03-07-2025
Auroville's push for transformative engagement with schoolchildren
Auroville recently hosted a conference of educators to push for transformative ways of engagement that would wean children away from digital dependency and nurture their physical excellence and creative potential.
A press note said the 5th Integral Education Practitioners Gathering (IEPG5), organised by Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research (SAIIER), brought together over 150 educators, researchers, and facilitators to address the most pressing challenges facing children in today's technology-dominated world.
The three-day event on the theme — 'Research in Auroville' — positioned educators at the forefront of combating what many consider the silent crisis of childhood — excessive screen time and the erosion of physical development.
The IEPG programme was originally conceived and launched in 2021 by Jayanti S. Ravi, Secretary of Auroville Foundation, with a clear mission to nurture children to become the leaders, India needs for its future, the press note said.
'We are witnessing a generation of children whose potential is being diminished by screens while parents unknowingly enable this damage,' said a lead workshop facilitator. 'Our mission is to awaken both educators and parents to reclaim childhood through conscious engagement and physical excellence.'
Pointing to the alarming trend of working parents using mobile devices as 'digital babysitters', educators cautioned that this seemingly convenient solution created profound developmental risks. While children can develop addiction-like behaviours to gaming and video consumption, parents tend to buy into the illusion that their children are 'safe and occupied' while in reality, they are missing out on critical developmental windows. The long-term consequences of digital obsession can lead to loss of physical coordination, reduced attention spans, and weakened social skills, experts said.
The IEPG5 has also introduced revolutionary approaches to physical education that go beyond traditional sports programmes.
During the sessions, experts called for adopting advanced methods to identify each child's unique athletic and creative talents early in development, comprehensive frameworks to nurture identified skills into excellence, whether in sports, arts and interventions designed to make physical activity more compelling than screen-based entertainment.
In addition to comprehensive strategies to help children break free from screen addiction through engaging alternatives, experts also laid emphasis on educational campaigns to help working parents recognise and address the hidden costs of digital convenience.
Deepti and Matriprasad from Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Jean-Yves (Auroville) and Smrithi (Anaadi Foundation) led the sessions.
Pointing to the participation of educators from Auroville's surrounding villages, the press note said rural teachers were now implementing digital wellness programmes and physical excellence initiatives. In fact, teachers in schools in the bioregion reported improvements when screen time was reduced and physical activities increased, with children showing enhanced focus, better sleep patterns, and renewed enthusiasm for learning, Auroville said.
