6 • MODULE SEVEN: GROWING UP
Linking Learning With Life
For Younger Children:
Invite an adult man and a woman to the group and ask them to share with the children what
choices they have made in their lives and what were their responsibilities when they were growing
up. Children can form questions related to:- Education;
- Age of marriage;
- How many children? Why?
- Work responsibilities at home;
- Work outside the home;
- Dress;
- Who made decisions for you? and
- What would you do differently if you had to start again?
Children read a story of a modern woman or man who broke gender barriers, such as Kiran Bedi
the police officer and Kalpana Chawla the astronaut. Examples of men who break gender barriers
may also be provided.
For Older Children:
With a friend, talk about a girl or boy you know who does not have the “typical” qualities of a boy or girl.
Next, talk about yourself; how different you are from the qualities listed for a “typical” boy or girl. Did
parents, teachers or other adults tell you that this is not how a girl/boy behaves? What did you feel?
Children in pairs interview older persons in different professions on the same issues. The children
discuss their findings at the next session.
Additional activity
This activity can be done with both older and younger children. Discuss with children three scenarios:- At birth;
- When a child is 12 years old; and
- At the time of marriage.
Divide the children into two groups for all three situations. The first group presents what happens if
a son is born, how he is treated at the age of 12 by the family or community (if he is a street child)
and what his responsibilities and behavior are at the time of marriage.
The second group presents what happens when a daughter is born, how she is treated at home, in
the community or in a risk situation when she is 12 and what responsibilities and behavior are
expected of her when she gets married.