’re stuck up somewhere, it’s rathar good to make them understand with tact and wise advice.

Here’s an Infographic that is so powerful to show the Brain Power.

 

The post Judgement Call – Maturity, Emotions and the Teenage Brain appeared first on Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers Wonderland of Information – Education – Entertainment - kidfreesouls.com.

How to Teach your Kids to Safely Play Pokemon GO?

A great deal of adults and many children alike are overjoyed with the reappearance of Pokémon on its newest mobile platform. Back in the nineties, some of today’s parents once played this popular game themselves on trading cards, then it advanced onto Nintendo, and finally we’re now playing with our favorite characters in the real world.

But many parents are naturally concerned that kids might be in danger of becoming injured, lost or have other safety issues when playing while distracted. Even equipped with a GPS device, a dead battery on a smartphone can not only hamper game play, but it will also put kids out of contact with parents causing them to be in trouble without meaning to become disconnected from them.

Tips and Tricks

Advise kids to bring along a portable charger to make sure their game play isn’t interrupted, but more importantly, parents can still reach their kids if they overlook the extensive battery power these types of games can use (not to mention data rates). If kids don’t have a portable charger, parents should consider getting one of these useful devices. They’re good for more than just Pokémon play when kids can be caught off guard with a dead battery in case of an emergency.

Let Parents Play

Go ahead and encourage children to allow parents to play along with them – best case scenario – they may help their kids in locating one of these imaginary friends. Grown ups can also help to keep an eye on immediate surroundings and prevent possible injuries. Another bonus, if parents are fearful of kids playing in the first place, after a few rounds they’re be much more comfortable with the concept. They can also remind them not to stray too far from home or school and stay away from inappropriate “Poke Stops” when searching for these characters.

One last plus, if parents become more familiar with the game itself and it’s characters, they won’t look at their kids with a blank stare when discussing the game. Children will likely become extremely excited during different points and levels in the game and having their parents aware of the working parts adds to their joy and participation in their activities.

Pokémon In The Classroom

Teachers can take advantage of this popular platform and engage children with lessons they can learn from playing and participating. For example, elementary school kids can be given some simple math and other equations that can be associated with gameplay. More advanced students can learn and explain how GPS actually works. Essay subjects can relate to Pokémon related subject matters in marketing, technology or how their characters might relate to Asian culture.

The possibilities are practically endless. Children young and old can relate different types of subject matter taken from the game itself and compare it to modern and ancient history. Their excitement over the game will bleed over into some unique, new learning experiences.

Old and New

Speaking of new learning experiences, parents and teachers alike can update children on some old concepts that still exist with current situations. For example, many years ago, “stranger danger” was associated with taking candy from a mysterious man. Today, we’re telling our kids to steer clear of people they’ve never met encouraging them to play with a puppy. Think about how a stranger might entice a youngster to follow them to capture a Pokémon character – old lesson with a new concept.

For the most part, with the right amount of preparation, a bit of guidance and participation, there’s no reason that kids can’t enjoy today’s newest fad phenomenon. There’s also no reason they can’t learn some things during the process and we can connect more with our children.

Amy Williams is a former social worker, specializing in teen behavioral health. As a parent now, with two teenagers, she is focused on spreading the word on positive parenting techniques and new technologies, particularly the combination of both topics.

The post How to Teach your Kids to Safely Play Pokemon GO? appeared first on Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers Wonderland of Information – Education – Entertainment - kidfreesouls.com.

Shiva – The Ultimate God

The root of peace is the right relation between humans and God, between person and person, between families, between communities, between nations. God is truth and love. Peace is built on the foundations of truth, love and justice. Athiest often brush away denying the existence of a super power called God. They have a notion that if God was there, why would people suffer. It is a belief but Life is a bundle of joys and sorrows and these are the experiences, the trials that we encounter to make ourselves ‘Better People’ and that’s the time when we have to keep the faith. Then, there is peace within and when there is peace, there is love and that itself is the Truth!

Shiva literally means “auspiciousness, welfare”. He is the third god of the Hindu Triad and is the destroyer of all evil. He represents darkness (tamas), and is said to be the ‘angry god’. However, according to Hinduism, creation follows destruction. Therefore Shiva is also regarded as a reproductive power, who restores what has been dissolved. As one who restores, he is represented as the linga, a symbol of regeneration. He has a 1,008 names, including Mahadeva (the great god), Mahesh, Rudra, Neelkantha (the blue-throated one), and Ishwar (the supreme god). He is also called Mahayogi, or the great ascetic, who symbolises the highest form of austere penance and abstract meditation, which results in salvation Shiva is believed to exist in many forms. His most common depiction is as a dark-skinned ascetic with a blue throat. Usually seated cross-legged on a tiger skin, Shivahis hair is matted and coiled on his head, adorned with a snake and a crescent moon. Ganga is always depicted flowing out of his topknot. Shiva has four arms and three eyes. A garland of skulls, rudraksha beads, or a snake hang from his neck. Shiva also wears snakes as armlets and bracelets. The serpent race, despised and feared by all other creatures, found a place of honour on Shiva’s sacred person, simply because he was moved by their plight. In one hand, Shiva holds his trishul, the Pinaka. The trishul usually has a damaru or waisted drum tied to it. In another hand, he holds a conch shell, and in the third, a rudraksha rosary, a club, or a bow. One hand is usually empty, raised in a gesture of blessing and protection. The other points to his feet, where the devotee is assured of salvation. He wears a tiger or leopard skin around his waist, and his upper body is usually bare, but smeared with ashes, as befits an ascetic. His third eye is believed to have appeared when Parvati, in a playful mood, covered his eyes with her hands. Immediately, the universe was plunged into darkness and there w?s chaos. To restore order, Shiva formed another eye on his forehead, from which emerged fire to restore light. The light from this eye is believed to be very powerful, and therefore destructive. Shiva opens his third eye only in anger, and the offender is burnt to cinders. According to the Shiva Purana, Shiva is said to have five faces, corresponding to his five tasks, the panchakriya: creation, establishment, destruction, oblivion, and grace. His five faces are associated with the creation of the sacred syllable Om.

Shiva resides on Mt. Kailash on Himalayas.His vehicle is Nandi and his weapon is Trishul. Parvati is said to be Shiva’s wife and his two sons are known as Kartikeya and Ganesh. Shiva is worshipped in form of Shivlinga or as an idol. Flowers are offered to him and Bel leaves, milk, and sandalwood paste are also pleasing to him. There are many stories in the Puranas about the origin of Shiva. According to the Vishnu Purana, at the beginning, Brahma wanted a child and meditated for one. Presently, a child appeared on his lap and started crying. When asked by Brahma why he was crying, the child replied that it was because he did not have a name. Brahma then named him Rudra, meaning “howler”. However the child cried seven more times and was given seven more names. Shiva therefore has eight forms: Rudra, Sharva, Bhava, Ugra, Bhima, Pashupati, Ishana, and Mahadeva, which, according to the Shiva Purana, correspond to the earth, water, fire, wind, sky, a yogi called Kshetragya, the sun, and the moon respectively. During the samudra manthan, when Shiva poison was churned out of the ocean, Shiva is said to have swallowed it to save the world from destruction. As he drank the poison, Parvati clasped his throat tightly so that the poison remained there and darkened his neck. Because of this, he is known as Neelkantha, the blue-necked one. Shiva granted a peculiar boon to a demon called Bhasmasura, who wished that if he placed his hand on anyone’s head, that person would turn to ashes. No sooner was his wish granted than he menaced Shiva himself, who took to his heels and was saved by Vishnu, in the form of Mohini, the enchantress Induced by Mohini to join her dance, the demon soon killed himself by placing his hand his own head. Shiva and Mohini combined their energies and produced Hari-hara putra (Vishnu-Shiva’s son). It is also said that once, Brahma and Vishnu were discussing who was the supreme god and then when they came to know from Veda that Shiva is the supreme being, Brahma ignored and spoke bad about Shiva. He got angry and cut off Brahma’s head that spoke ill of him, leaving Brahma with four heads instead of five.Shiva is the creator of Dance and of the first 16 rythemic syllabus ever uttered, the Sanskrit language was born. Dance of anger is known as Tandav Nritya, joy as Ananda nritya. Thus, Shiva is also known as Natraja, lord of dance and it is said that on 13th day of each bright lunar fortnight of Hindu calendar, after 6 in the evening, falls a sacred hour called Pradosha and if you worship this time than one gets powers of Universe. It is believed that all Gods gather to witness the dance of Natraja, Shiva.There are around 30 million Linga in temples in India, famous one formed of Ice at Amarnath, Somnath in Gujarat and it is said Shiva sleeps in all Lingas in Chaturmasya and so if one worships the Shivlinga this time, than it is very auspicious. Going for Pilgrimage to all 12 Jyotirlinga means one washes away the sins of last seven births and also reciting the mantras purifies the soul and can attain peacefulness.

BEL TREE in SACRED TREES

Also known as bilva or wood apple (Aegle marmelos), the bel is a medium-sized deciduous tree. It has thorny branches and trifoliate leaves. Its fruit is large and round with a greenish-grey, woody shell. The bel has medicinal properties. Its leaves make poultice for the eyes and are good for diabetes, and the roots help reduce fever. Its fruit is a remedy for dysentery. It is also believed to promote fertility. Its leaves are an important offering to Shiva, for their trifoliate shape signifies Shiva’s three eyes. Since they have a cooling effect, they are offered to the Shivalinga to soothe this hot-tempered deity. Even a fallen bel is never used as firewood, for fear of arousing Shiva’s wrath. Its wood is used only in sacrificial fires. According to the Agni Purana, on any auspicious day in Bhadra, Shiva should be worshipped with a day-long fast and the eating of bel leaves at night. Bel Tree Purana say that Shiva once hid in the bel to escape conquering demons . The Skanda Purana holds that the bel grew from Parvati’s perspiration, which fell to the ground while she performed penance. It also says that the various incarnations of Parvati reside in each part of the tree. The Brihaddharma Purana relates how Lakshmi prayed to Shiva every day and offered him 10,000 lotus buds. One day she fell short by two buds. Remembering that Vishnu had compared her breasts to lotus buds, she decided to offer them instead. She cut one off and offered it humbly. Before she could cut the other, Shiva, pleased with her devotion, stopped her. Her cut breast became the fruit of the bel. The Bhavishya Purana says that after the samudra manthan, Lakshmi, who had just emerged from the ocean, rested in the bel. It was the ninth bright day of Bhadra. Therefore, the bel is worshipped every year on that day.

MORE TREES 

The post Shiva – The Ultimate God appeared first on Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers Wonderland of Information – Education – Entertainment - kidfreesouls.com.

Pokemon Go waves rave in

Parents looking for a way to get children moving and off the couch this summer have found a surprising new ally: Pokémon. The Pokemon craze is here, there and everywhere.  The game has quickly grown into a massive hit, with millions of registered users flocking to the hot Pokemon catching grounds. Collecting pocket sized cartoon monsters is a stroke of genius.

Unlike most video and smartphone games, the phenomenally popular Pokémon Go, which has been downloaded by millions in the past week, requires the player to be active. The game uses map technology and local landmarks to make it seem as if mythical cartoon creatures are lurking in the real world all around you.

Walking has become a fitness regime. Many parents seem to be relishing the good in Pokémon Go, while recognizing that they will need to create limits.  Even teenagers are inviting siblings and parents along. Add in the likelihood of meeting other players at Poké-stops, and the game begins to feel like a social event.  Pokemon parties are planned by many game freaks.  Pokémon Go brings up unexpected summer memories of Hide-and-seek and Treasure hunt.

According to Sensor Tower, Pokémon Go has been downloaded over 30 million times worldwide since its release, and has generated $35 million (roughly Rs 235 crore) in revenue. It is barreling its way through the download charts, and is poised to soon unlock the 50 million downloads achievement. It was the fastest game to reach the 10 million downloads mark, and here is how long it took to do it compared to other games.

The game is built with Google maps which covers certain landmarks in your vicinity as Pokestops. These locations gives various Pokeballs and other useful goodies. As you walk around, nearby Pokemon will show up on your map. And, it’s just chasing them around as it shows up on the Map directions.

Tapping on them will activate your camera and show that Pokemon super imposed into the real world in front of you. Toss Pokeballs at them and a short mini-game later, these Pokemon become part of your collection. This is the essence of Pokemon Go and it’s this very concept that has the whole world fascinated, but there’s more to the game, like visiting gyms to pit your Pokemon in battles, incubating eggs to gain rare Pokemon, and items like lure modules that increase your chances of catching more.

The average American child already spends more time consuming media via a screen than at school. Adults aren’t doing much better. Many of them  say that they spend too much time on smartphones and the internet. In one study, about 70 percent of children under 18 said their parents spent too much time glued to the phone.

Richard Freed, a psychologist and author of “Wired Child: Reclaiming Childhood in a Digital Age says, “I’m wary of promises that more technology is the answer to problems caused by the overuse of technology.” He adds, “We’ve been hopeful in the past that certain games, like the Wii system, would promote family time or get kids moving, he said, but those games ultimately failed to live up to the hype.”

In India, Pokemon do not support some of the features and is not available for official download as yet.  However,  The game is presently only launched in the US, Australia and New Zealand, but the amount of downloads have crossed the handling power of the servers, that the international launch had to be halted. The international launch for Pokemon Go has not yet been announced, but it will soon be out.

Though the Pokemon Go game is not officially available for download in many countries, here in India, there are other methods that can be adapted for downloading and playing it. While the game is available on various torrents and app hosting websites, some can even download them using a VPN to tunnel through the three countries. Since using the VPN to download the game is usually ineffective, the game is yet downloaded through certain links where iPhone users will have to wait for an official release unless they prefer jailbreaking their devices.

 

The post Pokemon Go waves rave in appeared first on Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers Wonderland of Information – Education – Entertainment - kidfreesouls.com.