Dr. Shivangi Bora

My son is six years old. I’m not sure he is getting enough physical activity. We live in Mumbai and it’s impossible to find safe outdoor play spaces. Please advise.
— Vineeta Sharad, Mumbai
Unfortunately, in India’s ill-planned crowded cities especially the metros, there’s a deficit of safe public outdoor play spaces for children. Also, increasing digital screen time of children has spawned a culture of low mobility. Therefore, it’s important to encourage children from a young age to play sports and games. Children emulate their parents. Ensure that you model a physically active lifestyle with minimum screen time.

Some sports which specially benefit young children’s development are swimming, cycling, basketball ball, tennis, football, and cricket. At home you can encourage skipping rope, hula hoop or yoga exercises. In short, inside and outside the house, encourage children to exercise and become physically fit.

I am a mother of a seven-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter. How can parents recognize and address early signs of mental health problems in children?
— Disha Tarak, Kolkata
Mental health issues in young children are often dismissed as temper tantrums or disobedience. As our society rapidly evolves in the AI age, it is important to become sensitive towards mental wellness. Behavioral cues and changes in children should not be overlooked. Frequently, mental health disorders are identified too late, or only if they are extreme cases.

Parents need to be sensitive to alterations in children’s behaviour, sleep and eating routines. Children may not speak of problems affecting them directly, preferring to express them in other ways such as withdrawing from usual activities, demonstrating fits of anger and aggression, not listening to their parents or excessively watching digital screens.

Any mental health issue, if identified early, can be addressed effectively. Share your observations and apprehensions with your paediatrician or psychologist to enable early assessment and diagnosis.

I don’t know if my three-year-old son is getting enough food and sleep. He often has meltdowns. Please advise.
— Minal Vikas, Delhi
Early childhood is a fast developmental stage during which toddlers undergo several physical and emotional changes. Adjusting to these changes can prompt tantrums, meltdowns and behavioral issues. Therefore, be patient, loving and kind, yet firm while managing them. Hunger, noisy environments and fatigue usually aggravate tantrums, so ensure he is well-fed and hydrated.