Twitter dark in Turkey after PM's threat to 'wipe out' the service

Twitter is inaccessible in Turkey.

(Credit:Bulent Kilic/AFP/GettyImages)

Twitter reportedly went offline in Turkey on Thursday, just hours after the country's prime minister threatened to eradicate the social network from the country in the wake of allegations of corruption spread across social networks.

"We will wipe out Twitter. I don't care what the international community says," premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday during an election rally in the western province of Bursa.

"They will see the Turkish republic's strength," he added, according to the AFP news agency.

Twitter said Thursday that it was looking into reports that its microblogging service had already been banned in that nation. The social network advised users in Turkey that they could still send tweets by using SMS:

Turkish users: you can send Tweets using SMS. Avea and Vodafone text START to 2444. Turkcell text START to 2555.

— Policy (

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Nokia X rings up 1 million pre-orders in China after just four days

After just four days of pre-orders in China, the Android powered Nokia X has rung-up more than 1 million in pre-orders. Many smartphone buyers have been waiting for a Nokia built, Android powered phone, even if a forked version of the Android OS is employed. While that means no Google services and applications, there is a Nokia or Microsoft solution for just about every Google application that the Nokia X will not have. For example, the Nokia X will feature the Nokia Store, HERE Maps and those purchasing the handset will get 10GB of cloud storage free from Microsoft's OneDrive.

The Nokia X offers a 4 inch LCD display with resolution of 480 x 800 which combines for a 233ppi pixel density. A dual-core 1GHz Snapdragon S4 is under the hood, and 512MB of RAM is on board. 4GB of native storage is included, but Nokia has thoughtfully provided a microSD slot for those who need added storage. The 3MP snapper on back does not come with AutoFocus or a flash, and there is no front-facing snapper on the device. A 1500mAh battery keeps the lights on.

Nokia has to be happy with the report as it certainly seems to justify the decision to go ahead with an Android flavored phone. The large number of pre-orders in China for the Nokia X does make one wonder if Nokia would have been better off had it decided to use Android instead of Windows Phone for its Lumia handsets.



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iOS 7.1 gets 17.9% adoption rate after three days

72 hours after the release of iOS 7.1, 17.9% of iOS traffic in North America came from devices sporting the latest iOS build, according to the research arm of mobile ad network Chitika. The tally matches the North American adoption rate of previous iOS updates after 72 hours. Chitika expects to see the number of iOS 7.1 users surpass the number of iOS 7.0.6 users within a few days.

You might recall that Apple pushed out iOS 7.0.6 to close a security gap that could have allowed hackers to read email and other communication that was supposed to be encrypted. According to the data from Chitika, the number of iOS 7.0.6 users still doubles the number of iDevice users sporting iOS 7.1. The iOS 7.0.6 update had a 13.3% adoption rate just 48 hours after its release.

Apple's Car Play, formerly known as iOS in the Car, is part of the iOS 7.1 release, as is a number of bug fixes and new capabilities for Siri and the calendar. The newest build of iOS can be installed on the Apple iPhone 4 and higher, and the Apple iPad 2 and higher.



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Samsung will donate $3 million to charities after 3 million re-tweets

Samsung gets another Oscars-relatedmention today. A representative of the Korean giant explained thatEllen DeGeneres' infamous star-ridden selfie was not staged, but ithappened "organically" and was "a great surprise foreveryone" that "nobody expected".

Ellen's epic selfie racked up three millionre-tweets and became the most re-twitted item in the history ofeverything. Thus, Samsung will commemorate the historical achievementin social media buzz by donating $3 million intotal to two charities chosen by the actress -

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After Initial Driver Mistrust, mytaxi’s New Marketplace Model Delivers 91% Job Acceptance Rate, Up From 85%

Introducing a radical new pricing model to an existing business is not for the faint-hearted. Just ask veteran German taxi app startup, mytaxi (founded back in 2009), which last January was preparing to shift into a new gear by switching from a fixed fee to marketplace model pricing in its home market of Germany.

Instead of mytaxi taking a set 79 euro cents fee per booked trip, drivers would be asked to choose the percentage revenue share per journey to give to mytaxi — via a slider that initially allowed them to select a proportion of  between 3 and 30 percent of the final fare to hand over to mytaxi.

The road to this brave new marketplace model did not run smooth, however. Quite the opposite; mytaxi co-founders Sven Kuelper and Nic Mewes found themselves spending “hours and hours” on the phone in the mytaxi call centre trying to reassure sceptical cab drivers who thought the new pricing was a dastardly trick to force them to pour a third of their revenue into the company coffers.

There was even a demonstration of around 150 drivers outside mytaxi’s Berlin office against the new pricing model.

The company responded to the driver mistrust by reducing the maximum revenue share in the new pricing model to 15% (instead of 30%). And, well, by spending a lot of time trying to reassure drivers about why they were shifting to a marketplace model and asking them to give it a go.

Ultimately a union-style agreement was struck among cabbies to universally select the lowest possible revenue share (3%) — which was at least an agreement that drivers would start testing the waters of the new order.

“The taxi drivers were demonstrating against the new pricing model. That was incredible,” Kuelper tells TechCrunch. ”And that was because the pricing model was new, it was something the taxi industry hasn’t experienced before, there were plenty of misunderstandings in the market because it was so new.

“But then at the end of the day most of our taxi drivers said ok we will give it a try — after convincing them via call centre, via thousands of emails. Nic my partner and I spent hours and hours in the call centre trying to explain this new pricing model and what is behind it.

“They were very very sceptical… They were afraid that they couldn’t get any tours if they don’t put 30% inside of the driver app.”

The result of the outreach to sceptical drivers was that most agreed to give the new system a try (some 17,000 of mytaxi’s 18,000 Germany drivers agree — so mytaxi did lose a portion of drivers as a result of the new pricing model).

“In Germany there’s no real alternative to mytaxi except the old traditional dispatch centres. We had 18,000 registered taxis in Germany, and at the end of the day it was 17,000 who said already I’ll give it a try with the new pricing… so we lost around 5% of our taxis,” says Kuelper.

Six weeks on from kicking off its experimental new pricing project, mytaxi has released the first tranche of data on how the model is working — and it shows a small increase in the average commission paid by drivers per journey: 87 euro cents, up from the 79 cent fixed fee of the old model.

This is despite around 50% of the journeys (in February) being assigned to drivers at a revenue share of below 5%. ”We have a price increase, but a pretty low price increase,” notes Kuelper.

But he adds that the new pricing model has been worth the turmoil for another reason: an increase in the job acceptance rate — up from 85% to 91%. 

“Our problem was is we had plenty of bookings — plenty of people who wanted to get a taxi — but we couldn’t assign all these tours because the price was fixed at 79 euro cents. And there were special hours during the day where the taxi driver said ‘no I’m not going to spend 79 cents on a tour because there are plenty of street hails’. And that was our problem — our problem was our success rate,” he says.

“That has shifted really tremendously. We have a huge impact on our total bookings because suddenly most of our bookings really take place — they work.”

mytaxi’s marketplace model is an alternative to the surge pricing system of taxi startups like Uber, which require the customer to accept a price hike if they want to get a cab during periods of high demand.

mytaxi’s system means the price for the customer does not change, but the revenue share for the driver varies based on factors such as whether it’s a weekend or a week day.

“When we have a lot of demand out there in the street, especially during the weekend then the cab price really decreases — then it’s always around between 3% and 5%

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After Being Acquired By Yahoo, Personal Assistant App Donna Shuts Down

We knew the day was coming, but it’s probably worth pointing out all the same: Mobile personal assistant app Donna will cease working tomorrow, about one month after the company behind it — Incredible Labs — was acqui-hired by Yahoo.

In an email to users, the anthropomorphic app said she was “retiring as an assistant,” and “mov

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Verizon's Edge trade-in program now lets customers upgrade after just 30 days

Sick of your new phone already? Verizon would like a word with you. Over the weekend, the company made some changes to its Edge upgrade program, drastically reducing the amount of time customers need to wait before pursuing an upgrade. The plan originally allowed trade-ins for devices that were half paid off and about six months old; now the waiting period has been reduced to a mere 30 days. Verizon told CNET the tweak was technically a promotion, but it's not actually much of a deal. Although the wait-time has been reduced by a factor of six, the amount due hasn't changed a penny: users seeking a new device still need to pony up at least 50 percent of the phone's value, even if they've only been using it for a few weeks. While it's always good to have options, maybe it's a better idea to sort out your buyer's remorse during your carrier's return window.

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Source: Verizon, CNET

Tags: early upgrade, EarlyUpgrade, edge, mobilepostcross, upgrade, verizon, vzwedge Next: Huawei tweaks Ascend P6 chipset, tacks on an 'S' for good measure .fyre .fyre-comment-divider

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Hackers And Spambots Are Going After Your Fridges and Smart TVs Now

There are plenty of good reasons you might want an Internet-enabled smart refrigerator. Your friends will constantly tell you that you’re from the future! You could check how much milk is left from the store! You can

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Want to stream ABC shows the day after they air? Better get cable

As the legions of cord cutters continue to grow, companies are looking for any way to keep customers tied to their increasingly archaic (and offensively priced) pay TV subscriptions. ABC is just the latest network to get in on the frustrating practice, by requiring users sign into their cable account if they want to watch shows online the day after they air. On January 6th the change is coming not only to Watch ABC, but Hulu as well. Though, if you subscribe to Hulu Plus you'll still have access the next day. Otherwise you'll have to wait a full week after an episode airs to stream it for free. Of course, ABC is hardly alone in the practice. Fox did the same back in 2011, while premium outlets like HBO and Showtime have limited their streaming services to verified pay TV subscribers since day one (with a few experimental exceptions). The list of participating TV services includes all the usual suspects, including Time Warner and FiOS, as well as new comers like Google Fiber. If you've got any nagging questions you can check out the FAQ at the source or call Watch ABC's customer service at (800) 230-0229.

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Via: GigaOM

Source: Watch ABC

Tags: abc, hdpostcross, hulu, streaming, tv, watchabc Next: Leak hints Google may shut down its Schemer goal sharing service .fyre .fyre-comment-divider

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Dell portrays itself as a feisty startup in its first ad after going private (video)

Now that Dell is once again a private company, it's trying to shake off its reputation as a member of the status quo. Appropriately, the PC builder just unveiled a new TV ad that suggests it has all the energy and vision of a technology startup. The minute-long spot connects Dell's mindset to that of companies like Dropbox, Gilt and Skype, which started out in modest places but went on to accomplish great things. We're hopeful that the ad reflects fresh thinking in Round Rock's offices, but actions will speak louder than words -- it's hard to believe that a tech giant can be as nimble and innovative as a tiny outfit with something to prove.

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Via: CNBC (Twitter)

Source: Dell (YouTube)

Tags: ad, advertising, commercial, computer, dell, desktop, laptop, marketing, pc, video Next: Want to stream ABC shows the day after they air? Better get cable .fyre .fyre-comment-divider

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Bitcoin exchanges shut down after threat from India's central bank

Bitcoin is quickly beginning to attract the attention of regulators in a number of countries. After a flat-out ban in Thailand and restrictions on banks in China, now several Indian Bitcoin exchanges have suspended operations following a warning from the Reserve Bank of India concerning digital currencies. Issued December 24th, the statement outlines the risks of a purely electronic wallet, unregulated transactions and value fluctuations. It also contains what could be considered a threat, however, stating that virtual currency users could be breaking money laundering and terrorism financing laws -- one report from the subcontinent suggests the government has carried out the first raid on a Bitcoin exchange, too. Thus, some sites have decided to close for the time-being, leaving notes on their homepages expressing the need for clear legal guidelines before trading can resume. Undoubtedly we'll see more countries take steps towards regulation, especially as the price of currencies rise. Nothing decreases something's worth like outlawing it, after all.

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Via: The Next Web

Source: Economic Times, dna, buysellbitco.in, IRNBTC

Tags: bitcoin, currency, DigitalCurrency, india, ReserveBankOfIndia, VirtualCurrency Next: Nokia Lumia 1320 lands in China first .fyre .fyre-comment-divider

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Successful after school programs

What marks a successful after school program? What are the things that you

should look for when enrolling your child into one such program? Other

than the obvious advantage of learning something new, successful programs

incorporate many things that help the development of the child.



Development of social skills is one of the more important objectives of a

good after school program. In a recent survey, parents indicated that

while they do want their children to respect others, they also wanted them

to imbibe skills like getting along with other children and getting used

to children outside the immediate circle of friends. Many children find it

difficult to make new friends and get along with people outside their

group.



Good after school programs place special emphasis on security and safety.

They keep children out of trouble and keep them safe. A good after school

program should be fun, especially when the children are young. If the

activity is fun, you will not have to worry about keeping him interested

or motivated. To be effective, programs should be organized and

structured. They must also suit the age of the child. The child must be

aware of the purpose of the program, and must be convinced that they are

attending the programs to accomplish something.

Recreational after school programs

After school programs can be divided into 3 broad categories: academic,

recreational and social. Balanced development takes place when there is

compatibility between the physical, mental as well as the educational

achievements of the child.As the name suggests recreational after school

programs are based on a sport or recreation. Some of the more common

physical activities include football, swimming and basketball.Some clubs

offer programs like gymnastics, trekking and hiking. In this case,

youngsters are often given a short class in first-aid class also.



Recreational after school programs offer children an opportunity to let

off some steam and to destress themselves. The closed classroom atmosphere

and a day full of textbooks and writing cause the child to repress his

natural enthusiasm. He curbs his energy when he is required to sit quietly

in class and learn. Physical activity is an all-time low during such

times. This physical lethargy and inaction is countermanded by

recreational activities. Growing concerns of obesity and child diabetes

make it necessary for children to indulge in some strenuous exercises that

will allow them to work up some sweat.



Unlike educational programs, recreational programs do not tax the

mental processes. But, they do aid the learning process by making the

child more active. A child who is physically active is mentally fit, and

is able to focus his thoughts on the work at hand. Additionally,

recreational programs teach discipline, mechanics of teamwork and fair

play. These are important lessons in the growing process.



As more and more nuclear families emerge, the child faces greater

isolation. Many children shuttle between their classroom and their

bedrooms and do not have any meaningful relationships outside these.

Recreational programs offer ample avenues for socialization. This is a

place the child can go to and play even when his neighbor is not the most

welcoming. The Boy / Girl Scout programs are excellent recreational after

school programs. Lately, survival classes and camps have devised to

combine important survival skills with sports and games to educate

children on how to handle emergencies.



Like any good after school program, recreational programs are designed to

give children a safe area where they can indulge in some group activities

that interest them. This is one of the most effective ways to keep kids

out of the streets and out of trouble. But, one has to be careful when

enrolling children for recreational classes. The age of the child, his

temperament and his physical caliber has to be taken into account before

you choose the right program for your child.

Quirky after school programs

With the growing interest in after school programs shown by the Government

as well as parents, new and hitherto unheard of programs are being

explored. In an attempt to make a child aware of his responsibilities as

an individual and as a citizen, these after school programs make use of a

child's natural curiosity and his irrepressible energy.



Investigative Skills:

In some schools in Kernersville, children are developing their

investigative skills. Children meet with adults who introduce them to the

details of fake non-violent crimes. They take notes, visit the scene and

gather information. Students learn to listen to alibis, collect

fingerprints and gather any other pieces of evidence. According to the

principal, these activities challenge her students' problem solving

skills. Children learn to think critically and to form informed judgments.



Fisheries and sciences:

In North Carolina, children who are interested get a chance to win a

scholarship through their after school activity. Here, students are given

a chance to face hands-on fisheries science experiments in a freshwater or

marine setting. Professionals, educators and experts from the world of

Fisheries act as mentors. Students accepted into the program get a $3,000

scholarship.



The above examples go to show that after school activities are becoming

serious. They are slowly morphing into important parts of a child's

education and moving away from the fun-and-frolic-only programs of the

Potentials of after school programs

With children becoming the primary focus of society, ways and means to

ensure their safety and development are being researched. The Government

too has pooled in to make a success of such programs. Here are some of the

reasons why after school programs have become so popular:



1) Preventing Juvenile Delinquency, crime and violent victimization:

About 10% of juvenile crimes happen between 3 P.M. - 4 P.M. Children need

to be kept safe and out of trouble at such times

2) Preventing alcohol, drug and tobacco use.

Risk-taking behavior that seeks to establish superiority in a clan is

mostly seen in 'latchkey' children. Children in their pre-teens, if they

have a meaningful relationship with a mentor, are less likely to indulge

in these kinds of destructive behavior

3) Decreases appetite for Television:

An average child watches about 23 hours of TV per week. When enrolled for

some activity, the child utilizes his mental and physical skills to meet

challenges.

4) Improving academic achievements

5) Improving school attendance:

More confidence in self and increased interest in school leads to greater

attendance in school. A program that helps children with their homework

also gives the child a much-needed feeling of self-achievement.

6) Improved behavior and inter-personal skills

Children who attend after school activities handle conflict better and

cooperate more with authority figures.

7) Closer family and community ties.

Need for after school activities

When children are literally up to their gills with the learning and sport

activities in school, it may seem superfluous to enroll them for after

school activities. In spite of this, after school programs are sprouting

up in large numbers and most of these are booked full. This shows that

there is a real need for after school activities.



The unavailability of parental supervision is the leading cause for the

surge in after school programs. It is seen that many children spend about

20-25 hours a week unsupervised and alone at home. And as the saying

goes, "An idle mind is a devil's workshop". Children who are left alone

to contend with too much free time invariably fall into the wrong

company. Drug abuse, alcohol, tobacco and crime come knocking at their

doors sooner rather than later. Parents enroll children to various after

school programs to keep them occupied in a productive manner. This way,

the kids are free to enjoy themselves in a supervised activity.



Crime is considered to be at its peak during the after school hours,

between 3- 4 p.m. During such a time, children need protection. Getting

the children together under one roof and encouraging them to participate

in a group activity is protection enough. It diverts the children from

ennui too.



Obesity is a matter of growing concern in this country. It is noticed

that more and more children are becoming couch potatoes. After school,

many of them relax on the sofa with packets of chips, cool drinks or

chocolates while they watch T.V. 30 % of the kids below the age of 19 are

considered overweight, and about 15% of these are obese. An after school

program ensures that the child shakes off his lethargy and keeps himself

busy. This also helps to reduce the child's fascination for T.V and

computer games.



After school activities that promote social awareness develop the

individual's sense of social responsibility. It is seen that these sorts

of programs not only keep kids out of trouble, but also help to produce

responsible citizens. To that extent, they are valuable building blocks

in a child's personality.



Times are changing and parents want their children to excel in academics

as well as in other activities. This may be a reflection of the parent's

unfulfilled desire to excel - a remnant from his own childhood. Whatever

the reason, parents today encourage their children to enroll themselves

in various programs and develop the various facets of their

individuality. Children too seem to be comfortable learning many things

at the same time, and gain satisfaction from this.

How to find after school activities

Start off by making enquiries. Nothing can beat the power of information.

Approach the school authorities first. Find out if they are offering any

after school activities. Get a list of the various classes that are

available in your school. In case the school does not provide any

extracurricular activities for the child, approach your neighbors. Collect

information about any after school programs, the quality of the courses

taught and the timings etc. Also, check out some of the community

resources. These may include places of worship, community centers,

Museums, libraries, the YMCA, The Boys and Girls Club etc.



After you have colleted all the necessary information, discuss the various

options with your child. Find out what his interests are. The best way to

find out what is most suitable is to ask your child. When little children

are too small, you cannot completely rely on their feedback. In this case,

monitor the development of the child on a regular basis. If the child

shows excessive resistance to an activity, it may be necessary to look for

other options. Always consider your family's schedule when planning the

extracurricular activities. If it is difficult for you to chauffeur your

child, you may want to employ tutors at home or conduct some activity at

Effective after school activities

When there are so many activities on offer, and each one looks as good as

the next, how do you gauge the worth and effectiveness of these

activities? Sure, you want an activity that junior enjoys. But, we really

cannot afford to waste time on pleasure for pleasure's sake, do we? There

needs to be a grain of gold somewhere in there. Given below is a list of

characteristics that any good after school activity must possess.



Clarity in objectives and goals is the first important thing. What does

the course offer? How does it propose to achieve the results? How many

kids make up a batch? Ask questions. After all, when you are dishing out

the dough, you really need to understand what you are getting in return.



A good after school activity will provide lots of opportunities for the

young to increase their level of understanding of complex concepts. This

is true of recreational activities too. Learning to pitch a ball, or dance

to a tune - regardless of the activity involved, the child should be

encouraged to grapple with and conquer new concepts. This not only keeps

boredom at bay by challenging the child, but also builds up his

self-confidence. Development of academic, personal and social skills is

one of the prime aims of an after school activity. As the skills develop,

the child's self-esteem also increases.



After school activities are all about boosting a child's sense of

competence. Good and effective after school activities promotes the

resilience of youth and encourages them to grow stronger, be it mentally,

emotionally or physically.



Safety is one of the first requirements of an after school activity. The

staff should be qualified, adequate and alert. Never put your child in a

program where safety is a matter of accident instead of a matter of

priority. The staff should be friendly and should have a positive

relationship with the child. Therefore, the program should have

professional and trained staff that loves to interact with children. The

program should maintain a cooperative and supportive attitude and a

structured environment. Participation and collaboration as opposed to

competition and antagonism must be encouraged.



Some programs involve the children in planning activities and making

decisions. Adults often forget to get the opinion of their children. By

giving the children an opportunity to voice their opinion, programs become

fun activities that children are motivated to participate in. Young people

thrive when they are listened to, respected and allowed to contribute

their mite.



Routine evaluations are an important part of after school programs. If the

child does not benefit from a class, don't waste time being

over-optimistic. Try something new.



You are now ready to look for the perfect after school activity for your

child. But don't let us forget that having fun is also an important part

of growing up. The child deserves a few hours of pure delight. Remember,

all work and no play,

Developmental after school programs

As a child grows into an adult, different aspects of his physical,

emotional and mental self needs development. To help a child reach his

full potential, it is necessary to recognize the child's developmental

needs and abilities. To be effective, after school programs should assist

children with tasks they must accomplish during each stage of development.



A child's growth curve can be divided into three main parts:

1) Young child (ages 3-5)

2) Middle school (ages 6-8)

3) Older school (ages 9-12)



The four important domains of development are: The Physical Domain, the

Social Domain, the Emotional Domain and the Intellectual Domain. Each of

these domains needs to be separately addressed during the various phases

of a child's growth. After school programs should concentrate on

developing each domain as applicable to the age of the child. Although the

children participating in these programs may have similar developmental

needs and age, do not expect development to be uniform. Children will

develop as and when they are ready.



Physical Domain:

When children are young, they want to perfect skills that they have just

learnt to control. A variety of movements such as jumping, catching and

throwing delight them. The middle school child, on the other hand, wants

to learn more complex skills and get involved in team sports. This is also

the best time to learn about rules and discipline in sport. The older

school child is ready for more adult-like activities that need greater

structure and discipline, like dancing, gymnastics, music classes etc.



Social Domain:

Young children are observing others and will be interested in games where

they play the roles of family members. They develop short-term friendships

and need an adult's presence to assure them. The middle school child is

intrigued by society and will love trips to factories, public buildings

etc. They want to know the 'how' and 'why' of things. The older school

child is ready to learn about different cultures, food and customs. They

want to do some amount of social work too.



Intellectual Domain:

Young school children will practice what they are learning. Middle school

children want to learn more skills and will show interest in reading,

drama and problem solving. The older school children are ready to research

and probe. They enjoy getting a puzzle and pondering over it.



Any after school program needs to address the interests of the child depending

on the category he belongs to. Knowing the children in your program and

appreciating their needs and interests will help staff to plan and

structure programs that are most useful to that group.

Boring after school activities

Why does Lisa grumble when it is time for her to go for her piano lessons?

How come Johnny abhors the sight of his skates now? After all, these

children were very enthusiastic about the programs when they started off.

What happened? Parents are often confused by the disturbing and often

incongruous signals they receive from their children. One day the kids are

excited about the new theatre class and in just a few short weeks they

wail and moan when it's time to go.



The first thing a family should do when a child begins resisting a

previously loved activity is to listen and investigate. Do not jump into

conclusions. A little bit of intelligent sleuthing is required. Ask your

child what he or she does in the class. Find out what exactly is the cause

of the problem. Then ask the teachers the same questions. Compare notes.

You may stumble on some important clues. Usually, children start out on an

activity thinking it's all fun. But when they realize that they cannot

just hang out and that they need to follow rules etc, they begin to

resist. Your child may feel stifled if the program is too structured. If

the discipline is too rigorous or the activity too painful (like a karate

class) some children balk. Use your own instincts. Does the program feel

like fun? Would you want to attend it yourself? Are they offering enough

motivation to keep the child interested?



The teacher-to-child ratio is also an important factor. Children need

attention. If the number of teachers is just enough to handle a class, it

is possible that your child is not receiving enough attention. State

recommendations usually specify that there must be 1 teacher for 15

children.



Children try to avoid problems they cannot solve. If there are no

perceivable problems with the class and the teachers, perhaps you need to

have a chat with your child. If your judgment says that the place is good

and the activity engaging enough, then it's time to work with your child.

More often than not, social pressures may be at work here. Does your child

have friends there? If she is lonely or miserable because of the lack of

friends, help her find a friend. If she finds a friend, she will get more

involved in the activities



If your best efforts do not pay off, and your child still resists that

fantastic guitar classes, then it's time to let go. Shift your child to

some other program. If he or she still retains interest in guitars, you

can take it up after a few months. Never force the child, especially when

it comes to extra-curricular activities. Since they are 'extra', they must

bring in extra happiness and extra enthusiasm too.