Territorially the largest state of the Indian Union and a vibrant and colourful tourism mecca, last year Rajasthan attracted 17.5 million tourists including 1.5 million international visitors to the ‘Land of Kings’. If there were a prize for the most vibrant and colourful tourist destination of India, it would go to the desert state of Rajasthan (pop. 78 million), sited in the west, north of Gujarat, bordering Pakistan. Last year Rajasthan attracted over 17.5 million tourists including 1.5 million international visitors. Territorially the largest state of the Indian Union, Rajasthan (343,000 sq. km) incorporates the Aravalli Hills and Thar Desert. Literally the ‘Land of Kings’, Rajasthan was formerly known as Rajputana and encompassed 18 princedoms, two principalities ruled by chieftains and the small British-administered province of Ajmer-Merwara. After independence in 1947 the princedoms and principalities were integrated into the Indian Union under the umbrella name of Rajasthan. The state assumed its present form on November 1, 1956, when the States Reorganisation Act came into force. The history of Rajasthan is resplendent with legends of romance, betrayal, honour and chivalry and monuments associated with the 1,000-year reign of Rajput dynasties. Between the 7th and 11th centuries the entire region was ruled by successive Rajput dynasties, the most famous of them being the Gurjara-Pratihara. Under Bhoja I (836-885 AD), the territory of the Gurjara-Pratiharas stretched from the foothills of the Himalayas to the Narmada river and from the lower Ganges Valley to Sindh. But towards the late 10th century the empire slowly disintegrated as several rival Rajput clans carved out princedoms for themselves. The next four centuries saw repeated, though unsuccessful, attempts by the Delhi moghuls to defeat Rajput states. Rajput ascendancy reached its zenith in the beginning of the 16th century under Rana Sangram Singh (Sanga) of Mewar, but he was defeated in the first Battle of Panipat (1526) by the Mughal invader Babur. Later towards the end of the 16th century the Mughal emperor Akbar established a cordial relationship with Rajput kings by entering into matrimonial alliances with several Rajput dynasties. These Mughal-Rajput marriages continued until the early 18th century, and it is noteworthy that the emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan were both born of Rajput mothers. In the 19th century following the imposition of British rule, the boundaries of Rajput states were redrawn to form Rajputana province which later became Rajasthan in post-independence India. Rajput princes were allowed to retain their titles, some special privileges, and privy purses by the newly independent government of India. However these privileges and privy purses were abolished in 1969 by prime minister Indira Gandhi. As a consequence several princes transformed into hoteliers by converting their dynastic palaces into luxury heritage hotels which are thronged by foreign tourists through the year. Best time to visit. Winter (November-March) is the best season for visitors. Getting there. The most exclusive (and expensive) way to experience the royal splendour of Rajasthan is by taking the seven-day package tour offered by the Palace on Wheels, a fully air-conditioned, 14-saloon…
PW invited parents of Bal Bharati Public School, GRH Marg, New Delhi to share solutions they believe will help children cope with anger, stress and mood swings “My 17-year-old son Kunal (class XI) is visibly difficult when he is unable to resolve difficult situations or has had arguments with teachers/peers at school. Sometimes a brisk walk or engaging him in the kitchen to cook his favourite meal helps to ease his mood and he starts communicating naturally. At other times, direct talk seems like the best solution. One word of caution though. Under no circumstances must parents display signs of impatience as this will only push children further into their shells.” — Vinita Dhawan, teacher, PGT Computer Science, Bal Bharati Public School “I believe children are impacted by parents’ behaviour much more than we realise and accept. So rule #1 for me is that I watch and control my own reactions to stressful situations. Secondly, I ensure that my daughter Advita (class IV) is nurtured in a loving and caring home environment so she can feel free to vent her anger and frustrations without inhibition. Once she calms down, we discuss how a stressful issue can be managed tactfully. Advita is hitting her pre-teens and it is only natural that hormonal changes are prompting frequent mood swings.” — Dr. Aditi Narula, consultant orthodontist, New Delhi Dental Centre “It’s important to understand that expressing emotions are an integral part of our physical and mental development. My son Ahaan (class II) and I have worked out a 10-point scale where any behaviour rated beyond 5 is deemed inappropriate. Whenever that happens, I try diverting his attention till he calms down. Then we examine the cause of his ‘inappropriate’ behaviour and discuss it in detail. This formula has really worked for me!” — Gunjan Gambhir, chief manager, ICICI Bank “ Expressing emotion is the most natural phenomenon. With my daughter Aashmi (class I), I ensure that all channels of communication are open for her to share her emotions — positive and negative. My wife and I lead by example by keeping our emotions in check in stressful situations, hoping Aashmi picks up this quality soon.” — Vaibhav Khandelwal, MD and CEO, Selective Global Search Pvt. Ltd.
English playwright Samuel Johnson referred to punning as the lowest form of humour, but Alfred Hitchcock, famous Hollywood producer and director, said puns are the highest form of literature… – Roopa Banerjee “You can tune a guitar, but you can’t tuna fish. Unless of course, you play bass,” said Douglas Adams (1952-2001), British author, essayist and satirist famously. The reason why this quote tickles the funny bone is because of the clever use of puns. In the first sentence, Adams uses puns for the comparable sounds of “tune a” and “tuna,” while in the second sentence, he plays on the two connotations of the word “bass” — the musical instrument, which is also a fish species. A pun is a literary device that plays with words that have multiple meanings or with words that sound similar but have different meanings. Puns are used humourously in most cases and for their rhetorical effect. However, puns are not as modern as commonly believed. They date back to the ancient Sumerian and Egyptian civilisations. In ancient Egypt, puns were heavily used in the development of myths and interpretation of dreams. The communication systems of Sumerian and Egyptian civilisations, including Egyptian hieroglyphs, were based on punning. Puns also have a long history in literature. For example, the Roman playwright Plautus was famous for his puns and word games. Aka paranomasia, there are various types of puns. The most common is the homophonic pun where homophones (word pairs which sound alike but do not have the same meaning) are used. For example, ‘Question: Why do we still have troops in Germany? Answer: To keep the Russians in Czech’. In homographic pun, words used are homographs (same spelling but different meanings and sounds). For example, “The wild oats of my sow gave us many piglets”. The Douglas Adams quote at the start of this essay is also another example of a homographic pun. A combination of homophonic and homographic pun is known as homonymic pun. For example, American writer Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) had joked, ‘Did you hear about the little moron who strained himself while running into the screen door?’ playing on strained as “to give much effort” and “to filter”. Puns are often used in punch lines of jokes and witticisms. Such jokes are called feghoots — anecdotes that end with a line containing a pun for humorous effect. A non-humorous pun is also a standard poetic device in literature. Among the famous writers who used puns are Alexander Pope, Robert Bloch, Lewis Carroll and John Donne. William Shakespeare is estimated to have used over 3,000 puns in his plays. For instance in Richard III: “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of York” (son/sun). There are varying opinions on whether puns should be used in literature. While the famous English playwright and poet Samuel Johnson disparagingly referred to punning as the lowest form of humour, Alfred Hitchcock, famous Hollywood producer and director, said they are the highest form of…
(makes 18 truffles) Ingredients ¼ cup softened butter ½ tsp vanilla essence ½ tsp coconut milk 2½ tbsp thickened coconut milk Pinch of salt 1½ cups powdered sugar 1 cup shredded coconut 6-8 ounces baking chocolate Preparation guide Beat butter until smooth. Mix in coconut milk and salt. Slowly add the powdered sugar followed by shredded coconut. Roll tablespoon-sized balls of the mixture and place on a wax-paper lined cookie sheet. Chill for at least one hour or wrap the cookie sheet with foil and chill overnight. Melt the chocolate and dip each ball into the melts, tapping off the excess, and place on a new cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Sprinkle with shredded coconut. Chill until set. Best served at room temperature.
(12 servings) Ingredients 1½ cups of coconut flakes ½ cup desiccated coconut 1½ cup chocolate chips 1 cup rolled oats ¾ cup smooth peanut butter ⅓ cup coconut oil 4 tbsp sugar Preparation guide Mix 1 ½ cups of coconut flakes, 1 cup of chocolate chips, sugar and rolled oats. Melt peanut butter in microwave in 15 second intervals, until creamy. Let it cool for two minutes, add to coconut flakes mix. Then, microwave the coconut oil in 10 second intervals until melted and add to the mix. Blend thoroughly and add the last ½ cup of chocolate chips. Pour coconut mixture into a baking tray. Sprinkle some coconut flakes and refrigerate for an hour, or freeze for 20 minutes.
(6 servings) Ingredients 4 cups thick coconut milk 1 tbsp gelatin ⅓ cup honey 2 tsp vanilla essence 1 cup seasonal fruits Preparation guide Pour 1 cup coconut milk into a medium saucepan. Add the gelatin. Keep for 5-10 minutes to allow gelatin to soften. Now heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until gelatin is dissolved and milk begins to steam. Add remaining coconut milk and honey and whisk until all the ingredients are dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Let the mixture cool for 10 minutes. Divide the coconut milk mixture evenly in six glasses or small bowls. Cover panna cottas tightly with plastic wrap, making sure the wrap does not touch the cream’s surface. Refrigerate for 5 hours, until cold and set. To serve, top with seasonal fruits.
Call it a drupe or fruit, coconut is a must-have ingredient in the Indian kitchen, used in almost everything from juices and soups to curries and desserts. Coconuts are rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals, and contain medium-chain fatty acids that are better absorbed by the body than animal fats. Fresh coconut flesh is high in antioxidants and helps restore oxidative tissue damage. Here are some healthy coconut dessert recipes – Parvathy Menon Coconut lime cake (6 servings) Ingredients For the cake 200 gm sugar 200 gm softened butter 4 beaten eggs 200 gm maida (flour) 1 tsp baking powder 2 tbsp milk 200 gm thick coconut milk For the frosting Zest and juice of 2 limes 100 gm softened butter 140 gm sifted icing sugar 100 gm desiccated toasted coconut Preparation guide Heat oven to 190°C. Butter two baking pans. Beat all cake ingredients including half of the coconut milk in a large bowl until you have a smooth batter. Divide the mixture between the two baking pans and smooth the surface with a spatula or the back of spoon. Bake for 20 minutes until golden. Place on a cooling rack. For the frosting, blend the remaining coconut milk, zest and juice of limes. Make buttercream by beating the butter until smooth and gradually mixing in the icing sugar. Then add the coconut mix. Fill the cooled sponge cakes with a third of the frosting, cover the sides and top with the rest and coat the sides with the toasted coconut. Keep in an airtight container and eat within two days or freeze (lasts for three months). Coconut Cream Truffles Coconut Panna Cotta Peanut butter coconut bars
In the scramble to adopt healthy lifestyles and nutritious diets, most parents tend to ignore the critical importance of encouraging children to drink more water for maintaining good health and well-being – Shunila Joy Chauhan The familiar advice: drink eight to ten glasses of water a day is dinned into our heads in childhood and later. But in the scramble to adopt healthy lifestyles and nutritious diets, most parents tend to ignore the critical importance of encouraging children to drink more water for health and well-being. Water shapes 70 percent of every human body. It regulates body temperature, assists digestion and waste excretion. But through the day when you sweat, breathe and urinate, the body loses water. Therefore, to prevent dehydration it is important to replace lost water. Children are more susceptible to dehydration than adults because in relation to their size, they have a larger proportion of skin to lose sweat. Moreover, children are young and playful and don’t always realise they’re thirsty, and need to be constantly encouraged to drink water. Though paediatricians and health experts recommend that children between the ages of 5-8 should drink at least five glasses per day, this advice is rarely heeded. A recent survey conducted by the Mumbai-based Association of Primary Education and Research (APER) found that 68 percent of school children bring nearly full water bottles home, indicating that they don’t drink enough water in school. The study, for which 900 teachers and parents and 600 students were interviewed in Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore, also reveals that the majority of students (72 percent) don’t drink water because their teachers won’t allow them adequate toilet breaks. The dismal conclusions of the study prompted APER to launch a nationwide ‘Water Bell’ campaign last November urging preschool and school managements to ring the school bell four times per day to remind students to drink up. Dehydration warning signs Inadequate consumption of water by children results in dehydration. Common symptoms of child dehydration include: • Headaches • Poor concentration • Dizziness • Cracked lips • Dry mouth • Fatigue Prolonged neglect of hydration can lead to chronic health problems including urinary tract infections and kidney ailments. According to medical opinion, by the time a child experiences thirst, she has already lost 2 percent of body mass to dehydration. 5 ways to increase water intake For children under eight, at least 4-6 glasses of water in 24 hours is recommended. For children older than eight a minimum of 6-8 glasses is advised. Some tips to increase your child’s water intake: Lead by example and mandate a daily routine for all family members to sip water all day At the dinner table discuss the critical importance of hydration for physical health and well-being To encourage children to like drinking water, infuse the family jug with fruits and herbs for variety and flavour An attractive water bottle is likely to draw children to it. For instance drawing a favourite cartoon character on the bottle…
My daughter is in class VII and physically fit and active. She perspires heavily in the underarm area. Is it safe for her to use deodorants? — Shiny Verma, Pune Some people sweat a lot. It’s not a disease but physiological variation. You can give her a double layer of cloth in the underarm area or use underarm pads. Aluminium chlorohydrate (available as Aldry lotion in the market) can also be applied to reduce sweating. Deodorants reduce body odour but not the sweat. They can be used provided there is no skin irritation. My 17-year-old daughter is preparing to write the class XII CBSE board exams and NEET 2020. She lives in a hostel. Until six months ago she rarely fell sick. Nowadays she complains of frequent colds, throat infections, fever and headaches. Can this frequent illness be due to exam preparation stress? Should I consult a doctor? — Minimol Nair, Kochi Your daughter is newly exposed to the (hostile) hostel environment. Over-crowding, inadequate ventilation, poor hygiene and pollution are normative external factors that cause frequent infections, both respiratory and gastrointestinal. Moreover, your daughter is deprived of healthy home-cooked food and is also perhaps stressed out. This combination of circumstances has probably reduced her immunity, making her susceptible to repeated infections. Make arrangements for her to eat nutritious food and advise adequate rest. I also suggest you consult a physician. If there is evidence of bacterial infection, she should take a full course of antibiotics. My ten-year-son keeps good health. However for the past one month, I’ve noticed that after he eats spinach, he gets a stomach ache which lasts all day. He has been eating spinach since he was a toddler. Is it possible he has suddenly developed an allergy to spinach? — Rinki Sharma, Mumbai Does your son like spinach or are you forcing him to eat it? If he is consuming it under compulsion, the ‘pain’ may not be a serious issue. If he dislikes spinach, don’t force-feed him with it. There are many other green leafy vegetables. But if he likes spinach and still complains of pain, it may be an allergy. For this also, the solution is to substitute spinach with other green leafy vegetables. I have two children, 12 and 14 years old. Because of the long commute to and from school, they start studying only after 7 p.m and often stay up until 11 p.m to finish their homework. They wake up by 5:30 a.m. to reach school by 8 am. I worry they are not getting adequate sleep. Will sleep deprivation affect their health? — Shailaja Ved, Bangalore Children of this age require eight-nine hours of sleep every night. That’s when the body rests, recuperates and replenishes energy. Some adults do well with four-six hours of sleep. However they are exceptions. You say that your children do homework from 7-11 pm. That’s almost four hours. It’s quite likely that they are tired from the long commutes and hence unable to concentrate. That’s…
My six-year-old daughter still throws tantrums. I thought she would outgrow them after four years, but they continue. The scene of the tantrums is usually outdoors, in a supermarket or someone’s house. It’s becoming very difficult to manage her outbursts. Please help. — Priya Tucker, Pune Tantrums come in all shapes and sizes. Older children can have tantrums too because they haven’t yet learned more appropriate ways to express and/or manage their emotions. For toddlers and older children, tantrums can be triggered by several factors including: • Your child’s temperament can influence how quickly and strongly she reacts to frustrating events. Children who get easily upset are more likely to have tantrums. • Stress, hunger, tiredness and overstimulation make it harder for children to express and manage their feelings and behaviour. • Strong emotions such as worry, fear, shame and anger can be overwhelming for children. • Boredom could perhaps lead to tantrums in the supermarket, so involve her in choosing items for purchase. • Give her a five-minute warning before leaving a friend’s house. This will give her time to get used to the idea and not feel upset. Make sure your instructions are clear, concise and confident. Your tone and body language should be assertive as she may be picking up your vibes of nervousness and embarrassment in stressful situations. My parents-in-law are always buying my children (aged five and three) junk food and candies. They are sure to soon develop dental cavities. How do I advise my parents-in-law without offending them? — Anonymous, Chennai This is a common problem as grandparents love to spoil grandchildren. You can ‘Talk & Teach’ your children about healthy eating and dangers of excessive sugar consumption. Explain that they are treats and reserved for special occasions, such as when they visit their grandparents. You don’t want your children to feel that you are judging their grandparents. So keep in mind the bigger, long term picture and relax. The bonding/relationship/good memories that are being built are way more important than how many cookies your children consume sometimes when they are with their grandparents My son feels three of his teachers are always picking on him. I am not sure if he is misbehaving in class, or they are prejudiced against him. I have tried speaking to the teachers but I don’t have a clue as to what is happening. How do I help him? — Rishita Varma, Bangalore. You don’t say how old your son is but I’d make an appointment with the head of school. Before the meeting, I suggest you write down some of the things your son is saying that he is getting in trouble for in bullet points. You may detect a pattern. Collaborate together with his teachers to understand what the school expects of your son and how you can both work together to help him achieve these objectives. Good communication between home and school is the key, and striking when the iron is cold, not when you…
Discussing suicide with teens and children is difficult, but it is something they need to learn about Suicide and self-harm is not an easy subject to discuss. But being able to talk openly about it is beneficial. Discussing it with teens and children may be even more difficult, but it is something they need to learn about. More important, they need to know that they can rely on their parents for sympathy, advice and counsel should they ever experience depression, sadness, or suicidal impulses. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people in America. The situation isn’t better in India, i.e, Bharat. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, one student commits suicide every hour. It’s hard imagining suicide impacting your family or circle of friends, but it’s quite likely to happen. Don’t rule it out. That’s why a frank and open discussion about suicide prevention may save the life of a loved one. Starting a conversation Before discussing suicide and prevention with a teen, it is important that you have an understanding of the subject yourself. Discussing the warning signs is a major prevention step. These signs include: Changes in mood. Children experiencing hopelessness, worry, anxiety, anger, worthlessness Changes in behaviour. Withdrawal from normal activities, changes in sleeping, eating habits, abrupt change of friends circle Threatening or attempting self-harm. Talking about or wishing for death, researching ways to die, giving away precious possessions, purchasing dangerous weapons Situational triggers. Death of a loved one, stress, humiliation, a break up, or getting into hot soup trigger suicidal thoughts Risk factors To properly counsel a suicidal teenager, you must first understand the weight of the matter and the risk. Understand that suicide can happen in any family and can be just as likely as other teenage problems such as underage drinking. In fact, the risk is more real when you consider other stressful issues teens may be facing (sexuality, bullying, gender identity, drug abuse, etc). Make a plan It is often helpful to plan out the discussion before initiating it with your teen. Knowing what you want to say can make the transition to an open discussion much easier. However, you don’t have to stick to a rigid outline; your teen will help to guide the conversation. Choose a time to talk Getting teenagers to converse can be an arduous task. That is why timing may affect their willingness to open up. Here are some potential opportunities to start the discussion: during a car ride; when you hear or see something about suicide on TV; when a suicide occurs in your community. Honesty & direction It is okay to admit that suicide can be difficult to discuss. Talking about your feelings on the subject will help your child open up as well. If your teen still has a hard time speaking about it, feel free to ask them direct questions, such as: “Have any of your friends dealt with suicide?” …
Early childhood is the time when children begin to form personal and social relationships. Therefore it’s important for parents, grandparents and caregivers to encourage them to identify, express and manage their emotions positively – Diya Shivlikith Young children experience the same range of emotions as adults. They get angry, sad, happy, embarrassed, annoyed, etc. But unlike adults they don’t have the vocabulary to identify and express their emotions. They manifest their emotions by crying, throwing tantrums and expressing emotional outbursts. Given that early childhood is the time when children begin to form and develop personal and social relationships, it’s important that parents, grandparents and caregivers encourage them to identify, express and manage their emotions positively. This will enable them to develop into socially confident and emotionally balanced teens and adults. “Early childhood is a critical time for socio-emotional development. Young children experience a wide range of emotions as they interact with family, friends and the external world beyond home and hearth. It’s the duty of parents and care-givers to help children to express their emotions and canalise them positively and constructively. This will help them to develop empathy and respect for other people’s emotions while giving them the skillsets to face setbacks and challenges,” says Kanaga Lakshmi P, a Chennai-based psychologist. Here are some pointers for helping children to identify, express and manage their emotions positively. Identify the emotion. Preschool children should be given opportunities to identify, express and name their emotions. For instance when blowing soap bubbles, you could ask them if they are feeling happy. Show them a line of emoticons on your cell phone, and try to identify the emotions jointly, identifying the emotions they experience in differing situations. Responding the right way. Discuss the different ways they respond to varying sentiments. “Do you remember when you picked up the screwdriver, and mama became angry. Can you show mama her angry face?” Follow this with a discussion on the response. “Do you know what mama does when she gets angry? She closes her eyes and takes ten deep breaths. This helps her calm down, instead of shouting and yelling.” Explain that different people react differently to anger. Some yell at others, cry, fight, etc while others respond positively by calming down and ideating solutions for problems. Act it out. Plan a play or skit to enable children to express different types of emotions. It’s not easy to convince young children to stage a play. So look for opportunities to make them perform before an audience — an imminent family gathering, a birthday party, etc. Ideate a story idea in which characters express different moods and emotions and how problems are resolved through calm and constructive behaviour. Help them with the props, costumes and accessories. You could also film the play and share it online. Use media. Show pictures, books, or videos to explain varying emotions to children. Play ‘make a face’. Play ‘make a face’ game to convey different emotions. This will teach them to connect facial expressions…
Around the world and specially in deeply patriarchal countries such as India, single — divorced, widowed, unmarried or single by choice — parents, especially women, are judged harshly and stigmatised for their personal, marital and parenting choices – Shreya Iyer For Mumbai-based Nandini Chakravarty (45), brand strategist at a local start-up, ending an abusive marriage and starting life afresh with her school-going daughter was the most difficult decision she ever made. But looking over her 13 years as a single mother, she has no regrets. “My marriage was a disaster from the start. I was the sole earning member of the family. My husband didn’t have a regular job and never shouldered any responsibilities,” she recalls. “After my daughter was born, I made an attempt to move back to my parents’ home but unfortunately that didn’t work out. So I took up a job in a different city and started saving money, leaving my daughter with my in-laws for a few years. That was a difficult testing period.” During those years Chakravarty worked in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kolkata and Rajkot. She recalls being “bullied” and “taunted” for her divorce and “judged harshly” for leaving her child behind with her parents. “Once, my landlady in Rajkot called up my workplace and complained to my boss that I had a failed marriage and was a single mother. I had to constantly explain and justify my decision to people around me. It was tough but I persisted with my decision. I soon moved to Ahmedabad and later to Mumbai, a liberal enlightened city in which people aren’t judgemental. In fact in Mumbai, our neighbour became like a second family watching out for my daughter,” she reminisces. Nandini’s story is not exceptional. Around the world and specially in deeply patriarchal countries such as India, single — divorced, widowed, unmarried or single by choice — parents, especially women, are judged harshly and stigmatised for their personal, marital and parenting choices. According to a recently released United Nations report The Progress of the World’s Women 2019-2020: Families in a Changing World, which analyses diverse family structures and their impact on women, ending a marital relationship typically entails far more adverse economic consequences for women than for men. “All too often, women lose access to marital assets, resources, and even child custody” and face societal censure if not ostracism, write the authors of the report. The report estimates that 7.5 percent of households in India are headed by single parents of whom the majority is managed by single mothers. Startlingly, in the past four years, the number of one parent households (OPH) in India — a rarity in the 1990s — has almost doubled from 4 percent in 2015 to 7.5 percent in 2020. Based on data collected from 89 countries, the UN report reveals that eight of ten single parent households worldwide i.e, 101 million, are headed by women (see box). Another report by Euromonitor International has projected that by 2020, India will have the fourth-highest number of OPHs…
A new research study published in the European Respiratory Journal (January) reveals that exposure to high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) at birth increases the chances of children developing eczema and asthma in adolescence. The study, conducted by Canadian researchers, tracked 1,286 children from birth to age 18, and used the Ontario Registered Persons Database to identify participants’ air pollution exposures at birth by postal codes. The study found that there was a 17 percent increase in risk of developing asthma and 8 percent for eczema for children exposed to higher levels of NO2 at the time of birth. In the cohort of 1,286 tested participants, 28.5 percent suffered asthma and 74.5 percent eczema. The researchers recommend improving air quality and “reducing air pollution exposure especially to O3 and NO2 to prevent asthma and other allergic diseases in childhood and adolescence”.
Study shows that the average time that a child spends watching screens increases drastically and the digital screen addiction begins in the early years. The study was conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Health (NIH), University at Albany and the New York University Langone Medical Center. It states that the average daily time spent by children before television, computer and phones has increased from 53 minutes at the age of one to more than 150 minutes at age three. By the time kids turn eight, they are more likely to log the highest amount of on-screen time if they are in home-based child care or are raised by first-time mothers, says the study published in JAMA Pediatrics (November 2019). The researchers surveyed mothers of nearly 4,000 children who responded to questions on their children’s media habits when the latter were 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months of age. “Our results indicate that digital screen addiction begins in the early years. This finding suggests that interventions to reduce screen time could have a better chance of success if introduced early,” says Edwina Yeung, the study’s senior author and investigator in the NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Recommended: Saving children from Digital Addiction
According to a study conducted by Princeton University and published in Psychological Science (January), infant and adult brains are in sync during natural play with brain activity rising and falling simultaneously as they share toys and eye contact. For the study, researchers tracked the neural coordination of adults and infants while they played with toys, or while adults read a book and/or sang to children. The study also recorded data while adults switched off eye contact during interactions. Researchers found that during face-to-face sessions, the brains of infants and adults were synchronised and when adults and toddlers turned away from each other, their synchronisation disappeared. “While communicating, adults and children form a feedback loop. That is, the adult’s brain seems to predict when infants would smile, with infants’ brains anticipating when an adult would use more ‘baby talk,’ and both brains tracked joint eye contact and joint attention to toys. So, when infants and adults play together, their brains influence each other in dynamic ways,” says Elise Piazza, a scholar in the Princeton Neuroscience Institute.
Less than two in every 100 home-packed school lunches eaten by children in primary schools in the UK meet acceptable nutritional standards, says a study conducted by University of Leeds. Researchers analysed the nutritional quality of packed lunches in a sample of primary schools in 2006 and again in 2016. The results, published in the online journal BMJ Open (January), indicate that although the amount of sugary foods in lunch boxes has declined over ten years, it is still higher than recommended. Moreover only one in five children has a vegetable or salad packed in their lunch box. The study found that foods containing vitamin A, vitamin C and zinc, i.e, fresh fruit, salad, vegetables and unprocessed meat or fish, were inadequate. Plant-based fillings such as humous or vegetable spreads made up less than 1 percent of packed school lunches. “The research has found that on some fronts, packed lunches have improved but they are still dominated by sweet and savoury snack food and sugary drinks. The vast majority of primary school children suffer poor nutrition. Improving what children eat at school reduces the risk of childhood obesity,” says Dr. Charlotte Evans, associate professor, School of Food Science and Nutrition, Leeds University.
Your cover story on ‘A-Z New Year resolutions for good parenting’ (PW January) was informative and refreshing. The suggested list of resolutions were simple to follow and relevant to improving the quality of family life. Though like most people I have seldom followed my New Year resolutions through, I am determined to try out some of your advice of including more outdoor play and digital detox. I also request you to include more stories providing practical advice on dealing with the multiplying problems of teenagers. Nishita Suren Mumbai Inspiring interview The interview with Chumki Sharma, the Kolkata-based banker-turned-model and single parent of a child with special needs, was inspiring (PW January). As a parent of an autistic child, I can relate to the emotional upheaval and challenges she confronts on a daily basis especially after she decided to return to full-time work. Kudos to Chumki for balancing work and home! It’s my misfortune that I have experienced enormous guilt ever since I decided to return to work, leaving my child at home. Chumki’s interview has boosted my confidence so much so that I have started believing that I made the right decision. I also love the Ask Your Counselor and Fun with Words sections in the January issue. Keep up the good work! Rashmi Devaraj Chennai Joint family parenting problems Thank you for publishing ParentsWorld and focusing a much-needed searchlight on the many challenges which modern-day parents face in the Google age. Managing toddlers, school-going children, work and in-laws is daunting for many working mothers, especially those living in joint families. I envy women in nuclear families who can make their own parenting decisions. Parenting is hard enough without being compelled to balance the opinions of several family members. My sisters-in-law also face a similar plight. Parenting in joint families in India has its unique challenges. Depressed Mom on email Useful advice I am a mother of a 10-year-old hyperactive child and loved your Middle Years story ‘Unconventional child? Bring out her best’ (PW January). In our case, we have tried enrolling her in meditation and music therapy classes, but it hasn’t helped much. A brilliant and imaginative child, she is a quick learner, but her lack of attention and wandering mind often means that she can’t concentrate on any activity for long. Though she has cleared all the education milestones until now, the possibility of her hyperactivity persisting into adulthood is sure to hinder her personal and professional development. In your story, the author’s suggestion to shortlist career options which don’t require working in a conventional 9-5 set-up is useful advice. However, I am a tad confused about the suggestion to opt for a gap year given that a hyperactive mind and loads of free time doesn’t seem a good combination for success. Shan Raghu Delhi Parents should be vigilant I am a regular reader of ParentsWorld and enjoy reading parenting/child care research studies published in the News Bytes section. I believe it’s important for parents to remain up…
In the first two decades of the new millennium, the family unit/household has experienced more mutations than perhaps in the entire past century. The traditional joint family unit of parents, children and grandparents has all but disintegrated and two-parents and children nuclear family is becoming normative in urban India. However a new millennium phenomenon is the single parent and child household. According to The Progress of the World’s Women 2019-2020: Families in a Changing World, released by the United Nations last June,13 percent of all households worldwide are managed by single parents with 7.5 percent of households in India headed by lone parents, the majority of them single women. In fact, India has registered one of the fastest growth rates in one parent households (OPHs) with the number almost doubling from 4 percent in 2015 to 7.5 percent in 2020. Yet despite this leap in the number of OPHs countrywide, social attitudes and prejudices against lone parents are stuck in the 19th century. Single – divorced, widowed, unmarried or single by choice (through adoption and surrogacy) – parents, especially women, face social censure, are judged harshly and widely pilloried. In deeply patriarchal India — voted the world’s most dangerous country for women by a Thomas Reuters Poll in 2018 — single moms have a specially tough time justifying failed marriages and have to be on 24/7 guard to ward off unsolicited advances from predatory males who believe their single status makes them fair game for sexual harassment. In our cover story this month, we beam a searchlight on the rising phenomenon of single parenting and its trials and tribulations. Though attitudes towards OPHs are slowly changing in metropolitan India, single parenting is a hard slog. Juggling work and parenting duties while stressing about societal expectations, single parents suffer considerable emotional stress and anxiety. In this month’s cover story, we highlight the experiences of single parents bravely coping with parenting challenges as well as exclusive child-rearing advice from parenting counselors. Also in this issue our regular editorial sections apart, we are pleased to introduce Ask Your Counselor by Sue Atkins, an internationally renowned UK-based parenting expert, broadcaster, speaker and author of Parenting Made Easy — How to Raise Happy Children (2012), who will henceforth answer queries across a wide spectrum of parenting issues.
