Jobs in Education System

ParentsWorld July 2024

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Boom time for investment bankers

A booming capital market, flood of foreign investment, frantic mergers and acquisition activity and indigenous corporates targeting foreign takeovers have made investment banking a hot new career Even India’s modest two-steps-forward-one-step-back economic liberalisation initiatives of the past two decades have transformed the nation into the fastest growing economy worldwide. A booming capital market, a flood of foreign investment, frantic mergers and acquisition activity, and indigenous corporate targeting foreign takeovers have made investment banking a hot new career option for youth with big numbers, corporate funding, and restructuring on their mind. An investment banker transacts with corporates providing advisory financial services in connection with the issue of new securities for raising finance for takeovers, mergers, and acquisitions. He/ she also manages share portfolios, capital market operations of companies and often the wealth management of valued corporate clients. A postgraduate degree in business management with specialisation in finance preferably from the IIMs or other top B-schools, or chartered or cost accountancy qualifications are ideal, but graduates with a strong financial background could also have the red carpet rolled out for them. The banking and finance sector is currently facing an acute shortage of talent, hence everyone with a background in finance, sound analysis, and mathematical skills can get a break in this profession. Opportunities are also multiplying for investment bankers in mutual funds, brokerage firms, insurance companies, merchant banks, and other financial institutions. However, an investment banker should possess strong interpersonal communication and sales skills and most importantly, must have the stamina to work long hours. Investment bankers also need to develop a sound knowledge of the business world and awareness of corporate developments. An investment banker usually starts her career as an analyst writing reports, maintaining spreadsheets, trading stock options, doing research etc. As she scales the ladder she begins advising companies on capital formation, mergers, acquisitions, investment options, managing capital assets, and/or liaising with government and financial institutions. FINANCIALLY BENEFICIAL CAREER. Apart from the glamour and variety of work, it’s big bucks which are the charm of this profession. The starting salary of analysts is Rs.5 lakh per annum or thereabouts. And after a few years’ experience, an investment banker usually moves into the Rs.10 lakh per annum (plus bonuses) bracket, depending upon the size of the employer company. Recently mint-fresh IIM graduates were snapped up by foreign banks with pay packages of Rs.1 crore per year. “With the stockmarket experiencing an unprecedented boom and a lot of money being invested in equities and equity-related funds, investment bankers who can provide intelligent advice and project market trends are in great demand, and investment banking has become a preferred career option,” avers Sangeetha Sanghvi, the Mumbai-based founder of Equity & More, a boutique investment advisory firm. A commerce graduate of Mumbai’s H.R. College, Sanghvi began her career in 1985 as a salesperson of Brother Business Machines. In 1991 she signed up with Jamnadas Morarjee & Co to market fixed deposits and other financial products. However, she simultaneously pursued her management studies…

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My son is having difficulty making friends. Help!

My preteen son is experiencing difficulties making friends at school. How can we support him to develop social skills and forge friendships? — Dinesh Thapar, Delhi Two years of schools lockdown and social isolation during the Covid pandemic has adversely affected children’s social skills development. I suggest you increase his supervised social experiences by increasing play time outdoors as well as inviting classmates home. Ensure that the play activities are under your supervision, as it will enable you to observe your son and make note of the social skills he lacks, and accordingly focus on developing them. My teenage daughter becomes distressed over small mistakes. How can we help her embrace imperfections and overcome her perfectionist tendencies? The desire for perfection arises when one feels that their imperfections are not accepted by people. Discuss non-judgmentally with her about her fears and insecurities, encourage her to embrace failure as a learning opportunity. Also counsel her that while it’s good to do all jobs well, sometimes things don’t go as we planned, and it’s best to move on. My five-year-old daughter enjoys playing sports. Although she participates enthusiastically during practice time, she vehemently refuses to participate in any competitions. Please advise. — Shaanu Singh, Bengaluru You need to have a talk with her. Encourage her to share her fears and anxieties about playing competitively. Listen patiently, without disparaging her fears. They are real to her. Let her unburden her emotions. Don’t force her to compete. Provide unconditional support and give her time to overcome her fear of failure. My seven-year-old son gets agitated and frustrated easily when things don’t go his way. Please share some strategies to teach him resilience and adaptability. — Jiten Verma, Mumbai It will be helpful to understand what is causing your child to become agitated and frustrated. Usually, children don’t get frustrated easily. Is your son seeking control over some things that are important to him? What does he seem to be missing in life? What does he want most? Spend time with him to observe and understand his fears. Provide him opportunities to participate in enjoyable play and learning activities so that he gets positive feelings of achievement. (Dr. Priyanka Goenka is a child psychologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi and co-founder of Ehsaas)

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Heart to Heart

Heart to Heart

Hello Parents! Do you enjoy helping your child with homework? Most parents would say an unequivocal ‘No.’ With all the other tasks that need to be completed, this just becomes another chore. We all want our children to experience the joy of learning. But do we experience it ourselves? Like most other sentient beings, children learn from what they see in our lives. If we want them to discover the joy of learning as they evolve, we should also experience the wonder of discovery. We might have gone through a rote-learning system at school, and missed out the interesting pedagogies that schools are beginning to use today. So why not try to experience the joy of learning now? Exploring your child’s books and subjects together with her might make you aware that there’s so much you don’t know or thought about. A little extra effort to go beyond textbooks and try some hands-on experiments or make a field trip will help you learn new things and simultaneously open new windows for your child. If you can invest time and effort to bring something new to her schoolwork, to find out a little more about the assigned topic, together you can take the boredom out of homework. Of course it’s difficult to find time, while trying to fit in everything possible in 24 hours. But if joy can be infused into her learning routine, it’s worth it.

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Suresh Subrahmanyan

India’s Edward Scissorhands

Suresh Subrahmanyan  A housewife was arrested recently in Bangalore for attacking her husband with a pair of scissors. She was deeply upset over his refusal to eat dinner her mother had specially prepared for him. She is being questioned by the police — Press Reports. ‘Madam, do you realise you could have killed your husband? Why did you attack him with a pair of scissors?’ asked the investigating officer politely. The housewife replied calmly. ‘Because in my fit of rage, I could not find anything more lethal. I regret that I did not kill him.’ The police officer harrumphed impatiently. ‘My question was why did you attack him at all?’ ‘He calls me from his workplace to say he will be home late, and could I rustle up something substantial for dinner as he is famished. I requested my mother who lives close by, to prepare his favourite mutton biryani and some side dishes, and now this happens.’ ‘What happens?’ asked the puzzled cop. ‘Surely, he must have told you.’ ‘At the moment, the nursing home where he is admitted is dealing with several deep cuts and bruises, resulting from his struggles while you went after him with a pair of scissors. He is not in a talkative mood. Why scissors, for God’s sake?’ “I already told you…’ ‘Of course. Madam things aren’t looking good for you. Aggravated assault and causing hurt with a dangerous weapon are serious crimes.’ ‘You have not heard my side of the story fully, Officer.’ The policeman pressed on. ‘Are you feeling sorry that you find yourself neck deep in the soup or that you couldn’t finish the job with a pair of scissors?’ ‘Ah, so you sympathise with my quandary, do you?’ ‘Sir Winston Churchill once said, “Give us the tools and we will finish the job.” Obviously, you were not happy with your tools.’ ‘You have lost me completely, Officer. Who is this Churchill, and who was he trying to kill? Anyhow, it was a spur-of-the-moment thing. Try going home late tonight, while your wife waits at the door with her mother’s biryani and tell her you have eaten and got sloshed at a bar, Officer. Expect a black eye and hide the scissors.’ The policeman wasn’t amused, ‘Very funny. Since you ask, Churchill was trying to kill the Germans. Tell me, why did you ask your mother to cook? ‘I was out of doors and was forbidden from entering the kitchen.’ ‘Out of doors? That. I understand. Sorry.’ “Accused out of doors, three to four days out of action” he scribbled in his diary. ‘Boozed as well? But why do you feel so aggrieved simply because he ate out and had a couple of large pegs at a bar? ‘You have not been listening, Officer. The fact is he wanted to insult my mother. I had specifically told him the same morning that my mother will be preparing dinner that night. She is a great cook. Had it been his mother, he…

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Encourage healthy sleep habits

My children (six and ten years) are glued to the computer tab until late in the night. How do I get them off screen devices and promote healthy sleep habits? — Shifa Sood, Mumbai Normalisation of screen media devices in the bedroom has resulted in children suffering sleep deficit. According to research studies, an estimated 30 percent of children below age 12 and 90 percent of adolescents get insufficient sleep because of increased screen/social media use. This paediatric sleep loss increases risk of childhood obesity, disrupts psychological well-being and impairs cognitive functioning. Here are some ways to encourage healthy sleep habits. • Prohibit children from using electronic devices one hour before bedtime and until next morning. • Replace evening screen time with non-digital activities such as reading, colouring, family conversations, etc. • Move all screen devices including television, desktop computers, laptops/tablets, and smartphones out of children’s bedrooms. • Ensure children don’t watch violent and/or scary video content. • Establish a healthy deep sleep routine for the entire family. • Set and observe regular bedtimes every day, including weekends. • Bedtime should follow a predictable routine (e.g. brush teeth, read a story, lights out). • Ensure your children’s bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet at bedtime. • Restrict children from drinking caffeinated and aerated beverages that interfere with sleep. • Include physical exercise into your children’s daily routine. • Set an example by prioritising your own sleep and reduced screen time. • Explain the importance of adequate sleep for optimal health to children. • Monitor children’s screen time everyday. Set and enforce appropriate digital media and sleep rules. Do foods influence children’s mental health and emotional well-being? Please advise. — Mridula Shankar, Hyderabad Data from adult populations indicates that high-quality diets result in better mental health outcomes. In fact, new meta-analysis has confirmed the inverse association between healthy diets and depression. A habitually poor diet (e.g., continuous consumption of processed foods) is associated with greater risk of depression and anxiety. There are numerous biological pathways through which diet quality impacts mental health in children and adolescents. Intake of folate, zinc, and magnesium is inversely associated with depressive disorders, whereas omega-3 fatty acids-rich diets are inversely related to anxiety disorders. Nutrients such as folate, vitamin B6 and choline are necessary to synthesise neurotransmitters, which regulate mood and memory. I’m worried about my five-year old son’s appetite. Should I give him vitamin supplements? — Rema Nair, Chennai Here are some ways to boost your son’s appetite: • Serve small food portions at several set times of the day, ensuring two-three hour gaps between each meal. • Provide milk, fresh juice, soup and/or water at the end of the meal, not before. • Seat children at the dining table for meals and snacks — the table should be at the stomach level of children. If necessary, use highchairs. • Don’t allow your son to watch television, mobile phone, etc during mealtimes. • Encourage him to self-feed. • Consult a paediatrician before giving him any…

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Creative parenting: A curious child could be a genius

 – Nisha Daniel  Peh Yong, a Singapore-based six-year old, invented an umbrella that makes one feel cool in hot weather. It uses the process of evaporation to create and circulate cool air. Many such child inventors have invented amazing products born of curiosity and desire to create something new. Encouraging children’s natural curiousity positively can build a lifelong thirst for knowledge, leading to building a spirit of innovation. Here are some ways to make your child’s curiosity constructive: Provide resources like encyclopedia, CDs and books that answer common questions. Spend time to read together to get her hooked. When your child has a question, encourage her to search and find the answer. Guide her about where to look, and let her find out for herself. This might require breaking a seed open, experimenting in the kitchen, or accessing the internet. If your child wants to explore ‘Why not’ questions, ask her to attempt solutions. She may find a brand new one. ‘Why not’ questions have led to many great inventions. Get your child to put new ideas down in an Ideas Book to explore and experiment. Encourage her to innovate a new product, object or piece of art every week. Also read: Encourage, rather than push children to succeed

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Develop your tween’s emotional intelligence

Children with EI are better equipped to manage life’s inevitable vicissitudes. Here are some family activities and games to develop your child’s emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills: Akanksha Pandey The tween years, spanning from eight to 12 years old, are a time of exploration, growth, and discovery. As tweens navigate this journey, they’re not only learning about math, science, and history. They’re also learning about themselves, their strengths, weaknesses, and emotions. During this development phase, it’s important for parents to focus on nurturing children’s emotional intelligence, or EI i.e, capability to understand, use, and manage emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict. Children with EI are better equipped to manage the inevitable vicissitudes of life. Here are some family activities and games designed to develop your child’s emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills. Emotion charades. Get together with friends and/or family and take turns to act out different emotions without speaking. Participants need to guess the emotions. This game enables children to recognize and express emotions in a playful way. The feelings wheel. Print out a feelings wheel (www.feelingswheel.com) or draw one yourself on chart paper, with different emotions written on it. Affix a strip of card in the middle with a split pin. Spin the wheel and talk about the emotion the split pin stops on. Share what made you feel that way and how you coped with the negative/positive emotion. This activity helps children become aware of their emotions and how to manage them effectively. You could also ask children to decorate the feelings wheel with colours and drawings to make it their own personal masterpiece! Conflict resolution role-play. Divide into pairs and act out different conflict scenarios, taking turns to resolve a disagreement. Practice active listening, express emotions calmly, and discuss solutions which work for everyone. This game helps develop conflict resolution skills. Remember, the goal is not to win or lose, but to find a solution that makes everyone happy. Kindness challenge. Challenge children to perform random acts of kindness every day. It could be as simple as complimenting a classmate or helping a child to carry her books to school. Feelings collage. Ask children to create a photos collage that represents their emotions. They could use old magazines, newspapers, etc to cut out pictures, words, or phrases that reflect how they feel or want to feel. Encourage them to get creative and let their emotions shine! Practicing and training children to acknowledge and manage positive as well as negative emotions is critical for them to build positive inter-personal relationships and succeed in school, college and workplaces. (Akanksha Pandey is a Bengaluru-based clinical psychologist, Head of the School Mental Health Program & co-founder of Compathy Health)

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Get your kids involved in chores

Cynthia John Juggling parenting, household work, office work, socialising and multi-tasking can drain your energy. Therefore getting kids involved in household chores to help out is beneficial in several ways Helps children learn skills and responsibility Builds their self-esteem, knowing they are making a meaningful contribution to the family unit Enables quality family time together Makes work easier for all family members. It’s never too early to get children involved in helping out. Even 18-month-olds can learn to put away their toys in their respective boxes. Make it routine Children like knowing what to expect and what to do next. Linking chores to relevant activity can turn chores into habit. For example, get your child to clear up the study table and put her stationery in place right after Homework Time. Children can also straighten their pillows and keep bedsheets in a corner if they are not old enough to fold them. Work together First, sit and plan chores division with all family members. There’s no need to divide chores ‘equally’ Let the child/children choose their own chores. Each one can do some work better than others. If there are chores no one wants, add some fun to them: “The person who clears the table gets an extra serving of dessert.” Finding chores to fit age As long as a child can handle a task alone safely without supervision, it can be allotted. But it’s safer not to ask them to use appliances, unless it’s done under adult supervision. If young children need to be reminded of their chores, they can have an illustrated reminder chart stuck on the door at their height. For example, if a three-year-old needs to put his dirty clothes into the laundry basket, simply draw a laundry basket. Check the list to see if everything has been done. Weekly tasks If there are weekly tasks that need to be done such as dusting or cleaning cupboards and desks, plan a weekly ‘Family Chore Time’ on Saturday evenings or whenever suitable. During those 15-30 minutes, all members of the family do their respective chores. You can play music and crack jokes while you are at it. Making it a fun time for the family will make it special. Chore-sharing can reduce stress and fatigue for every family member, and is ideal for family bonding.

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Look before you leap with Dehortatio

Roopa Banerjee Some or the other time in life we have heard advice such as ‘Never look a gift horse in the mouth’ or ‘Never get taken in by flattery’? What’s common in these sane suggestions is that the advice dissuades us from doing something. Known as dehortatio, it serves to deter or advise against a particular action, and is often used to add depth to dialogue, highlight a character’s wisdom, and enhance the narrative’s persuasive elements. Dehortatio originates from the Latin verb dehortari, which means to dissuade or advise against. In rhetorical terms, dehortatio is the opposite of ‘hortatio’ or ‘adhortatio,’ which involves urging someone to take action. While hortatio encourages, dehortatio discourages, often using reasoning, moral arguments, and appeals to common sense to achieve its purpose. Dehortatio is a useful writing device for persuasive narration. An interesting example is in Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations where Joe Gargery uses dehortatio to advise Pip against becoming too proud and abandoning his humble roots. Joe gently cautions Pip: “If you can’t get to be uncommon through going straight, you’ll never get to do it through going crooked.” Joe’s words serve to dissuade Pip from forsaking his values and the simple, honest life that shaped him. Similarly, in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Bennet employs dehortatio when advising his daughter Elizabeth against marrying Mr. Collins. He understands Elizabeth’s strong-willed nature and her disdain for Mr. Collins’s obsequiousness. Mr. Bennet says: “An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day, you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do.” This statement is a powerful dehortatio, dissuading Elizabeth from making a decision that would lead to personal unhappiness, thereby supporting her autonomy and emotional well-being. Dehortatio abounds in many recent works of fiction, as well. In the iconic sci-fi film The Matrix, Morpheus uses dehortatio when he warns Neo about the nature of the Matrix and the consequences of taking the red pill. Morpheus cautions Neo that once he takes the red pill, there is no turning back. “This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill — the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill — you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.” Morpheus’s warning is a classic example of dehortatio, advising Neo to consider the gravity of his choice and the irreversible consequences that come with knowledge of the Matrix. In the Bollywood blockbuster 3 Idiots, Farhan is torn between following his passion for wildlife photography and adhering to his father’s wish for him to become an engineer. His friend, Rancho, uses dehortatio to advise Farhan against giving up on his dreams to pursue a career that doesn’t fulfill him. He counsels Farhan to follow his passion,…

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Obsessive-compulsive disorder

School gripes and groans

My son often comes home with complaints that someone took his stationery and bullied him. We have complained to the school but they are not able to do much. How can I help him? If the problem is big enough to result in serious injury or make your child fearful, investigate and meet the child’s teacher in person. Discuss why you think the problem is more than common school tiffs and how it can be solved. If it is not too serious, don’t make an issue of it. Lend your child a listening ear, sympathy and attention. But after that, discuss how such problems can be solved, give him ideas to manage the situation and encourage him to handle it himself. However protective you may feel, ultimately your child has to face most school problems himself, and learn how to cope. But always encourage your child to open up and talk. You can judge whether you need to step in. My seven-year-old daughter was bullied once by a senior boy who snatched away her snack. Since then, she avoids situations where she encounters seniors, such as Annual Day programmes and group sports. What do I do? Advise your daughter understand that she needs to conquer her fear. There will always be bullies, but there are ways to tackle them. Teachers can deal with them, and she herself can learn to do and say the right thing when someone is rude. Share situations when you had to deal with bullies and how you overcame them. Discuss different situations that can arise; get her to suggest them. Discuss ways to deal with them and find a solution which will work. You can even do some mock role plays, where you take turns playing the bully, while the other ‘outwits’ the bully. She will soon realise that no problem is insurmountable. My eight-year-old daughter always complains how every teacher has favourites. When she tells me how a teacher has been partial, I am always sympathetic. But I sometimes wonder whether I should encourage this. Whether the ‘partiality’ or ‘favouritism’ is real or imagined, it is a reality in schools. Encourage your daughter to take it in her stride and without fretting. Some teachers do practise favouritism. But explain that she too can become a favourite by being a great student, participating enthusiastically in class and willingly helping students and teachers. You should discourage her from thinking too much about this and dismiss such complaints by advising her how she can be a popular friend and student, and enjoy school. Family Learning Learning together can become a family activity. Plan a visit to the planetarium, aquarium, zoo or library at least twice a month. Before that, choose a related theme such as ‘animal behaviour’ or ‘planets.’ Ask every family member to contribute a page full of interesting information on the theme. This knowledge will make the excursion more meaningful, and the whole family gets to learn interesting new stuff. Also read: Teacher troubles

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Constipation

Constipation in children: Symptoms & treatment

– Dr. Tarun Singh, child nutrition specialist and developmental pediatrician at Kalpavrisksh Healthcare, Delhi Constipation, traditionally associated with adults, is increasingly affecting children. And contrary to popular belief, childhood constipation is more than just a transitory phase; it’s a serious issue requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment. Constipation in children is characterised by infrequent/ altered bowel movements and difficulty in passing stool. While occasional bowel irregularity is common, persistent constipation can lead to severe discomfort and health complications. The causes of childhood constipation are varied, ranging from dietary factors, unhealthy lifestyle and inadequate fluid intake to lack of physical activity, excessive digital screen time and psychological stress. Additionally, certain medical conditions and anatomical abnormalities can exacerbate the problem, underscoring the need for holistic treatment. Symptoms Diagnosing constipation in children can be challenging, as symptoms vary from subtle to severe. Common signs include abdominal pain, bloating, strain during bowel movements, and passing of small, hard stool. Also children may exhibit changes in behaviour, such as irritability and reluctance to use the bathroom. It’s important for parents to heed these red flags early and prevent further complications through timely intervention. While constipation may seem benign, it can quickly escalate into a medical emergency. Fecal impaction, a severe complication, occurs when hardened stool accumulates in the large intestine, causing intense pain and distress. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and rectal bleeding. Failure to address fecal impaction promptly can lead to serious complications such as bowel obstruction, perforation, and systemic infection, posing life-threatening risks to children. Treatment and management Managing constipation in children requires a multifaceted approach addressing both symptoms and underlying causes. • Include foods with fibre in children’s diet and encourage fluid consumption through the day. This aids bowel movement. • Incorporate physical activity and exercise in children’s daily routine, and reduce digital screen time. Also establish a regular bathroom visits routine. This is essential to prevent constipation. • In cases of fecal impaction, medical interventions such as manual disimpaction or pharmacological disimpaction (stool softeners or enemas) may be necessary. Prevention lies at the heart of addressing childhood constipation effectively. Parents and caregivers need to provide children a balanced diet and encourage healthy bowel habits. It’s imperative for caregivers to be observant and recognise early signs and consult healthcare professionals for advice and treatment.

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Healthy summer refreshers

Faridabad-based Priya Gupta, founder of the popular YouTube channel ‘Recipes Tried and True’, shares nutrient-rich snack and refreshing drink recipes for the summer Wood apple juice/ Bel ka Sharbat (1 serving) INGREDIENTS • 1 wood apple (medium-sized) • 2 tbsp sugar • Black salt to taste • Lemon juice to taste PREPARATION GUIDE • Hit the wood apple on all sides with a rolling pin (belan) until the outer hard shell cracks. • Open the hard shell and scoop out the light brown colored pulp with a spoon. • Place scooped soft pulp in a bowl and add one cup cold water. Soak pulp for 20 minutes. • Mash pulp well. • Use a strainer to strain mashed mixture in parts. Stir with a spoon to ensure mixture is strained well. • While straining, add water also in parts. Overall, add about ½ to ¾ cup water, while straining. • Add some sugar, black salt, lemon drops and ice to strained pulp. Mix well. • Serve cold. Health benefits Wood apple juice is rich in vitamins A and C which boost immunity and skin health. Its high fiber content aids digestion and prevents constipation. Additionally, wood apple is known for its detoxifying properties and promotes liver health. Semolina sandwich (2 servings) INGREDIENTS • 1 cup semolina • 1 cup curd/yogurt • 7 cucumber slices • 7 tomato slices • 5 onion slices • 1 tsp chaat masala • 1 tsp ketchup • 2 tbsp green chutney • 2 tbsp oil • ½ tsp Eno fruit salt PREPARATION GUIDE • Mix semolina and curd in a bowl. Blend well by adding some water. Add ½ teaspoon of salt and mix well. • Set aside this batter for 15 minutes. • Now add ½ teaspoon of Eno fruit salt and some water to raise it. • Take a big pot; place an idli mould stand in it. Add some water and let it boil. • Pour batter in the idli moulds. Steam cook on high flame for 10 minutes. • Cool and demould using a knife. • Divide cooked idlis into two equal halves and assemble into a sandwich. • Add ketchup, tomato, onion, cucumber, chaat masala and green chutney. Prepare all sandwiches likewise. • Place and cook them in a sandwich maker. • Serve hot. Health benefits Semolina (rava) is rich in protein, dietary fibre, and Vitamin B, which aids energy production and metabolism. Cucumber, tomato, and onion provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, promoting good digestion and body immunity. Curd supports gut health due to its probiotic properties. Tender coconut ice cream (2 servings) INGREDIENTS • 1 cup tender coconut meat • ¼ cup coconut water • ¼ cup milk with cream • ½ cup milk powder • ¼ cup sugar Preparation guide • Mix 1 cup of chopped tender coconut meat, coconut water, milk, cream of milk or malai, milk powder, and sugar. • Blend into a semi thick smooth paste. • Pour mix into a freezer safe container.…

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Gauri Devidayal

Nurturing committed children

PW invited parents from Mumbai to share their thoughts on how they help their children develop the virtue of commitment “We believe real-life exposure is crucial for my daughter Dia (11) to develop the values of commitment with dedication. During the summer, we enrolled her in a seven-day adventure camp in the Himalayas — her first time away from the family. There she spent a full week on her own learning new things and participating in activities, building new friendships, some with complete strangers. Currently Dia interns at Magstreet Kitchen for a five-day cooking course. She is also quite committed to her school project on entrepreneurship wherein she spends substantial time at our family-run bakery and is exposed to real-life business” — Gauri Devidayal, restaurateur “I genuinely believe in maintaining a well-planned routine — from meals, activities to study times — for my son Kiaan aged eight ensuring we follow it every week through fun activities in the house. For instance, if he does household chores or tries something new for the first time that is usually met with a ‘No’, we give him a small sum of money that he segregates into save, spend and share boxes. What he saves, he can use at a later date, and what he spends, he can use right away, and what he shares is given to a charity of his choice at the end of a few months. Since every facet of this is exciting and involves long-term commitment. It has been a huge learning” — Shouger Doshi Merchant, entrepreuneur “I routinely help my teenage daughter Sameeksha (15) and son Shriyans (12) to draw up a timetable for studies and hobbies. I have enrolled Shriyans in a table tennis class which allows him to maintain regular practice. He also has an allocated time every day after school hours to practice. Sameeksha is mature enough to understand her likes and dislikes; she only needs me to give her small reminders to finish certain activities. She had taken a break from kathak dance classes for her class X exams. But now, without even reminding her, she has restarted her classes and riyaaz” — Natasha Vaidya, teacher in Universal High School, Thane “While my six-year-old twin boys — Ryan and Ethan — may be too young to understand commitment, I believe it’s essential to instill this value at youngest age. So while we have flexible routines — based on their sports and extracurricular activities schedule — we involve them in activities to make them develop responsibility. Like the book library we joined this summer. Every 15 days, we spent hours exchanging books with the expectation that returned books are kept neatly (no dog ears) and read in time to maximise the membership facility” — Rashmi Henriques, homemaker

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Key to raising secure children

Why parental sensitivity matters for fathers and mothers Have you ever heard of children’s attachment or attachment theory? If you are a parent, caregiver or an educator, chances are that it rings a bell. Children’s attachment refers to a strong emotional bond that children develop toward people who care for them. A lot of research in recent decades highlights the importance of positive attachment — what scientists describe as “secure attachment.” Secure attachment acts like a superpower for children. When established, it can set the stage for positive outcomes, such as strong academic performance, learning, empathy, emotional regulation and well-being. As a result, many parents and caregivers want their children to develop a secure attachment. But how can parents and caregivers achieve this? In our recent study, a synthesis of 174 studies including more than 22,000 parents and children, we confirmed that when parents’ behaviour shows sensitivity to children’s needs, they are more likely to develop secure attachment. Being present and attentive As children grow, they face situations where they need support from their parents. For example, infants may cry because they are hungry, uncomfortable or feel scared because they heard a loud noise. Older children could scrape their knees falling off bikes or fear a monster in the closet. A “sensitive” parent is someone who notices when her child needs attention and responds promptly in a way that comforts and reassures the child. (See video about understanding children’s attachment needs from Circle of Security International.) An “insensitive” parent won’t notice that her child is in need, or may be less interested in supporting him/her. This could happen for multiple reasons. Their attention may be drawn elsewhere; they may be preoccupied with work or personal issues or their phones; they may also have a history of being insensitively parented, or may lack the knowledge and skills to heed and respond to their child’s cues effectively. Sensitivity fosters trust and security Our study, published in Psychological Bulletin, highlights how sensitive and responsive parenting behaviours are key ingredients to achieving secure attachment. Importantly, this is applicable to children of all ages, and girls and boys. This study tells us that sensitive behaviour assures children that they can rely on their parent in moments of need and trust them to help. This fosters secure attachment. Children’s sense of secure attachment with their parents or first caregivers is also the foundation for relationships with other caregivers as children grow up, such as grandparents and educators. When they have caregivers who respond to their needs, children learn that when situations get hard, they can rely on them for support and comfort. Most people may think mothers need to comfort a distressed child. However, our study reiterates that sensitive parenting must emanate from mothers and fathers. Being sensitive and responding to a child’s needs is about being attentive and caring, and this can be achieved by any caregiver. Strategies to become more sensitive Given the importance of sensitive behaviour, parents, grandparents and/or educators may wonder how…

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Get Kids to Play Striking the balance between sports and academics

Vijay Krishnamurthy

Saumil Majmudar

Saumil Majmudar, an alum of IIT-Bombay and IIM-Bangalore and co-founder and CEO of Sportz Village, one of India’s pioneer sports education companies which runs its EduSports programme in 600 schools countrywide, and Vijay Krishnamurthy, an alumnus of Bangalore University and New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA, sports research scholar […]

Learning life lessons through travel

PW invited parents from the Sarala Birla Academy, Bengaluru to share some life lessons their children learnt on recent family vacations “We all look forward to travelling outdoors especially our son Vedang (class X) who loves some adventure thrown in as well. As serene and peaceful as the Maldives are, it also has many attractions for adventure enthusiasts. The best among water sports was scuba diving. For safety reasons, we were trained a day ahead of the dive. When the day arrived, we experienced mixed emotions of anxiety and happiness. The underwater corals were mesmerising. Relaxation apart, Vedang learnt about his capabilities, sampled local cuisine, made new friends and so much more” — Kavita Katty, pain physician “Our recent family trip to Thailand enriched our lives in unexpected ways. The scenic beauty of Krabi, with its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush landscapes, provided a picturesque backdrop for our excursion. We spent days exploring the breathtaking islands, swimming in azure waters, and marvelling at the unique rock formations. Our son Shubham (class XII) was particularly fascinated by local wildlife and underwater creatures. Beyond the fun and excitement, the trip taught us valuable lessons about the importance of family time. We learned to navigate challenges as a team, reinforcing our family bond” — Savita Melligeri, entrepreneur “Vacationing together helps keep family relationships strong. We feel more connected to each other when we spend undistracted time together. We also believe it helps us to learn and appreciate the world better, by visiting places rather than just reading about them. Last winter, we decided to visit Vietnam. The natural beauty of Vietnam was enticing and my sons Sriyansh (class X) and Tavish (class VII) engaged in some serious hiking in Ninh Binh apart from undertaking other exciting activities” — Sujita Agrawal, homemaker “Our family vacation in Goa was a blend of excitement, adventure, and relaxation. I participated in the Ironman Race, a challenging and exhilarating experience that tested my endurance and determination. Throughout the event, my wife Deepikai and son Dhruv (class VII) cheered me on every step of the way. Deepikai and Dhruv had an amazing time exploring Goa while I was busy with the race. They visited stunning beaches, enjoyed the local cuisine, and immersed themselves in the vibrant culture of the region. Their enthusiasm and energy were infectious, and their support was a constant source of motivation to me” — Arun Rajendran, entrepreneur

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Fine blend of history, nature and city life

Anil Thakore reports on an enjoyable week-long excursion to the ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the picturesque Ha Long Bay and Hanoi city in Vietnam During the past three decades since foreign exchange purchase rules and regulations were liberalised and Indians started travelling abroad with vengeance, the charm of Western countries — the hitherto popular destinations of outbound Indian tourists — has worn off. Staggering prices and poor quality service often mixed with overt and covert racism have reduced the allure of European countries, if not America which is too far away for short vacations. Therefore when we planned a foreign sojourn, we chose a ten-day expedition covering Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Hanoi and Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. The expedition began with a six-hour midnight flight by Thai Airways from Bengaluru via Bangkok to Siem Reap — the gateway for tourists to Angkor Wat. Landing an hour behind schedule at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, we rushed to catch the connecting flight to Siem Reap just about making it to the plane. But our baggage arrived 24 hours later! Siem Reap (pop.245,000), a town about which we knew nothing, was a revelation. Immigration formalities done, we walked out of its ultra-modern new airport sans check-in baggage — thanks to our Thai Airways flight which erroneously offloaded luggage of all Siem Reap bound passengers in Bangkok — into a luxury coach with tuneful Khmer music playing on its public address system. We instantly hit a four-lane highway and sped past farmlands and paddy fields to reach this well-laid out town. Apart from wide roads and neat housing colonies, several shut-down luxury hotels (crippled by the Covid pandemic) also met the eye in Siem Reap, but most astoundingly, no litter! The hospitality at the eco-friendly Golden Temple Boutique Hotel was overwhelming and helped to soothe our frayed nerves over the baggage mishap. The rooms are large and well-appointed. Lunch comprised freshly prepared Amok (steamed coconut fish with rice served on banana leaf), herbal juices and malted beer. (We had to be cautious though about our protein choices as snails and insects were also on offer.) After a satisfying meal, we soaked in the luxury of an afternoon nap followed by an expert massage. Nightlife in this sleepy little-known town was a revelation. Pub Street thrives on tourists, with all forms of entertainment, food and drink on offer. Dance bars, karaoke bars, ice cream and, massage parlours, apparel and curio shops — Siem Reap has them all! Well past midnight, Pub Street is alive and swarming with tourists from around the world. Restaurants abound in Siem Reap. With fresh vegetables and fruits easily available, choosing to go vegetarian in this resort town is a very doable option. Most veggies and fruits that we consume in India are available in Cambodia. We sampled restaurants offering French, Thai, British, American, Chinese and native Khmer cuisines. All of them were excellent. Angkor Wat Set within Angkor Archaeological Park that covers several thousand acres of…

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Online safety apps

Here’s a pick of the best apps for parents to ensure children’s safety on the worldwide web – Kiran Balimane Family Safety by Microsoft Platforms: Windows, Xbox, Android Age group: All ages Fee: Free with paid features Family Safety by Microsoft is designed to enable parents to ensure a safe and stress-free online experience for children of all ages. Parents can set screen time limits, filter inappropriate content, track and monitor web activity, set up content restrictions and track location. Additionally, the app provides insights into ‘device usage’ for parents to understand how their children spend their time online. The app’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate and configure settings for parents including individuals with basic digital literacy.  Bosco Platforms: Android, iOS Age group: All ages Fee: Free Bosco is a AI-based cybersecurity app specifically designed for parents to monitor and protect their children’s online interactions. Utilizing advanced technology, Bosco detects threats in real-time without compromising children’s privacy. It monitors social media activity, identifies instances of cyberbullying by detecting unusual behavior patterns and alerting parents to potential threats to children’s safety. The app interface supports multiple Indian languages, making it accessible to diverse parents’ communities in India. Kaspersky SafeKids – Kids Mode & Parental Control Platform: iOS, Android Age Group: 6+ Kaspersky SafeKids promises to protect children from online threats and ensure a safe browsing experience. It offers comprehensive features, including content filters to block inappropriate websites and apps, screen time regulation, and app usage monitoring. Parents can track their child’s location and receive real-time alerts for suspicious activities. Kaspersky SafeKids also provides detailed reports on online activity, enabling parents to make proactive decisions about their children’s digital habits. The kid-friendly interface ensures that children can smoothly navigate the app while parents maintain control over their exposure to online content. Google Family Link for Parents Platform: iOS, Android Age group: 8+ Google Family Link is a parental control app developed by Google to enable parents to effectively manage their children’s device usage. Parents can control the apps children download and use; set daily screen time limits, schedule bedtime routines and track their real-time location. Moreover Family Link offers insights into app usage, allowing parents to monitor their children’s online activities and set appropriate time limits. Recommended for parents who want to develop responsible digital habits in children.

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Avoiding affluenza parenting pitfalls

Parents in newly affluent households are increasingly under pressure to concede to every whim and demand of children. As a result Gen Z children with an overweening sense of impunity and entitlement are running amok countrywide -Kiran Balimane & Cynthia JohnRapid growth and expansion of India’s upper middle class after the landmark industry liberalisation and deregulation reforms which began in 1991 — currently 10 percent of the population controls 57 percent of national income and wealth and the country hosts 764,000 dollar millionaires — has infected an estimated 30 million households countrywide with a problem described by sociologists as ‘affluenza parenting’ — wealthy, affluent parents over-indulging their children. Increasingly, parents in newly affluent households are under pressure to concede to every whim and demand of children. As a result, Gen Z children with an overweening sense of impunity and entitlement are running amok countrywide. As nuclear households with both parents working become normative in urban India, the dynamics of parent-child relationships are changing radically. Within the country’s newly rich bourgeoisie, it has suddenly become politically incorrect to discipline children and deny them instant gratification. ‘My children right or wrong’ is becoming a normative sentiment and the newly emergent selfie and Instagram generation is taking full advantage of permissive parenting often with disastrous consequences. On May 19, a 17-year-old teen driving a luxury Porsche motor-car at 200 kmph rammed into a motorbike, killing two 24-year-old IT professionals, in Pune. Earlier that evening, the teen, son of a prominent real estate developer in the city, had celebrated his satisfactory class XII board exam results at a pub with friends. According to media reports, his grandfather, after consulting the father, had handed over a credit card and keys to the Rs.1.6 crore sports car to the adolescent. After partying at two pubs where he ran up a bill of Rs.69,000, the teen wanted to drive himself home. The chauffeur claims he gave the keys to him only after taking the father’s permission. Since then, the 17-year-old, charged as a juvenile under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, is out on bail after submitting a 300-word essay on road safety. The Pune Porsche case and several similar incidents have sparked widespread public outrage and debate in the media and social media especially parents chat rooms about the pitfalls of affluenza parenting. Are middle class parents equating paternal love and care for children with permissive over-indulgence? Questions are being raised about what prevented parents of the Pune teen, who snuffed out two promising lives in a jiffy, from prohibiting their under-age son from consuming alcohol and driving — both illegal acts. These and associated questions are being debated in parents’ WhatsApp and social media messaging groups. “Parenting is hard, for anyone at any income level. There is no user manual, standard operating procedure or even a best practices guide. We can end up (sic) being too strict or hard on the child, hurting their independence and growth. We can also be too lenient, which could translate…

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News Bytes

Girl children are starting menstruation early A study published in the Jama Network Open indicates that the average age of menarche — first menstrual period — decreased from 12.5 years (1950-1969) to 11.9 years (2000-2005) in the US, a trend more pronounced among racial minorities and low socio-economic status groups. Moreover the percentage of girl children who experienced menarche before age 11 rose from 8.6 percent to 15.5 percent, and before age 9 increased from 0.6 percent to 1.4 percent. Researchers of Harvard Chan School of Public Health, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and Apple conducted the Apple Women’s Health Study using data from a large, mobile application-based cohort born between 1950 and 2005. “Early menarche is associated with higher risk of adverse health outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. To address these health concerns — which our findings suggest may begin to impact more people, with disproportionate impact on already disadvantaged populations — we need much more investment in menstrual health research,” says Zifan Wang, co-author of the study and postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard Chan School’s Department of Environmental Health. Half of Indian adults physically inactive: WHO A new World Health Organisation (WHO) study published in Lancet Global Health reveals that an alarming 49.4 percent of adults in India (cf. 31 percent worldwide) don’t meet the recommended level of physical activity — 150 minutes of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or equivalent, per week. The study highlights a disturbing trend of physical inactivity among adults, which has increased by 5 percentage points between 2010 and 2022. According to WHO if this trend continues, global levels of inactivity are projected to further rise to 35 percent by 2030. Disparity in gender continues with physical inactivity more common among women (34 percent) compared with men (29 percent) globally, putting the former at greater risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia and breast and colon cancer. “Physical inactivity is a silent threat to global health, contributing significantly to the burden of chronic diseases. We need to find innovative ways to motivate people to become more active, considering factors like age, environment, and cultural background,” says Dr Rüdiger Krech, WHO’s Director of Health Promotion. Sleep deprivation linked to hypertension in children Routinely sleep deprived young children and teenagers are at a greater risk of developing high blood pressure aka hypertension, says a study conducted by researchers of the University of Pennsylvania and published in Pediatrics. Researchers analysed data of over 500 children and teens diagnosed with hypertension from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. It reveals an association between shorter-than-recommended sleep times and high blood pressure. According to Dr. Amy Kogon, the study’s lead author, as many as a third of elementary school children get less than the recommended amount of sleep. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends 10-13 hours per night for children below 6; 9-12 hours for children ages 6-12; 8-10 hours for ages 13-18 and…

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Cover PW June 2024 Final

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Inspiring advice Your cover story ‘Enabling kids to shine bright in the new academic year” (PW June) was a welcome and timely child motivation and success guide. As a parent of a high schooler who struggles with academics, I thought your expert advice on goal-setting, confidence and resilience building was encouraging. As parents, we often make the mistake of overly focusing on building children’s academic knowledge, ignoring the important role emotional motivation plays in psyching children to succeed. Also American psychologist Dr. Carol Dweek’s prescription to develop a growth mindset in children was invaulable. I am now inspired to look beyond traditional academics and nurture my child’s emotional intelligence. Jacqueline Dominic Indore Sensitive subject well-addressed Your Special Essay ‘Talking to teens about sex’ (PW June) discussed a sensitive subject very well. I agree with the author Ayobami that in the Google age it’s necessary and important to discuss sex and sexuality with teenage children regardless of cultural and religious diktats. Especially for parents (like me) who tend to put off conversations on sensitive issues with children, it is important to face our biases and sexual prejudices head on when talking with teens. Thank you for offering practical advice on how to talk to teens about sex with sensitivity and trust. Providing accurate information will equip our children with the know-how to navigate sex and relationships responsibly. Irum Khan Jaipur Balance expectations with reality Your Middle Years story ‘Encourage rather than push children to succeed’ (PW June) resonated deeply with me. As a social media influencer with a packed schedule, I often worry about the impact my lifestyle may have on my child. The pressures of social status can inadvertently influence my child’s expectations and self-esteem. It’s crucial for parents to balance encouragement with realistic expectations, fostering a supportive environment devoid of stress. Thank you for shedding light on this critical issue. It has prompted me to reconsider my parenting approach amid my busy life. Martin Henry Kolkata Critical reading habit Your Early Childhood essay on developing children’s language skills (PW June) has rightly acknowledged the critical importance of the reading habit and encouraging verbal conversations. I agree with Dr. Ali that exposure to a wide genre of story books enriches children’s word banks and instills a love of learning. Also showing genuine interest in what your child is saying encourages conversations at youngest age! I also liked reading counselor Riddhi Doshi Patel’s advice about helping children manage anxiety, specially exam-related stress. With so much weight attached to exam success, even well-prepared children tend to panic before D-day. Parents’ role is also to reassure them that effort matters more than outcome. Sandhya S Bengaluru Useful response Dr. Priya Shivalli’s response to the question about managing food allergies in children (PW June) was useful. I am highly allergic to shellfish. My reaction after consuming shellfish in my younger days was so intense I didn’t need an allergy test. I simply avoid eating it and remain healthy. But I am anxious to learn…

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Summiya Yasmeen, talks about fitness, sleep, health

Letter from Managing Editor

Even if belatedly, India’s middle class — and especially upper middle class — is expanding. According to a recent Goldman Sachs report, 7 percent of Indians will earn a annual per capita income of $10,000 (Rs.8.4 lakh) by 2027. Though as a percentage that’s small, given the country’s total population of 1.4 billion, numerically it adds up to 100 million — a population greater than Britain and France. And this sizeable minority is driving demand for electronic goods and gadgets, jewellery, domestic and foreign holidays, and powering stock market indices. Higher up the chain, India hosts nearly 764,000 dollar millionaires, individuals with net worth of more than Rs.7.5 crore. Apart from social tensions arising from steep income and wealth disparity, the growing wealth and economic prosperity of a sizeable minority has created a problem that sociologists describe as ‘affluenza parenting’ — wealthy parents over-indulging their children. As a large number of newly affluent parents concede to every whim and demand of their progeny, a new generation of I-me-myself children and youth is running amok countrywide. With traditional patriarchy out of fashion, a large and growing number of parents are molly-coddling princelings who believe they are entitled to special privileges and preferential treatment at home, school, workplaces and public spaces. While sociologists and parenting experts have been warning about the pitfalls of affluenza parenting for some time, the recent case of a 17-year-old teen who rammed his luxury Porsche car into two motor-cycle borne IT professionals killing them instantly in Pune, has beamed a harsh spotlight on the dangers of permissive parenting. In our cover story this month, we discuss why it’s important for parents to strike a balance between indulgent and responsible parenting. It’s becoming increasingly urgent for parents to draw the line between providing material comfort, emotional warmth and responsible nurturance and over-indulging children. Good manners, empathy, social responsibility, patience and capability to accept discipline and guidance are essential virtues required for children and youth to develop into good, contributing citizens. This timely cover story apart, there’s other rich content in this issue of PW. Check out our Middle Years essay in which counselor Akanksha Pandey advises parents to focus on developing children’s emotional intelligence and Special Essay in which two Canada-based child psychologists discuss ways and means to raise emotionally secure and confident children. Also recommended is the informative Health & Nutrition column penned by Delhi-based developmental pediatrician Dr. Tarun Singh highlighting the symptoms and treatment of constipation in children.

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