Catch them while they are young

What doesn’t bend at six, won’t bend at sixty’ — this is the idea behind Zohra Chitalwala’s upcoming workshop on etiquette training for children. While social manners and soft skills have become a very important part of life today, Zohra contends that the easiest way to inculcate these skills in anyone is to teach it to them when they’re young. Telling us about the need for etiquette training, Zohra says, “People often don’t know some of the most simplest of things — how to say thank you or sorry and what greeting to use in what occasion and so on. And since the first impression that you make on someone is the most important, it is very necessary to make sure that we get the simple things right.” Zohra, who has been conducting workshops on etiquette for both children and adults for the past 6 years, tells us why it is all the more important to teach children etiquette and says, “The age when kids are the most receptive is in their teens. Today we see a lot of adults trying to learn simple set of skills such as how to carry themselves in certain places and occasions because that has become imperative in today’s competitive world.” Divided into two age groups, 10–14 and 15–20, Zohra’s workshop will include basic skills and etiquettes such as – host and guest skills, dining etiquette, body language, telephone etiquette, personal hygiene and face-to-face conversations. “For most people, etiquette isn’t an inherent trait, it is an acquired one. I have conducted a number of sessions in schools and this is something that is very easy to learn. The way I conduct my sessions is through using a lot of interactions, role plays and videos with reference to topics.”

From April 11 — May 4, 12 noon, At Studio Balance, Chowpatty Contact: 9322219284