ParentsWorld May 2023 Archives

Making the most of summer holidays

PW invited parents of Nirmal Bhartia School, Delhi to share insights on how they plan to make summer holidays productive and enjoyable for their children “My son Gurnoor Singh (15) is at a crucial year in school and will be writing his class X board exams soon. He follows a set routine throughout the week which includes his tutorial classes and self-study time. To break this monotony, I have planned a few activities for both of us. Since he loves to sing and dance, I have enrolled both of us in a freestyle dance class in the evenings and swimming classes in the mornings. We also plan to go on a week’s vacation to the hills to refresh and rejuvenate.” — Jagtej Kaur, educator “This year Delhites are blessed with a much milder summer, which is encouraging to say the least. My nine-year-old son Samar (class V) can now engage in outdoor activities in our local sports complex. In addition, we plan to travel to Mumbai and enjoy the monsoon there. I believe the time has come for Samar to explore and experience the richness of India as far as possible considering that most information his generation has gathered is mostly from the Internet. Academic interventions by way of holiday homework will of course continue in the background” — Amandeep Chahal, advocate “To ensure our teenage son Abhimanyu (class X) has a productive summer, we intend strengthening his family bonds by visiting family members; enrolling him for football training to build physical strength and stamina; practicing writing blogs to build his creative writing skills and teaching the nuances of basic technology to senior citizen inmates of a nearby old age home to build social skills! The rest of the time Abhimanyu must invest in preparing for his class X board exams” — Bhawna Kothari, advocate “Summer is that time of year when families look forward to doing things together and making memories for a lifetime. We are no exception. Every year, we make an effort to involve our son Arjun (class IV) in preparing our holiday tour itinerary. With no restriction on time, we make it a point to visit friends and family and teach our children the value of social fabric. We also engage in joint activities like making chapatis, baking cakes and cookies, reading books, going for long walks and cycling in the evenings, or swimming” — Bhawna Gandhi, homemaker

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Millets THE Indian superfood

Millets are superfoods, rich in macro and micro nutrients. Their inclusion in children’s diet is highly recommended. Try these simple millet recipes: writes Ramiya Sakthivel Health benefits. Millets are a good source of protein, fibre, minerals and vitamins. They boost cardiovascular health, prevent diabetes and obesity, reduce inflammation in the gut and aid digestion. MILLET PORRIDGE Ingredients • 1 cup millet of your choice • 1 tbsp oil or ghee • Coriander leaves • 1.5 cups of water Preparation guide • Roast millet of your choice in a heavy bottomed pan • Add oil or ghee • Once golden brown, simmer and add water and coriander leaves. • Simmer for 20 minutes • Serve hot (For an Italian twist, season it with oregano and chilli flakes) LITTLE MILLET BIRYANI Ingredients • 1 cup washed and soaked little millet • 1 onion (big) • 1½ cup mixed vegetables (1 carrot, potato, a handful of peas, 5 beans) • 1 tomato (small) • 2 tbsp cooking oil or ghee • Whole spices — 1 cinnamon, 2 cloves, 1 cardamom, bayleaf, star anise • ½ tsp fennel seeds • ½ tsp ginger garlic paste • Chopped mint leaves • ¼ tsp turmeric powder • 1 tsp red chilli powder • ½ tsp garam masala • 1 tsp yogurt • Salt to taste • 1.5 cups water to cook rice Preparation guide • Heat a cooker with oil or ghee, temper it with whole spices, add fennel seeds and onions. Saute until translucent. • Add ginger and garlic and saute until raw smell is gone • Add half of the mint leaves and mix well • Shell peas and chop vegetables. Add vegetables, tomato, yogurt and all the dry powders except for salt. Cook over low flame until oil is released from the sides. • Add water, remainder mint leaves and millet. • Mix well and pressure cook on low flame for one whistle. • Open cooker after the steam is released. If necessary, add ¼ cup water and cook for one more whistle on high flame. • Don’t add more water, as little millet gets soppy fast. • Serve hot with onion and cucumber raitha. (Little millet can be replaced by kudo millet) FOXTAIL MILLET NIPPATTU Ingredients • 1 cup foxtail millet flour • 1 cup rice flour • 1 cup gram flour (besan) • 2 tbsp dry roasted peanuts (peeled and lightly crushed) • 2 tbsp finely crushed dry red chillies (chilli flakes) • 1 tsp desiccated coconut (shredded and dried) • 1 tbsp cumin seeds • 1 tbsp sesame seeds • ½ tsp ajwain • ½ cup finely chopped dill leaves • ¼ tsp hing • 1 tbsp hot and melted butter • 1-2 cups hot water • Salt to taste • Oil to deep fry Preparation guide • Dry roast all three flours separately over medium flame until they turn aromatic (4-6 minutes). Let them cool. • Mix all flours, chilli flakes, sesame seeds, cumin seeds, ajwain, dill…

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Nurturing global citizens

PW invited parents of Vista International School, Hyderabad to share insights on how they are helping their children transform into global citizens “We make an effort to provide our son Anirudh T. (class X) maximum exposure to different cultures and communities through domestic and international travel, books and films. My son has lately taken to learning new languages, which will help him immensely in the future. It also helps that his environment at school and our social circle, nurture the ideologies of global oneness. Rooted to Indian traditions, and supported by knowledge of world geography, I believe this generation can bring the world together for the better” — Shri Ramya, educator “It is important for children to adapt to global cultures given that talent is recognised worldwide. Our son Vedant (class X) has been pursuing sports from youngest age so he can easily blend in wherever he goes with minimal barriers. Our frequent travelling to distant lands has also helped him experience and learn about different people, cultures, cuisines and so on. Vedant is adept at making new friends and striking conversations. Moreover, we are all now focusing on learning a foreign language” — Radhika Kuppili, HR professional “Some ways in which our daughter Advaitha (class IX) is gradually transforming into a global citizen are through extensive travel within the country and abroad, reading books from different parts of the world, and learning foreign languages to connect with fellow global citizens. We also taught her to be empathetic and open-minded towards people from different cultures and backgrounds. In fact every year, Advaitha volunteers for humanitarian causes in different parts of the world” — Nagasree Mamidipally, educator “Learning multiple languages has taught my daughter Hanshika (class IX) to respect cultural diversity of the global community. Moreover, we make it a point to have routine conversations to promote social justice globally and celebrate festivals observed around the world. Hanshika invests considerable time exploring real world issues including the complexity of global challenges and engaging with multiple perspectives etc” — Shailaja, educator

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Sentimental safari

Stunning vistas and salubrious climate of HIMACHAL PRADESH

Whether it is for leisure, adventure sports such as mountaineering, fishing, paragliding, skiing, rock climbing, trekking or just plain relaxation amidst soaring mountains and pristine nature, Himachal has it all As India’s middle class keeps expanding exponentially in the post-1991 era of economic liberalisation and deregulation, and perpetual shortages of airline and train tickets in summer are history, a growing number of upwardly mobile citizens are beginning to discover the charms of a uniquely subcontinental phenomenon: the country’s alluring hill stations. At the last count in Census 2011, India boasted 77 officially designated hill stations. Fortunately these precious and enduring legacies of the British raj are liberally distributed across the country. Almost all the 28 states and 8 Union Territories of the Indian Union boast at least one such prized and carefully preserved hill resort, and the one region which is perhaps the most well-endowed with hill stations (28) and contemporary tourism infrastructure is Himachal Pradesh, a tiny state (pop. 7.5 million) in the foothills of the mighty Himalayas. Cocooned between Jammu & Kashmir and the fertile plains of Punjab and Haryana, Himachal borders Tibet in the north-east and attracted an estimated 16 million domestic and 3.82 lakh international tourists in 2019 all drawn by its stunning scenery and salubrious climate. The Himalayas sweep down into Himachal Pradesh from the north into the foothills, bringing snow and Arctic chill to the region. The Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar mountain ranges run through the state culminating in the Shivaliks to the south and the Himalayas in the north. And whether it is for leisure, adventure sports such as mountaineering, fishing, paragliding, skiing, rock climbing, trekking or just plain relaxation amidst soaring mountains and pristine nature, Himachal Pradesh has it all. Shimla The bustling hill-station capital of the state, Shimla (pop. 1 million) was first discovered by the British in 1819 before which it was part of the Nepalese kingdom and known as Shyamala (from which the name Shimla is derived). In their own inimitable style, the British persuaded the local raja to cede the town in 1830, and constructed this serene hill station which has since acquired the reputation of being the subcontinent’s most fashionable summer resort. In 1864, it was accorded the status of ‘summer capital of British India’. After the construction of the Kalka-Shimla railway line in 1903, Shimla blossomed as a tourist centre. In independent India, Shimla was initially the capital of Punjab. But in 1966 when the state of Himachal Pradesh was carved out of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, it was declared the state’s capital. Shimla is the state’s summer capital while Dharamshala is its winter capital. Sited on a ridge in the Himalayan foothills at an altitude of 7,466 ft above mean sea level, the city enjoys a perennially cool climate. Being a state capital with well-developed infrastructure and good road and rail access, Shimla is thronged by legions of summer tourists every year. Winters are cold due to icy winds that blow down from the upper…

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7 Exercises to improve body posture

Good body posture is a big confidence booster, say several research studies. It displays energy, confidence and high self-esteem. Every day, the human body undergoes a variety of postures. We hold our body in a particular position while standing, sitting, lying down, walking or exercising. This not only impacts our physical appearance and the energy we exude, but is also critical to health and well-being. Following the right posture means the body’s alignment is good, and there is minimal strain on muscles and ligaments. This prevents back, neck pain, and shoulder strain. Slouching adversely affects digestion and other bodily functions. Moreover it’s beneficial to constantly change body posture. It’s important especially for children to develop good body posture from young age. Try these simple exercises to improve body posture. Incorporate them into your family’s daily exercise routine. #1 ELBOW PLANK Keep both elbows on the floor (use a soft mat under your elbows), feet together, resting on toes. Keep body tight and flat, squeeze your glutes, head neutral and look at the floor. Hold for 30 seconds, and do three sets. Gradually, increase to 1 minute. #2 Front support plank and leg raises Take the push-up position, with shoulders over your wrists. The distance between palms should be the same as between your shoulders. Keep your core tight, and raise one leg to shoulder level. Hold for 10-15 seconds, then switch legs. Repeat three times for each leg. #3 Hollow body hold Lie on your stomach; raise hands above the thighs. Raise both legs to 15-30 degrees. Hold for 15 seconds, then relax. Repeat three times. #4 Inclined and Declined Plank Inclined plank. Take the support of a wall. Place hands on the wall, with body in a diagonal position. From palm to toes, body should be in one straight line. Tuck head between shoulders. Keep body tight and hold the position for 10-15 seconds. Relax. Repeat five times. Declined plank. Place your hands on floor and feet on the wall, take a diagonal position and keep body in a straight line. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat five times. #5 Cat and camel hold Get on your elbows and knees, with elbows above palms and knees directly below your hips. Arch your back and lift head for the ‘cat’ position, hold for five seconds, then make your back hollow, with head between shoulders for the ‘camel’ position. Hold for five seconds. Repeat ten times. #6 Stretch stand Stand with your back touching the wall. Ensure lower back is fully touching the wall. Stretch hands forward, stand on your toes, and keep body tight, with head in neutral position. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat twice. #7 Arch up hold Lie on your stomach. Stretch hands forward, with ears touching your hands, and raise hands and shoulders off the floor. Keep legs together, lift them 6-10 inches off the floor. Hold for 20 seconds. Repeat three times. For a standing posture which exudes confidence follow these guidelines: Keep spine in a neutral…

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The importance of creative play

Why should children play? Simply because play is the work of childhood. Play helps children learn better, retain learning and enjoy the process. Play teaches children to reason, use logic, plan, work with others, sometimes lead, sometimes follow, to win or lose and to shake hands and make up after a contest. It’s important that children play with appropriate toys and have the option of indoor and outdoor play. Use of battery toys, computer games and video games should not qualify as play as they are harmful in several ways. 1. Such toys set the agenda for a child. It’s not the child thinking or working out what to do next; it’s the toy that decides. 2. They tend to reduce social interaction and make children anti-social. 3. Reduced social interaction impairs the development of communication skills. 4. Such toys/games can be very addictive. 5. They could cause obesity, eye and other health problems. Children have everything to gain when you give them the gift of play. Depriving children of play opportunities could have negative consequences — depression, aggression and hostility. (Source: Early Childhood Association of India)

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Talking to your child about personal safety

Nisha Daniel Children’s saftey is a hot button subject in these perilous times. All parents need to talk about body awareness with their children. Here are some basic child safety precautions all parents must observe. Speak frankly Tell your child that some people can touch us in ways we don’t like. Some people also hurt us by touching us in wrong ways. To be safe, they need to accept ‘safe touch’ and run away from ‘unsafe touching.’ Name your child’s genital parts, without any embarassment. You could do this during a bath or in a family discussion in the drawing room or dining table. ‘Your body is yours’ Discuss how every individual’s body belongs to her, and we like using it in certain ways — like hugging mummy, or horsing around in the drawing room or garden. There are some things we don’t appreciate, like being pushed, or tickled for too long. Warn them there are people who might touch them inappropriately which could make them feel uncomfortable. When that happens, they should object and express their dislike for that kind of touching. Inform children that even adults do wrong things, and some adults try to hurt children by touching them inappropriately. Teach children about their personal biology and private parts of the body. All children should know there are four zones for girls and three for boys that no one must touch. Lips Chest (for girls) Genitals Buttocks Inform them forthrightly that if anyone tries to touch any of these zones, especially while they are alone, that it’s an ‘unsafe touch.’ Use a doll to highlight these zones. If someone touches any part of the body in a way that makes them feel odd, queasy or dirty, they should object, because it could be unsafe. When in danger Your child should know to take these three steps when someone touches them inappropriately. Say ‘No’ or say something to let the person know you don’t like it. Run away from the spot. Scream if she experiences danger. She should inform an adult she trusts such as a parent, teacher, relative or friend’s mother. Safe touch Children should know it’s okay for mummy or daddy to touch the ‘unsafe’ zones while giving them a bath or to examine it when it hurts. A doctor may also check, with a parent present. No secrets Teach children that no matter how much a person demands secrecy, it’s okay to tell mummy or daddy. Your child should know you care about her safety and she should know any time someone behaves in a way that makes her feel uncomfortable or confused, you’ll be there for her. Repeatedly remind children to never accept sweets or drinks from strangers. The same rule applies when they are with a known person who makes them uncomfortable.

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why does my son behave badly ?

My son behaves perfectly well at school and in the presence of others, but at home, he throws tantrums, talks rudely, and behaves badly. He bullies his little brother and screams while he sleeps. I want this situation to improve. D.K, New Delhi The fact that he has a younger sibling may be influencing your elder son’s behaviour. Children find it hard to suppress jealousy, which could be aroused when the younger sibling is cuddled, fussed over, or even fed. This sentiment could manifest itself as angry, rude behaviour. Make sure the whole family pays adequate attention to your older child, and avoid showing excessive affection to the little one in front of him. Another reason for his bad behaviour could be that he believes it’s the only way to get your attention. If you ignore your child while he is behaving well, and turn to him only when he’s ill-behaved, you’ll have to break out of that habit. You need to make your elder son aware that he will get your attention for good behaviour, not only for bad. Your son has discerned that to be accepted outside the home, he needs to be well-behaved. React positively to good behaviour at home by taking extra measures to compliment and reward it. Your reward could be a hug or an extra few minutes spent listening to your elder child.

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Do children grow out of sibling rivalry?

While sibling rivalry is common and natural, it’s not something to be ignored. Parents can’t assume that children will automatically grow out of it. Deep-seated resentment and jealousy could well extend into adulthood, affecting relationships in the family. There are many case histories of adult brothers and sisters fighting over property, business, and other issues. So while most children do grow out of sibling rivalry there is a need to make an effort to help them by ensuring that neither of the siblings feels the other is being given unequal attention or affection, or that one gets all the praise. Parents and the extended family can help the elder child feel loved and wanted after a new arrival in the family. Older children also need parental love, support and affection.

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Heart to Heart

Dear Parent, The recent rape of a 11-year-old girl child in a school in Delhi allegedly by senior students, has outraged and shaken the confidence of the community of parents countrywide. But while sexual safety awareness, personal safety videos and guidelines can help, they need to be supplemented by parental vigilance and guidance. Videos of children’s cartoons, and the characters they love, often has inappropriate content, uploaded in the same format and made to resemble children’s favourite cartoon characters. Likewise, mobile apps and downloads could introduce them to undesirable content, exposing children to graphic images which could linger in the mind, creating confusion. A close family member like a grandfather or cousin could be using such apps and content to win the confidence of children, with malicious intent. An unknown person could be sending sexual images to your child on facebook. A classmate could be passing on a pornographic video to your child. In addition to making children aware of sexual predators, we need to literally watch their backs. Paying attention to every aspect of your child’s life isn’t easy, especially when both parents are working. But it’s the only way to protect children. So monitoring your child’s every activity is as important as scanning the environment. Make the extra effort to educate yourself so you can educate your child in an age-appropriate way about the dangers posed to children by mentally sick sexual predators.

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Tarotscopes: Forecast for July 15-August 15

TAROTSCOPES Forecast for May 15 – June 15

Chandana Chavan is a Bangalore-based tarot card reader with over 15 years of experience and special interest in parenting. Instagram:@mystic.muse.tarot

Forecast for May 15 – June 15

Aries: The Hanged Man
If you aren’t sure what to do, it’s best to do nothing. Assess the situation from a different perspective. Have patience. Let go of the past […]

My daughter has excess body hair. Help!

My 4.8-year-old daughter has excess body hair, especially on her back and upper portion of the hand. Please advise. — Shiny Thomas, Trivandrum Hirsutism or excessive body hair in children could be due to several reasons. Consult your paediatrician, she will decide if the hair growth is appropriate for her age. If not, she will rule out few common causes such as familial/hereditary reasons, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), precocious puberty, adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing’s syndrome, etc. The commonest causes of hirsutism in children are familial and PCOS. Most cases require conservative treatment. In pathological cases, your daughter may have to undergo blood tests, ultrasound scan etc. If the cause is familial or non-pathological, there may be no cause for worry. As she enters adolescence, you could consider laser hair reduction. My in-laws and other relatives keep iterating that my nine-month-old needs to look ‘healthier’. I think what they mean is he should be plumper. Do infants need to be chubby to be healthy? — Vineeta Shourya, Delhi This is a myth. Chubby infants are not necessarily healthy. On the contrary, a lean child might be healthier. Paediatricians usually rely on WHO/IAP weight-height ratio charts and if your son’s weight and height fall around the 50th centile, it’s good. More than the weight, paediatricians are concerned about micronutrient deficiencies in children. Children who follow high sugar diets including cookies, candies, deep fried foods, and beverages tend to put on weight but are deficient in micronutrients. It is important to provide your child a balanced diet after she completes six months of age, with meals that include cereals, lentils, pulses, vegetables, fruits, meat, dairy and nuts. Every meal should contain small amounts of these nutrients. However, it’s important to note that infants who are exclusively breast fed for the first six months/one year are healthier compared to babies fed formula milk. Most women tend to think breastmilk isn’t sufficient. They are wrong. Breastmilk fulfils all nutritional needs of infants. It’s best to avoid formula and other weaning food until completion of six months unless your paediatrician specifically recommends it. My eight-year-old son is suffering from acute tonsillitis. Can I give him citrus fruits? I have grown up hearing that lemons and oranges should be avoided during a cold infection. — Minisha Chakraborty, Pune Citrus fruits are rich in Vitamin C and folate — both of which boost immunity. In most illnesses, there is rapid utilisation of vitamin C and increased demand for it. There is however a small paediatric population allergic to citrus fruits whose acidic content can also trigger throat irritation in these children. Since benefits outweigh risks, you can give citrus fruits to your son, provided he has no previous history of allergies or worsening of respiratory symptoms after consuming these fruits. (Dr. Amritha Rao Kordcal is consultant paediatrician at Shishu Clinic, Aaditya Hospital and Brindavan Hospital, Mysuru)

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Bright future in product engineering services

According to Astute Analytics, the aggregate revenue of engineering services outsourced worldwide is likely to skyrocket from $1.5 trillion to $6.8 trillion by 2031 With the digital revolution now in full swing, new products are being constantly launched, developed and upgraded especially in the automotive, consumer electronics, medical devices, and telecom industries. These developments have opened up vast business opportunities for engineering services companies which play a critical role as partners of tech companies to enable them to meet their goals of incorporating quality, safety and reliability into the design and manufacture of their products. With the demand for engineering services also coming in from abroad, creating an outsourced services industry, working in the newly emergent product engineering services industry is an attractive option for graduates of engineering and technology colleges According to Astute Analytics, the aggregate revenue of engineering services outsourced worldwide is likely to skyrocket from $1.5 trillion to $6.8 trillion by 2031. This boom is expected to benefit Indian engineering firms in a big way with India emerging as the most preferred destination for engineering services outsourcing, followed by the US and China. The basic academic qualification required for entry into this newly emergent service industry is a degree in any of the primary engineering disciplines depending on choice of industry segment. For example, for developing diagnostic or therapeutic medical devices, degrees in biomedical engineering or biotechnology are needed; for developing heavy industrial machinery, a degree in mechanical engineering or control systems engineering is useful and for designing and developing consumer electronics products, an electronics engineering background is critical. Additionally, specialised education in areas such as industrial design or human factors engineering is always valuable. Essentially, a product engineer’s job is to design and develop new products, new applications and improve and upgrade already successful products. This requires understanding customers’ needs, evaluating engineering blue-prints, testing and finishing new products “Companies and enterprises which manufacture and/or market products for mass consumption, computer software, automobiles, and aerospace engineering firms are examples of corporates always looking for skilled and innovative product engineers. Indeed, IT companies such as iGATE Patni, WIPRO and HCL have large PES (product engineering service) divisions. For committed hands-on engineers this is an exciting career option and PES companies are attracting highly skilled engineers, technologists and people with unconventional backgrounds such as Ph Ds, MBAs and even medically qualified persons,” says Satish Joshi, executive vice-president and head of product engineering services at iGATE Patni, a top-ranked IT services company. An electrical engineering and computer science postgrad of IIT-Bombay, Joshi began his career as a scientific officer at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in 1980. In 1983, he signed up as senior software engineer at Patni Computer Systems which has morphed into iGATE Patni after it was acquired by iGATE in January, 2010. According to Joshi, 12 percent of the global population of qualified engineers is hosted by India and the PES industry is expected to generate an estimated 250,000 jobs in the next few years. This…

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3 Online learning apps

A shortlist of three apps that actively engage young children to learn math and reading as also showcase their talent and creativity writes Cynthia John CRETA CLASS – Math class for kids aged 3-8 A paid math learning app, Creta Class is targeted at children aged 3-8 years. It offers a structured math curriculum designed by Ivy League university graduates with interactive AI-driven content to make math learning practical and enjoyable for children. The learning sessions require a commitment of 15 minutes per day with daily lessons focused on building a strong foundation in maths concepts. Lessons feature animated, interactive exercises and activities — over 2,300 exercises and 1,200 animated videos. The app also provides one-on-one mentoring sessions and instant feedback. LEARN2READ – Reading made easy An ‘online phonetics educational platform’, Learn2Read offers short-term courses to help children read better, faster. They include a Junior Reader course for 3-4-year-olds, Active Reader Course for 4-6 year olds and Power Reader Course for 5-8 year olds. Founded in 2020 by Varshika Jain, the app has more than 5,000 subscribers. According to Jain, this child-friendly curriculum focuses on correct pronunciation, spelling skills, improved comprehension and fluent reading. “We ensure that children learn the right words in the right way following concepts of easy learning from letter sounds with blending to improving vocabulary and language skills,” says Jain. WIZKIDS CARNIVAL – Online national level competitions for children up to 15 years This is an online platform for children to showcase their skills and talent to a global audience. From coloring, dance, story-telling, to public speaking and debate, children can participate in a variety of online competitions. The competitions are conducted through the year and include Color Wizards, Master Orator, Recite It, Dance Wizards and Tell Ur Tale. Thus far Wizkids Carnival has conducted over 40 online contests for 25,000 children.

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Jumping into the fray with In Media Res

Roopa Banerjee Although in the iconic movie Sound of Music, Hollywood star Julie Andrews crooned this advice, ‘Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start…,’ many tend to enjoy films or read books whose plots don’t start at the beginning. They start bang in the middle with flashbacks to establish context. This isn’t an error but a carefully thought through literary device known as in media res in which a story begins in the middle of action. In media res is Latin for “into the middle of things”. The phrase in media res was first used by ancient Roman poet Horace in his treatise on poetry, Ars Poetica, where he advised writers to start their stories in media res, or in the middle of the action, as a way to quickly engage readers and create literary tension. Since then, this literary device is used in literature, film, and television. One of the most famous examples of in media res in literature is Homer’s Iliad. This epic poem begins in the middle of the Trojan War, with the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon already well underway. Another prominent example is James Joyce’s Ulysses. The novel begins with Stephen Dedalus walking on a beach, lost in thought. It is only later that the reader learns the full context of Stephen’s musings. By starting the novel with Stephen’s monologue, Joyce creates a sense of mystery and intrigue that draws readers into the narrative. In media res is also commonly used in film and television. For instance the film Saving Private Ryan begins with the violent and chaotic depiction of the Normandy landings during World War II, plunging the viewer straight into the thick of action. By starting the film in the middle of a battle, director Steven Spielberg creates a sense of danger and urgency. Another example in pop culture is in the pilot episode of the TV show Lost. The episode begins with the survivors of a plane crash stranded on a mysterious island, dealing with the aftermath of the accident. The viewer is immediately thrown into the story, with no explanation of how the characters got there or their backstory. This creates a sense of mystery and intrigue that draws viewers into the show. There are many benefits of using in media res in storytelling. By starting a story in the middle of action, writers and filmmakers can engage audiences and create a sense of urgency. This is especially effective in lengthy literary works, such as novels or television series, where a slow build-up may not be feasible and there are fears of losing reader attention. With in media res, readers become eager to know preceding as well as succeeding events. Also, by using this literary device, the author is spared from providing extraneous details of the past compelling readers to question every aspect of the story which makes their involvement deeper. However, there are also some drawbacks. By starting a story in the middle of action,…

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My son has social anxiety. help!

My eight-year-old son is a loner. He doesn’t have the confidence to make friends. How do I get him to become more social and outgoing? — Vinu Thomas, Chennai There are several ways you can support your child: Gently encourage him to participate in social activities/events. Praise him for his attempts. If he has an anxious reaction to a social situation, speak positively and help him overcome his anxiety. Don’t punish or scold him for failing to behave as expected. Praise the effort. Avoid speaking for your child. Even if it takes some time or hesitation, it’s important he speaks for himself. Tell your child’s school teacher about his social anxiety and request her support. If the situation doesn’t improve, consult a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist for screening him for communication and anxiety disorders. My ten-year-old daughter keeps forgetting to finish her homework and other chores but otherwise she is normal. Is there cause for worry? — Vinaya Shiva, Bengaluru I understand your concern. There could be various reasons why she is forgetful and/or paying inadequate attention to her homework and other tasks. I suggest you consult a psychiatrist who will conduct a detailed evaluation and check for learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, etc. Don’t delay the consultation as early intervention yields better prognosis and treatment. My child is anxious as she is shifting to a new school from the new academic year. Will this move adversely affect her mental health? — Disha Agarwal, Pune It’s natural for your child to be anxious about moving to a new school. Here are some ways you can smooth this transition: Encourage her to discuss her fears and anxieties with you. Reassure her this is normal. Talk positively about the new school, highlight its plus points. Check if you can introduce her to some classmates in the new school. Try to set up playdates with them. Visit the school with her so it looks familiar. Share stories from your school days and extracurricular activities that you enjoyed. Highlight extra-curricular activities at the new school. Practice school-related activities or processes, such as trying on the uniform and browsing through class textbooks. My four-year-old daughter is very attached to me. Sometimes I have to leave her with my in-laws, during which time she becomes very irritable and cries a lot. Please advise. — Mrinalini Sinha, Mumbai Separation anxiety is a normal part of a child’s development. It begins at eight-12 months and recurs multiple times until age four/five. Your child’s unwillingness to leave you is a good sign that healthy attachment has developed between the two of you. But she gradually needs to overcome separation anxiety. Reassure her that whenever she is with others, it’s temporary, and you will return to collect her. It may also help to leave her with relatives initially for short durations so that she gets time to develop coping skills. (Dr. Sudharani P. Naik is a consultant psychologist for the District Mental Health Programme — Mysuru; Viveka Psychiatry Clinic…

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Parental alienation should give way to SHARED PARENTING

…Say alienated parents who organised a two-week campaign to mark April 25, observed as ‘Parental Alienation Awareness Day’ worldwide, writes Aruna Raghuram April 25 was observed as ‘Parental Alienation Awareness Day’ around the world. On this day, parents’ groups organise programmes to raise awareness about parental alienation — defined as when one parent’s relationship with his or her child is harmed by the other parent. With divorce/separation cases rising, parental alienation is becoming widespread with devastating consequences for children. In India, a two-week awareness campaign was organised by two Mumbai-based ‘alienated’ male parents, Zian Lakdawalla and Ashraf Ansari. The campaign started on April 23 with ‘Bubbles of love’ with some parents blowing soap bubbles at selected public places across the country in honour of children forcibly separated from one of their parents. Brochures were also distributed to raise public awareness about parental alienation and its harmful consequences for children. On April 29, an art therapy workshop was conducted in Thane followed by a ‘Prayer run cyclothon’ on April 30 in Mumbai. Comments Zian Lakdawalla, a learning and development professional and alienated parent of five-year-old son Zivan: “Through our two-week awareness campaign we hope to educate the public about parent alienation and its adverse impact on the emotional well-being of children. In my case, I have been alienated from my son since 2019. After taking recourse to the law, I now have vacation rights. I want to be a fully involved father but all I have is limited vacation time with him. Parent alienation has affected my son deeply – he is reporting problems of delayed speech, hyperactivity, and poor socialisation skills.” Ashraf Ansari, a media professional, has been separated from his daughter (11) and son (7). “I have been alienated from them for the past two years. I get barely four hours in a month to meet my children. This has emotionally devastated me,” he says. According to Ansari, an estimated 1.5 million children in India are victims of parental alienation. “More than 120 parents are actively involved in our Parent Alienation Awareness Group and we have personally connected with 6,000 alienated parents across the country, a majority of them — 90 percent — are male parents,” he says. Types of alienating behaviours Dr. Jennifer Harman, a US-based global expert on parental alienation, says there are several types of alienating behaviours. “The alienating parent might badmouth the other parent in front of the child to gain her loyalty. Or one parent might reconstruct past events to make the child believe horrible and untrue things about the other parent, or prevent the other from spending time with the child. A parent may also intrude excessively (e.g, frequent texting) into the other parent’s parenting time with the children, or make false claims of abuse to limit their time with the children indefinitely. The result is the child can feel extremely negative toward the targeted parent for unjustified and often untrue reasons,” explains Dr. Harman, associate professor of applied social and health psychology,…

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Is your toddler nutritionally deficient?

Nutritional and especially micronutrient deficiencies in children result in poor physical growth, reduced cognitive development, and increased risk of illness Dr. Kumar T.V. Millions of children worldwide suffer malnutrition in the first five years of their lives. According to a 2020 report of the UNICEF-WHO-WB Joint Child Malnutrition Inter-Agency Group, 149.2 million children under 5 years of age were too short for their age (stunting), 45.4 million were too thin for their height (wasting) and 38.9 million too heavy for their height (overweight). Child malnutrition is prevalent in cities and villages, developed and developing countries. In several middle-class homes, toddlers, because of exposure to junk foods, tend to consume high-calorie, low-nutrient foods rich in sugar and fat but lacking in essential vitamins and minerals. Nutritional and especially micronutrient deficiencies in children result in poor physical growth, reduced cognitive development, and increased risk of illness. It’s important for parents to understand that early childhood is a period of intense mental and physical development and that children need to follow a well-balanced and healthy diet. Here are some of the most common nutritional deficiencies prevalent in early childhood, and their antidotes: Iron Iron deficiency is common in children, especially those who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. Iron is essential for production of haemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood. Its deficiency can lead to anaemia, fatigue, and poor cognitive function. Therefore, children should consume foods rich in iron such as red meat, poultry, fish, beans, lentils, tofu, fortified cereals, and leafy greens. Iron absorption can also be enhanced by consuming foods rich in vitamin C such as citrus fruits. Vitamin D Vitamin D is essential for absorption of calcium and phosphorus, which boost bone health. Its deficiency is manifested in children who don’t get enough sunlight or follow a vegetarian/vegan diet. To avoid vitamin D deficiency, children should get regular exposure to sunlight, consume foods rich in vitamin D such as fatty fish, egg yolks, and fortified milk or milk alternatives. Your child could also take a vitamin D supplement, provided your paediatrician recommends it. Calcium Calcium is important for healthy bone and optimal muscle development and nervous system functions. Calcium deficiency can lead to weak bones, dental problems, and muscle cramps. Children who don’t eat dairy products are at risk of suffering calcium deficiency. Therefore children’s diets must include dairy products, leafy greens, fortified cereals, and fortified milk or milk alternatives. Vitamin B12 Vitamin B12 is important for production of red blood cells, neural functions, and DNA synthesis. Children who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet are deficient in Vitamin B12, as it is primarily found in animal products. Therefore, encourage your children to consume vitamin B12-fortified foods, such as cereals, soy milk, and nutritional yeast, or take a vitamin B12 supplement if recommended by a healthcare provider. Zinc Zinc is important for overall physical growth and development, immune functions, and wound healing. Its deficiency can result in physical retardation, delayed sexual maturation and wound healing. To avoid zinc deficiency,…

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Summer hands-on learning opportunity

Gandhiji’s advice that education must teach children to work with their heads, hearts and hands has been almost totally ignored by the omniscient framers of post-independence India’s education policies. However, it’s not too late to teach generation next to adopt a DIY (do-it-yourself) culture starting this summer vacation writes Khushboo Nehaal Jashnani, Mini P. & Cynthia John A mong all major countries with industrial aspirations, India has the worst DIY (do-it-yourself) culture. While most American, German, and European households are equipped with a garage or basement bristling with tools such as drills, workbenches, an array of spanners for men — and increasingly women — to fix motor cars, motor bikes, leaky kitchen sinks, roofs and electrical wiring and Japanese menfolk spend hours in designing meticulous rock gardens using an array of sophisticated tools, this DIY culture is almost totally absent in Indian society. Perhaps because of the iniquities of the Hindu caste system, and the easy availability of cheap labour, it’s rare for middle class men to be able to repair a minor car engine or a domestic electrical circuit fault. Gandhiji’s advice that education must teach children to work with their heads, hearts and hands has been almost totally ignored by the omniscient framers of post-independence India’s education policies. However, it’s not too late to teach generation next to adopt a DIY (do-it-yourself) culture starting this summer vacation. In our March issue on the eve of summer holidays, we featured a cover story recommending some enjoyable, enriching summer activity options for children. They included a variety of summer camp options such as robotics classes, outdoor nature tours, and college readiness programmes. This month, we present Part II of recommended summer activityoptions — DIY activities — enabling children to learn with their hands. “When children engage in constructive, meaningful DIY activities, they learn new skills by doing. Moreover, the thrill of doing an enjoyable activity releases dopamine-like neurotransmitters in the brain resulting in uplifting emotions. Also engaging in hands-on learning activities is a good distraction and alternative to digital gadgets. My advice to parents is to convert children’s DIY activities into family bonding sessions,” says Dr. Anju Soni, psychologist and mental health counsellor, Chennai National Hospital. Somewhat belatedly, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 makes a strong case for teaching children vocational skills and art and crafts from their primary years. It recommends that every student “take a fun course, during grades VI-VIII that gives a survey and hands-on experience of a sampling of important vocational crafts, such as carpentry, electric work, metal work, gardening, pottery making, etc… All students will participate in a 10-day bagless period sometime during grades VI-VIII where they intern with local vocational experts such as carpenters, gardeners, potters, artists, etc”. Moreover reflecting a change in the official mindset, even before NEP 2020 was released, in 2016 NITI Aayog — the Central government’s think tank — launched its Atal Tinkering Labs project. Under this scheme, NITI Aayog promises to fund tinkering labs in schools which allocate…

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News Bytes

India in Top 5 countries with highest number of preterm infants India, Pakistan, Nigeria, China and Ethiopia together accounted for 45 percent of all infants born early —before 37 weeks of pregnancy — in 2020, according to a report released last month by the WHO, Unicef and PMNCH, the world`s largest alliance for women, children, and adolescents. The report titled Born Too Soon: A Decade of Action on Preterm Birth describes the incidence of premature birth as a “silent emergency”. It estimates that 13.4 million infants were born prematurely in 2020, with nearly 1 million dying from preterm complications. “Ensuring quality care for these tiniest, most vulnerable babies and their families is imperative for improving child health and survival. Progress is also needed to help prevent preterm births — this means every woman must be able to access quality health services before and during pregnancy to identify and manage risks,” says Anshu Banerjee, director for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, WHO. The report states that preterm birth is now the leading cause of child deaths, accounting for more than one in five of all deaths of children under five years. Mobile phone use linked to high blood pressure Spending 30 minutes or more on a mobile phone per week is linked to a 12 percent increased risk of developing high blood pressure or hypertension, says a research study published in the European Heart Journal — Digital Health (May). The study examined data from the UK Biobank which included 212,046 adults aged 37 to 73 years without hypertension. Over a median follow-up of 12 years, 13,984 participants developed hypertension. The study found that those who talked on their mobile phone for 30 minutes or more per week had a 12 percent greater likelihood of new-onset high blood pressure than participants who spent less than 30 minutes on phone calls. The results were similar for women and men. Weekly usage time of 30-59 minutes, 1-3 hours, 4-6 hours, and more than 6 hours was associated with an 8 percent, 13 percent, 16 percent, and 25 percent increased risk of high blood pressure, respectively. “The number of minutes that people talk on their cellphone appears to matter for heart health, with more minutes adding up to greater risk,” says study author Xianhui Qin, a professor at Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China, adding that the more time participants spent talking on the phone, the higher their risk of developing hypertension. Scientists warn against excessive use of disinfectants Acritical review, published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science & Technology (May), has warned against the increased and unnecessary use of antimicrobial chemicals in products such as sanitisers, wipes and disinfectant solutions because of the Covid pandemic. The review authored by over two dozen scientists, says that quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), which are increasingly marketed and used in home, healthcare, education, and workplace settings, lead to health problems, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental harm. “Disinfectant wipes containing QACs are often used on children’s school…

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Gen Z prone to high stress Your cover story ‘Natural therapies best option’ (PW April) is timely and relevant. I believe that Gen Z is more prone to stress and anxiety that any previous generation. Ubiquitous social media, peer pressure, digital gadgets, burden of parental expectations etc have led to children experiencing high stress, loneliness, depression and sleep disorders. I agree with you that natural therapies are a better option than psychological treatments to ensure children’s emotional health. I also enjoyed reading your recipes featuring summer coolers. As temperatures start rising, it’s important to keep children hydrated with natural home-made fruit coolers. Parents should avoid the easy option of giving children packaged fruit juices and colas, which are full of preservatives and artificial colouring not to mention their high sugar content. In your next issue, please share recipes of popular snacks for hot summer months. Preeti Varma Bengaluru Acknowledge child mental health crisis Your cover story detailing natural therapies for mental well-being of children was an eye opener (PW April). Post the Covid pandemic, many parents and teachers are reporting cases of children displaying symptoms of stress and anxiety. In our time, mental health was a taboo subject. But the pandemic has changed that with the issue of children’s mental health and well-being brought into national focus. The holistic art, journal and animal-assisted therapies you have featured in the story seem very doable options for improving the overall emotional well-being of children. It’s important for parents and educators to acknowledge that there’s a child mental health crisis and take immediate preventive and corrective measures. Mishika Varma Mumbai Nature therapy best The April cover story ‘Natural therapies best option’ was informative and useful. While art, journal, and animal-assisted therapies are all good holistic healing options for children experiencing high stress in the Google age, I believe the best is nature therapy. Proximity to nature calms and relaxes the mind. And summer holidays offer an opportune time for children to take a break from urban life and connect with natural environments. Moreover as parents, we need to encourage children to make nature a part of their daily lives. For instance I have entrusted the responsibility of watering and maintaining our terrace garden to my children as also educated them about waste segregation and limiting use of plastic. Parminder Singh Chennai Lead by example Your Middle Years story on dysfunctional families is a must-read for all parents. Prof. Reema Joyice’s advice to parents to not involve children in their quarrels and arguments is spot on. Many a time, children are drawn into parents’ arguments and forced to take sides. This leads to children suffering low self-esteem and depression. Moreover, children emulate parental behaviour. If we constantly squabble before our children, then it’s more than likely that they grow up thinking that abusive and toxic behaviour is normal. As adults, we need to lead by example. I appeal to all parents to avoid using abusive language before children. Pratyusha Pal Kolkata Resourceful magazine! Thanks…

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Letter from managing editor

Since Lord Macaulay famously pronounced that the prime objective of his Minute on Indian Education (1835) was to produce note-taking clerks for the smooth function of the British raj, there’s been a persistent and consistent bias in Indian society against vocational education and skills training. Though through the freedom movement, Mahatma Gandhi strongly advocated educating “head, heart and hands” of children and emphasised revival of India’s ancient and traditional vocational arts and crafts, the Macaulian educational system had already struck root. In post-independence India too, it continued to flourish with education policy makers paying scant attention to hands-on vocational and skills training. This perhaps explains why India has the worst DIY (do-it-yourself) culture globally. Belatedly though, the sustained neglect of hands-on skills training in the K-12 education system is being addressed. In 2016, the Central government’s NITI Aayog launched the Atal Innovation Mission under which Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) — “a workspace where young minds can give shape to their ideas through hands on do-it-yourself mode” — will be set up in schools across the country. Over the past seven years, 10,000 ATLs have been established in schools countrywide reaching an estimated 7.5 lakh children. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 — promulgated after an interregnum of 34 years — also makes a determined effort to address the prolonged prejudice against hands-on skills education. It mandates compulsory vocational education for all class VI-VIII children. It states that students should take courses in important vocational crafts such as carpentry, electric and metal work, gardening, pottery, etc and intern with local craftsmen such as carpenters, gardeners, potters, artists, etc. NEP 2020 sets an ambitious target of at least 50 percent of all children and youth learning a vocational skill/trade by 2025. With hands-on skills education becoming the flavour of the season, in our May cover story we present DIY activities for children which also boost their problem-solving, decision-making and teamwork skills. Though because of space constraints, our suggested list of DIY activities is restricted, we strongly advise parents to encourage children to work with local vocational experts such as carpenters, gardeners, electricians, automobile mechanics, potters, artists to learn creative hands-on skills. Inculcating a DIY culture early on will enable children to become self-sufficient in managing small car and household repair jobs as is de rigueur in developed countries. There’s much else in this summer issue of PW. Check out our Early Childhood column by consultant pediatrician Dr. Kumar T.V. explaining the common nutritional deficiencies in toddlers and the antidote, and Special Essay highlighting the phenomenon of parental alienation and why it should give way to shared parenting.

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