– Jennifer Frost
PW invited parents of the top-ranked Sai International School, Bhubaneswar to share new family activities or habits they started in the New Year “As parents, we often advise our daughter — Abhijita (class III) — to make smart choices and adopt healthy lifestyles without having much to show for ourselves. But after the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020, we have resolved to follow some rules to lead a healthy and happy 2021. Our family’s regimen now includes daily yoga and free hand exercises, compulsory weekend outings, nutritious homemade meals and a big No to soda and aerated drinks. On weekends, we even shake a leg or two guided by our danseuse daughter.” — Abhishek Panda, software engineer, Infosys “2020 was a year of external disruption and internal exploration with all of us having morphed into more responsible and grateful human beings. When 2021 arrived, we made it our New Year resolution to turn off the TV during meal times. Engaging in informal chats with our daughter Pratichi (11) easily beats the passive consumption of content streamed on television. There is another upside. We have become more mindful of the wholesome homemade food we eat and how much we eat.”— Saswati Satpathy, early reading specialist, Sai Kids Phonics, Bhubaneswar “Cycling on weekends is an interesting and new addition to our family activities in the New Year. My family including my daughters — Poorna (class IX) and Poorva (class VI) — have never been fond of any kind of physical activity till now. This weekend family activity is very enjoyable and is keeping our family super active as well. Given our family’s deep interest in mythology, another activity our family loves engaging in is sharing anecdotes and shlokas from the Puranas and other epics.” — Dr. Smita Mahapatra, associate professor, SCB Government Medical College, Cuttack “Although 2020 is blacklisted by most because of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic, we will remember the year for giving us the opportunity to strengthen our bonds with our daughter Sarvani (13). By spending quality time with her, we became deeply aware of her creative interests and encouraged her by engaging in family activities. This year all of us have become experimental bakers. Sometimes we are overjoyed and other times we laugh at our results. Yoga together is also a new addition to our daily activities list, the immediate result of which can be seen in a positive home environment.” — Shipra Sahoo, homemaker
Hypophora is a figure of speech in which a speaker/writer raises a question and immediately provides an answer – Roopa Banerjee Ask yourself a question and answer it yourself. Does that sound weird? It shouldn’t, as it is a popular literary device used by writers and speakers. Hypophora is a figure of speech in which a speaker writer raises a question and immediately provides an answer. The etymology of hypophora is from the Greek word ipofora, meaning ‘carrying under’ or ‘putting under’. In literature, hypophora has been liberally used by many authors. For instance children’s author E.B. White (1899-1995) in his best-selling novel Charlotte’s Web writes: “After all, what’s a life, anyway? We’re born, we live a little while, we die. A spider’s life can’t help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.” British prime minister Winston Churchill famously made use of hypophora in a speech delivered during World War II (June 4, 1940): “You ask, what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land, and air, with all our might and with all the strength.” The advantage of using hypophora in political speeches and literary works is that it engages audiences and readers by simulating probable conversations with them. In actual form, hypophora is the question and anthyphophora the answer. However, over time, hypophora has become the common usage term for both the question and answer. Many people tend to confuse hypophora with rhetorical questions. The difference between the two is that hypophora requires the writer/speaker to provide an answer, whereas the rhetorical question does not. Hypophora is also employed to initiate new debates on topics of importance about which addressees might not have sufficient information. In addition, it can be applied as a directional device to veer the audience’s attention to relevant topics. Films and movies also use hypophora liberally. An example: “And how’d you get that (becoming King), eh? By exploiting the workers! By hanging on to outdated imperialist dogma which perpetuates the economic and social differences in our society.” — Monty Python, Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) Hypophora has also been used to great advantage in advertising. Planting a thought in the mind of readers and then answering it in a way that leads them to think about their product is invaluable for advertisers. Old Spice advertisements use several hypophora: “Does your man look like me? No. Can he smell like me? Yes. Should he use Old Spice body wash? I don’t know. Do you like the smell of adventure? Do you want a man who smells like he can bake you a gourmet cake in the dream kitchen he built for you with his own hands? Of course, you do.” Exercise Identify the literary works from which the following hypophoras are excerpted: 1. “Who knows? And what does…
The distinguishing characteristic of this sun, sea and sand state is that it’s a middle class society unscarred by visible poverty and want When the first cool winds heralding winter start blowing across the sweaty brow of the subcontinent, the thoughts of most cerebral individuals and party animals who take their rest and recreation seriously — as all productive professionals should — lightly turn to Goa, India’s smallest (pop 1.5 million) western seaboard state, which offers a French Riviera or Caribbean style holiday at a fraction of the price of these two exotic destinations. Much has been written about Goa in recent times — perhaps too much. But most of the coverage of this golden state which offers a unique combination of sun, sand and sea, and a lot else, tends to be impressionistic, i.e long on lyrical descriptions and short of hard information. A satisfactory explanation as to why this state’s population doubles — surely a phenomenon unprecedented in the annals of tourism worldwide — during the peak of the tourist season (Christmas-New Year) has thus far proved elusive. Certainly there is a je ne sais quoi about Goa which attracts people from across the subcontinent and from around the world. But thus far the lure of this state remains largely a matter of conjecture and media hype. In particular it is important to note that the great majority of holiday-makers who swarm this tourist paradise annually are domestic revelers who aren’t enchanted by its glorious sun, sand and sea which could darken complexions and ruin values in the marriage and related markets. So what is it about Goa which attracts domestic tourists by the hundreds of thousands? Those conditioned to swallowing traditional Marxist (exploitation of poor natives) and loony right (alcoholism and debauchery) explanations, skip the next paragraph. It might sound strange, but for my money the major attraction of Goa is that it is India’s most well-educated (English language, forget about fudged literacy figures) state. This translates into good manners, easy transactions, cleanliness and hygiene. Surrounded by filth, the uncouth and PWD architecture, a growing number within the nation’s new middle class is attracted to these elementary charms of the golden state. Moreover, Goan politicians are — as yet — unmoved by the hypocritical posturing of their counterparts in other states on liquor and prohibition. As a consequence liquor prices are the lowest in India. Good manners and education also translates into respect for women (even if clad in beach wear or less), and the natives have the intelligence not to dirty the beaches as is common in the rest of the country. Indeed the distinguishing characteristic of Goa which makes it an attractive destination for tourists from India and abroad is that it is a predominantly middle class society unscarred by the visible poverty and want which often diminishes the charm of other tourist destinations in the subcontinent. This is the bottomline for the annual exodus to this Mediterranean-style experience from the hinterland. Surprisingly not a…
(4 servings) Ingredients 8 bananas, peeled 125 gm butter, melted 125 gm chopped peanuts Preparation guide Steam the bananas in a large saucepan. Be careful they don’t become too soft. Drain and roll the bananas in melted butter and subsequently roll each banana separately in the chopped groundnuts/peanuts. Arrange them in a baking dish and bake for 15 minutes at 190°C. Serve with ice cream. Health benefit: Bananas provide energy minus the fat. They are rich in fibre, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, manganese, copper and carbohydrates, and aid good digestion.
Ingredients for Kenyan vermicelli bread (12 servings) 1 kg vermicelli 4 cups unsweetened coconut milk ½ cup sugar ¼ teaspoon ground ginger 1 egg ½ cup whole wheat or all-purpose flour Preparation guide for Kenyan vermicelli bread Preheat the oven to 180°C. Coat a baking dish with butter. Boil the vermicelli until cooked, then drain. Boil the coconut milk and sugar in a large saucepan, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 5 minutes. Add the vermicelli and ginger. Beat the egg in a bowl. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of the coconut milk mixture to the beaten egg, and stir the egg mixture into the pan with the vermicelli. Whisk in the flour and pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 1 hour or until soft and spongy. Heath benefit of Kenyan vermicelli bread: Coconut milk is rich in electrolytes. It builds muscle strength and reduces fat, lowers blood pressure, relieves constipation and prevents fatigue. Also read: Recipe for Pindi chole Cold Noodle Salad Recipe
(4 servings) Sukuma Wiki is Swahili for ‘push the week’ and refers to a meal on a budget. It is usually made from leftovers and can include meat. Ingredients 1 kg spinach, chopped into large pieces 2 tbsp flour Juice of one lemon Oil for frying One chopped onion Two-three chopped tomatoes One chilly Leftover cooked chicken Salt, chilly powder and pepper to taste Preparation guide Boil two cups of water in a large pot. Add the greens. Cover with a lid and steam until greens are tender. Mix the flour, lemon juice, and few spoonfuls of water in a small bowl or cup. Stir until smooth. Remove greens from heat and drain. Heat oil in a separate pan. Saute the onion, tomatoes, and hot pepper. Add spices to taste, then add the meat. Add the flour-lemon juice mixture and stir until smooth. Add drained greens. Cover and simmer over low heat until greens are tender and sauce is thickened. Health benefit: Spinach is rich in vitamin A, C, and K and the minerals magnesium, iron and vitamin B2. All these contribute to promoting good bone health.
While Chinese and Italian food is popular in India, African soul food is less known. Here are some delectable easy-to-rustle-up recipes from the African continent – Parvathy Menon Githeri (4 servings) Githeri is a corn and beans stew, a staple of the Kikuyu tribe of Kenya. Ingredients 1 cup dried whole kernel corn 1 cup dried kidney beans; soaked in cold water overnight Oil and salt to taste Preparation guide Place corn and beans with enough water in a pressure cooker. Cook for 6-8 whistles or until corn and beans are tender. Ensure they don’t turn mushy. Season with salt, oil, or fat. Serve hot. Optional: Sometimes potatoes, spinach or meat is added. Health benefit: Beans are high in fibre and protein, and help maintain healthy body weight. Kenyan vermicelli bread recipe Kenyan vermicelli bread recipe Kenyan vermicelli bread recipe
Monojit Ghosh is a former gymnast and fitness trainer and gymnastics coach at Art Corner Gymnastics, Bangalore Planks are integral to exercise routines. They strengthen muscles and improve body balance. Here are some benefits of including planks in workout routines: Provides relief from back pain Increases core and back muscle strength Builds deep inner core muscles Improves body posture and balance Reduces belly fat The plank position is one of the easiest exercises that you can do anywhere and without any equipment. It uses your own body weight. Getting started Warm up by doing some rotations and stretches. This prevents injury and pain. Do it right Lie on your stomach and rest on your arms under the chest. Keep your elbow and toes on the floor or mat. Lift your whole body. Ensure that you Line up your elbows directly under your shoulders. Keep your neck in neutral position. Keep your back somewhat rounded. Contract your quads. Firm your abdomen and buttocks/glutes. Hold your whole body in a straight line. Try to hold the plank position for at least 20-30 seconds. Gradually, you can increase the hold timing and/or increase the variety of planks. A full-plank workout Try this full-plank workout to improve fitness. Basic elbow plank. Do this on all four sides. While doing it on your side, make sure your body is tight. Elbow plank to superman hold. From the elbow plank position, raise your right hand and left leg to horizontal position and hold. After 20-30 seconds, change to the other leg and hand. Plank to leg raises. From elbow plank position, kick one leg upwards, without changing your body position. Repeat 10 times for each leg. Plank to hip raises. From elbow plank position, lower your hip, then raise it. Repeat 10 times. Plank to mountain climbing. Start from the usual elbow plank position, then bend one leg and bring it towards your elbow. Switch and change legs. Alternate and repeat 10 times for each leg. Also read: Stretching exercises benefit children
Parvathy wants to convey a message to some of her friends. Can you find the names of her friends and the message?
Answer: Reduce, reuse, recycle. Shalini, Mohan, Sirish, Binu, Harish, Anju.
Moms’n Dads
Anitha Bennett
Here’s an activity that you can do as a family and enjoy the spirit of giving.
On special days, like birthdays, anniversaries or […]
Use your pen power!
Nikhil Jayadevan
When you set out to do something to make a difference — for example, to eradicate hunger — working solo or with a few friends is not enough. Sometimes it’s necessary to write letters to alert government officials, newspaper editors, local business leaders and producers of television news programmes.
Write what you […]
A House Named ….
Lakshmi Narayan
Once met a gadabout on my travels who kept me entertained with tall stories of where he had gone and who he had met. But the oddest experience he said he had was when he lost his bearings and found himself in front of a cottage in the midst of a […]
Hey Guys!
Do you want your life to make a difference to society?
There are many ways in which we can make an impact on the lives of others. We can protect the environment, create awareness of social needs and reach out to help those in need.
The satisfaction of making a difference is inestimable. PW Kidzone gives […]
The GP or general physician who made home visits at unearthly hours no longer makes house calls. But with the population and its ailments having multiplied, the demand for the GP’s services is still strong The healer’s vocation is one of the oldest professions in recorded history with the medicine man, Shaman and Ayurveda practitioner always accorded a place of honour in society. Which is perhaps why even today the study of modern medicine, i.e allopathy, is among the first choices of middle class parents intent upon securing the future of their children. However, with the study of medicine becoming highly specialised, and most aspiring medical practitioners branching out to specialise as cardiologists, plastic surgeons, neurologists etc, the modestly qualified general physician and the respect he once enjoyed, has all but retreated into history. At one time a familiar and often pivotal character in novels, movies and television soaps, the genial GP or family physician who made home visits at unearthly hours because of his close bonds with the local community, no longer makes house calls. But with the population of the country having crossed the billion mark, and health problems rising, the demand for the GP’s services is as strong as it has ever been. “Undoubtedly GPs who used to be the first line of defence against ill-health and ailments and played an important role in dispensing preventive medical advice, have been steadily losing ground in the metros. The trend within more aware, tech-savvy and affluent people is to self-medicate with the help of the Internet or rush to the chemist instead of a GP. However, the demand for GPs will always be high since India has a large rural population and a great dearth of doctors. Moreover even in the country’s metros, the under-class majority still visit the GP when they feel unwell,’’ says Dr. Sanjiv Rawal, a Mumbai-based medical practitioner who has more than 40 years experience in the medical and allied professions. Study Programmes. Currently four main systems of medicine are taught and practiced in India — allopathy, homeopathy, ayurveda and unani — with allopathy and homeopathy being the most popular study options of aspiring medical practitioners. The basic medical degree study programmes are the MBBS (bachelor of medicine & surgery); BAMS (bachelor of aurvedic medicine & surgery); BHMS (bachelor of homeopathic medicine & surgery), and BUMS (bachelor of unani medicine & surgery). All of them require four-and-a-half years of study followed by one year of compulsory rotatory internship. Interns are required to work in all departments and acquire a broad, hands-on experience of the medical profession. The minimum qualification for enrolment in an MBBS/BAMS/BHMS/BUMS study programme in India is Plus Two (class XII) certification in the science stream, and clearance of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Prominent medical colleges include: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi; Christian Medical College, Vellore; and Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry. The great majority of duly qualified and certified GPs tend…
– Sue Atkins is a UK-based internationally recognised parenting expert, broadcaster, speaker and author of Parenting Made Easy — How to Raise Happy Children (2012) Of late my four-year-old daughter is making a fuss about eating her vegetables. She throws tantrums including throwing away her plate. I can’t understand what has caused this change in behaviour. Nothing adverse has happened at home either. Help! — Ritu Sharma, Delhi There may not be obvious changes at home but the world has undergone cataclysmic changes because of the pandemic. It’s likely your daughter has picked up pandemic-related anxieties. Her tantrums are a sign that she is distressed. Talk to her to understand and resolve the underlying reasons behind her tantrums. Moreover all children misbehave at times. Don’t overreact. Create a calm home environment during mealtimes. Offer less on the plate and involve her in preparing meals. It’s also helpful to use the ‘week not day’ rule when it comes to children’s eating habits. Therefore even if she’s barely eaten today, she’s probably had enough on other days. Most children eat enough over a week to keep their stomachs full. Don’t turn mealtimes into a battle — it sends out the wrong message that there are ‘good’ and ‘bad’ foods. Don’t bribe her with treats. Also make mealtimes a family affair and role model eating vegetables as children learn by example. My husband and I will be returning to work from our offices next month, after a year of work-from-home. My children aged five and eight years have got used to us being home 24×7. Their school has not announced a reopening date, likely to be in June. We are on the lookout for a nanny. Please advise how we can make our children comfortable with us returning to office. — Beena and Shijo Varghese, Trivandrum Reassure your children and provide all information about their new daily routine without you. Ensure the nanny is reliable, vigilant, and trustworthy. It’s also a good idea to start preparing your children for school. After one year of home online learning, youngest children will find the transition to regular in-school classes difficult. Address their fears about school reopening and encourage them to welcome the opportunity to interact in-person with peers and teachers. During the past year, my teenage son hasn’t paid any attention to academics. His school is likely to reopen in June. He is 14 years old and in class IX. How do I get him back on the learning track? If I broach the subject, he gets worked up. — Kalyan Praseth, Bengaluru Boredom, disinterest, and distraction are typical of the adolescent years. Now add the uncertainty and disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic, and you will understand why your son is demotivated. Talk to him about how he feels about his education. Talk with him, not at him, about his education and career goals. Don’t command, instruct and preach to him. Support and facilitate his education and career aspirations. Also speak with his school teachers…
– Mahima Setia is a Bengaluru-based nutritionist, diabetes educator and lifestyle coach
My elder daughter (13) has put on weight during the pandemic lockdown of schools. One or another of our family members brings junk food into the house and she gobbles it up. Later, she feels guilty and tries to skip meals now and then. […]
– Wesley Kufel is clinical assistant professor (pharmacy practice) at Binghamton University, State University of New York Vaccines help the immune system recognize viruses, typically by injecting weakened virus or the virus’s proteins. Pfizer and Moderna developed a new type of vaccine that instead uses mRNA, the molecular instructions for building virus The first Coronavirus, aka Covid-19 vaccines have been authorised for use in the US, and states are starting to implement plans for who should get vaccinated first. But one important group is absent: children. So far, the vaccine is allowed only for adults and older teens. Testing is only now getting started with children — and just with adolescents. There are still a lot of unknowns. As an infectious disease pharmacist and professor who helps manage patients hospitalized with Covid-19, I frequently hear questions about vaccines. Here’s what we know and don’t know in response to some common questions about vaccinating kids against this virus. When can my child be vaccinated? Right now, it appears unlikely that a vaccine will be ready for children before the start of the next school year in August. Adult trials of the two leading vaccines have had promising results. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for both in mid-December, but only for use in adults and older teens. It authorised Moderna’s vaccine for ages 18 and over on December 18, a week after authorizing Pfizer’s vaccine for ages 16 and older. Vaccines were already being injected in the UK, and Canada had authorised the Pfizer vaccine for the same age range. But clinical trials involving children are only just getting started. Pfizer, working with Germany’s BioNTech, expanded its Covid-19 vaccine testing to children aged 12 and older only in October. Moderna announced that it had just started trials with children ages 12-17 on December 10. The vaccine’s efficacy and safety will have to be evaluated for each age group, and testing hasn’t started for infants, toddlers or kids in the US. Clinical trials are designed to ensure that the vaccine is safe and effective. Typically, it takes 10-15 years from the start of development until a vaccine is licensed, but Covid-19 vaccines are being developed faster in response to the pandemic. Will children need more shots than adults? It does not seem that the schedule of Covid-19 vaccine doses will be different for children, but that could change as testing goes on. Pfizer’s vaccine is being tested in adolescents with a two-dose series, three weeks apart, just as in adults. Moderna also plans to use its adult schedule — two doses four weeks apart — in a trial with 3,000 adolescents. The second dose serves as a “booster shot”, since the first dose doesn’t provide optimal immunity. This is consistent with several other vaccines, including hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella. Right now, only two doses are planned, but that could change. It’s unclear how long the immune response from these Covid-19 vaccines will last or if more…
With online learning not recommended for preschool children, many parents are worried their toddlers have missed important physical, mental, emotional and cognitive development milestones – Archana N. & Mini P. Almost a year after all education institutions including pre-primaries were ordered to shut down by the Central government to check the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, an increasing number of parents are worried their toddlers have missed important physical, mental, emotional and cognitive development milestones. With online learning not recommended for preschool children, a growing number of parents are anxious that children have been deprived of vital early childhood care and education (ECCE) in their most important formative years. According to Chennai-based clinical and child psychologist R. Manoj, parents can do a lot to lessen the impact of preschools closure upon the development of youngest children. “Parents form the core of the world of children in the two-four years age group. Skills such as socialisation are dependent on how much parents engage with them, and emotional development is dependent on how much care and security parents provide youngest children,” says Manoj, head of Manoj’s Psychotherapy and Counseling Clinic. Manoj believes that parents must proactively work towards “nurturing strong and secure emotional attachments and bonding” with toddlers. Several research studies have shown that emotionally secure infants develop into independent and confident youngsters who perform academically better at school and in higher education. “Unfortunately because of the new work-from-home culture, many parents are not able to devote sufficient time to children. This situation of parents being physically present at home but denying children care and attention is worse than of parents away from home. It can lead to children developing feelings of neglect and insecurity. Parents need to strike a balance between work-from-home and caring for vulnerable youngest children,” advises Manoj. Moreover, to enable the physical, mental, and cognitive development of youngest children confined indoors because of the pandemic, child experts recommend that parents teach and encourage children to play independently. “Youngest children are naturally curious and actively involved in their own learning through discovery and exploration. Encouraging independent play stimulates self-learning which is important for orderly early childhood development. Bereft of obliging and helpful adults providing instruction, children learn to experiment and ideate solutions. Independent play teaches children to become self-reliant, creative, imaginative, and improves their focus and critical thinking capabilities,” says Dr. Guru Prasanna Lakshmi Immadi, clinical psychologist and managing director, Cognizance Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (CIMHANS), Hyderabad. Child development milestones Here are the major development milestones commonly expected to be attained by youngest children. However please note these milestones are mere guidelines subject to individual variation. 2-3 years Physical Walks and runs steadily Kicks a ball without losing balance Pedals a tricycle with or without help Builds playing blocks Does simple drawings Demonstrates good eye-hand coordination in tasks such as fitting objects into corresponding empty spaces Solves simple puzzles Climbs stairs, first with support, then independently Cognitive and Language Asks questions Can make sentences using 3-4…
In a year dominated by the pandemic, Kamala Harris created history by becoming the first woman, first Black Indian-American vice president of the United States. Here are four children’s books which recount her amazing journey from Oakland, California to Washington DC – Mini P. Superheroes are Everywhere by Kamala Harris Illustrated by Mechal Renee Roe Publisher: Penguin Random House Price: Rs.1,000 A New York Times bestseller, this picture book authored by Kamala Harris has an empowering message: “Superheroes are all around us — and if we try, we can all be heroes too”. Harris narrates how as a child she adored superheroes. “Whenever there’s trouble, superheroes show up just in time. When I was a kid, I was sure that superheroes were everywhere, blending in with regular people, ready to do good at a moment’s notice. I was determined to find them, so I started my superhero search at home,” writes Harris. And to her amazement, she found superheroes in her family, among her friends, even down the street. Beautifully illustrated by Mechal Renee Roe, the book is an inspiring read for young children. Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice by Nikki Grimes Publisher: Atlantic Price: Rs.1,300 This picture book tells the incredible story of a young daughter of immigrants — born in Oakland, California on October 20, 1964 to Donald, a Jamaica-born economist, and Shyamala Gopalan, a India-born breast cancer researcher — who would grow up to be the first woman, Indian-American vice president of the United States. It describes how marching for civil rights with her mother and father shaped her ideas of justice and public service. Suitable for children above four years of age, it introduces children to public activism. Who Is Kamala Harris? by Kirsten Anderson Publisher: Penguin Price: Rs.364 This children’s book details the defining moments that led to Kamala Harris’ nomination as vice president and thereafter. While her nomination for this position was not unexpected, her rise to national prominence was filled with unexpected twists and turns. After failing her bar exam at first try to become a lawyer, she tried again and succeeded. From there, she quickly rose through the legal ranks, serving as district attorney of San Francisco, then California’s attorney general, and senator. The Truths We Hold: An American Journey by Kamala Harris Publisher: Philomel Price: Rs.988 “This is the story of my family. It is the story of my childhood. It is the story of the life I have built since then. You’ll meet my family and my friends, my colleagues and my team. I hope you will cherish them as I do and through my telling see that nothing I have ever accomplished could have been done on my own.” That is how Kamala Harris describes her oeuvre The Truths We Hold: An American Journey. Engaging and inspirational, it unveils her personal and professional trials and tribulations and how she overcame them with grit and determination.
PW editors interviewed a cross-section of health, nutrition and lifestyle gurus who advise a ‘holistic approach’ to build robust immune systems especially of children and adolescents – Archana N, Mini P. & Cynthia John Even as the US, UK and Europe are fighting a deadly second/third wave of the Coronavirus, aka Covid-19 pandemic, fortuitously in India the infections curve has flattened and is moving downwards from peak of 97,860 Covid positive cases per day last September to 9,110 in February. Consequently, the Central and state governments have been progressively easing the restrictions imposed upon reopening of businesses, travel and public congregations. In early January, state governments also began to cautiously reopen schools for secondary students and in some states for middle and junior schoolers. But even as schools have reopened, student classroom attendance is irregular and sparse. With doubts about the impact of approved vaccines on children not yet cleared, parents are vacillating over granting the mandatory consent for their children to attend in-school classrooms for fear of their becoming infected. However, it’s pertinent to note that children worldover, and especially in India, have been the least affected by the rampaging virus. As the virus ravaged populations across the world throughout the past year, scientists are puzzled that young children account for only a small percentage of Covid-19 infections and fatalities. Now, latest research suggests that the immune system of children tends to be better equipped to combat the SARS-CoV-2 virus than adult systems. Another contributing factor highlighted by several international studies is that the effect of the BCG vaccine (taken immediately after birth) reduces risk of Covid infection. Yet even as scientific opinion is veering towards the conclusion that children and adolescents have stronger immune systems to fight the Coronavirus, simultaneously there is rising awareness that this natural advantage needs to be augmented by enhancing children’s immunity to enable them to withstand this and other viruses. And contrary to the opinions of miracle cure advertisers who advocate consumption of immunity-booster concoctions, there’s more to building immunity to the multiplying and fast mutating viruses that have emerged in a global environment ruined by man-made toxins and pollution. Increasingly, health and wellness pundits and professionals are falling back upon advocacy of traditional prescriptions such as mindful diets, sufficient sleep, regular exercise and stress reduction. PW editors interviewed a cross-section of health, nutrition and lifestyle gurus who advise a ‘holistic approach’ to build robust immune systems especially of children and adolescents. Breastfeeding Every infant is born with protective immunity as immunoglobulins pass from her mother to the foetus in the placenta. This natural immunity mediated by immunoglobulins which lasts for about six-nine months after birth, is boosted by breastfeeding. Paediatricians are unanimous that breast milk contains vital properties that boost the immune system of infants because it is rich in proteins, fats, sugars, antibodies and probiotics. It contains all five types of antibodies: immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin D (IgD), immunoglobulin E (IgE), IgG, and immunoglobulin M (IgM). Thick, yellowish breast milk known…
The use of antibiotics in the first 14 days after birth is linked to reduced height and weight in boys in early childhood, says a study published in Nature Communications (January). A research team comprising scientists from Finland and Israel analysed the impact of neonatal antibiotic use in infants and found that male infants exposed to antibiotics treatment exhibited significantly lower weight compared to non-exposed children throughout the first six years of childhood. They also exhibit lower height and BMI. The study suggests this is linked to antibiotic-induced changes in microbiomes, which inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. However, girl children are not similarly affected. “Antibiotics are vitally important and life-saving medications in newborn infants. Our results suggest that their use may also have unwanted long-term consequences that need to be considered,” says Prof. Omry Koren, of the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine of Bar-Ilan University, who led the study together with Prof. Samuli Rautava, of the universities of Turku and Helsinki.
Post-natal depression is more common in men who are insecure about their relationship with their partner, says a recent study conducted by Lund University, Sweden. The researchers found that “affected men often have a negative view of themselves and are worried about being inadequate in their intimate relationships”. “Low self-confidence in close relationships seems to trigger parental stress, which in turn triggers the symptoms of depression. The study shows beyond doubt that parents affect one another and reveals the importance of monitoring how parents in various relationships and family constellations manage and fare over a long period,” says Elia Psouni, associate professor of psychology at Lund University.
Adolescents with happy childhood memories are at a lower risk of alcohol abuse, binge drinking and marijuana consumption, says a study published in Addiction Research and Theory (January). For the study, researchers of Purdue University, USA, surveyed 1,961 high school students who rated how nostalgic they were about their childhood, current happiness quotient and the extent to which they look to future happiness. The study also analysed the students’ marijuana and alcohol consumption habits of the previous 30 days, and their average academic grades. The researchers concluded that positive attitudes towards the past, present, and future places adolescents at lower risk of substance abuse. The authors of the study say urgent action is needed because Covid-19 has left many teenagers struggling with online study, mental imbalance and alcohol and drugs dependency. It calls upon teachers and parents to help students develop positive mindsets. “They’re more likely to be enthusiastic learners and not resort to drink and drugs if teachers take time to build positive relationships with them… Parents have a role to play too,” says John Mark Froiland, clinical assistant professor, Purdue University.
Good quality sleep, exercise, and a diet of raw fruits and vegetables — in that order — lead to better mental health and well-being in young adults, says a recent study conducted by the University of Otago, New Zealand. The study, published in Frontiers in Psychology (December) interviewed 1,100 young adults from New Zealand and the US about their sleep, physical activity, diet, and mental health. “Sleep, physical activity, and a healthy diet can be thought of as the three pillars of health, which promote optimal well-being among young adults, a population in which the prevalence of mental disorders is high and well-being is suboptimal,” says lead author Shay-Ruby Wickham. However the study found that sleep quality, rather than quantity, was the strongest predictor of mental health and well-being. “While we did see that too little sleep — less than eight hours — and too much sleep — more than 12 hours — were associated with high depression symptoms and lower well-being, sleep quality significantly outranked sleep quantity in predicting mental health and well-being,” she says. Also read: Inadequate sleep causes neurofunctional changes
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the cover story ‘FRESH (Fitness, Return to minimalist living, Education, Slowing Down and Home Life) 2021’ (PW January). Life as we know it, halted last year. Schools, colleges, universities, businesses, hotels, restaurants, all shut down to check the spread of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic. Millions of people lost jobs, livelihoods and worse, thousands of people lost their lives to the Coronavirus. The country’s 1 billion-plus citizens lived through the world’s most stringent national lockdown. But as your well-written cover story shows, every dark cloud has a silver lining. Even as there was high anxiety and fear about contracting the Covid-19 infection and job uncertainty, stay-at-home orders enabled families to spend quality time together and bond and pay greater attention to health, nutrition, fitness and mental well-being. We all fervently hope that 2021 will be a FRESH start. Fortunately, the year has got off to an auspicious start with India having started the world’s largest anti-Covid vaccination drive. Better days are here! Alpana Bahiravi Thiruvananthapuram NRI parent’s life not easy Dhanya Parthasarathy’s essay about life as an NRI parent was a good read (PW January). It was amusing to read about her hilarious experiences while raising an Indian child in a foreign land. Especially foreigners mispronouncing Indian names is bang on. I lived in Norway for several years and my son’s name Dhrishith was a real tongue twister for the locals. Some of the permutations were rather unsavoury. Indeed, an NRI parent’s life is not easy. It’s tough raising a child without the help of grandparents and extended family members. But on the plus, children benefit greatly from exposure to a foreign culture, excellent schooling and extraordinary public facilities such as parks and libraries. Manjula Karthikeyan Chennai Plagiarism and online cheating bane Thank you for publishing an excellent parenting magazine. I especially enjoy your relevant cover stories and excellent health columns. Your Academic Advantage story ‘Plagiarism mistakes and how to avoid them’ was very informative and relevant. As a teacher during the past year I have detected many instances of blatant plagiarism and cheating during online exams and assessment. Students believe they can copy-paste from the Internet and get away with it. While this may seem the easy way out, in the long run it will adversely impact student learning outcomes. Also online exams are turning out be a joke with students referring to Google, teachers and parents for answers. Unfortunately parents are turning a blind eye to online cheating by children in the mistaken belief that it’s a one-off thing. But in my experience, if children are not severely reprimanded for cheating, it can develop into a habit. Parents need to be vigilant and teach children the value of honesty in online tests and exams. Rathi Kumar Delhi Work-from-home moms stressed My five-year old son loves snacking. With preschools closed, he is constantly pestering me for snack foods through the day. As a mother, I am committed to providing him balanced nutrition to help him maintain…
Almost a year after the first Covid-19 case was reported in Kerala last February, the pandemic is on the wane in India. The caseload has fallen from a high of 97,860 infections and 1,173 fatalities per day (September 30) to 9,100 and 96 (February 10); industry and businesses have reopened; domestic air and rail travel has resumed, and the government’s anti-Covid vaccination programme is being rolled out countrywide starting with frontline healthcare personnel. Last month, most state governments also reopened schools for secondary and middle school students. Yet even though the pandemic curve has flattened, the advice from health professionals is that the virus and its variants are still out there, so don’t let your guard down! In particular, parents are naturally anxious about sending children back to school for fear of their being infected by the virus. Naturally they worry about children in crowded classrooms maintaining social distance, wearing masks, washing hands etc. Moreover an effective anti-Covid vaccine for children has not yet been proven. Meanwhile it makes good sense for parents to invest time and effort in building up the natural immunity of children against the Covid-19 and other viruses. Fortunately, latest research on the prevalence of Covid-19 within young children indicates that they constitute only a small percentage of the virus infected. Preliminary indications are that children’s immune systems are better equipped to combat the SARS-CoV-2 virus than adult systems. This natural immunity of children needs to be enhanced to prepare them for school reopening in the post-pandemic era. For our timely cover story, PW editors interviewed a cross-section of health, nutrition and lifestyle gurus who suggest six important ways and means to build robust immune systems within children and adolescents. A holistic prescription to boost children’s immunity is detailed in our informative cover feature. It goes way beyond the immunity booster pills and concoctions advertised as magic bullets for Covid-19. An integrated regimen comprising fortified diet, sufficient sleep, regular exercise and stress-free lifestyle, is the solution for enhancing children’s immunity to beat the Covid and other viruses, advise our experts. There’s much else in this issue. Check out how to measure the physical, socio-emotional and cognitive development of youngest children, and the Middle Years feature answering five most commonly asked questions about vaccinating children against Covid-19. Also highly recommended is the specially curated reading list for children celebrating the extraordinary rise of Kamala Harris, the first African-Indian and woman vice president of the United States of America.