Children today can take part in an endless variety of activities, from computer games to piano lessons, from soccer practice to karate. There is no shortage of skills for kids to learn. Yet, children also need to be able to develop their imagination. Does imagination play a role in learning and success in life? In a word, yes.
Parents of young children in the Armenian American community have long complained of a shortage of child-friendly books and magazines in the Armenian language that help to develop a child’s imagination. For children seven and under, parents can find hundreds of books with simple stories, basic vocabulary, and powerful images—in English. Not so in Armenian.
Enter Juliette Davtian. Her clear vision: to give Armenian children a colorful and fun way to see and hear stories in Armenian, to learn reading and counting in Armenian, and to relate to the world around them in the Armenian language.
“Children learn best through colorful images” says Davtian. “They have different talents. As adults, we should recognize children’s different styles of learning and interacting, and promote the best possible development of their natural strengths and weaknesses and help children develop one of the most amazing gifts of childhood: imagination.”
And as such, “Gakavig,” a colorful monthly magazine for children, was launched in Southern California in the first week of February 2010. Very soon Gakavig will encounter its first anniversary. And what better way to celebrate Gakavig’s first anniversary than to expand the publication to the East Coast and make it available to this community, as well.
The magazine has colorful artwork and features stories, poems, riddles, songs, cut-and-paste projects, children’s cooking projects, a bit of science, and more. Using classical Armenian spelling, the magazine is in both Eastern and Western Armenian.
A successful venture starts with a vision, but it requires much more. Davtian brings it all to the table. She has an MBA and marketing experience, as well as years of experience as a preschool teacher, Armenian Saturday school teacher, and a resident counselor for children and teenage girls. With a degree in psychology and child development, she is exceptionally well prepared for the venture she has started.
“Gakavig” is available through subscriptions. To learn more, visit www.gakavig.com, call (617) 393-1870, or email gakavig@gmail.com.
I’m wondering if this magazine, or something similar, is available to children and teachers in Armenia.