Kidzone

Heart to Heart

Dear Moms and Dads, Most families are busy juggling school work, office work, household chores, extra-curricular activities, social life, and myriad little things that make daily schedules a hard grind. It’s easy to spot a room that needs decluttering, but terribly hard to admit that our lives need decluttering too. But once you start, you might discover there is far more value in one special activity, than ten others that take up the same time. Every little activity might seem necessary, but drawing up priorities can make life far smoother and easier for the whole family. The ‘do-it-all’ attitude that supermoms adopt is passed on to children, with extra-curriculars, friends, social media, and other activities fighting for time. What if you read to your child during that 9 p.m. TV serial slot? What if you stopped one of the three hobby classes your child attends — the one she doesn’t seem to be too interested in? What if you dropped that extra half hour on social media, and went for a walk with your children instead? Decluttering our lives is hard to do in today’s ‘do-it-all’ world. But it can help to add quality to our time and get our priorities right. It can turn your mad rush of activities into a focussed life. With hundreds of thoughts and ideas bombarding us, it pays to minimise, declutter, and prioritise.

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Short story: Darkness Demystified

Lakshmi Narayan There was once a gori chokri who despised everything dark to such an extent that she refused to step out at night and slept with the lights on. She hated ravens and crows because of their colour and even decided to mehendi her hair a bright orange to hide its rosewood hue. She wore green coloured contacts to hide her coffee brown eyes, loathed the Little Black Dress even though it was in vogue and preferred to gad about in gaudy ghagra-tops. She spurned her dusky cousins and mocked them as sooty. She insisted on replacing the beloved family steel grey car for a flashy fire engine red eyesore. Things would have gone on like this forever but for a traumatic event, where she went completely blind. “You could get your sight back. Miracles do happen,” said the doctor, with little hope in his voice. She found herself in a windowless dungeon where she couldn’t tell night from day. She had to be aided by attendants whose complexions, she had no idea, were dark or fair. Since she could no longer drive, her friends, who felt sorry for her, took her out for rides, where she was unaware of the shade of their vehicle. Slowly, ever so slowly, she began to distinguish between night and day. The twitter of the birds, the warm rays of the sun, told her it was morning. But it made no difference to her. Her life, as far as she was concerned, had become a moonless night that went on interminably. But with the consistent encouragement of her friends and relatives, she began taking baby steps on her own, as she moved around the house. Even as one sense was stolen from her, her other senses — of smell, touch, taste and hearing — were gradually becoming sharper. With this developed her sixth sense — that of differentiating between the real and the fake. She could instinctively guess who was lying and who was not. Who was cheating and who was not. Who was deceiving and who was not. Who was sincere and who was not. She now valued a person not for his or her shade but because of who they were. She had long discarded her tinted lenses and her hennaed hair had grown back to its original inky mane. This time around, she preferred to keep it in its natural state. With the heightening of the senses also came the knowledge that black was beautiful, in its own way. Night had been created by the Maker to rest and recharge oneself. She understood that Light is the present and the past, where everything is already exposed. Dark is the future — exciting, unexplored, undiscovered, exhilarating, inviting, beckoning, challenging, perhaps even dangerous. But nevertheless, something to look forward to. Then marvel of marvels! The unthought-of happened. She could see! As she raised her face to the morning sun, she sent up a heartfelt thanks to the Maker. But now she was…

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“Are my son’s teeth in danger?”

My son is seven. and eats sweets and chocolates almost every day. His grandparents keep buying him soft drinks and confectionery. I have repeatedly explained the dangers of such indulgence but they take my words with a pinch of salt. Should I worry about my son’s teeth? – M.P, Chennai Definitely. Children can experience tooth decay even as age three. Plaque can easily build up, and dental problems can start very early. While persuading your parents or in-laws to see the error of their ways may be an uphill task, there are some steps you can take. Educate your child. Show him videos and pictures to help him understand the consequences of unhealthy eating. Help him monitor himself by following guidelines such as, ‘Not more than one sweet a day, or one chocolate bar per week,’ etc. So when a doting elder gets him a bagful of sweets, he will have the self-control to thank him, eat one, and save the rest for later. Another habit to encourage is brushing teeth every night, and every time after eating sweets. The need to brush after every sweet he eats, will discourage him from eating them. When food particles are brushed away immediately, there is far less opportunity for plaque to form and tooth decay. Get your kids off sweets Spend time together to research the ill effects of different types of sweets – hardboiled candy, chocolate, jellies, jujubes, Indian sweets, etc. Research the healthiest options. • Substitute fruits, dates and raisins to satisfy your child’s craving for sweets. • Use honey or date syrup instead of refined sugar with rotis or dosas, and cornflakes. • If you get boxes of sweets or chocolates as gifts, encourage your child to share them with his friends.

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Is your child’s vision perfect?

Anitha Bennett Several studies show that during the past 20 years, the number of children wearing spectacles has doubled. A chat with Dr. Isai Mitra, ophthalmologist of the I Center, Chennai, who specialises in child ophthalmology is likley to be an ‘eye-opener’ for parents. How should parents as certain if their chidren need glasses? A child will seldom tell you that her vision is blurred. It is up to parents to look for tell-tale signs. When children complain of constant headache or pain in the eyes, or start squinting, it’s time to visit the ophthalmologist. Most kids who have a vision problem tend to hold reading material very close to the face, or have difficulty in copying from the blackboard in school. Look for these tell-tale signs. What’s the next step? Don’t postpone the visit to an ophthalmologist. In many instances, parents hesitate as wearing glasses can make a child feel self-conscious. A visit to your eye doctor is mandatory every year once your child starts school. Make this a part of your summer schedule even if your children don’t display any of the above symptoms. What are the causes of so many eye problems? Several factors are involved. Nutritional deficiencies, too much digital screen time, genetics, environmental factors as well as natural growth of the eye, which changes its curvature . How can we combat eye problems before they start? Some preventive action will help. One is to feed children foods rich in vitamin A, like carrots and greens. Another is to let your child get enough outdoor play in the sun for better absorption of vitamin A and D. Make sure she has good lighting when she reads sitting upright in a chair or against a wall, instead of lying down. Protective sunglasses are essential when you go out to avoid UV ray exposure. Last but not least, limit digital screen time. Your television set should be placed at eye level, and viewers should be seated at least six feet away. Screen time should not exceed more than two hours per day and even that should not be continuous. How do eye exercises help? Eye exercises strengthen eye muscles. When your child is engaged in intense study, you can teach him to blink forcefully now and then. This keeps the eyes moist and will reduce itchiness. It will also help her to see clearly and focus better. Your ophthalmologist will give you other eye exercises depending on your child’s needs. What if the child is too young for glasses? If vision is not perfect, spectacles become necessary, regardless of age. Child-friendly specs in vibrant colors are available these days. Plastic glasses are very user-friendly, and durable. Encourage and motivate your child to use them without embarrassment. Children adapt more quickly to glasses than adults because they see and appreciate differences in clarity easily. Children should wear contact lenses only when they are old enough to handle them carefully.

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Heart to Heart

Dear Parent, All knowledgeable parents try to keep children away from junk food, fizzy drinks and unhealthy lifestyles. But in the busy whirl of daily life, when popping a pack of biscuits into a snack box is much easier than packing chopped fruits, it’s easy to lose sight of these ideals. The same goes for good intentions when it comes to enrolling children in sports and games. When the logistics of dropping and picking them up becomes tedious, and kids have other priorities, it’s easy to miss sports practice and coaching. Let’s face it; practical issues don’t always allow us to maintain healthy lifestyle initiatives. So what’s the solution? Simple. Change your attitude. Stop thinking of healthy habits as something to wish for, but as a top priority item on your daily agenda. When children’s health is a priority, it becomes easier to make time to implement brave resolutions. It’s important to bear in mind that children’s illness can play havoc with parents work and social lives. Therefore look for natural, yet convenient alternatives. Admittedly this isn’t simple. But with some imagination, it is possible. A little planning and stocking one day a week can help you keep your resolve. For example, you could put away two snack boxes of roasted groundnuts, cashew nuts or dates, and buy bananas and other fruits for the week. Keeping a pack of flavoured glucose powder ready is a better option than fizzy drinks. To inculcate the sports and fitness habit, choose a game/ sport that your child loves. She’ll be more likely to keep at it, and you’ll be motivated to keep her at it. What’s your formula for ensuring the health and well-being of your family? Mail us your tips and ideas. Write to us at [email protected].

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Family Fitness

Setting aside time to go to the gym, or signing children up for sports and games training may not fit into your schedule through the year. But a family exercising together could work. Instead of figuring out when to leave the family and hit the gym, you can have your kids urging you to work out with them. Some suggestions. First, get a gym trainer to help you draw up a fitness programme. Fix a regular time for working out every day, and get family members to keep that time aside, disallowing all other activities. Keep a skipping rope, badminton racquet and other sports equipment which can be used at home, garden or neighbourhood park. Go running, jogging and/or walking together and watch fitness videos on the net together to remain motivated. Invite a sports coach occasionally to teach you new skills. The whole family will feel energetic and revitalised.

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Cli’mate’ Corner

Nishant Saxena Hey kids! It’s me your mate, cli’mate’! You seem surprised. Don’t you know me? Well, if you don’t, let me introduce myself. I am climate. But, I’m pretty sad these days. I’m losing friends and that’s what’s making me sad. I think I mustn’t leave you wondering what I am and what’s changing me. So, let me first tell you what’s climate and what’s making it change. Because unless you know me, how can you be my friend? Weather or climate? To understand me, you should first understand my cousin, weather. You may think we are one and the same, but weather and climate are two different species! While weather is about short-term changes in the atmosphere, climate is about how the weather is in a particular region, spread over a year or more. For instance, if it’s too hot outside, then that’s the weather in your city. For instance rain, cold, wind, snow, cyclone, etc, are all-weather events. Now ask yourself what’s the weather in your city these days. Is it the same as last year this month and in this month in the previous year as well? If yes, then that’s the climate of your state or region. In simple terms, climate is a pattern of weather that repeats over a long time, years and even centuries. For example, a desert usually has a dry climate because it doesn’t rain much there. But when it rains, it’s just a weather event. The climate of that region is dry. Climate change Now that you know the difference between climate and weather, Let’s discuss climate change, a big issue these days. Well, climate change means a change in usual weather patterns — such as temperature and rainfall — in a region for several years. For example, the annual mean temperature in India has increased by 1.2℃ from what it was 100 years ago. That’s climate change. But climate change is not just impacting India. It is impacting the entire Planet Earth. The earth’s temperature is rising, changing usual weather conditions around the world. Summers are getting warmer, winters colder; it’s either raining too much or not at all. Sea levels are rising and the mountain snows are melting too fast. This warming of the earth is changing usual global weather patterns and global climate. Global warming From this you can well imagine, warming of the earth has been changing me. But first why is the earth warming and making weather conditions worldwide unpredictable. But before that, let me ask you a trick question. What does a blanket do? You got it right. It helps us remain warm when it’s cold. Similarly, the Planet Earth would have been a ball of ice had it not been surrounded by a blanket of gases, which keeps it warm and comfortable. But just as you don’t like too many blankets because it would make you sweaty and uncomfortable, Planet Earth also doesn’t like it if the blankets of gases becomes too thick.…

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“Iʼm tired of birthday parties…”

“We spend a bundle year after year on birthday celebrations with school friends which seem so meaningless, as children have become accustomed to such birthday celebrations. I want to break out of this routine but it’s hard to do, as it is socially expected.” M.R, Kolkata Yes, birthdays parties can become repetitive with the type of celebrations that your children’s friends expect. Yet every birthday can become a special milestone to celebrate the joy of having this child in your life. Talk to her about making each birthday extra special and meaningful by doing something different. Here are some ways to break out of the monotony of the routine birthday party. 1. Plan an initiative that will introduce your family to a new activity. It could be trekking, outdoor camping or a new adventure sport. 2. Invite a handful of old friends or relatives whom you rarely meet, to a lakeside picnic. 3. Plan a day of activities at an orphanage or old people’s home where your family can mingle with residents. 4. Gift your child a membership to a new skill development class of her choice, and spend the day exploring the skill by making a visit to a connected place. Staging a meaningful birthday • Don’t let the stereotype cake-and-balloons party or school celebration take the zing out of your child’s birthday. • Focus on making her feel loved and treasured. Make a card appreciating your child’s good habits, lovable traits and laudable activities. Spend time talking about the joy you felt on the day she was born, and reminisce about her first schoolfriends. • Start a yearly folder containing photos and objects that made the past year memorable. It can include craftwork, pictures, positive remarks made in a school test paper, or pictures taken at a summer camp. • Make and decorate cupcakes or cakes with your child to share in school. It will be an extra-special treat because you made them!

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Bonding over craft: Rainbow chimes

Anitha Bennett Rainbow colours streaming in through your window, tinkling chimes. Sounds good? Get your children excited about it, and work on making it happen. Moreover, working on a craft project for your home is great for family bonding. Materials needed • Cardboard —1 sheet • Cellophane/metallic paper — 5 sheets in different colours • Black chart paper —1 sheet • A few tiny bells or the jingles found in anklets • Scissors, punching machine, paints, brushes • Thin satin ribbon, stapler, glue How to make a circle 1. Cut two circles of 3 cm diameter from cardboard. 2. Carefully cut an inner circle of 2 cm diameter from each of the cardboard circles. You now have two cardboard circles resembling bangles. 3. You could use saucers and bangles to draw and cut the inner and outer circles. 4. Cut one circle of 3 cm diameter from cellophane paper. 5. Next, make a small paper cut-out of a heart or star from black chart paper. 6. Stick the heart to the centre of the cellophane. 7. Sandwich the cellophane paper between the two cardboard cut-outs using glue and stapler. You now get a lovely circle with glass paper and a shape in the middle. Assembling the glass chime 1. Make five circles using different colours of cellophane paper. 2. Paint cardboard circles in vibrant colours, preferably colours in contrast to the colour of the cellophane paper inside. 3. Punch holes in top and bottom of cardboard glass circle and attach the circles one below the other with bits of satin ribbon. 4. Loop a few tiny bells through the punched bottom hole of the last circle. 5. Loop a long satin ribbon through the punched top hole of the first circle and hang it near the sunniest window of the house. Alternately, draw and cut curves in different colours, attach the edges with craft glue, and make a single rainbow like the one in the picture. Hang a few tiny bells so that they gently tap each other in the breeze. As sunlight streams through your glass chime, your room will have coloured light all around.

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Nurturing friendships that last

Cynthia John Remember the close friends who stood by you through thick and thin? Your children need such friends too! In times when children are separated from family, they will need precious friends who can give them good advice and moral support. While such friendships grow over the years, you can do your bit to develop them. When your child has a ‘bestie,’ give them opportunities to do things together, like sports or dance classes. A dependable, responsible friend can keep your child out of trouble or provide useful help and advice in a moment of crisis — which you may not be able to do! Occasionally, encourage a sleepover with lots of late night chatting and secrets. Night-time bonding helps them to open up and share experiences and confidences. Much as you may believe that you should be your child’s first confidante, the relationship is likely to diminish with the passage of time. Therefore value your child’s friendships as you value your own!

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Heart to Heart

Cynthia John Dear Parent, The recent earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria highlight the precarious preciousness of life. But the natural instinct is to shield children from such tragedies. Yet while it’s prudent not to expose them to gory images in the media, it’s not necessary to over-protect children from learning about the realities of life. In a world of rising consumerism and self-centredness, exposure to tragedies can help children understand and appreciate the value of life, family and what they have. Watching or reading reports of children who have lost parents, and people who have lost their homes can help children value creature comforts they usually take for granted. Moreover, discussing such issues within the family helps them to develop values such as compassion, sharing and sacrifice. En famille, you could plan to contribute in cash and kind to people who’ve suffered loss of life and property. Similarly, when painful diseases and death afflict our near and dear ones, talking about it helps children to respect and love elders who have a short lease of life. Of course, every parent wants her child to feel safe and secure. But making them aware of the joys and tragedies of life supplemented with reassurances, will help your children appreciate the comfort and security of home and family and prepare them to cope with the inevitable slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. On the other hand as parents while we appreciate the value of our children’s lives, we can also learn to cherish the moments we spend with our precious progeny. It’s a lesson parents need to learn as much as children do.

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When your child fails to meet expectations

Cynthia John “I was always a topper in my school. I had my notes picture perfect and I was a model student. But my daughter is just the opposite — incomplete notes, complaints of daydreaming from her teachers and total disinterest in academic study. She doesn’t like extra curricular activities either. Every evening, homework time becomes a battle. I’m fed up with this!” laments Asha Krishnan, mother of Sumukhi (9). The causes of Sumukhi’s behaviour could be many. Parents find it hard to pinpoint, much less fix such problems. Heavy parental pressure to perform, learning disabilities which have gone unnoticed, and pleasant/unpleasant distractions at school are some of the common reasons behind children failing to live up to parents academic expectations. Parents world over dread the day they learn their child is not an A class student in school. Comparisons fly and frustrations mount. With such negative inputs, the child could end up with a failure mindset. With cases of depression and student suicides on the rise, here are three ways in which parents can help infuse confidence in their children, and help them deal with peer and school pressure. GET INVOLVED. Many parents proudly proclaim they have no clue what’s happening in their child’s school. The first step in helping out a failing child is to become thoroughly involved in her day-to-day life. You need to understand your child’s day at school — the friends she has, the subjects she learns and about her teachers. As you share your child’s day, you will be able to appreciate her challenges and help her out. Lower your expectations, and learn to appreciate your child for what she is. GET TALKING. Few parents make time to actually sit down to talk to their children. Once you have short-listed the issues, talk to your child about them — one at a time. Getting her to open up may be difficult, but a non-judgmental, casual attitude will help. Discuss and enable your child to ideate solutions for her problems. Work out routines and schedules jointly to help her focus and streamline her homework. Avail every opportunity to praise her with encouraging words. GET HELP. Problems beyond parental control have to be resolved with external help. It could mean a conversation with a strict teacher in school to help her understand your child’s sensitivity, or seeking the intervention of parents of the class bully to promote better relationships in school. Most importantly, if you suspect a learning disability when your child fails to meet expectations, don’t be ashamed or afraid to solicit professional help. Many minor learning problems can be solved with timely intervention. Ignoring or refusing to acknowledge them can multiply your child’s problems.

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Redefining ‘Learning’

Sunil Noronha You learn something new everyday. It’s now commonly accepted that learning happens 24×7. It’s a continuum that starts from the womb and never stops. It’s happening right now, as you read this article! The key to learning something new everyday is to redefine learning. Everything we see, every new experience, each new book, every movie we watch — they are all learning experiences. Learning involves anything we didn’t know before, or something we understand better. There are many things you can do to ensure continuous learning by your child. Here are a few ideas. TAKE OFF THE WEIGHT When a child is reading a book, the purpose shouldn’t be to memorise and internalise. This becomes a mental weight she has to bear while she learns. When she consciously reads to learn, she doesn’t read calmly, peacefully and unhurriedly. She does it just so that she can get done with it. Children should be encouraged to read without worrying about whether or not they will be able to remember what they read. Our minds naturally pick up information from the environment — in this case, from the book being read. LET THE MIND WORK The human mind works best if we don’t hinder its natural process. To do this, ensure your child reads in a relaxed manner. After she’s done, she may repeat it to you/herself in the way she best remembers it. This way, she associates a story with the characters, or concepts with information. This way, she won’t merely ‘mug’ information, but will use cues within a story to remember and understand it better. Memories are created when synaptic connections in the brain are stimulated or existing ones are strengthened. As a child attempts to recall a story, her synapses get stronger. More re-reads of a book under stress-free conditions, followed by this process, will help her remember and understand better. Of course, this is not the ideal process for the night before the exam, but a new learning process that can be gradually become the norm. INDULGE AND ENJOY LEARNING By keeping the learning process light, and reading with the mind’s natural process of learning, your child can enjoy what she learns. She will discover the joy of it and pursue it on her own — and not just limit it to class textbooks. Her basic approach to knowledge and learning will change. Developing the right attitude towards learning in early childhood can kindle the joy of knowledge and push children in the right direction. True, learning this way does not necessarily bring highest marks, but it will help your child enjoy the process of learning throughout life. Reading more, research and self-exploration can become voluntary when learning becomes a pleasure. So let the learning adventure begin!

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Heart to Heart

Cynthia John Hello Parents! It’s not unusual to meet youngsters unwilling to conform with formal schooling systems. A growing number of smart and savvy students are disillusioned with the annual scramble for marks and grades, and rebel against the system in differing ways. Recently I met a class X teen who refused to write his exams, although he was a good student. His parents had been strict, and demanding, which was part of the cause of his rebellion. Later he continued his education through the open schooling system, and signed up for a vocational course. Another rebel completed her engineering diploma, then switched streams to work as a successful copywriter in several advertising agencies. Tech-savvy kids are beginning to think more about the way the new world works, and aren’t always as patient as the previous generation. The rising incidence of such rebellions should prompt introspection on parenting styles. Parents do their best to ensure that their children study hard and qualify for admission into top ranked higher education institutions. In most such cases, it isn’t parenting efforts that are to blame, but parenting style. Often it isn’t failure of guidance but that rebellious children are cut from a different cloth. Parents should view such rebellion not as the end of education, but perhaps a new beginning. Indeed it’s high time parents learnt to acknowledge the advantages of joyful learning, unblemished by the scramble for marks, rank and prestige. We need to accept the open schooling, home schooling, vocational training and apprenticeship options. If a child becomes aware that she has the aptitude for a totally unconventional vocation, why not keep the option open? Surely 20 years later, you don’t want your child to regret being an engineer instead of an artist. Idea Box Kids who dare to dream As children survey the world around them, they naturally want to emulate people they admire — teachers, sports stars, actors, astronomers. They become interested in computers, spaceships, fire engines, and want to design them. These aspirations may not conform with their syllabus for the year, but arise out of confidence that such goals are realisable. Children should be encouraged to cultivate interests and hobbies beyond textbooks. They should be encouraged to mingle with all types of people, without being fettered by preconceptions that the best vocations are those that provide good money, stability, and social prestige. If allowed to dream freely, they will be motivated to pursue their dreams, whether it involves doing their best in history, or opting for vocational programmes.

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Raise a great communicator

Nisha Daniel Nurturing your child to love (English) language and become an effective communicator is one of the best gifts you could bestow upon her. Strong linguistic skills are an asset and the passport to success in academics, higher education and workplaces. Here are some simple tips to develop your child’s communication skills. Watch your words When you describe something, use an expressive word to communicate vividly. For example, instead of saying, “The movie was good,” you could say, It was spine-chilling or hilarious. Use of uncommon descriptive words will broaden your child’s vocabulary, because children absorb vocabulary very quickly and retain what they hear. Get children hooked on books With the internet, gaming and television demanding their attention, children aren’t reading as much as previous generations. You should try a few tricks to get them hooked on books. You could narrate an exciting story at bedtime, and then give them the book telling the same story. Or, you could get them books that have been turned into movies. Ensure she watches the movie first. This will arouse her interest in reading a book featuring familiar characters. Get them story books with their favourite cartoon characters. Once your child is hooked to reading, vocabulary and grammar will automatically improve. Develop early reading skills Websites such as starfall.com teach early reading skills through simple word games that preschoolers can play, with assisted reading. For example, two games might identify a limited number of words. Then the child can be encouraged to read a story featuring those words. If she is unable to read a word, all she needs to do is click the word, and it will be read aloud. Using word games Try solving crossword puzzles and other word puzzles together on lazy afternoons. “My kids always hated the dictionary, but after we started playing scrabble, they are forever visiting dictionary. com,” says Shivani, mother of two preteen boys. Vacations are also great for games like word building and the travel version of scrabble. Creative writing Writing limericks, poems and stories can be fun. There are plenty of free resources on the internet, including story starters, creative writing lessons for beginners and more. Encourage children to maintain personal diaries or a blog. Good writing skills will help her in all subjects, and later in her career. Spoken English If your child’s spoken English skills are not good, speak English at home whenever possible, or enrol her in hobby classes where good English is spoken.

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Heart to Heart

Hello Parents! Heard enough about quality time? Forget psychologists and educationists who cry themselves hoarse about how children need quality time. If you are an average busy stressed-out parent, it will help you to learn that investing quality time in your children will benefit you just as much as them. Perhaps this is a good time for you to forget your worries and enjoy the company of enthusiastic, energetic, laughter-filled kids. Indeed, in the daily round filled with stress, meetings and work pressure, the innocent, joyous laughter of children is the best stressbuster. Most people are unaware that laughter decreases proportionally with age, and stress increases exponentially as people grow older. A baby needs no reason to laugh and gurgle. An infant is joyously appreciative of the smallest discoveries and toys. A preschooler will spontaneously laugh at silly things. But after that, mirth is a downward plunge. By adulthood, laughter dwindles to such low levels that newspapers need to publish research on the benefits of laughter, and its positive effect on mental and physical health. An hour spent with children, giving them full attention, can also help parents to focus on important things in life. Sharing the wonder of discovery with kids by travelling, going on a nature trek, or playing together is a great way to end a long week. So, try devoting more hours to your family. It will do wonders for your well-being. Idea box Bridging the generation gap Enjoy sharing your life with your children in these simple ways. It will help you understand your kids better and draw them closer to you. Rediscover old hobbies. Teach children the joy of flying kites, scrapbooking and playing cards. While kids may show little interest in anecdotes about your childhood games and hobbies, their reaction will be enthusiastic if you engage with them and play your childhood games. Share their joys. Watch cartoons they love, and share their enthusiasm. If you find that some television programmes contain too much violence, and aren’t suitable for children, introduce them to other programmes. Discuss the reservations you have openly. Ask your children to teach you computer games. Perhaps you’ll learn something that you missed in your childhood, and will enjoy sharing her games and activities. You also get to know which programmes need to be avoided for glorifying violence.

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Idea Box: The Magic of Science

Fortunately, science is not just about high marks and entrance exams. Though the subject is associated with toppers, medicine and engineering, its breadth is so wide that most children are enthralled by it. If your child gets hooked to the magic of science, she could be studying marine life in the Maldives, conducting research to discover new drugs, testing rockets and satellites, or putting a supercomputer together, among a host of other exciting things. If you would like to enjoy science once again (or for the first time), join your children to discover its wonders. Here are some ways to experience the magic of science. 1. Enrol them in science, robotics, nature and other clubs, in and outside school. 2. Buy or borrow DIY books with interesting experiments and projects. Ditto electromagnetic kits and other science kits. 3. Log on to websites/portals that provide virtual science tours, videos, experiments and more.

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Heart to Heart

Dear Parent, What’s your pain point? Latchkey kids? No family dinners? More time at playschool/daycare? Some lament these issues. Others dismiss them as inevitable. Some frown at lifestyle choices of parents. And parents try to ignore critics, or justify their choices. Like it or not, urban realities are here to stay. Long distance or broken marriages. Day boarding schools. Stressed-out parents. It sounds depressing. As if our kids are somehow more deprived and neglected than children were 20 years ago. But this isn’t a completely accurate picture. Iʼve lost count of the number of disapproving looks I get when people hear that my two-year-old goes to playschool. What they donʼt know is that she is the most excited child in the group of toddlers learning action songs and dance. She has been in three playschools so far, and didnʼt cry on the first day in any of them. A pleasant surprise! I donʼt quite understand how a child can happily go and play with strangers without crying for mommy. But maybe thatʼs my generation gap! Fact is children find nothing ʻabnormalʼ about new situations they encounter. They know how to adapt far better than we did in our childhood. We may not have liked coming home to an empty house, but todayʼs kids are used to it and donʼt mind. In the end, itʼs the parental love they receive that matters. Todayʼs kids are tech-savvy, smarter and quicker to learn and understand. More emotionally mature, they have the capacity to cope with different situations with cool. So who are we to judge them as ʻdeprivedʼ? Of course parents make mistakes, but every generation goes through that. Do we really need to feel sorry or apologetic for our different lifestyles and their upbringing? I donʼt think so. Instead, we should stand up and applaud the way they handle new situations.

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Movies to enjoy together

Anitha Bennett Looking for family weekend ideas that you and your children will enjoy? Children may not share your enthusiasm for Scrabble, but they will definitely enjoy a good movie. Create a ʻmovie timeʼ weekend once a month, distinctly different from watching the telly daily. This can be a starting point for conversations about the issues highlighted in the movie. It can also help you talk about how to choose the right movie, and why some are best avoided. Darken the room, microwave some popcorn, get refreshments and sit down for a family movie experience. Pause every half hour for water and to talk about the movie. Choose a movie that adults and children can enjoy together. Try one of these: Shrek Forever After This Shrek sequel has all the ogre-related fun and more. And what children learn is, when the going gets tough, donʼt make hasty decisions! Shrek is in the midst of a mid-life crisis. But oddly the film is suitable for all age groups since it’s more about how we are tempted to escape our responsibilities. Shrek misses his care-free days of gross mud baths and eye-ball cocktails. Married to Fiona with a brood of tiny ogres, he is changing diapers and has no time or place for ordinary ogre activities. In a moment of weakness and frustration, he ends up signing away his family to Rumpelstiltskin. Immediately, Shrek is spun into a world where his friends donʼt know him and his romance with Fiona never happened! Unfortunately, Shrek didnʼt read the fine print of the document when striking the deal with sly Rumpelstiltskin, who had inspired the mid-life crisis to grab control of the Kingdom of Far Far Away! Those who have watched previous Shrek movies will truly enjoy Puss with her weight issues and the evergreen Donkey with his singing talent! The story has a predictable happy ending. But watching Shrek and friends winning his family back from evil Rumpelstiltskin is funny and entertaining. Toy Story 3 Andy grows up and is about to go to college and has to decide what to do with his things — what to throw away and what to keep. Apart from Woody and Buzz Lightyear, all the toys begin to panic, thinking they will be end up in the city dump. After a mishap, the toys find themselves in a box on their way to a nursery. At first, the other toys in the nursery seem friendly and nice, but Andyʼs toys soon find that the place they thought was paradise is actually a prison. Thereʼs action-packed adventure as the toys first escape from the nursery, then the city dump and find their way back home. Alvin and the Chipmunks — the Squeakuel The chipmunks are back — and there are more of them! Dave, the manager and human father of the chipmunks, decides to send them to school. Alvin, Simon and Theodore try to fit in. Although they have to put aside their stardom they are still…

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Short Story: Broken wings

Lakshmi Narayan There was once an angel, beautiful beyond compare, with teeth like white marble, hair like black coal, eyes a deerlike amber, skin the colour of honey and wings of shimmering gold. She was so wondrous to behold that all who saw her fell in love with her. Then one day, she fell down from the sky and uttered a cry so piteous at the sight of her mangled wings that the Creator himself was moved to do something about it. He packed her off for rest and recovery to a facility he’d just set up. “Don’t come back till you’ve sprouted new wings,” he instructed her. At first, she hated the place where she’d been sent. It was cold and grey and bleak and dreary. She moped around, mourning the loss of her precious wings. Her skin turned sallow, her hair became dull and limp, her eyes red and swollen, her smile drooped. Soon, however, she looked up and saw the starry sky and the moonbeams bathing everything in a silvery shine. When she awoke the next morning, the sun was rising like a ripe mango, flowers were nodding, the leaves dancing, celebrating the dawn of a new day. Her spirits too lifted up as she capered about like a frisky fawn. Days later, she could feel little stubs on her back and knew that her wings were starting to grow again. And sure enough, they were soon restored to their former glory, as she darted and fluttered to her heart’s content. Now healed, it was time to give thanks to the Creator and wing her way back to where she’d come from. My friends, by now you must have guessed I made up this story. But let me tell you, we’re all angels with broken wings, sent here to mend ourselves with laughter and gaiety. By clasping joy with our whole being, we too shall one day take to the air and rejoin our Creator. We are all angels with broken wings trying to find our way back to the Source. (Excerpted from Fables from Beyond, Authors Upront, 2020) Journalist, author and animal activist Lakshmi Narayan is a former assistant editor of Femina and former editor of Eve’s Weekly & Flair

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Five international dishes to try

Restaurants serving multinational cuisine are sprouting countrywide. They help your family savour foreign delicacies in your own city. It’s a good way to wean kids off junk food and fast food joints. Here are international cuisines you could try at home, writes Anitha Bennet Fajita A Fajita is a staple of Mexican menus. Typically it consists of marinated and grilled strips of chicken, prawns or beef, served with warm flour tortillas. Onions, potatoes and bell peppers are roasted and grilled together with the meat. A spoonful of avocado guacamole and sour cream added to this makes the filling complete. The tortilla is rolled and dipped into spicy salsa to transform into an amazing meal. Kappa maki A vegetarian sushi roll, Kappa maki is served as a starter in Japanese cuisine. It comprises cucumber strips with salt and Japanese rice wrapped in nori (strips of edible dried seaweed). This flavourful combination with a soya sauce dip or a dab of wasabi (horseradish sauce) makes Kappa maki a must-try! Falafal Falafal is typically Lebanese street food served in hot pita bread pockets. The falafal ball or patty is made from ground chickpeas and spices. It is deep-fried and dropped into pockets made of pita bread and topped with onions and other pickled vegetables. Drizzled with tahini or hot sauce, falafal is a tasty anytime snack. Miang Kham Miang Kham is a Thai appetizer comprising lettuce, spinach or betel leaves combined with various fillings — small bits of lemon, peanuts, onion, red chilli, ginger, flakes of dry roasted coconut, dried prawns and a sauce made of palm sugar. Pile the accompaniments on the leaf, trickle the sauce and pop it into your mouth as a whole to experience a delightful combination of flavours! Paella A biryani of sorts, paella is a popular meal in Spanish cuisine. On the exact ingredients of the best paella, master chefs differ. But essentially, it’s a combination of rice, vegetables and various meats. Snails, prawns, chicken, beef and lamb can be added into paella, sometimes all in one go! Flavoured with rich saffron and olive oil, this dish is a treat to eat!

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Reaching out to teach

Annie Besant Jon Do you know a child who wants to learn but can’t afford school? Or a child who has a hard time doing her homework because her parents are illiterate? Your family could help such children! It’s a good way to teach your children the joy of helping others. Helping an underprivileged child to learn the alphabet or basic maths is not hard as it seems initially, and you’ll be surprised at how eager many children are to learn to write their name in English! Involve your children in teaching or helping less privileged children. But remind them not to be bossy or high-and-mighty. The chances are that underprivileged children will also teach your child a skill or two! Who to teach Your underprivileged student could be the child of your house helper. Or even your child’s classmate whose parents can’t afford to send her for private tuition. If your student doesn’t know the alphabet, this is where you should start. Get your child to interact with her first, so they both feel comfortable, learning together, and from each other. Class materials The simplest source of lessons is your child’s old school textbooks. You can use everything from drawing and colouring books to used textbooks. To start off, equip your student with unused notebooks, pencils, pen, eraser, etc. Buy one or two textbooks if necessary. As you build a relationship, you will be able to choose right books more easily. Remain committed Impress upon your family that it’s an important commitment you are making. Select a place and time to meet with your student, and stick to your commitment. Alternatively, you could choose to teach your student in your home after your child comes back from school. Or you can choose to teach her for an hour or two on Sunday afternoons. If you’re helping your child’s classmate, invite her home after school and let them do their homework together. Once you establish a routine, do all you can to sustain it. Testing times! Give your student simple quizzes and tests every few weeks. Create a snazzy report card which they can take home to show their parents! Make it fun Be creative. Use props, music, and interactive games. But don’t get so serious about your teaching that your student feels unhappy coming to study! If you enjoy teaching, the student will enjoy learning! Design lessons where you read aloud together dramatising the text. Switch on the TV when your favourite cartoon is on air and use it as a teaching aid. You could even stage a play with poor neighbourhood children.

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Heart to Heart

Cynthia John Hello Parents! I recently met a mother who is waging regular battles with her daughter. Her 14-year old daughter wants to go out with friends, hang out at malls and visit friends, like most teenagers. But given the deteriorating law and order situation countrywide, her parents refuse to allow her to go anywhere unaccompanied. Her mother fears dangers lurking in teen hangouts such as malls — shady males hanging around, girls being served spiked drinks and so on. Teens, preteens and moms will continue to wage these battles, involving curfews, dating, sex, and related matters (see EducationWorld, December 2012). But parents should note that too many restrictions are as dangerous as too much freedom. The highly restricted child could become rebellious, prompting dangerous behaviour including leaving home, indulging in clandestine substance abuse and highly sexual behaviour. Likewise a teen given too much freedom could get involved in substance abuse, pornography and premarital sex. Striking a balance between freedom and restrictions is the duty of every responsible parent. Of course, this is a tricky business and could involve a lifelong struggle. Ultimately, the values and judgement inculcated in children shape them and help them to do the right thing, choose suitable companions, and resist dangerous addictions. I believe the personal time spent with children, bonding with them and transfering values makes a vital difference. The minutes spent listening to your child, telling bedtime stories, sharing anecdotes from your life… all of them accumulate over the years, building character and values. Your life, values and example will impact your child’s heart and personality.That’s why investing time in children is the best investment that parents can make. Idea Box: Stepping outdoors Increasingly, school, homework, television and computers are conspiring to keep your child indoors. Here are some strategies to get kids outdoors for activities and absorption of vitamin D. Host a photography contest. Give your children and their friends an outdoor theme, and prompt them to click good pictures. Organise a Nature search. Make a list of things that can be found in nature, and give your child and friends the list. This can be done in a public park, if it is not possible near your house. The person who brings every object listed is declared winner. Outdoor crafts. Give your child basic craft materials such as fevicol, scissors and cards. Let her hunt for objects like twigs, pebbles, feathers and stones and design creative greeting and thank you cards.

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Short story: The Princeling

Once, there was a little boy who roamed the streets of the city, because he didn’t have a roof over his head. He had no idea what his name was or who his parents were. If he was lucky, someone threw him a stale vada pao or a half-drunk bottle of Coke. But most nights, he went to bed hungry, having been kicked around by irate shopkeepers and their customers when he tried to cadge a biscuit or a samosa off them. That was until a lady in a swanky car saw him at the traffic signal. She fell for his sweet, innocent face and took him home. He was bathed, fed, dressed in clean clothes and put to bed. The lady — who was very kind-hearted — decided to adopt him. She put him in an excellent school and was pleased to find him a quick learner. Being cute and sharp, he became everybody’s darling. The cook often surprised him with his favourite gajar halwa, topped with rabri. The maid took him walking to the children’s park every evening to play with other kids. He was chauffeur-driven to birthday parties quite often. His room was full of toys from all over the world. His doting mother called him her Rajkumar. He was like baby Krishna surrounded by besotted gopis. Soon the boy began to believe he was indeed a royal prince. Before long, he became a spoilt brat given to tantrums at every opportunity. He tantrummed his way to school and back. He wasted delicious food lovingly prepared for him by the cook. He demanded that he be given first preference on swings and see-saws on the public playground. He insisted that his mom read him three bedtime stories every night. Therefore, he was devastated when she met with an accident and died instantly. He was no longer homeless, but where was all the extra attention that made him feel so special? The cook continued to present delicious meals. But she just placed them on the table and went away, not bothering whether he ate or not. The maid took him out to play, but stood in a corner, chatting with her friends. His grades started falling because there was no one to help him with his homework, as his dad was too busy at work. He went to bed alone, and when he had nightmares, there was no one to rush in and comfort him. Too late, it registered on him that he’d been a prince only because his mother had made him one. Now he was just the boy who’d been picked off the streets and given a home. Something he learnt he had to be thankful for. Never take good times for granted. They can disappear as fast as they begin. Never take good times for granted. They can disappear as fast as they begin. Journalist, author and animal activist Lakshmi Narayan is a former assistant editor of Femina and former editor of Eve’s Weekly &…

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Transforming television time

According to 2010 survey of ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry), urban children (aged 6-17) are spending an average of five hours per day watching television. The survey covered major Indian cities in which 52 percent of children had a television in their own rooms. The survey warned that excessive television viewing prompts aggressive, anti-social behaviour, obesity and a host of psychological problems in children. With 66 percent of households countrywide owning television sets, parents need to make telly viewing informative and productive. Interactive programmes Encourage children to watch interactive programmes such as Dora the Explorer, which encourage children to think deeply, or to watch quiz and debate shows. Most programmes require passive viewing, and hours of that can dull the mind, so interactive programmes are a better option. Get involved There is no substitute for getting directly involved in what your kids are doing. Cowatching your children’s programmes will help you identify those that could have a negative impact on them. Discussing jointly viewed programmes and issues raised can provide valuable discussion points. Transform inaction into action Transform passive-viewing programmes to stimulate action. If your children watch music programmes, discuss music-related topics and encourage them to learn to play a musical instrument, sing, or attend concerts. If your children love watching cricket, encourage them to play the game. Devise ways and means to link ideas and themes on television programmes to real-time activities. Plan family limits Don’t set viewing time limits for children. Set them for all family members. Ideally, no one should be watching television for more than one-two hours per day. Get the family to decide which are the best programmes, so they can be viewed together in the permissible hours.

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Short story: The Super Computer

Lakshmi Narayan Once, a long while ago — perhaps in a previous life — I found myself abducted by aliens and taken to their spaceship. After the initial fear, we started chatting. Needless to say, I was full of questions. Since I was a UFO tracker and a sci-fi buff, I wanted to know how the spaceship operated, especially after I saw all the gleaming apparatus. They sportingly allowed me to play with the controls, then urged me to try and push my palm through the steel-like walls of the craft. Of course I expected terrific resistance. But was shocked when my fist went right through the wafer-thin walls. When they asked me to repeat the exercise on them, it was like they too were no more than etched contours. “We’re just holograms. Our real selves are still in the home planet,” they laughed at my bafflement, obligingly morphing from alien to human to animal to illustrate. “We can take any form we like,” they explained. “What about this ship?” I asked with growing concern. I didn’t want to be standing in a void, with nothing to hang on to. “It too is an illusion.” They matched word to action by changing the craft in quick succession to a submarine, a rocket and a fire breathing dragon with wings. Sensing my mounting alarm, they reassured me, “Don’t be scared. You won’t fall. Because it’s your hologram we’re communicating with telepathically. You are safely in bed in your room.” “I suppose it’ll take us another thousand years before we reach your advanced sophistication,” I sighed enviously. I was shocked when they revealed that aeons ago, it was our rishi-munis who’d taught them the science, when they’d visited their planet. “For some reason, we progressed and you regressed,” they remarked thoughtfully. “Can you not teach us what our ancestors taught your ancestors?” I suggested eagerly. “But the knowledge is still with you. It was never taken away.” When I looked puzzled, they pointed to my head. “The most advanced and complicated computer in the galaxy is the human brain, with the mind in the driver’s seat,” they elaborated. “There’s no need to ride in cumbersome spaceships, use expensive fuel, suffer years-long journeys, be scared of being hit by meteorites, face searing hot temperatures or noxious acids in hostile environments. “When the mind steers through space, it becomes part of its surroundings. It soaks in everything and communicates with other beings in their language. Instead of behaving like a colonizer, it becomes one with the host planet, imbibing the many lessons offered. It’s mutually beneficial — they share their knowledge and we share ours. “To operate this spaceship skilfully, you must learn to merge with the universe and blank out all distractions. A time will come when you’ll be adept at this. When that happens you will straddle the world of dreams and of factuality and traverse to the most extra-ordinary realms.” I woke up abruptly, unable to tell the real from the…

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DIY: Lava Lamp Experiment

Johanna Preethi Shama M. The lava lamp experiment demonstrates and explains the concepts of liquid density and chemical reactions to children. Materials  Food colouring  Small cup  Vinegar  Baking soda  1 litre bottle or jar  Vegetable oil  Spoon  Small torch or phone Experiment Step 1  Put three tablespoons of baking soda in the 1 litre bottle/jar. Step 2  Fill 2/3 of the bottle or jar with vegetable oil without letting it mix with the baking soda. Step 3  In the small cup, add 3 drops of food colouring and some vinegar. (To make it more attractive, you can mix colours and add glitter) Step 4  Slowly add the food colouring and vinegar solution to the bottle/jar and observe what happens!  To produce the distinctive lava lamp glow, place your phone torch below the bottle to light up the bottom. Observations  The density (mass/weight) of vinegar is greater than of vegetable oil; hence it sinks to the bottom of the jar, making it “heavier.”  Chemical reactions are the second observation. The vinegar combines with baking soda to release carbon dioxide. This gas manifests as bubbles pushing the liquid to the top. When the bubbles pop, blobs of colored water fall back to the bottom of the glass.

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Imaginary companions are good for children

Cathrinal Silvia In a room full of eight-year-olds, everyone’s busy talking to each other. But suddenly, Shiva leaves to talk to ‘SuperKid,’ an imaginary friend who is waiting to take him on a space adventure. Shiva feels compelled to explain to Superkid why he can’t join him on his adventure right now, but will do later at bedtime. Does your child have a imaginary friend too? If she does, there’s nothing wrong with her. It is perfectly normal, and, in fact, good. According to a 2004 study by Washington and Oregon universities, an estimated 65 percent of children have an imaginary companion (IC) at least once in a lifetime with children aged three-four years — experiencing rapid brain development — most likely to have ICs. A more recent 2021 study by Masahiro Imafuku, a Tokyo-based researcher, found that children with excellent sketching abilities are more likely to have ICs. Is it unusual for children to spend time with an imaginary friend? No. Sharing and discussing problems with even an imaginary person stimulates the brain to ideate and think. Several studies have shown that children with imaginary friends are more likely to be firstborns or only children, but contrary to popular belief, they are not lonelier or more shy than others. In fact, they tend to be creative extroverts. According to psychologists, imaginary companions offer healthy opportunities for children to experience things they can’t have in real life — such as a space adventure. Imaginary play offers children a rare chance to be in complete control. Parents shouldn’t worry about children and their imaginary companions unless they become reclusive and refuse to participate in school/play activities with peers. Friendship with an imaginary person is pleasant and positive for youngest children. As children transition out of early childhood, ICs typically become less important and are usually forgotten.

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Short Story: When wishes come true

When wishes come true -Lakshmi Narayan Once upon a time there was a girl so greedy, she wanted everything. She asked the Source for more and more and the Source, like an indulgent parent, gave her all she desired and said with a smile, “And when will you be satisfied?” Dimpling, the lass coquettishly replied, “I’ll let you know when the time comes.” Before you jump to any conclusion, let me tell you this lass didn’t demand usual stuff like wealth and power, good looks and everlasting youth. She thirsted to be famous the world over, so that people would listen to her. So the Source made her a renowned author. Through her writing she spread the idea of compassion towards the mute, the helpless and the weak in the fur and feather world. Her words were so inspiring that many reconsidered their prejudices and decided to be kinder and more sensitive towards the four-legged, especially the homeless and the hungry. She then sought stamina from the Source so long-lasting that she could work for days without tiring, so that she could rehouse the very old and the very young in shelters safe from the elements. Her demands were never ending. In quick succession, she asked for a silver tongue so that she could convince druggies to give up their addiction and for criminals to follow the straight and narrow. She pleaded for a dip in the ocean of knowledge so that she could educate those who needed help. She wanted healing powers so that she could cure mental and physical pain. She craved for the personality of the Pied Piper so that others would tread her chosen path. One morning she sat on her porch, soaking in the gentle warmth of the sun when, out of nowhere, a three-legged pup hobbled towards her and licked her face. A few minutes later, a smiling child toddled up and threw her arms around her, kissing her soundly. And just ahead of the gate, she could see a bedraggled old woman lift up her hands in benediction. Recognizing the signs for what they were, she whispered joyfully, “I’m content at last.” Looking up at the sky, she said, “I have just one more boon to ask. I haven’t been happier than I am today. Will you now take me up to you? I’m ready. My work here is done.” The Source smiled ruefully and said, “Child, work such as yours is never done. You have to keep at it and keep at it and keep at it. You think you’ve achieved what you have because of me. I might have helped you a wee bit here and there. But it was all your effort, grit and determination.” “When the time is right I promise I’ll lift and take you to my bosom, never to be parted. Till then, keep going, and best of luck.” With that, the girl had to be satisfied. For when you do good, the need to do more…

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Step-by-step drawing

Step-by-step drawing Draw this duck, following the steps, and colour it. Brainteasers The 3 x 3 grid has three missing letters. Guess them so that each row and each column has a complete word. Fill in the missing boxes so that every row and every column adds to 15. You can only use numbers from 1 to 9. And a number can be used only once. Answers: Amazing facts The vocabulary of an average person is 5,000-6,000 words. Earth is the only planet not named after a god. You burn more calories sleeping than you do when watching television. Some worms will eat themselves if they can’t find food! Fingernails grow nearly four times faster than toenails! The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as a substitute for blood plasma. There is a town in Sweden called ‘A’ and a town in France called ‘Y’. Camels have three eyelids to protect themselves from blowing sand. Your left lung is smaller than the right to make room for the heart. Human hair and fingernails continue to grow after death. Inspirational Quotes “Make each day your masterpiece.” — John Wooden “Education is not filling a bucket but lighting a fire.” — William B. Yeats “Learning makes a man fit company for himself.” — Anon “Skill to do comes of doing.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” — Thomas Edison “Each day the world is born anew for him who takes it rightly.” — James Russell Lowell “All the so-called ‘secrets of success’ will not work unless you do.” — Author Unknown “Books are the windows through which the soul looks out.” — Henry Ward Beecher “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” — Albert Einstein “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” — Maria Robinson Also read: Recycled Treasures

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Recycled treasures

Nandini P. Teaching children to recycle objects and materials is a great way to encourage them to adopt an environment friendly lifestyle. Here’s a DIY activity recycling old newspapers and magazines to craft a pen stand and/or flower vase. Materials Needed Newspaper Thin wooden stick (skewer stick) or stiff plastic straws Craft glue Flat brush Wood primer (optional) Acrylic paints (optional) Varnish (optional) Methodology Cut a newspaper page in half. Starting at one corner, place the stick on it, and start rolling the paper inwards. As the stick disappears, keep pulling it out and continue rolling till the end. Pull out the stick, and paste the edge to form a neat roll. Prepare 30 rolls. Making the base Take one roll, flatten it, and apply glue to one side. Roll it tightly into a coil. Take another roll, and continue to make the coil bigger by pasting this one where the other one ends. Do this, until you have a good base, about the size of a coaster. Making the sides Stick the rolls firmly against the side of the coaster. When about ten are stuck, hold them in place for a few minutes till they are well glued, then place them against a wall or object, and dry. Make more rolls until the glue is completely dry (about 15 minutes). Next paste the remaining rolls. Place a bottle or similar object in the middle to give the rolls support until dry. After it is dry, flatten two rolls to paste around the container. Check the size and cut the rolls to fit. Paste one near the top and one near the bottom to strengthen the container. Let it dry. If you want to keep the container as is, you can. If you want a different finish, proceed as outlined below. Colourful finish If you want to make the container sturdy, mix three tablespoons of craft glue with one teacup of water and blend well. Coat the container with this mixture using a big, flat brush. After it is dry, coat it with wood primer, then paint it with acrylic colours and decorate as you like. Finally, coat it with varnish and your pen stand/flower vase is ready for use!

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Start your own business

Cynthia John Entrepreneurship education is the new subject of Indian K-12 education. Several progressive schools across the country are offering programmes in entrepreneurship development, including the Delhi state government which has recently launched an ‘Entrepreneurship mindset curriculum’ in all its public schools. The objective: to develop children’s entrepreneurship skills including communication, risk-taking, networking, critical and creative thinking, problem-solving and business management. In this edition of Kidzone, we provide children guidelines to encourage them to start their own small business during the summer holidays. The concept/idea To begin with, you need a good business idea. It can be something new or tried and tested, but most importantly it should address and solve a problem/need of people and be marketable i.e, people should be willing to pay for it. It can be either a product or service. Here is an example: Need. Families living in your apartment complex love to keep potted plants in their balconies, but don’t have the time to maintain them. Business idea. You could offer to buy suitable potted plants for them and maintain them for a monthly fee. Business plan Once you have chosen a business idea, you need to prepare a business plan. Here are some pointers: 1. Nature of business. Detail the type of business. For instance, selling art and craft items, offering babysitting services, potted plants management etc. 2. Budget. What is the amount of seed money you need to start and sustain the business? List out likely expenses and incomes. Check if you can spare money from your piggybank/ pocket money savings, or if someone is willing to lend the seed money. Keep the initial investment small. 3. People. Do you want to start your business alone or with friends? If you are working with friends, be careful to maintain detailed rules and records for profit-sharing. It’s enjoyable to work with friends, but ensure they share a passion for the business. 4. Workplace. Is there a spare room in the house or garage you can use as your workspace? Where would you sell your products? For instance, if you are selling lemon juice to children in your housing society every evening, after playtime, you could set up a small table on the terrace. For safety reasons, avoid visiting neighbouring homes to supply/sell any product unless accompanied by an adult. 5. Marketing. What marketing and sales strategies will you adopt to make the business succeed? For instance, you can create leaflets advertising your product/service and drop them in the postboxes of all neighbouring homes. Or you could list it online in a free classifieds services website. 6. Your resources. Do you have a computer and printer at home? Can friends pitch in when needed? Will your parents allow use of the home landline/mobile phone regularly? Once the business plan is ready, discuss it with your parents and solicit their suggestions. Ensure you have their permission before giving out personal phone numbers and/or home address for business purposes. If your business has got off to…

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Short Story: A Barking Good Answer

Lakshmi Narayan There was a time, long ago, when my cup of joy spilt over. But there was a nameless hole in my heart the size of a fist, growing bigger, darker and deeper with every passing day. I read the holy books of many faiths. I visited sacred sites and sat at the feet of sanyasis and yogis, shrinks and soothsayers, in an attempt to find a solution to the emptiness gnawing within. But I couldn’t find a satisfactory solution. Soon the hollowness yawned open into a mighty chasm and I could feel myself descending into a bottomless abyss. That’s when I looked into the limpid eyes of my adorable dog and everything fell into place. You see, when I fed him, he gazed at me with rapturous gratitude. When I was ill, he guarded me like a fierce lion. When I petted him, his eyes shone with worshipful adoration. When he was scared or in pain, he sought me out for comfort and reassurance. When I was sad, he snuggled up to me, offering me the company of a true friend. When he was naughty and I scolded him, he wagged his tail, eager to make amends. He didn’t take grudges to bed, for each day was a fresh adventure. Even if I stepped out a dozen times, he never tired of welcoming me back with unbridled joyousness. Thin or fat, old or young, pretty or so-so, it made no difference to him, for he loved me for what I was. Though there was plenty of space to run and play, his favourite place was by my side. Despite belonging to another species, he was the dearest member of the family, who was not ashamed to say, “I love you. You are the centre of my universe,” openly and un-apologetically as often as he could. By now I had twigged that I was unhappy and lost because I had wasted my time seeking positive responses from human beings full of themselves. In the lambent eyes of my pet I saw what I was searching for — unconditional love. The quickest way to understand the mysteries of the universe was to copy the childlike curiosity of my dog. In his simple uncomplicated lifestyle, I saw the vision of the Creator shining through. By accepting the Almighty as my pack leader, I was acquiring a pathfinder. By choosing simplicity, the complex became clearer. By making love my emblem, I could strive to create a heaven here on earth. Most of all, I now learnt to live for others, without expecting anything in return. I must confess it wasn’t easy, and many disappointed me with their greed, self-absorption and deceit. But I emulated my dog, freely distributing my time, care and love. In the end I did find what I was looking for. I set up a shelter for abandoned, sick and injured animals. And the outpouring of love that I got from my furry friends made me feel like a…

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Some ways to keep your family active

Benita Sen A family that exercises together usually brims with energy and enthusiasm. Having fun and remaining healthy happens automatically. Helping your family remain active is one of the greatest gifts you can give. Do it together Turn activity sessions into workout capsules for the family. Encourage children to join you in simple cardio exercises like jumps and arm swings, or take the stairs rather than the lift. Every extra activity burns unwanted calories, keeping children safe from the scourge of childhood obesity that leads to chronic illnesses and disability. The World Health Organization (WHO) says so. Observe! Every child is unique. Does yours have a special liking for a certain type of physical activity? Does she dislike certain exercises? Build on positives. If your child runs well in short bursts, she may be more comfortable with sprints than with long distance running. Some children can skip 100 times without a falter while they find toe-touches boring. So, give your child more of what she enjoys. Set a routine Although you may be tempted to sleep late over weekends, rising early and venturing outdoors for a walk or run makes you feel better and will help you fight Monday morning blues. Is your child too busy during the week to spend half an hour outdoors in the morning? What about an after-school tennis session or an evening swim? Set a routine and stick with it. Travel time fun While planning your vacations, try to find destinations which offer simple adventure sports that all of you can enjoy together. Take sports equipment along, and enjoy the outdoors as much as you can. Choose the right activities However much your child may love sports and exercise, it is necessary to introduce variety. If you are not much of a sportsperson, reach out for advice. Make sure you get pointers from the right person because wrong advice can harm your child. Jogs, swimming, racquet sports like badminton, tennis and table tennis and team games like cricket will keep your child interested in sports. However it is advisable to start with warm-up exercises. Also read: Boost family fitness with traditional rope skipping

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Heart to Heart

Heart to Heart Dear Parent, Even in the midst of these busy and stressful days, it helps to take a fresh look at parenting. As your child throws new challenges your way every day, you need to appreciate that it contributes to your own growth and development. If you can find five ways to manage a last-minute school project without pausing to think, you’ll realise how parenting is improving your productivity. Every day, you are forced to be creative to meet your child’s demands and needs. Similarly, you are enhancing your negotiation and team-building skills if you help your child maintain peace with a sibling or neighbour. Are you aware that managing children develops several skills such as handling clients, effective time management and leadership? Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Intelligent parenting equips you for the boardroom, corporate leadership and just about any other job! If you think about it, you’ll become aware of the wide range of skills you are forced to use every day — from coaxing your child to cooperate, to striking a deal over television viewing rules. Therefore when parenting seems an overwhelming task, just sit back and take a fresh look at it. You might even laugh as you discover that the benefits of parenting outweigh the costs. Idea box- Help your child conquer clutter Annie Besant Jon “Mom, where are my shoes?” Does that sound like one of the demands that are yelled at home every morning before school? If so, here are some suggestions to get your child organised — tips that work! The first initiative to take is to stand in the battlefield (your child’s room!) and do a reconnaisence. Are toys and books fighting for control of the floor? Is a collection of funky caps parked on the desk? Once you give the common clutter-makers a fixed place, most of the mess will disappear. Help your child conquer clutter with these tips: Find a large bag, preferably of earth-friendly cloth, and dump socks, stationery, odds and ends into it. Suspend it from a hook, and decorate it with sequins/beads. Invest in a bin or shoe rack for footwear and tuck it behind the door. Make a home for games and puzzles. Store them in cardboard or plastic boxes or ziploc bags. Colour code the boxes or stick appropriate pictures on them in lieu of labels. Convert a shoe rack into a shelf for books, magazines and other publications. The challenge is to keep placing things in the right receptacles. Develop this habit by awarding stars for days when nothing is left lying around. Give small rewards for every three stars earned. Help your child conquer clutter. Also read: Desktop organiser

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Gift your child word power!

Benita Sen If your child discovers the joy of words in her early years, you’ll witness her develop into an effective and powerful communicator. While one can improve vocabulary at any age, child development specialists believe children learn new words at twice the speed of adults. Here are some ideas to make the process of improving their vocabulary simpler. Gift your child word power with these suggestions! Encourage her to be nosey Interest fuels a child’s ability to learn and retain new concepts and words. Find a subject in which your child is interested and discuss it with her, introducing her to new words of the subject. If she is interested in tennis, read up on the sport together. Find biographies of tennis legends and discuss them with her. This may require extra effort, but it will be worthwhile. Try books or sites that label the different parts of things and creatures. If your child loves cars, learn about motor-car accessories, cycles, scooters and even airplanes. The magic of word games Nothing is as enjoyable as play. Once a week, pull out a word game for the family to join in. Scrabble, Boggle, Crosswords or similar games can draw out less commonly used words. Your enthusiasm will be contagious. While games like Scrabble can never go out of fashion, if your child is net-savvy, go online to play new word games. Some of the most popular sites are Ask-Oxford (puzzles and games), GameHouse and BlackDog’s word games. Books or periodicals with crossword puzzles, wordsearch, scrambled words or other word-play games can also be read together for the fun of it. Reading time Entering the wondrous world of books is a fascinating way to improve one’s vocabulary without giving it much thought. Reading aloud is enjoyed by toddlers as well as older children. It’s also a great way to bond with children and slip in new words. Explore different ways to keep replenishing your stock of books. Take advantage of online libraries, second-hand bookstores, swapping with buddies and book fairs. Creative writing Introduce your child to poetry, including limericks, free verse and haiku. It will improve vocabulary. While writing poetry with rhyming words, provide a dictionary, thesaurus and online tools to help. Writing journals, stories and narratives also builds word power, and is an enjoyable creative exercise. Creative talking Over dinner, or on vacation, you could declare a ‘rhyme time’ meal where everyone tries to talk in rhyming sentences. Another time, it could be ‘American English’ or ‘Victorian English’ depending on the books you are reading or the television programmes you watch. Word play in all forms can be enjoyed throughout life. And you’ll be amazed by the skill with words that your child begins to display. Also read: Feather in pun’s cap

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Short story: The Reluctant Messiah

Lakshmi Narayan This is the story of a girl next door. Ordinary and average like you and me. She fought and resisted plans of the Maker because she was too afraid to be singled out, in case it separated her from her loved ones. She found refuge in mediocrity, so she wouldn’t carry the stigma of being a freak or a fraud. She had no idea if she believed in angels and spirits or life beyond. But most of all, she had no belief in herself. One day, the Person Above decided to make her his messiah. He didn’t place a halo above her head or dress her up in white, or make her give up her family and friends. Instead, he put little gems of home-spun wisdom on her tongue. So every time she opened her mouth, people stopped to listen and nod. The girl became too terrified to open her mouth. She didn’t want to be singled out as the odd one. She was happy to blend in and be Miss Average. She begged the Maker to take away her exceptional powers and make her normal like other people. In reply, he gave her x-ray vision by which she could peep into everyone she knew. She found out to her surprise that the same brilliance, the same intelligence, the same spirituality, existed in all of them. She was as unique and as common as the rest. “I cannot make you ordinary because you are all special,” explained the Maker. The girl then understood that whatever she was spouting was already in her and not deposited there by the Maker. He had only unblocked her channels, so that there could be a free flow of words and ideas. Accepting his bounty meekly, the reluctant messiah went on to become the ebullient messiah, spreading the joy of creation to one and all. There’s no difference between the gifted and the ungifted. We are all lovingly crafted by the Creator. (Excerpted from Fables from Beyond, Authors Upront, 2020) Journalist, author and animal activist Lakshmi Narayan is a former assistant editor of Femina and former editor of Eve’s Weekly & Flair

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Tongue twisters

Tongue twisters Try these new tongue twisters! Yellow butter, purple jelly, red jam, black bread. Spread it thick, say it quick! Yellow butter, purple jelly, red jam, black bread. Spread it thicker, say it quicker! Yellow butter, purple jelly, red jam, black bread. Don’t eat with your mouth full! Through three cheese trees three free fleas flew. While these fleas flew, freezy breeze blew. Freezy breeze made these three trees freeze. Freezy trees made these trees’ cheese freeze. That’s what made these three free fleas sneeze. Brainteasers 1.Set a timer to ten seconds and try counting how many times the alphabet ‘s’ is repeated in the following sentences. A. She sells sea-shells on the sea shore. B. Samosas should be eaten with sauces-spicy and hot. 2. Look carefully at this combination of letters. YOU CONT OL R. Does it tell you something? 3. When is four half of five? 4. “Brothers and sisters have I none, but that man’s father is my father’s son.” Who is he? 5. What is next in the sequence: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8

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Explore the popular art of Origami

Sabrina Rajan Try solving this problem! I don’t have glue, scissors. Nothing except my ten fingers. All I have is a piece of paper. But I can create a hopping frog, flapping bird and pretty flower! How do I do it? Answer. Origami — the Japanese art of paper folding. This art form transforms a piece of square paper into different shapes and forms without utilisation of glue or any other material. Some origami artists don’t even use a surface to flatten the paper. They just use their dexterous fingers to craft different designs. Traditionally, handmade paper was used for origami. But now plain coloured paper (usually white on one side) or paper with delicate self-patterns is used. Types of Origami Action Origami is used to create paper models which move when force or pressure is exerted. The Japanese flapping bird is the most popular action origami model. The frog is another favourite — when you tap on it, it does a realistic hop. The origami fortune-teller model is a hit too. It is flower-like with four compartments. Each compartment fits within a finger. You hold it with both hands using fore finger and thumb to move it. Modular Origami involves creating separate pieces that can be assembled together to design the final prototype. This produces amazing 3-dimensional models such as stars, cubes and decorative balls. Wet-folding Origami is used to give the paper designs curves and shapes instead of straight geometric lines. It is often deployed to make animal shapes. Thicker paper (usually handmade) is used and the paper is damped. After it dries, it retains its shape. History The art of Origami originated in 17th century Japan. It took 200 years for it to become globally popular. The Japanese word ori means folding and kami paper. In Japan, origami art is usually displayed in traditional events, festivals and celebrations. For instance fan-like origami creations adorn Buddhist temples while butterfly art is displayed at weddings. A popular origami design is the Japanese crane — a symbol of world peace. According to Japanese folklore if you make a thousand paper cranes, and make a wish after completing each crane, you will be granted all wishes when you finish the 1,000th crane. The book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr (1977) tells the true story of a young Japanese girl who developed leukemia after the Hiroshima atomic bombing. During her time in hospital, she set forth on the ambitious task of making 1000 paper cranes but died after making 644. Her family and friends completed the job and buried the 1,000 paper cranes with her. A statue of Sadako holding a giant golden crane stands in the Hiroshima Peace Park. Do-it-yourself: Origami bookmark • Use origami or thick card paper. • Fold the sheet into a triangle by folding one corner to the opposite side. Crease well. • Fold the right corner to the top of the triangle to make a diamond shape. Do the same with the…

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Embrace winning ways!

Anitha Bennett Have you wondered what’s the real secret of success? If you think it’s mere good luck, think again! Most successful people are doers who believe in actioning their dreams through perseverance and hard work. As the world-renowned American inventor Thomas Alva Edison famously said: “Success is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Here are 5 winning ways which will place you on the path of success in academics and your career. 1. Remain positive. Most people are positive when all is well. But when they experience a small setback, they often lose hope and imagine the worst. Successful people see half-full glass rather than halfempty. So train your brain to think and talk positive. Adopting a positive mindset enables children and young people to develop the confidence to overcome obstacles and challenges, and ideate solutions. Obstacles are opportunities to learn from and surge ahead. 2. Get organized. Successful people manage time well. They don’t wait for too long and procrastinate. While their counterparts are drawing up perfect plans, successful people are out on the field implementing less than ideal plans. Invest in a dairy/planner and organise daily schedules. Split difficult tasks into doable chunks. 3. Be focused. Set clear goals and map a path to achieve them. Break goals into weekly, monthly and yearly targets. Clarity and certainty about goals/ vision will enable you to focus on smaller doable tasks and enable methodical plan execution. 4. Find a balance. Strike a balance between interests and life goals. Many people tend to over-invest time, energy and resources on peripheral activities and interests. Introspect and carefully evaluate your aptitude before choosing a higher education study programme and/or career while continuing to pursue extra-curricular interests in free time. 5. Embrace change. Learning from mistakes and accepting new challenges enables children and young people to relearn, adapt and develop into resilient individuals. Be open-minded and accept others’ points of view while being willing to embrace change.

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