Reading science fiction introduces children to the power of imagination and innovation. It also enables them to understand the impact of science upon humankind
“Anything you dream is fiction, and anything you accomplish is science; the whole history of mankind is nothing but science fiction.” — Ray Bradbury (1920-2012), celebrated science fiction writer.
Journalist, author and animal activist Lakshmi Narayan is a former assistant editor of Femina and former editor of Eve’s Weekly & Flair
Once, a little boy pestered his Grandma to tell him a story. Being an old-fashioned lady, she told him one about rishis and munis who trained youngsters in their gurukul. She said the gurukul […]
1. The first artificial outer space satellite, Sputnik 1 was in the shape of a beach ball and weighed 84 kilograms. In which country was it invented?
a. United States of America
b. Russia
c. Sweden
d. France
2. An unexpected visitor was sent into space on an experimental mission by the Russians in 1957. This […]
Inventors make life simpler for us with their inventions, but the road to innovation is not smooth, it’s paved with many trials and tribulations and some quirky incidents. Here are some happenstance incidents of three famous scientists’ lives.
Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) was the inventor of the electric light bulb and has 1,093 patents to his […]
Here is a simple, yet sweet ladybug to draw. Just follow it step by step and draw a bright picture for your room!
Do it Yourself
Funky Jeans
Use your creativity to transform your staid pair of jeans into funky trousers bearing your personal style statement. Here are some great ideas to embellish your jeans:
Bonds of friendship are special. Unfortunately because of social distancing rules and travel restrictions mandated to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s been especially hard for children and adolescents to meet with and bond with friends. But there are many who have made innovative efforts to bond with friends […]
PW invited parents of Gaudium School, Kolluru, Hyderabad to share their insights on how they are enabling their children to return to in-school classrooms
“With reopening of schools becoming a reality, we are making sure that our son — Mukilan (7) — understands the reasons for wearing a mask at all times and sanitizing his hands […]
Anachronism is when a person, object or event of a different time and era makes an appearance in a different time period – Roopa Banerjee
Fans of the movie Back to the Future (1985) will remember the scene when Marty McFly replays rock-n-roll pioneer Chuck Berry’s 1958 hit Johnny B. Goode. This is a carefully placed […]
Karnataka’s Coorg, aka Kodagu, district offers not only rain-forests but a diverse array of natural wonders, including grassy glades, paddy fields, roaring waterfalls, deep gorges and gushing rivers –Punita Malhotra
The mention of Coorg (aka Kodagu) conjures up visions of thick, green rainforests shrouded in ethereal floating mist. But to truly appreciate the rich tapestry […]
– Usha Mukunda has been an advocate of open libraries for children for over 35 years. Co-founder of the Centre for Learning, Bengaluru (estb.1990) and consultant for the Parag Initiative of Tata Trusts, she works with several rural, government and community libraries across India
Reading is transformational for children and adults. For children, it brings […]
½ cup plus 2 tbsp sugar
1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
4 cups vegetable oil
1 cup plain oats
½ cup rice flour
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp baking powder
¾ tsp salt
1 large egg
½ cup (or more) soda
2 large crisp apples, peeled, cored and sliced into thin rings
Preparation guide
Whisk ½ cup sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon in a shallow bowl; […]
4 cups shredded zucchini
2/3 cup maida
2 large eggs, beaten lightly
1/3 cup sliced spring onions
2 tbsp olive oil
Sour cream, for serving (optional)
Preparation guide
Place the shredded zucchini in a colander and sprinkle lightly with salt. Allow the zucchini to stand for 10 minutes. Using your hands, squeeze out as much liquid from the zucchini as possible. […]
500 gm cauliflower florets
100 gm crumbled feta cheese
1 tsp thyme
¾ cup fresh breadcrumbs
cup maida
1 egg yolk
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Salad, to serve
Lemon wedges, to serve
Preparation guide
Preheat oven to 150°C. Place the cauliflower florets in a metal steamer over a saucepan of simmering water. Steam for 5-7 minutes until tender.
Mince the cauliflower. Add feta, […]
From the French beignets to the Indian pakora, fritters make it to the shortlist of favourite snack foods in all cuisines. Vegetable, cheese, meats, sweet or savoury fritters can be given with a healthy touch by adding nutritious ingredients. Here are my favourite fritter recipes – Parvathy Menon
Stretching exercises benefit everyone but especially children. Children have natural muscle flexibility, and by nurturing it through regular exercise, they can reap lifelong health benefits. Moreover children experience major physical growth spurts, during which muscles get stiff. Stretching […]
The high-potential biotech industry has a lot to offer youth interested in biology, environment and ecology studies. Career opportunities in industry and corporates are numerous
Microbiology is fast emerging as a popular career choice for 21st century youth. Hardly surprising given that microbes affect every aspect of life — negatively and positively. The world around us […]
– Sue Atkins is a UK-based internationally recognised parenting expert, broadcaster, speaker and author of Parenting Made Easy — How to Raise Happy Children (2012)
My 14-year-old daughter doesn’t speak properly with me. Every conversation ends with her becoming angry, irritated, and agitated. It’s not about one particular issue. She feels I don’t understand her […]
Parents and teachers have the critically important task of easing and smoothing the return of anxious children to school amidst fears of outbreak of a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic – Punita Malhotra
As schools cautiously reopen for middle and senior classes countrywide after almost a year of Covid-enforced shutdown, amid a battery of safety […]
Start early by instilling good dental hygiene habits in your infant – Archana N.
Most new parents can’t wait for their infant’s teething troubles to be over! The process of teeth erupting or breaking through the gums, aka teething, usually happens between 6-24 months of age. And teething symptoms include irritability, tender swollen gums, and infants […]
This month we explore the literary world of British naturalist Edward James Corbett aka Jim Corbett (1875-1955). Huntsman, wildlife enthusiast, conservationist, and writer, he is part of folklore for hunting several man-eating tigers and leopards across India especially in the Kumaon-Garhwal region. Mini P. recommends four out of Corbett’s vast repertoire of books that describe […]
During the past year of the Covid-19 pandemic national lockdown, a growing number of adolescents tuned into podcasts for information and opinions and/or to speak their hearts out on a number of issues including the new normal of online schooling, utility of lockdown and social distancing – Dainty Wellington, Aurelin Ruth J. & Mini P.
Children who are exposed to air pollution are likely to develop heart disease and other ailments in adulthood, says a study published in Nature Scientific Reports (February). The study conducted by Stanford University, USA contends that even brief exposure (as little as one day) to air pollution such as smoke and car exhaust, can change […]
Providing students positive encouragement reduces disruptive classroom behaviour and improves learning outcomes, says a new study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology (February). For the study, University of Missouri researchers implemented CHAMPS, a classroom behaviour management training intervention, in a school classroom over the period of five years. According to lead researcher Keith Herman […]
Arecent study conducted by the University of South Australia (UniSA) has found that insufficient sleep negatively affects the mental health of adolescents. In a research paper published in February, UniSA sleep researchers Dr. Alex Agostini and Dr. Stephanie Centofanti write that it’s imperative that parents and medical practitioners become aware of the bi-directional relationship […]
Adolescents who experience loneliness are more likely to compulsively use the Internet, says a new study conducted by the University of Helsinki and published in Child Development (February). The study which surveyed 1,750 Finnish teenage children at three points in time: at 16, 17 and 18 years of age, found that adolescents’ Internet use is […]
Your cover story listing ways and means to boost child immunity was well-researched (PW February). Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic out of the blue hit humankind last year, prescriptions to build bodily immunity have suddenly become aplenty and trendy. Nevertheless, your suggestions from child health experts were very balanced and holistic.
The accelerated ICT (information and communication technologies) revolution, which began in the 1990s with the invention of the Internet aka worldwide web, has connected the entire world. Currently people — especially youth — are connected in real time with peers around the world through social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin. But within […]
‘Talent Spotting’ is an art, and must be initiated only when the child reaches a level of maturity (translated as Middle/High School). Research does suggest that South East Asian countries, in particular, are fascinated and obsessed with ‘outcomes’ and performance to a point that any deviation from the […]
Alexander Zheltov, Founder, Educate Online Education, in its conventional form, has usually emphasised academic performance as the key measure of success, overlooking critical components of .....Read More
- Reshma Ravishanker The central government’s recent announcement on scrapping ‘no-detention policy’ for classes V and VIII in schools under its jurisdiction has yet again .....Read More
