ParentsWorld January 2019 Archives

Compassionate parenting linked to generosity in children

Growing popularity of Slow Parenting

A social response to helicopter parents who micro-manage children’s lives by organising a host of structured activities including academic tuitions and after-school music/sports classes, slow parenting encourages children to learn, live and grow at their own pace in non-stressful environments. Aka simplicity parenting, it is increasingly finding favour with educationists, psychologists and parents worldwide – Jayalakshmi Vaidhyanathan, Cynthia John & Mini P. The Slow Movement aka SloMo is the new mantra of 21st century living. This movement, which advocates a lifestyle shift in favour of slowing things down, is gaining popularity worldwide with adults and children worn-out and exhausted by the dominant YOLO (you only live once) culture. Around the world, families are rediscovering slow tourism (which prefers greater immersion into new environments to manic sightseeing), slow food (preference for local produce and traditional cooking) and slow, conscious, mindful living. To this lengthening list add slow parenting, aka simplicity parenting, which is increasingly finding favour with educationists, psychologists and parents worldwide. A social response to helicopter parents who micro-manage children’s lives by organising a host of structured activities including academic tuitions and after-school music/sports classes, slow parenting encourages children to learn, live and grow at their own pace in non-stressful environments. The phrase ‘slow parenting’ was first used by Canadian journalist Carl Honore in his best-selling book In Praise of Slow (2004) and later explained in extenso in his second oeuvre Under Pressure: Rescuing our Children from the Culture of Hyper-Parenting (2008). “Slow parenting is about bringing balance into the home. Children need to strive and struggle and stretch themselves, but that does not mean childhood should be a race. Slow parents give their children plenty of time and space to explore the world on their own terms. They keep the family schedule under control so that everyone has enough downtime to rest, reflect and just hang out together. They accept that bending over backwards to give children the best of everything may not always be the best policy. Slow parenting means allowing our children to work out who they are rather than what we want them to be. Slow parents understand that childrearing should not be a cross between a competitive sport and product-development. It is not a project; it’s a journey,” writes Honore in Under Pressure, described by the global best-selling Time magazine as “the gospel of slow parenting”. With intensifying competition defining every aspect of life from academics to workplace success, well-intentioned parents wanting the best for their progeny, are unwittingly pushing children into a whirlwind of dawn-to-dusk activities — from school, music, dance, sports classes to personality development programmes and supplementary academic tuitions. The result is that a growing number of children worldwide are experiencing incremental difficulties in coping with action-packed daily schedules, burden of parental expectations and peer pressure, which is driving hundreds of youth to depression and often, suicide. According to latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, a student commits suicide every hour in India. In 2015, 8,934 student suicides were reported countrywide. “Most…

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The historic charm of Rajasthan

Battle-scarred fortresses, grand palaces, golden sand dunes, colourful culture and friendly folk combine to make this desert state a must-visit destination The erstwhile royal state of Rajasthan is visited by millions of Indian and foreign tourists every year — 4.75 million Indian and foreign tourists visited Rajasthan (pop. 69 million) in 2017. Of them 1.61 million were foreign tourists from around the world. Not as much for the intrinsic charm of this backward desert state as for the exotic, world famous ‘golden triangle’ package — Delhi-Agra-Jaipur-Delhi — offered by all tour operators. Its battle-scarred fortresses, grand palaces, golden sand dunes, colourful culture and friendly folk make it a must-visit destination of every traveller. The state’s original inhabitants were Rajputs — a warrior clan that ruled over this part of India for more than 1,000 years, adhering to a code of chivalry and honour akin to that of medieval European knights. The Rajputs’ bravery and code of honour were unparalleled, but ruled as they were by highly egoistic princes they could never unite against common enemies. Hence it was easy for the Delhi-based Mogul emperors to impose their rule over the tiny kingdoms of Rajasthan. During British rule, in the early 20th century most Rajput princes signed treaties which allowed them to continue to rule independent states, each with its own prince or maharaja, subject to certain political and economic constraints. These easy alliances sounded the death knell of the traditional chivalry and honour of Rajput princes who slid into decadent lifestyles of indulgence and extravagance. In the first half of the 20th century Rajput royals spent much of their time travelling the world with their harems, playing polo, horse racing and occupying entire floors in the most expensive hotels in Europe and the US. After independence, the ruling Congress party signed agreements with the nominally independent princely states of Rajasthan to secure their accession to the Indian Union. Rulers were allowed to keep their titles, property holdings and were paid annual stipends (privy purses) commensurate with their status. However the privy purses were abolished by prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1968. As a consequence, several princes transformed into hoteliers by converting their dynastic palaces into luxury hotels which are thronged by foreign tourists through the year. Jaipur Popularly known as the pink City, after the vibrant colour of buildings in the old quarter, Jaipur is named after its most famous son — warrior-astronomer-king Jai Singh II who built the city in 1727. Designed according to civic construction principles of the shilpa shastra, the city is laid out in rectangular blocks within a surrounding wall and five majestic gates. Inevitably, it has grown out of the confines of the old wall and has transformed into one of the most chaotic and polluted cities of Rajasthan. But its old world charm is ubiquitous. One can still see Rajputs in traditional regalia, sporting bright turbans and swashbuckling moustaches on every street corner. The Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds built by Maharaja Sawaj…

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Letter from the Managing Editor

A jet-setting action-packed life is no longer a status symbol. The need-to-be-busy and too-much-to-do culture is fading out of fashion. Worldwide people are becoming aware that fast-paced hectic living is robbing them of peace, family time and most important, health and emotional stability. Therefore, there is a nascent but growing shift towards slow lifestyles. Known as the Slow Movement, this cultural shift is gaining momentum around the world, and has spawned sub-movements such as slow food (preference for local produce and traditional cooking), slow travel (immersion into new environments rather than manic sightseeing), slow living (mindful reflection) and slow parenting, which encourages children to learn, live and grow at their own pace in non-stressful environments. A social reaction to helicopter parenting wherein parents micro-manage their children’s lives by organising a host of regimented activities such as after-school tuitions, music/sports/art classes, slow parenting cherishes quality over quantity and meaningful connections within families. It abhors the widespread trend of millennial hyper-parents scheduling activities and classes after school and obsessing about children’s societal, material and educational success. According to Canadian journalist Carl Honore, who first defined slow parenting in his best-selling book In Praise of Slow (2004), “slow parents understand that child-rearing should not be a cross between a competitive sport and product development”. In our first cover story of 2019, we highlight the rising popularity of slow parenting and explain why an increasing number of educationists, psychologists and parents believe that it makes good sense for parents to allow children opportunity to mindfully savour a few experiences rather than rush through myriad activities. There’s much else in this issue of ParentsWorld. Check out our Early Childhood feature on the growing popularity of baby-wearing, Middle Years section on empowering introvert children and Adolescence essay on helping children overcome fear of failure. As usual, Vellore-based pediatrician Dr. Gita Mathai’s health column — this month focusing on the potential hazards of three commonly used baby products — provides valuable information and advice to young parents. Happy New Year!

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Warped priorities

I was shocked to read about the baby cot with an in-built iPad in your latest cover story ‘Saving children from digital addiction’ (PW December). Are we so hooked on to gadgets that we now want to rely on them to help put our infants to sleep? It is a sad reflection of the warped priorities of the new generation of millennial parents. As a mother of two teenagers, I experience the impact of tech addiction on children on a daily basis. During the recent Christmas holidays, my children wanted to do nothing other than watch TV and play computer games. American author Brad Huddleston is right that tech addiction is akin to cocaine addiction. It has entrapped the new generation into its make-believe false world of pleasure. My advice to parents with young children is to enforce digital discipline early, communicate the disastrous consequences of digital addiction clearly to children, and don’t be afraid to ban gadgets from the house if addiction is severe. Sarita Rao Bangalore Online bullying scourge I enjoy reading Aarti Rajaratnam’s Ask Your Counselor column. In the latest issue (PW December), her response to a question about fighting school bullies is very relevant. As a primary school teacher, I am witness to a sharp increase in the number of bullying cases. This wasn’t the case ten years ago. In the Internet age where social media is ubiquitous, children have taken bullying to the online realm with devastating consequences. Counselors in our school are struggling to help children cope with online bullying. It is a very relevant issue which needs widespread in-depth discussion. Teresa D’Souza Mumbai More stories for dads In India, child-rearing is generally accepted as the duty of mothers with fathers playing a secondary role. Most parenting magazines are also targeted at mothers. This is wrong. Male parents must share equal responsibility to nurture children, helping with daily chores such as bathing, diaper changing, feeding, and homework. With an increasing number of women working full-day jobs, it is important that men fulfill their parenting responsibility. Also, grandparents and caregivers play an important role in raising children. Please include some stories especially targeted at male parents and grandparents. Diva Madhukar Hyderabad Parents need education! The story on teen suicides focused on a very important and timely issue (PW November). Most parents tend to neglect their children’s emotional problems in the hope that they will fade away in time. Also in this achievement and celebrity-obsessed world, parents are setting the expectations bar too high for children. The recent spate of student suicides in Kota, the coaching capital of India, is a prime example. Children are taking their own lives because they are unable to cope with the pressure exerted by parents, who, instead of supporting them, are pushing them to the brink. Parent education is the need of the hour. In the 21st century, engineering and medicine are not the be-all and end-all of careers. Parents need to become aware that there is a plethora of…

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In-school nutrition programmes help prevent obesity

Schools with enhanced nutrition policies and programmes help reduce body mass index (BMI — a measure of obesity) and nurture healthier eating habits within children, says a study jointly conducted by Yale University’s School of Public Health and Connecticut University and published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (December). The study, based on a five-year trial which analysed behavioural and biological indicators of 600 students from 12 schools in New Haven, USA, reveals that children enroled in schools with nutritional programmes reported an increase in BMI of less than 1 percent, compared with students in schools without nutrition policies who showed increases of 3-4 percent. The nutritional interventions evaluated included ensuring all school meals met US federal nutritional criteria; providing health and nutrition awareness newsletters to students and their families; and school-wide campaigns to limit sugary drinks. “Childhood obesity is a serious health threat, and schools are a vital way to reach children and their families to reduce risks and promote health,” says Jeannette Ickovics, professor at Yale University. Raising girl children makes men ‘less sexist’ Being the father of a school-aged daughter makes men less sexist, says a study conducted by the London School of Economics. The study, based on information from two separate surveys of UK adults spanning the decades between 1991 and 2012, found that men with daughters are significantly less likely to believe in traditional gender roles. The phenomenon, dubbed ‘The Mighty Girl Effect,’ was found to grow over time. While fathers of daughters in primary school are 8 percent less likely to believe that men should be the breadwinner, by the time they reached secondary school this belief had grown to 11 percent. According to LSE researchers, the findings tie in with the idea that fathers’ increased understanding of females’ lives is important. “They experience first-hand all the issues that (exist) in a female world and that basically moderates their attitudes towards gender norms and they become closer to seeing the full picture from the female perspective,” says Dr. Joan Costa-i-Font, associate professor at LSE and co-author of the study. Parental drinking can endanger children A quarter of parents of young children who drink alcohol on special occasions don’t think about limiting their intake or whether they’ll be able to take care of their children the next day, reveals a National Poll on Children’s Health conducted by the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital of the University of Michigan. The nationally-representative report is based on responses from 1,170 parents with at least one child aged 0-9 years. According to poll director Sarah Clark, 29 percent of parents reported that they knew of an adult who may have caused an unsafe situation for their child due to drinking alcohol at a special celebration. These parents were most concerned that the adult was too hung over to supervise their child (61 percent) or to handle a possible emergency (48 percent); and less commonly that the adult drove with a child while impaired (37 percent), got violent or out…

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Baby-wearing practical & joyful

Baby-wearing is gaining popularity in India with a multiplying number of women finding it practical and convenient to strap their children to themselves. It also promotes parent-child bonding with both infants and mothers experiencing less stress and anxiety – K.P. Malini With her baby strapped to her back, the legendary Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi fought off British soldiers who attacked her from all sides. Although she died in battle, the queen managed to save her son, the heir to the throne of Jhansi. This 19th-century queen became a symbol of valour and inspiration during the freedom struggle. In the new millennium, she has re-emerged as a brand ambassador of the baby-wearing movement. While for the Rani, babywearing kept her infant close and safe during the do-or-die battle against the British, for latter-day parents, babywearing helps them bond with their infants. “Baby-wearing is becoming very popular because of the pure joy that parents experience by having their child up close and personal with them. It boosts ‘attachment parenting,” says Rashmee Bhatia, a baby-wearing consultant and founder of Mumbai Sling Library (MSL), a group that lends baby-wearing products to mothers through pop-up events. Baby-wearing is gaining popularity in India because a multiplying number of women find it practical and convenient to strap their children to themselves. Recently in the Pinkathon, an annual marathon promoted by actor/model Milind Soman to raise awareness about breast cancer, a special baby-wearing walk was organised. Baby carrier options Baby carriers are of two types — the frame or the wrap. The frame is like a backpack, while the wrap is more like a sling (ring slings, mei tais, pouch slings, stretchy wraps and woven wraps). The frame type baby carrier is more common and available in most showrooms and online shopping sites. It has a padded structure to support the baby’s head, back and bottom, and can be fastened with adjustable buckled straps. It is usually worn in front with the infant facing inwards towards the parent. The drawback with frame type baby carriers is that older infants tend to feel uncomfortable and restrained. The ring sling is a lightweight carrier that can be worn diagonally across the body, usually carrying the baby on the hip. The sling is a long piece of soft, non-stretchable cotton or linen that is threaded through two rings and fastened around the body. The disadvantage of the ring sling is that when used for long, it can cause back strain to the parent carrying the baby. Mei tais on the other hand are tied around the waist instead of using buckled straps. The fabric is folded up to create a pouch for the baby to sit in. Carried baby, happy baby “It isn’t just parents who use baby carriers. Grandparents and other caretakers also use them. Baby-wearing allows a parent or care-giver to free her hands to accomplish tasks such as the laundry and is a safer alternative to parking infants in a pram or shopping cart. However, the prime benefit…

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Empower your introvert child

With society favouring extroverted people who exude positivity and enthusiasm, an introvert child is generally shunned for shy and socially awkward behaviour. But contemporary research indicates that the reflective traits of introverts helps them develop into good communicators and leaders – Aruna Raghuram Eight-year-old Anupriya Mathur, a class III student of a top-ranked Delhi school, has few friends. She spends long hours by herself reading or dabbling in art. Although an above average student, she rarely participates in the school’s cultural activities. In social gatherings too, she is reticent. However when her grandparents visited recently, Anupriya was forthcoming and cheerfully interacted with them. Anupriya’s mother is worried that her daughter lacks the social skills to succeed in the workplace and life. It’s not unusual for parents to fret and worry about introverted children. With society favouring extroverts who exude positivity and enthusiasm, introverts are generally shunned for their shy and socially awkward social behaviour. But contemporary science and research indicates that the reflective traits of introverts enables them to develop into better communicators and leaders. For instance a recent study conducted by researchers at Harvard, Stanford and Chicago universities reveals that companies managed by introvert CEOs outperformed their peers. Susan Cain, author of the best-selling Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking (2012), cites research in biology, psychology, neuroscience and evolution to demonstrate that introversion is common and normal, highlighting that many of humankind’s most creative individuals and distinguished leaders (e.g, Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, Charles Darwin among others) were introverts. “A widely held, but rarely articulated, belief in our society is that the ideal self is bold, alpha, gregarious. Introversion is viewed somewhere between disappointment and pathology,” writes Cain. In her deeply researched book, Cain calls for changes at the workplace, in schools, and in parenting to help introverts realise their full potential. Definition The terms ‘introvert’ and ‘extrovert’ were first made popular by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung in the 1920s. Jung defined introverts as individuals who are drawn into their internal worlds of sentiment, thoughts, and emotions, while extroverts are eager participants in external life of people and activities. Introverts get their energy from lonely reflection unlike extroverts who draw energy from involvement with people and group activities. Introverts are typically introspective, quiet (but not necessarily shy), and observant. Susan Cain explains that introverts differ from shy individuals. “Shyness is much more about the fear of being judged. It’s a kind of self-consciousness and not wanting people to look at you and feeling easily embarrassed or easily shamed… Many introverted children are also shy, but many are not. You can also have children that are quite extroverted but who are shy.” A 2015 study titled Childhood Experiences of Introversion: An Exploration of Navigating Social and Academic Spaces and Ways of Coping by Leah S. Schwartz contributed two significant observations about introversion. First, introverts have spaces of discomfort, particularly social settings where they feel different and unseen. Therefore, they create spaces of comfort, such as…

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Help children overcome fear of failure

Failure is a learning experience and pre-condition of success. When children experience disappointment and failure, if they are given counseling, support, and advice, they become better and stronger people – Bandana Brahmin Learning to cope with challenges, disappointments and often failure, is a rite of passage for all children. However, during the teenage years when adolescents experience intense physical, psychological and emotional transformation as they are confronted with the burden of parental expectations, peer pressure, and demands of an exam-focused education system, many of them experience deep and debilitating fear of failure. Fear of failure causes children to experience anxiety before they write a test, perform for an audience, compete in a sport or even participate in new social settings. It prompts them to perform below their potential, inhibits them from experimentation, making new friends, and taking risks. Therefore, it’s important for caring parents to educate and counsel children that failure is an essential part-and-parcel of life and often the stepping stone to success. When children experience disappointment and failure, if they are given counseling, support, and advice, they become better and stronger people. Comments Haimanti Basu Roy, a Kolkata-based teacher and mother of ten-year-old Soham, whose husband (Souvik) is a former nationally top-ranked table-tennis player: “Although we never expected Soham to be a topper in academics or sports, when he was eight, he started suffering chronic anxiety and fear of not doing well in exams and sports competitions. Since his father is his role model, Soham naturally wanted to be a winner in academics and sports. But fear of failure began negatively impacting his academic scores and performance in sports events. Luckily we intervened early on and counselled him out of his anxiety by citing examples of people who made their mark in the world despite being average students and sportspersons. Eventually we were able to ease him out his anxiety and his academic scores started improving dramatically. He also plays inter-district table tennis tournaments now.” Popular culture and media, which promptly confers mass adulation and celebrity status on the successful, plant the seeds of fear of failure in children. Societal condemnation of under-achievers also makes a deep impact on children who often entertain fears of being ostracised and stigmatised by peers. Moreover, ambitious parents who make their love and approval conditional upon good grades and sporting success exacerbate the harm that failure can inflict upon children. “We can’t expect children to manage disappointment and failure when most adults struggle to cope with disappointment and setbacks. Therefore it’s important to provide a secure stress-free home environment to help children cope with failure. Moreover, parents themselves need to learn to take failure in their stride as children look up to parents as role models,” says Dr. Anupama Maruvada, child behaviour therapist, founder and clinic director of CBT2, a mental healthcare facility in Bangalore. Unfortunately too many parents impose their unrealised dreams upon their children. This generates deep anxiety within children who don’t want to disappoint their parents. Preeti Ray, acting…

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Dysgraphia – Diagnosis and treatment

I was informed by my son’s school that he has dysgraphia. He is in class I. I think this is too early a stage to make this diagnosis. He does experience some difficulty holding a pencil but I’m wondering if the school is jumping to conclusions too soon. Should I consult a child psychologist or do you recommend some other expert who can help with the diagnosis? My Internet research tells me this is a learning disorder, so are there any other symptoms I need to watch out for? And what is the treatment?— Anxious mother, Bangalore Unless the school has verified the diagnosis from a qualified clinical psychologist, it’s an arbitrary conclusion. Children may experience difficulties in writing for a wide variety of reasons including lack of play, inadequate stimulation, tech/gadget addiction, poor motor development, sensory processing problems and sometimes, just boredom. Since he is experiencing difficulty holding a pencil and writing, please consult a qualified occupational therapist for assessment and treatment. With therapy and parental support, most children cope well. As a parent, please refrain from reading usually ill-considered articles online. Medication is not an option, and correct diagnosis followed by consistent therapy works well. Please consider changing your son’s school if the management/teachers refuse to see beyond the label and are hesitant to support and enable him to acquire motor skills in a stress-free environment. My son (9) doesn’t behave like a nine-year-old, more like a seven-year old… fighting with other children, talking in an immature way, etc. I assume he will grow up. But does this indicate any other behavioural problem?— Anonymous, Pune This question reflects your worry that your son is unable to meet your social behaviour expectations. However, there are no hard and fast rules for social skills development which is dependent on the opportunities children get to interact with peers and people of other age groups. As a parent, please ensure that he participates in free, spontaneous play every day with friends. Moreover when your son discusses his problems with you, don’t provide adult wisdom and solutions. Instead, encourage him to brainstorm solutions with family and peers. You also need to model extroverted behaviour as children learn from observation. If his parents are introverted or constantly arguing and quarelling, he is likely to model this behaviour. Ensure that you don’t over-protect him and remember lectures don’t help as much as providing exposure and opportunities for social interaction. My son (13) is in class VIII and like most teens is easily distracted and playful. His teachers complain that he doesn’t pay sufficient attention to academics. He plays sports — at least an hour a day — but is distracted by his cell phone. When I try to restrict his mobile phone usage, he goes through various stages — first of defiance and refusal to part with the phone, and then he becomes violent, followed by bargaining and finally sulking. Please help. — Seetha Varalaxmi, Chennai This problem is indicative of poor and inconsistent parental…

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Hone your child’s critical thinking skills

Capability to analyse and evaluate evidence, arguments, claims and beliefs, summed up as critical thinking, is acknowledged as essential for academic and workplace success in the 21st century. Therefore it’s become incumbent upon parents to introduce children to this 21st century skill at early age – Jayalakshmi Vaidyanathan

Cogito, ergo sum (I think, therefore I am) — […]

Not a bad use of language!

In the world of litotes, two double negatives make a positive – Roopa Banerjee Hey, not bad!” When someone says that after you play Chopin (Polish composer Frédéric François Chopin) on the piano, you would be right to experience pride. ‘Not bad’ means you were good. This figure of speech wherein two double negatives make a positive is called litote. Litotes use understatement to emphasise a point by stating a negative to further affirm a positive, often incorporating double negatives for effect. For example, ‘not too shabby’ for ‘nice’ and ‘not unwelcome’ for ‘welcome’. Like most rhetorical phrases, litotes have a Greek origin. It is derived from the Greek adjective litos meaning ‘plain, small or meagre’. People often unconsciously use litotes. Whenever you combine a negative with another negative to express something positive, you’re using litotes. Litotes are not uncommon. Please note that I have employed a litote — not uncommon! Sometimes, litotes are used to reduce the harshness of the observation. When a teacher wants to encourage a student even though her assignment is not up to the mark, she is likely to say ‘I am not happy with this’ instead of declaring ‘I didn’t like it’. When a child keeps her room untidy, her mother might tone down her criticism by murmuring, ‘She isn’t the tidiest person around’. The extent of emphasis is entirely dependent on the context. ‘Not bad’ could mean anything from mediocre to excellent. Thus, litotes are similar to euphemisms. The first recorded use of a litote is in a letter written by Roman philosopher Cicero in 56 BCE. The word is used by Cicero to mean ‘simplicity of life’. As time progressed, litote transformed from ‘simple’ to understatement with the use of double negatives. In early usage, litotes invariably started with two words, mostly a positive and a negative connected by a particle. This gave the word two meanings. This was the classical litote. In classical Greek, litotes can be found as far back as Homer. For example, in Book 24 of the Iliad, Zeus comments that Achilles is ‘neither unthinking, nor unseeing’. Zeus meant that the great warrior was shrewd and sensible. Litotes are also used to convey ethos. Such usage is to establish modesty or understatement of one’s own qualities. A sculptor may say, ‘Oh, I am not a bad sculptor’. This helps him refrain from boasting and yet establishes him as a person of considerable skill and talent. Why would a writer or speaker use litotes? Well, litotes cause a reader or listener to stop and introspect about the statement. They are very effective in public speaking as they engage the listener’s attention. Litotes Examples He’s no fool = He is smart That was no pleasant journey = It was a horrible journey It was not unlike my dream = It was just like my dream Not a bad day’s work = It was a good day’s work I’m not doing this for my health = I have to (or am being…

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Bioinformatics – Plethora of options

The immense potential of the IT, life sciences and biotech industries in India and the West has encouraged promotion of corporates which are allying with academia to conduct path-breaking research The 21st century’s most promising industry, bioinformatics — a marriage of IT (information technology) with life sciences — offers a multiplicity of high-potential and rewarding career options. Currently the annual revenue of the bioinformatics industry worldwide is estimated at $6.4 billion, with exponential growth expected in the next decade, stretching the boundaries of biotechnology from an essentially lab-based science into an information science which will yield rare biological insights, and hasten the discovery of an entire range of new life-saving drugs and pharmaceuticals. The growth and immense potential of the IT, life sciences and biotech industries in India and the West has encouraged the promotion of a huge number of conglomerates and corporates which are increasingly allying with universities and academic institutions to conduct path-breaking research in this field. Hence life sciences, mathematics, computers, agriculture, medicine and engineering graduates, postgrads and Ph Ds are likely to find a plethora of career options in bioinformatics. STUDY PROGRAMMES. Institutes offering specialised postgraduate programmes in bioinformatics include: • The Jawaharlal Nehru Bioinformatics Centre, New Delhi • IIT-Kharagpur • University of Pune Bioinformatics Centre, Pune • Osmania University, PGRR Centre for Distance Education, Hyderabad • Amity Institute of Biotechnology, New Delhi • University of Kolkata • Bose Institute, Bioinformatics Centre, Kolkata • Madurai Kamraj University, Bioinformatics Centre, Madurai • Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh • Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), Bangalore • Bioinformatics Institute of India, Noida • Mar Athanasios College for Advanced Studies, Kerala • Bharathiar University, Coimbatore • Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli • Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad Admissions are usually on the basis of an entrance test. Students acquainted with bioinformatics have numerous job opportunities in this booming industry. Graduates and postgrads with database management skills and capability to collect, store, retrieve, analyse and correlate data to develop new and advanced algorithms, have a particularly bright future in this fast evolving industry. REMUNERATION PROSPECTS. Remuneration packages for bioinformatics professionals in the West range between $40,000-100,000 (Rs.28-70 lakh) per year given their immense utility in pharmaceutical research. In India, however, bioinformatics is yet to mature and postgrads signing up with private sector pharma companies can expect relatively modest, yet fairly handsome salaries ranging between Rs.200,000-500,000 per annum. Professionals with doctorates could start research labs in various institutes or sign up with pharma companies as research scientists and expect fast-track career growth. (Excerpted from 101 Great Careers for the 21st Century by Indra Gidwani, 2016)

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St. John’s High School Borivali (E), Mumbai

Sited on a half-acre campus adjacent to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in the Mumbai suburb of Borivali (East), the CISCE-affiliated K-10 St. John’s High School (SJHS, estb. 2007) has established a good reputation for providing holistic values-based education to its 1,431 students mentored by 71 teachers. Promoted by Balakrishnan T, a highly-respected educationist and founder-chairman of the St. Francis Educational Trust (estb.1988) which runs three other schools including St. John’s High School, Tata Power House, Borivali (estb. 1989), St. Francis High School and Jr. College of Science & Commerce, Vapi (1998) and St. John’s High School (SSC), Borivali (2005), the co-ed SJHS has adopted contemporary pedagogies and IT-enabled technologies to improve student engagement and learning outcomes. Driven by the management’s mission of fostering “academic excellence, all-round development and character building”, SJHS supplements its rigorous academic programme with a range of extra-curricular activities to enable holistic development of children. SJHS Leaders Balakrishnan T. Founder-Chairman Balakrishnan T. is a visionary-educationist and founder-chairman of the St. Francis Educational Trust (estb.1988). An alumnus of Calicut University, Balakrishnan began his career as a school teacher. In 1989, he promoted the trust’s first institution — St. John’s High School, Tata Power House — to offer households residing in the educationally under-served suburb of Borivali (East) access to high-quality schooling. Subsequently over the past three decades, he has promoted a school and junior college in Vapi (Gujarat) and two more schools in Mumbai. The trust’s four institutions have an aggregate enrolment of 11,500 students. Tessy Sheebu Principal An education and commerce alumna of Mumbai University with 14 years of teaching and administrative experience in the Dr. T.R. Naravane College of Commerce, St. Anne’s Junior College of Commerce and the Ramzan Ali College of Commerce (all in Mumbai), Tessy Sheebu is the principal of St. John’s High School. Over the past 11 years, she has focused on introducing child-centric pedagogies, boosting professional development of teachers and providing remedial and life skills education to students. Campus Infrastructure St. John’s High School Borivali (E) offers excellent academic and sports infrastructure. The academic block hosts 38 air-conditioned classrooms of which 26 are IT-enabled and fitted with smart boards; three fully-equipped science and mathematics labs, computer lab equipped with 47 terminals; geography lab and 300-seat multipurpose auditorium. The school’s well-stocked library houses 5,200 books and five journals. The school offers the English language learning programme of the Chennai-based Karadi Path Education Company Pvt. Ltd under which pre-primary children learn life skills through audio-visual media Co-curricular and Sports Education St. John’s High School Borivali (E) provides a host of co-curricular activities including dance, music and drama. Sports facilities include a central playground for football, cricket and athletics. Expert coaches deliver training in swimming, roller skating, Taekwondo, table tennis, net ball, cricket and football. Admission & fees St. John’s High School, Borivali (E) is a CISCE-affiliated K-10 co-educational day school. The school admits students from kindergarten to class VIII. Tuition fees (per year): Rs.39,200-42,000 For further information visit www.sjhsicse.com Also read: Top…

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Is your baby product hazardous?

It’s the duty of parents to exercise maximum care and caution in selecting and using baby products. In this month’s column, I highlight three widely used baby products which may be unsafe for new-borns and infants, writes Dr Gita Mathai There is something endearing and lovable about a clean, cooing baby smelling of lightly fragranced talc. For generations, after bathing and diaper change, mothers have cleaned, wiped, patted dry and then powdered new-borns using soft powder puffs. But, the recent controversy over the possibility of Johnson & Johnson baby powder containing carcinogenic asbestos, has created fear and panic within parents worldwide. In July 2018, a US court awarded a record $4.6 billion (Rs.33,120 crore) payout to 22 women who testified before a jury in the state of Mississippi that J&J talcum powder was the cause of their ovarian cancer. Infants are particularly vulnerable to hazardous chemicals and substances and it’s the duty of parents to exercise maximum care and caution in selecting and using baby products. In this month’s column I highlight three widely used baby products which may be unsafe for new-borns and infants. Baby powder Chemically, talc is a hydrous magnesium silicate with a chemical formula of Mg3Si4O10 (OH)2. It may also contain other porous materials such as metal silicates, silica, metal hydroxycarbonates, metal hydroxides, aluminium carbonates, and fragrances. Talc absorbs moisture and prevents friction and chafing from clothing. Recent research has revealed that enthusiastic powdering of an infant’s body releases fine particles of talc into the environment. The baby is likely to inhale these particles which are often deposited in the respiratory tract, causing sneezing and wheezing. Post the J&J controversy, talcum powder has fallen into disrepute with talc found to have higher than permissible amounts of asbestos which is known to cause lung cancer. Powdering of the genital area in infant girls is likely to increase the chances of talc permeating into the reproductive system, predisposing them to developing ovarian cancer in adult life. Bathing babies safely Infants need to be bathed with very mild soap. It should not lather as much as adult soap, and should be fragrance-free. However many companies add fragrances to make baby soap attractive. But please note, fragrances (even if they are labelled hypoallergenic) can cause skin irritation and rashes. To preserve the freshness of baby soaps, shampoos and lotions, chemicals of the phthalates and parabens group are sometimes added. To check and verify the presence of these substances, read product information listed on packaging carefully — they often begin or end with phthalates DEP, DBP, DEHP or paraben. Therefore please note that after a baby is bathed and dried, there is no need to use talc powder. Phthalates and parabens mimic hormones such as estrogen and exhibit a tendency to get deposited in the endocrine organs such as the ovaries. They disrupt the endocrine system of males and females. Reproduction may be affected by irregular ovulation, reduced sperm production and decreased sperm motility. Formaldehyde is also used as a water-soluble…

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Usher in the harvest season!

It’s the first month of the year and onset of the harvest season in south India, celebrated as Pongal or Sankranti. Here are some sweet and savoury recipes for celebrating the harvest festival Ven Pongal Ingredients 1 cup rice (or dalia) 1/2 cup yellow moong dal 2 tbsp diced carrot 1 tsp black pepper 1 green chilli 1 inch fresh ginger 1 tsp cumin seeds 4 cups water 200 gm ghee Few curry leaves Salt to taste, cashew nuts Preparation guide • Pour 100 gm ghee in a pressure cooker. Add rice, moong dal and carrot, and fry for a few minutes. • Add water and salt and pressure cook for three whistles. • In another pan, add the remaining ghee, cashew nuts, black pepper, cumin seeds, green chilli, curry leaves and ginger and fry for one minute. Pour this mixture into the pressure cooker. • Serve hot with chutney and sambar. Health benefits • Around 200 gm of boiled moong dal contains 14 gm of protein and a host of minerals such as manganese, iron, copper, potassium and folate. Moong dal is a rich source of soluble fibre which promotes digestive health. Note: For a healthier version, especially for diabetics, you can replace the rice with dalia or bulgar which is high in fibre. Sugarcane kheer Ingredients ½ cup rice ½ cup moong dal 2 cups sugarcane juice 1 tbsp ghee 6 almonds 6 cashew nuts 10 raisins 1 tsp cardamom powder Water as required Preparation guide • Add soaked rice, soaked moong dal and water in a saucepan, and cook until it is al dente. Ensure you cover the saucepan while cooking. • Add sugarcane juice and cook it with the lid on until the rice and dal are soft. • Heat ghee in another pan and add almonds, cashew nuts, raisins and sauté. • Add to the rice mix. • Now add cardamom powder and mix well. Switch off the flame and allow it to rest with the lid on. • Spoon the kheer into bowls and garnish with roasted cashews and raisins. Health benefits • Sugarcane has high concentrations of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and manganese. It helps prevent stomach infections and treats constipation. The antioxidant-rich sugarcane also has anti-inflammatory properties. Sugarcane mocktail Ingredients 1 cup sugarcane juice 1 cup tender coconut water 1 kiwi (ripe but firm) 1 inch fresh ginger 2 tsp lemon juice Preparation guide • Peel and chop the kiwi and ginger. • Blend kiwi, ginger and lemon juice with coconut water in a mixer. • Mix it with sugarcane juice and serve chilled. • Cut a thin slice of lemon, slit an edge and use it to decorate the rim of a tall glass. Health benefits • Sugarcane juice prevents tooth decay and promotes healthy development of bones. It helps digestion, increases muscle power and boosts immunity. • Tender coconut water improves blood circulation, prevents kidney stones and regulates bowel movements. • It replenishes the electrolytes lost in perspiration,…

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Beating the morning rush

PW invited parents of Just Kiddin’ International Preschool & Daycare, Mumbai to share some insights on ways and means to beat the morning rush to get children ready for school In my opinion, team work and advance planning hold the key to restful nights and stress-free school mornings. My four-year-old daughter Amyra (junior KG) follows an early to bed and early to rise routine. Once she is asleep, I finish all my household chores including ironing and planning meals with my husband who helps clean and chop vegetables. Unlike other children her age, Amyra is cheerful in the mornings, completes all her morning chores independently and doesn’t fuss over her milk. This gives me ample time to prepare breakfast, pack bags and lunch boxes” — Megha Sharma, chief of operations, Just Kiddin’ International “Although my 11-year-old daughter Krishna (class V) has grown up to become an independent middle schooler, my seven-year-old son Apurva (senior KG) doesn’t seem to be a morning person and takes far too long to leave his bed and get ready for school. To avoid early morning chaos, I prepare for the morning marathon the night before — vegetables are chopped, clothes ironed, lunch boxes washed and dried. While the children have been taught to pack their own school bags, I ensure they complete their homework on time. I am an early riser and make it a point to wake the children up in a cheerful tone often breaking into song so they can start their day on a positive note” — Chaitra Bahuman, research associate, IIT-Bombay “Every morning is a rush of activities. I believe keeping calm and maintaining a cool demeanour helps minimise stress and makes schoolgoing children feel secure and think positively. To be on the safe side, I maintain a to-do checklist and keep it ready before hitting the bed. I also ensure my six-year-old daughter Nyushka (senior KG) watches television in moderation so her sleep cycle isn’t disturbed” — Sharmistha Chakravarty Iyer, senior manager-human resource, Worldline India Pvt Ltd- An ATOS Company “My husband and I are working professionals and our child Arav is a kindergartener. We have spent many stressful mornings as it is a challenge for all of us to leave the house by 8:30 a.m every day. Fortunately I hav recently hired kitchen help to assist me in the mornings to prepare and pack meals. Having help now allows me to focus on getting myself organised for work and getting Arav ready for preschool and his day care, where he spends a substantial amount of time” — Nupur Gupta, senior manager-furniture, Hometown, Praxis Home Retail

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