PW invited parents of Navrachana & Vidyani Pre-Primary, Vadodara to share their perceptions of their children’s progress at the end of the academic year. “We believe my seven-year-old daughter Annika (class I) is receiving well-balanced academic and co-curricular education, which is playing a critical role in shaping her personality and giving her ample scope to spread her wings. Encouraged by her teachers, she has developed the skills to make PowerPoint presentations independently and thoroughly enjoys the activity. This has boosted her confidence and she has developed interest in subjects beyond the curriculum. By participating in co-curricular activities, Annika has also developed decision-making, teamwork and confidence building skills.” — Sonal Bhavsar, CEO, Image Management Consultant “Year-end progress for us is not merely about academic and co-curricular education but about how it has helped our six-year-old daughter Shanaya (class I) become a better human being. Her school provides a warm, stimulating and safe learning environment defined by experiential teaching-learning, joyous educational field trips and art lessons. When Shanaya reads storybooks on her own or gets ready for school without our help, we feel happy and proud.” — Tophy Thomas, assistant teacher, Navrachana Vidyani Pre-Primary “It gives us great joy to see our five-year-old son Pranay (KG) progress in life by setting small goals for himself fully supported by his teachers. His school’s nurturing environment coupled with innovative teaching skills is commendable. High importance is also accorded to parental involvement and conducting regular parent-teacher meetings. After sharing our observations about Pranay’s strengths and weaknesses with his teachers, Pranay’s overall performance has improved.” — Hetal Patel, homemaker “We are happy and satisfied with the progress of our four-year-old son Viraj (KG) as we believe his school has a balanced approach to academics and co-curricular education which plays a pivotal role in children’s overall development. Viraj is being nurtured in a stress-free and joyous learning environment where his teachers and fellow classmates are supportive and encouraging.” — Edna Desai, primary teacher, Navrachana Vidyani Vidyalaya
With its clean sandy beaches, tropical terrain and well-developed culture, Indonesia is ideal for rejuvenating holidays. What it lacks in terms of economic progress, it compensates with exotic locales, mild climate and cultural affinity with Indian visitors. With the decline of service culture and sky-high hotel room prices in the West, the clean, neat and infrastructurally well-equipped high-growth nations of south-east Asia and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) have emerged as the preferred hot spots of leisure travellers around the world. During the past two decades, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand with their thriving economies have earned good reputation as safe and exotic getaways with opportunities for excellent shopping and extra-curricular activities. Although not quite in the same league in terms of economic progress, what Indonesia (pop. 264 million) lacks in terms of development, it compensates with exotic locales, mild climate and cultural affinity with Indian visitors. The island of Bali, although set within an officially Islamic republic, maintains its strong cultural association with its Hindu past and offers pretty beaches, tropical terrain and exotic culture ideal for rejuvenating holidays, especially for Indian travellers. The name Indonesia has its roots in two Greek words: Indos meaning Indian and nesos which means islands. Strategically located between the mainlands of Asia and Australia, Indonesia comprises a necklace of 17,508 islands stretching 5,150 km, of which only about 6,000 are inhabited. Six main islands — Java, Sumatra, Bali, Kalimantan aka Borneo, Sulawesi aka Celebes and Irian Jaya aka Papua — and 30 smaller archipelagos contain the majority of the population. Indonesia’s history goes back to the fossil era of the Java Man. Fossils discovered by Dr. Eugene Dubois in 1809 near Trinil village in East Java are estimated to be about 500,000 years old. This discovery proves that the region had been inhabited since several millennia. Major migration patterns from China and Tonkin to the Indonesian archipelago have been traced as far back as 3,000-500 BC. These migrations introduced new Stone, Bronze and Iron Age cultures as well as the Austronesian language into the archipelago. By about 100 AD Indonesia had come under the influence of the mighty Hindu kingdoms of south India and later of the powerful Srivijaya Buddhist kingdom during the seventh century. The spectacular Borobudur Buddhist sanctuary was built in Central Java by the Srivijaya kings. The 13th century witnessed the rise of the powerful Majapahit Hindu empire in East Java, which united the whole of what is latter day Indonesia and parts of the Malay peninsula for over two centuries. As in all Hindu empires, the Majapahit kings built several grand temples in Java including the Prambanan temple complex near Yogyakarta, the Penataran temple complex in East Java and several ethereal shrines on the Dieng Plateau. The prosperity of the archipelago attracted plundering Mongol armies led by Kublai Khan in 1293 AD, but he was badly defeated and driven back. Later during the 14th century visiting Arab traders and merchants laid the foundations for the gradual spread of…
Red herrings are most commonly used in mystery fiction by writers to lead readers down the garden path – Roopa Banerjee A red herring is a literary device used to mislead or distract readers/listeners from the main narrative, to prompt false conclusions. It may be used intentionally, as in mystery fiction or rhetorical strategy (e.g, in politics) or inadvertently in argumentation. Red herrings are most commonly used in mysteries and thrillers by writers to lead readers down the garden path. Authors deliberately add information which misleads readers into following a false trail, astonishing them with a completely different denouement. Red herrings build suspense and enable dramatic narrative twists. Why is it called red herring? There lies an interesting tale. Red herring is an allusion to a pungent type of pickled herring used to train hunting dogs. Dog trainers teach dogs to hunt by training them to follow a trail of scent, and a hunting dog needs to be able to follow the scent of a single animal without being distracted by other interesting odours. To test canine capability, trainers would drag pickled fish/herring across the trail in an attempt to mislead them. Thus, in literature, a red herring is a false clue that leads readers or characters in a narrative astray. In 1807, British journalist William Cobbett (1763-1835) used the phrase ‘red herring’ for the first time to criticise the press for prematurely reporting Napoleon’s defeat, comparing it to using smoked red herrings to distract dogs from another scent trail. Thus Cobbett was accusing the press of intentionally using fake news to mislead the public. Red herrings are of two types: intentional and coincidental. Intentional red herrings are used by authors to deliberately mislead readers trying to solve a mystery. Coincidental red herrings are when a story contains false clues deliberately placed by a character or protagonist. An interesting example of an intentional red herring is in Agatha Christie’s famous novel And Then There Were None. Ten people guilty of murder but never convicted for their crimes are trapped on a remote island. One by one, they begin to die in ways resembling the deaths of the characters in the nursery rhyme Ten Little Soldiers, and the guests realise that someone on the island is planning their deaths. Without giving away the ending, the actual killer, is also supposedly murdered, eliminating him as a suspect in the minds of the readers. This is an intentional red herring. Another example of a red herring is Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes story: A Study in Scarlet. The word RACHE written in blood on a wall at the murder scene is the red herring which misleads Sherlock and Inspector Lestrande in completely different ways. It’s one of the rare examples of a red herring which is both intentional and coincidental. In his bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code, author Dan Brown makes one of his characters seem like the mastermind behind all evil events, but later on reveals that someone else had been pulling…
(9-10 servings) Ingredients 1 large egg, room temperature, beaten 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 5 tbsp melted butter 2/3 cup cold water 1-1/2 cups white flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp ground ginger 1/2 tsp salt 3 tbsp whipped cream Preparation guide Add egg, sugar, brown sugar, butter and water in a bowl and mix well. In another large bowl, stir flour, baking soda, ginger and salt together Add the two mixtures and beat until well mixed Pour into a greased 8-inch square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes. Cut into squares; serve warm with whipped cream. Health benefits Ginger is a health food, even in small quantities. It is anti-inflammatory, promotes oral health and helps soothe sore muscles.
(4 servings) Ingredients 2 boiled and peeled potatoes 2 small boiled carrots 3 hard boiled eggs 200 gms peas 2 pickles 1 boiled chicken breast Mayonnaise (2-4 tbsp or as desired) Preparation guide Add unpeeled potatoes to a pot of cold water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook until potatoes are soft when pierced with a fork (15-20 minutes). Drain, rinse with cold water, and peel off the skin. Add unpeeled carrots to a pot of cold water; bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer and cook until carrots are soft when pierced with a fork (15-20 minutes). Drain, rinse with cold water, and peel off the skin. Boil eggs in a pot (make sure water completely covers the eggs) for 10 minutes. Rinse with cold water, and peel. Dice the potatoes, eggs, pickles, chicken and carrots (make sure all is diced to almost the same size). Add salt and pepper to taste. Add mayonnaise (no more than a few hours before serving). Refrigerate until ready to eat. Tips Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving. Salad leftovers can be kept for a few days in the fridge and can be eaten plain or with bread. Diced green apples, onions and pineapple can also be added to this recipe. For a low carb version, omit the potatoes and use cooked cauliflower. Health benefits This combination of vegetables, chicken and potatoes provides carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals, making it a wholesome meal.
It’s Christmas time! Try out these easy-to-make recipes with your children who will love to help rustle up these treats. Strawberry Santas (16 servings) Ingredients 24 medium-sized strawberries 1 cup heavy cream 1 tbsp powdered sugar 1 tbsp chocolate sprinkles Preparation guide Slice the tip off each strawberry to make place for Santa’s hat; set aside. Whisk the cream and powdered sugar in a glass or metal bowl until soft peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the whipped cream will form soft mounds. Spoon a large dollop of whipped cream on top of each strawberry base for Santa’s face and beard. Set the hat atop the face. Add a dot of whipped cream, using a toothpick, on top of the hat for the pom-pom and two dots on the strawberry base for buttons. Place two sprinkles on the face for eyes (see photo). The decoration has to be done carefully for each strawberry. Health benefits Strawberries are rich in antioxidants and boost immunity. They are also rich in Vitamin C, manganese, folic acid and potassium and help promote cardiovascular health and control blood sugar levels. Gingerbread cake Russian salad
Every family has its own favourite foods and preferences. In the everyday battle to serve three appetising meals, the nutrient value of foods is often forgotten. Ditto striking a balance between vegetables, fruits and meat. For instance a family that frequently eats chicken, may fail to include leafy vegetables in its daily diet. Or a household that eats plenty of dal and rice might be missing out foods rich in good fats. Browse through the superfoods checklist below to evaluate if your family is maintaining a well-balanced diet comprising essential vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fat, and protein. Legumes Common edible legumes include lentils, peas, chickpeas, beans, soybeans, and peanuts. Legumes are a vital source of protein, fibre, calcium, and iron. Health benefits of consuming legumes include reduced risk of heart disease and low cholesterol levels Add channa, rajma and other beans to your regular diet. Whole grains Rice (brown or red), millets, oats and wheat are rich in fibre, carbohydrates and minerals, Vitamin B, and protein. The less processed, the more nutritious the grain. A diet rich in whole grains reduces risk of heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Nowadays a variety of millets and millet flour are available in the market. They are good substitutes for polished white rice. Vegetables Dark, leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and cabbage, are vitally important as they are rich in vitamins, calcium, folic acid, and iron. Moreover most vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories, and none have cholesterol. Dietary fibre from vegetables, as part of an overall healthy diet, helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and lowers risk of heart disease while folic acid helps the body form red blood cells. Nuts Nuts such as cashew, almonds, walnuts and peanuts are a good source of fibre, protein, minerals, and essential fatty acids. For instance almonds are rich in calcium, fibre, vitamin E and magnesium and help lower cholesterol, boost cardiovascular health, and prevent diabetes. Cashews are rich in iron, high in magnesium, copper, and unsaturated fat (oleic acid). They help to prevent cancer, promote a healthy heart and strong bones, and also are good for skin and hair. Nuts are a healthy anytime family snack. Seeds Seeds (flax, chia, pumpkin, sesame) are nutritious and rich sources of fibre, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and several important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. For instance flaxseeds are an important source of Omega 3 fatty acids, a nutrient that non-vegetarians get from fish. Fruits Most fruits are naturally low in fat, sodium, and calories and contain zero cholesterol. They supply the body with many essential nutrients that are under-consumed, including potassium, dietary fibre, vitamin C, and folate (folic acid). Buy seasonal fruits. For example, fresh apples are nutritionally richer than frozen. Citrus fruits have vitamin C which boosts immunity and banana is a great energy booster. Eat fruits as snacks between meals. The popular Indian myth is that some fruits are ‘cold’ (e.g. pears) and ‘hot’ (e.g. papaya) and hence should be avoided. There is no…
India’s post-liberalisation state-of-the-art hospitals, well-qualified doctors and low medical costs are attracting a rising number of patients from developed countries with ageing populations. India’s post-liberalisation state-of-the-art hospitals, well-qualified doctors and low medical costs are attracting a rising number of patients from developed countries with ageing populations. With costs of medical care particularly surgical procedures, having soared beyond middle class affordability, and waiting lists in public hospitals in developed OECD countries becoming longer, medical tourism has emerged as a new high-potential business in India with even the Union tourism ministry pitching India as a global health destination in a big way. Currently an estimated 400,000-500,000 medical tourists from over 60 countries are treated in hospitals across India every year. This country’s post-liberalisation state-of-the-art hospitals, well-qualified doctors, lower medical costs, and shorter waiting periods for surgeries are attracting a rising number of patients from developed nations with ageing populations. Informed estimates indicate that healthcare tourism will rake in over $9 billion (Rs.900 crore) annually by 2020. Naturally a large number of career opportunities has become available in this booming industry. India’s upmarket, fully-equipped and efficient corporate hospitals offer high-quality affordable healthcare facilities to medical tourists. Among them are the Apollo Group of hospitals, Fortis Healthcare, Manipal Hospitals, Wockhardt International Group, Medanta Medicity, and Asian Health Assist Worldwide (an affiliate of the Asian Heart Institute). Healthcare professionals believe India’s medical tourism market is growing by 25-30 percent per annum and is set to generate 40 million new jobs over the next few years. Therefore exciting career opportunities in medical marketing services, public relations, international insurance, travel and tourism, logistics management and hospital administration have become available to youth interested in this non-traditional career. With the exponential growth of medical tourism as a business in its own right, almost all large-scale healthcare corporates and private sector hospitals have tied up with travel firms, airlines, hotels, car rentals, ayurvedic spas etc to offer customised healthcare-cum-leisure travel packages to medical tourists. This has led to rising demand for spa therapists and managers, public relations personnel, travel advisors, insurance facilitators, interpreters, chefs and tour planners with internationalisation options. STUDY PROGRAMMES. As yet there aren’t any specialised study programmes in medical tourism per se. However professionals with marketing, PR, travel and tourism qualifications are highly valued by healthcare companies and hospital chains. While a postgraduate programme with medical tourism as an elective is as yet a distant possibility, several institutes offer Masters programmes in healthcare, hospital administration and diplomas in travel and tourism which are accepted qualifications. Among institutes offering MBA in hospital administration are Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapally (M.Sc in healthcare and hospital administration) Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai (MBA in health management). For MBA diplomas in travel, tourism and aircargo management, among the best educators are the Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management, New Delhi Kerala Institute of Tourism & Travel Studies (KITTS), Thiruvananthapuram Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Gwalior Pondicherry University REMUNERATION…
Homemade Christmas decorations have a unique beauty and charm. Get the family together and make these enchanting decorations to celebrate the season of love, joy and peace. A reindeer in my flower pot Materials Terracotta pot Paint Pom pom Foam board Bells White and black scrapbook paper Giltter Method Paint the terracotta pot brown. Glue on a red pom pom, add glue to it and sprinkle some glitter. Take white and black paper, cut out ovals for eyes and stick on the pot. Cut foam board into the shape of antlers, paint and sprinkle with glitter for sparkle. Add bells to them. Fill the pot with candy and other goodies. Glitter globe Materials needed Mason jar Small Christmas ornaments Clear glue Warm water Glitter (red/green/silver/gold) Method Use a glue gun to carefully glue the bottom of your tree ornament to the mason jar lid. Add clear glue to your jar. Add warm water and stir. Add glitter and stir. Now close the lid over it. Shake and enjoy your glitter globe. Christmas terrarium Materials Mini terrarium holder or large wine glass Christmas ornaments (preferably a mini Christmas tree and a cut out reindeer) White pebbles or tiny stones painted white Corn starch Baking soda Method Fake snow In a tray, mix the cornstarch and baking soda in a 1:1 ratio. Now, add just enough water so that when you squeeze some of the mixture in your hands, you can form a ball. Gently release any clumps until your fake snow looks like real snow. Make sure to add the water very slowly or the mixture may get too runny, in which case just add more of the cornstarch and baking soda. The terrarium Get started by putting a handful of artificial snow into the glass jar. Fill around one-third. Place the Christmas ornaments into the jar. The artificial snow should keep the ornament standing up. Put the lid back on the glass jar and display your beautiful DIY snow terrarium! Recommended: Christmas treats Also read: Christmas reads
I have heard that it’s unhealthy to pack hot food in plastic containers as the heat and plastic combine to release toxic compounds. My daughter is in upper kindergarten. Can I pack a dry/cold lunch for her in a high-quality plastic tiffin box? She finds it difficult to open steel tiffin boxes and cannot manage glass containers. — Archana Shastri, Mumbai It is best to avoid plastic containers for food and also carrying water. Bisphenol A or BPA is an industrial chemical commonly used to manufacture plastic. Research indicates that BPA permeates into food and beverages and could cause damage to the brain and the prostate gland of foetuses, infants and children. It is also linked with behavioural changes and increased blood pressure. My advice is to use good quality stainless steel lunch boxes. I use a branded baby oil to massage my eight-month-old son every day before giving him a bath. But of late, I have heard that massage oils are unhealthy for infants. Should I stop using them? — Asha Kutty, Trivandrum Infants and children love being massaged. You can use good quality gingelly, coconut, olive or mustard oil to massage infants. Baby skin produces less moisturising oils than of adults and therefore absorbs more oil when massaged. My advice is to avoid perfumed and mineral oils, unless specifically advised by your doctor. My 12-year-old daughter loves to play sports and games at school, and returns home every day with her hair full of dirt and sand. A water-only hair wash doesn’t cleanse the dirt and I have to shampoo her hair every day. Will this adversely affect my daughter’s scalp? — Ramani Krishna, Chennai Soiled hair needs gentle cleansing. Application of coconut, olive, or gingelly oil followed by rinsing with a gentle soap is sufficient. Daily use of shampoo can cause dryness of the scalp which can lead to dandruff. Recommended use of hair conditioner/shampoo is once a week. Moreover please take care to thoroughly dry her hair before bed time. Wet hair tied with ribbons and hair clips can lead to piedra, a fungal infection of hair shaft. My 13-year-old son loves to paint, but often sprinkles paint all over himself in the process. Of late, I have noticed him scratching his skin. Has he become allergic to paint? — Srinidhi Raman, Chennai Children using paint for class projects, art classes etc may develop allergies because of certain components present in the paints. Tempera paints are egg-based and can cause health problems for children with egg allergy. Similarly, finger paints are made of wheat, oats etc. Oil-based and acrylic paints block skin pores resulting in itching and eruptions. It is best for children to use non-toxic, lead-free, washable paints. Stop using the current paint brand and ask him to bathe with neutral pH soap substitutes (such as Syndet). If itching or rashes persist even after stopping exposure to paint, consult a dermatologist. (Dr. Sajeevan E.S. is a consultant paediatrician at Pathoor Nursing Home, Malappuram, Kerala)
My son (11) has always been a slow learner. All his development stage markers have been delayed. He has considerable difficulty in putting down his thoughts on paper to write essays. Because of extreme stress, of late he has started throwing violent tantrums when writing. He tears up the paper and starts throwing things. I am so confused as to how to react to this! Should I inflict small punishments while trying to make him understand his condition? Please advise! — Frustrated Mom, Pune All of us experience frustration when forced to perform difficult tasks that seem impossible to achieve. Refusal to write is common and understandable phenomenon. Break the task into smaller parts and help him gradually write longer essays. If the focus is on creative writing or ideation, avoid correcting and highlighting legibility, form or spelling errors and praise his ideation capability. This will build motivation and reduce frustration. Your son doesn’t need to know details of his diagnosis. He needs to know that you are there to help him overcome his weakness. My son (10) has been diagnosed with learning disability. The mainstream school that he is attending doesn’t consider it an issue and has asked us to continue his schooling. But I wonder whether this is good advice. Should I send him to a specialised school? I am confused, please advise. — Anonymous, Chennai It is very progressive of your child’s school that it doesn’t regard it an issue. It’s very likely that your child requires supportive remediation therapy. Every diagnosis is a culmination of signs, symptoms and provides evidence of lagging areas in a child’s development. A remedial programme will be based on these diagnoses. All the best! My daughter (8) is exhibiting some signs of a learning disability. Are there online therapy classes available on the Internet for this problem? If so, can you suggest some websites? — Ritu Sharma, Mumbai Therapy for children with learning disabilities ranges from remediation to occupational therapy and sensory integration. To ascertain the correct course of treatment, I would recommend a psycho-educational assessment to begin with. This will be your guide and chart out the course of treatment. However, please note that therapy is most effective for children when it is hands-on. My daughter, a class X student who has dreams of becoming a doctor, is experiencing learning difficulties. Will she be able to compete with the student preparing for tough entrance exams? Will the exam writing time restrictions prove too difficult for her? — Sushma B, Delhi Every child’s learning difficulties are unique to her. Understanding her areas of difficulty and their severity will enable you to advise and influence her academic pathway. Qualifying as a medical practitioner is not impossible for persons with minor learning difficulties. Depending on the severity of the learning disability, you could jointly make a suitable career choice. (Piya Marker is a special needs education postgraduate of SNDT University, Mumbai and head of school at The Aditya Birla Integrated School, Mumbai)
Most parents are unaware that children are also citizens whose rights are guaranteed by the Constitution of India, national and international legislation. It’s the duty of every parent to respect the rights of children and protect them from exploitation, abuse and discrimination, starting from home. In the majority of Indian households where disciplinarian parenting is the norm, child rights are an alien i.e Western concept. Parent-child relationships in India are still centred around command-and-control with inner family democracy absent. Most parents are unaware that children are also citizens whose rights are guaranteed by the Constitution of India, national and international legislation. It’s the duty of every parent to respect the rights of children and protect them from exploitation, abuse and discrimination, starting from home. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989 (UNRC) — a defining international document which sets out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children — defines a child as “every human being below the age of 18 years unless, under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained”. UNRC came into force on September 2, 1990, after it was ratified by 196 countries including India. It states that every child has the right to: Life, survival and development Protection from violence, abuse and neglect An education that enables children to fulfill their potential Be raised by, or have a relationship with, their parents Express their opinions and be heard. Parenting red flags Here are four most common ways in which parents abuse and deny their children’s rights to dignity, freedom of expression, leisure and play. Discriminating, comparing and humiliating children. Parents often discriminate, indulge in favouritism, and compare children with siblings and/or others. This is a violation of children’s right to dignity and protection from emotional abuse. Pushing children into the academic rat race. Academic success obsessed parents push children into unhealthy competition, enrolling them in strenuous tuitions and coaching classes. This robs children of their leisure/play time which is essential for their overall development, prompting anxiety and depression. Spanking/ corporal punishment. Hitting, beating and intimidating children is physical abuse and punishable under the law. Children who suffer parental abuse can be removed from the custody of the parent. Denying children the right to express their opinions. In most Indian households, the dictum ‘children should be seen and not heard’ is followed religiously. Denying children the right to freedom of expression is denial of their right to be heard and voice their opinions. Guilty? Begin by involving children in all matters which directly relate to them. However young a child is, she has a right to be heard, even if it is deciding the colour of a dress! Encouraging children to voice their opinions and respecting their viewpoints enables them to develop into articulate communicators and decision-makers. Schools & child rights All schools — private and government — are governed by provisions of the Right of Children to Free & Compulsory Education (aka RTE) Act, 2009. Registration certificates…
“My daughter has a cupboard full of toys, but doesn’t value them at all!” laments Preetha Rajan, the mother of a seven-year-old. Preetha herself grew up with two or three toys, with a new one added every birthday. Today, privileged children grow up with full baskets of toys from day one, and it’s hard to get them to understand how precious or valuable they are for the majority of India’s 480 million children. “I don’t care if my toy breaks. I’ll get a new one,” says six-year-old Rahul Verma. He has no idea why his parents don’t like such statements. Like Rahul, many middle class kids couldn’t care less if they lose or break toys, since they have so many others to replace them. Here are some ways to help children learn to value their toys and possessions. Give away stuff Draw attention to the vast majority of the country’s underprivileged children. Explain how they manage — with few clothes, less food, and often no toys at all. Get your children to make packages of food, clothes and toys which they have out-grown. Their choices are likely to be different from yours, but be willing to accommodate them. Identify a suitable family to give the packages to. It could be the family of a construction worker living in a tent, or your house helper. However, it’s important to warn children not to display pity, disgust or condescension when they interact with people from other sections of society. Go together and present the packages to them. Learning to practice charity will help your child realise how valuable every toy and dress is for the less privileged, and will help them experience the joy of giving. Examine new things A flood of birthday gifts can make some presents less appealing than others. Get your child to examine each new gift before using it. If it is a toy/game/stationery she already has or does not want, she should place it in a box for reuse. Such gifts could be given away to needy children, reused as a gift, or used later. Sifting will discourage your child from taking a new toy, playing with it for a few minutes, and then forgetting all about it. Recycle Old toys can be recycled by selling them in a ‘garage sale’ or a secondhand goods website. This way children will become aware that they are doing something sensible by gifting or selling stuff, instead of letting it lie unused at home. They could be allowed to use the money realised to buy what they need. Create hype Before gifting your child a new toy, generate some interest by talking about it, or showing Internet content related to it. Once her curiosity is kindled, she will value it. Withhold toys If you find your child handling a toy carelessly, throwing it around, or shoving it under the bed, take it back. Keep it with you until you think she will use it well, or give it away. Losing…
Inevitably, although all citizens suffer the ill-effects of poisonous air cover over urban India, the most vulnerable are children. According to a damning State of India’s Environment Report, released earlier this year by the highly-reputed Centre for Science and Environment, Delhi, air pollution kills more than 100,000 children aged below five every year – Mini P, Cynthia John & Parvathy Menon Since November 1, Delhi — India’s showpiece national capital (pop.19 million) — has been shrouded in a thick blanket of smoke with the air quality plunging to “severe” category levels. The country’s admin capital now has the dubious distinction of being the world’s most polluted city, and India of hosting 14 of the world’s 15 most polluted cities. The situation in India’s 300 cities and towns with more than 100,000 residents, characterised by roads choked with vehicular traffic, air polluting smokestacks, dying water bodies and depleting green cover, is only marginally better. In autumn and winter months, large scale burning of kharif crops stubble in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh — a cheaper alternative to mechanical tilling — generates clouds of smoke heavy with PM10 and PM2.5 particulate matter which are wafted to Delhi and north India’s cities by seasonal winds, creating deadly blankets of smog. Contemporary India is experiencing a national air pollution emergency with the majority of its cities enveloped by toxic air cover forcing over 140 million citizens to ingest air that is 10x more noxious than the WHO prescribed safe limit (10 μg/m3 for PM2.5 and 20 μg/m3 for PM10). “There are no non-smokers in India. Because of pervasive air pollution countrywide, everybody living in India is a smoker,” says Dr. Arvind Kumar, a prominent chest surgeon and founder of the Lung Care Foundation, Delhi. Inevitably, although all citizens suffer the ill-effects of poisonous air cover over urban India, the most vulnerable are children. According to a damning State of India’s Environment Report (SIER), released earlier this year by highly-reputed Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Delhi, air pollution kills more than 100,000 children aged below five every year. SIER highlights that greenhouse gas emissions have risen more than 20 percent between 2010 and 2014 and that 86 percent of India’s water bodies are polluted. The India chapter of the Global Burden of Disease 2017 Report (GBDR) of US-based Institute for Health Metrics & Evaluation is even more alarming. The report says that 195,546 children in India died in 2017 due to air pollution-related diseases i.e, 535 child deaths per day which translates into a child dying every three minutes because of inhaling toxic air pollutants. GBDR identifies lower respiratory tract infections caused by exposure to air pollutants as the second-major cause of child mortality, after neonatal disorders. The western state of Rajasthan (pop. 68 million) recorded the maximum number of pollution-related child deaths, with a ratio of 126 mortalities per 100,000 children, followed by Uttar Pradesh (pop. 215 million) and Bihar (100 million). India’s environmentally safest states are Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Telangana, Andhra…
Adolescents who spend long hours on social media, the television and computer are likely to experience high anxiety, says a study published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (November 2019). According to lead author Elroy Boers of the University of Montreal, Canada “computer usage for leisure is uniquely associated with increased anxiety, compared to routine use of computers for homework activities.” Researchers evaluated 4,000 Canadian teenagers in the 12-16 years age group. Each year of high school, teens were asked to self-report time spent in front of digital screens and specified time spent engaging in three different types of screen time activities (social media, television, computer use). “These findings suggest that one way to help teenagers manage anxiety could be by helping them limit the time spent in front of screens,” says Dr. Patricia Conrod, a researcher at the University of Montreal, Canada.
Children and adolescents with abnormal heart rhythms aka cardiac arrhythmias are more likely to experience depression, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), says a study presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions held in Philadelphia, USA in November. The study found that children with abnormal heart rhythms are nine times more likely to be diagnosed or treated for anxiety and depression and almost five times more likely to be diagnosed or treated for ADHD, compared to children free of identified chronic diseases. Researchers analysed the records of more than 250,000 children admitted to or examined in the emergency room of Texas Children’s Hospital from 2011-2016. “20 percent of children with abnormal heart rhythms, congenital heart disease and cystic fibrosis were diagnosed with or prescribed medication for depression and/or anxiety, compared with 3 percent of the control group,” says lead author Keila N. Lopez of the Baylor College of Medicine (USA). Recommended: ADHD symptoms and diagnosis
Researchers of the University of Melbourne and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), Australia, have found that severe pneumonia decreases by 35 percent in children vaccinated against pneumonia-causing bacteria. The study presented at the 11th World Congress of the World Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases held in Manila last month found one in five hospital admissions for children under five years of age in Laos was because of pneumonia, with most requiring oxygen treatment. Laos was the first country in South-east Asia to introduce the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) into its national immunisation programme in 2013, which protects against 13 most common types of pneumococcus. Researchers examined pneumococcus samples from the noses of healthy children and children suffering pneumonia. “By discovering that pneumonia causing bacteria is commonly carried at the back of the nose — both in healthy children and children suffering pneumonia — our study highlights it is likely to be a significant contributor to severe infections in Laos. Vaccinating children protects the whole community by reducing the spread of pneumococcus,” says Dr. Fiona Russell of MCRI. Also read: Building bodily immunity
Only children are at a higher risk of obesity than children with siblings, reveals a study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (November). According to the study conducted by the University of Oklahoma (USA), families with multiple children tend to make better eating decisions than single-child families. The study examined family nutrition and physical activity data reported by mothers and teachers over a two-week period. Researchers discovered that families of only children reported unhealthy eating practices and beverage choices and that mothers of single children are more likely to be obese themselves. This could be attributed to differences in meal planning and organisation required of mothers with multiple children, says lead author Chelsea Kracht, a researcher at the university’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center. “Nutrition professionals must consider the influence of family and siblings to provide appropriate and tailored nutrition education for families of young children. Efforts to help all children and families establish healthy eating habits must be encouraged,” adds Kracht.
I was an active debater through my school and college years and I’m also trying to get my children interested in debating. The cover story ‘Empowering children with debate skills’ (PW November) was very relevant and interesting. Encouraging children to debate from young age helps them develop into articulate communicators and decision-makers. I want to share five tips that helped me immensely in my debating days. They are (i) prepare well and stand by your opinions (ii) research for authentic facts and figures and weave them into your arguments (iii) voice modulation helps convey conviction (iv) avoid putting on a fake accent (v) remain confident and calm throughout the debate. Jaya Mathur Delhi Delightful read It was a delight to read a full-fledged cover story on the art of debating in the latest issue of ParentsWorld. Having participated and won several debating competitions in school and college, I strongly believe that debating is a life-skill, which deserves more appreciation than it currently receives. Personally, it has made me a more informed and confident individual, and I am not surprised that several scientific studies vindicate my transformation. However, unfortunately, unlike in the US and UK, where debate is actively nurtured and encouraged in schools and colleges, Indian children have limited opportunities to participate in debates. I fully endorse the suggestion of many experts quoted in the story that debate should be introduced as a compulsory activity in schools. Akshita Bose Kolkata Online safety imperative I enjoyed reading the essay ‘Keeping children safe online & offline’ by Pooja Goyal (PW November). As parents we sometimes slip-up while monitoring our children’s online activities. The online world is dangerous. Even while watching informational videos, unnecessary and shady website links pop up. Protecting children in the age of ubiquitous Internet usage isn’t easy. But parents need to make the time and effort to monitor children’s online activities, install safety controls, and impose daily screen usage time limits. Andrew Collins Mumbai Fighting childhood obesity early The interview with Dr. Mufazzal Lakdawala, founder and chief surgeon at Digestive Health Institute, Mumbai, on ways and means to prevent childhood obesity was enlightening (PW November). A rapidly growing number of children in India are becoming obese because of high consumption of junk food and sedentary lifestyles. Recently, I came across a news report which suggested that lack of exercise in healthy women during pregnancy can predispose their children to obesity. The report quoted researchers who found that pregnant women who performed light exercises helped their infants develop better motor skills, muscular strength and coordination. However, one must consult a gynaecologist before embarking on any physical exercise Bindu Kannan Chennai Rediscovering the benefits of cycling Thanks for your latest Activity Zone story ‘Cycle your way to good health’. It rekindled my childhood love of cycling and inspired me to plan a Sunday morning cycle ride with my husband and friends. It was an exhilarating experience! Thanks PW for reigniting my passion for cycling. Ananya Gupta Bangalore Wonderful selection I am…
The authoritative Oxford English Dictionary (OED, estb.1884) has proclaimed ‘climate emergency’ as the 2019 word of the year. It defines climate emergency as “a situation in which urgent action is required to reduce or halt climate change and avoid potentially irreversible environmental damage resulting from it”. Subsequently, on November 29, European Union (EU) became the first multilateral bloc of nations to declare climate emergency. The declaration calls on EU member states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030. This is because greenhouse gases and other air pollutants are threatening to penetrate the ozone layer which protects Planet Earth from excessive global warming by the rays of the sun. Although contemporary India is one of the countries “most vulnerable to climate change”, this nation of 1.3 billion citizens is facing another national environment emergency — toxic air pollution. India has the dubious distinction of hosting 22 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities, with its showpiece national capital Delhi earning the title of the most polluted major city in the world with an air quality index (AQI) of 527 (cf. moderate: 50-100) on November 15. With the onset of winter last month, Delhi and several cities of north India have been enveloped in a thick blanket of smoke with doctors and health experts warning that all citizens of this metropolis are inhaling toxic air which is equivalent to smoking ten cigarettes per day. Inevitably, though all citizens suffer the adverse health effects of inhaling the noxious air hanging over urban India, the most vulnerable are the nation’s children. According to a damning State of India’s Environment Report (SIER), released earlier this year by the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, air pollution annually kills more than 100,000 children below five years across the country. SIER is one of several authoritative reports which warns that children in urban India are most susceptible to lung infections, asthma, childhood obesity and impaired neurodevelopment. In our cover story this month, we highlight the catastrophic threat air pollution poses to the health and well-being of children, and what parents can do to mitigate its ill-effects apart from speaking up to the build the pressure of public opinion to force government to find lasting solutions to the inter-linked dangers of air pollution and climate change. There’s much else in our year-end issue. Check out our informative Middle Years essay on child rights by senior lawyer Veena Jadhav, and Early Childhood story on encouraging children to value their toys and possessions.
