PW invited parents of ATS Valley School, Dera Bassi (Punjab) to share the learning opportunities they created for their children during the lockdown I have devised ways to inject a semblance of routine back into my six-year-old daughter Amayra’s life after the outbreak of Covid forced the prolonged closure of schools. Planned mealtime conversations have helped to boost her cognitive and communication skills. To instill a spirit of competition within her, we play indoor games like carrom, chess and cards together. I have also provided her with age-appropriate books to introduce her to the reading habit and enrolled her in online art and dance programmes. To overcome a difficult situation, you need a positive mindset. That’s my mantra.” — Aditi Sharma, HR professional, Hella India Lighting Ltd. “We were relaxed and remained positive throughout the lockdown. The unprecedented crisis gave us the opportunity to understand each other better and strengthen our bonds. Our sole strategy was to focus on our sons’ — Krishna (class VIII) and Aaditya (class II) — personality development. We introduced them to the simple act of offering daily prayers and to the reading habit, taught them time management and encourage them to spend quality time with grandparents, Sometimes we encourage them to talk on subjects ranging from the stars to life in micro-organisms. We also allocate time for movies on the weekend to help my sons develop imagination and creativity, and helped them choose a lifetime hobby.” — Pooja Atri, homemaker. “First and foremost, we designed a timetable that involved lots of fun games every night and yoga twice a day. These activities helped us all including our children — son Vimarsh (class II) and daughter Krishi (class V) — to calm our nerves in this unprecedented situation. Every day we read together as a family while limiting the children’s screen time to online classes only. My focus was on maintaining fitness through yoga, and eating nutritious homemade meals, reading and playing indoor games together. In this way, we have forged strong family bonds which has helped us overcome fear of the pandemic.” — Madhura Yale, marketing professional, One BCG, Punjab “The Covid-19 outbreak has impacted learning of our children in many ways. My six-year-old son Reyansh (class I) has adapted well to online classes picking up the skills of independently handling computers/tablets and apps. I am surprised to see Reyansh type on the laptop and frame small sentences at this age. The lockdown has also been a great opportunity to teach my son life skills such as neatly arranging his toys, watering plants, making his bed and helping in the kitchen. It has also provided Reyansh an opportunity to spend quality time with his grandparents, listen to their inspiring stories and learn some values in the process. Its important to enjoy the extended family time together and make the best of it before schools reopen.” — Dr. Vandna Sharma, Director Administrative Services, Indus Healthcare Group, Mohali
Roopa Banerjee If you suggest something silly to your friend and she says, ‘What a great idea!’ she is probably being ironical. Irony is the use of words to convey meaning which is the opposite of the literal meaning. A popular literary device, irony is a contrast between expectation of a situation and reality. Irony has an interesting etymology. It is derived from the Greek word eironeía which traces its origins to an ancient Greek comic character Eiron, who pretends ignorance to deceive an opponent. Eironeía — meaning ‘dissimulation’ or ‘purposely affected ignorance’ — subsequently entered Latin vocabulary as ironia and became a popular figure of speech in the English language in the 16th century. There are three types of irony: verbal, dramatic, and situational. Verbal irony. When a person articulates words which are in direct contrast to what she actually means. Contrary to popular belief, verbal irony is different from sarcasm. Sarcasm is used when the speaker intends to be overt and abrasive. A sarcastic person does not try to mask his contempt. However, verbal irony is milder and less inclined to hurt the listener. For example, when former British prime minister Winston Churchill told Labour party politician Bessie Braddock that ‘I shall be sober in the morning, and you will still be ugly,’ he was being sarcastic and not ironic. On the other hand, an example of verbal irony is: ‘What a pleasant day,’ when it may be raining heavily. Dramatic irony. When the reader/audience knows more than the characters of a story. This often leads to tragic outcomes. For example, in William Shakespeare’s Othello, the reader is aware that Othello’s best friend Iago is evil and intends to destroy Othello. The reader also knows that Desdemona has been faithful and anticipates the impending disaster. Most books, plays and films rely on dramatic irony to make audiences invest emotionally in the characters. The film The Truman Show is a classic example of dramatic irony where everyone except Truman knows that he is being filmed. Situational irony. When the outcome is very different from what is expected. For example, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, citizens of the Emerald City believe that Oz is mighty and invincible, but the man behind the curtain is revealed to be an elderly person with no significant power. Another instance of situational irony is the short story The Gift of the Magi by O’ Henry. A young, destitute couple want to buy each other Christmas gifts. The woman sells her tresses to buy an expensive watch strap for her husband. Meanwhile, the husband sells his watch to buy delicate combs for his wife’s hair. This is an example of situational irony, since the outcome is the opposite of what both parties expected. Exercise What type of irony is used in the following examples? 1. In a horror film, the audience is aware that there is a killer in the house, but the lead character doesn’t know. 2. A lady looks out of the…
Nurtured by the tempestuous Brahmaputra, terraced with tea gardens, home of the endangered one-horned rhino and replete with undulating hills, Assam offers a rich mix of natural beauty and cultural education Nurtured by the tempestuous Brahmaputra, terraced with tea gardens, home of the endangered one-horned rhino and replete with undulating hills and cosy hamlets, Assam (pop. 35 million) surprises and enchants the tourist in myriad ways. Etymologically the word ‘Assam’ finds its root in the Sanskrit word asoma meaning ‘peerless’. Historically ‘Assam’ is an anglicised version of asom — the name the Ahom tribe gave to the region after conquering it. Mythologically, the Brahmaputra (son of Brahma) is the only male river of India — a designated national waterway. Though Assam has been reduced to one-third of its original size over the past 45 years, it is still the largest of the ‘seven sisters’ states of the north-east. Flanked by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh in the north; Nagaland and Manipur in the east; Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram in the south and Bangladesh and West Bengal in the west, Assam is the most accessible of the north-east states of the Indian Union. Inevitably Assam’s past is shrouded in mythology. Its ancient name was Kamapura with its capital at Pragyotishpura — latter day Guwahati — as recited in Vedic literature. Kama — the god of love — after being reduced to ashes by Shiva was reborn here. Various sites mentioned in the great epic Mahabharata still exist in contemporary Assam. Aryan tribes comprising the priestly and warrior classes subjugated Assam in ancient times and the first king who ruled over Kamapura was Pushya Varman (350-380 AD), a contemporary of emperor Samudragupta, who reigned in north India. The Varman dynasty ruled Assam until 650 AD followed by the Salasthamba regime. Subsequently, the Pala Dynasty founded by Brahmapala (990-1010), ruled Assam until 1138. These early Hindu kings worshipped Shakti and were followers of mystic tantric cults some of which exist even today. The Ahoms from Myanmar (aka Burma) invaded Assam in the 13th century establishing a Hindu dynasty that flourished until the 19th century despite repeated invasions by the Mughals. The Burmese invaded Assam again in 1817 reportedly decimating one-third of the local population. Shortly thereafter the British annexed the region after driving away the Burmese and Assam joined with the rest of India in the struggle for independence. Assam is rich in natural resources. It was the very first state in India where oil was discovered (at Digboi) in 1889. Indeed it has the oldest oil refinery in the country. Of Assam’s agro-based industries, tea occupies prime position. Robert Bruce, an official of the British Empire, discovered the brew in 1823 and ever since, the leaf of the cup that cheers is extensively cultivated in the Brahmaputra and Barak plains. Currently, Assam produces more than 50 percent of the annual tea crop in India and approximately one-sixth of the tea leaf output of the world. The state also has large reserves of coal,…
Here’s a simple DIY activity to design a desktop organiser to declutter study/work stations at home – Cynthia John Many parents are encouraging children to engage in art and crafts activities during this unprecedented learn-from-home period to beat pandemic-related anxiety and stress and rising digital addiction. Here’s a simple DIY (do it yourself) activity to design a desktop organiser to declutter study/work stations at home. Materials Empty cardboard box Scissors Craft glue Brightly coloured cloth A cheerful photograph Cardboard (from old notebook covers) Paint and brush Process Use a ruler to mark off 4 cm or more from the bottom of the front surface of the box. Make marks on the right and left edges and draw a line to join them. On both the side faces, draw a diagonal line connecting the upper edge (towards the back) with the markings made on the front edge. Cut off the top cover of the box. Cut along the lines drawn, using a sturdy pair of scissors. Next, use craft glue to stick the cloth around the box. Beginning with one edge of the cloth at the back, pull the cloth all the way around till it overlaps the edge you started with. Now that you know how much you need, cut it neatly. Stick the first edge at the back, pull it taut and stick the end over the edge you began with. You’ll have to make slits on the top front edges so that you can fold it in. Pull the cloth taut over all the edges, fold inwards and stick. Do the same at the bottom, making neat folds when necessary. Make sure the cloth is flat and taut at the bottom so that it does not make a shaky base. Now cut out the picture you have chosen — from a magazine, sticker sheet or wrapping paper. Cut around it in its shape. Place the cut-out on cardboard and draw a line around it. Cut the cardboard a little inside the line. Make two such cardboard pieces. Stick the cardboard pieces on each other and the picture cut-out on top of it for a 3D effect. Paint the back of this with a matching colour or black for a better finish. When it is dry, stick it on the front of the organiser, with part of it sticking out. Your desktop organiser is ready. You can store all your knick-knacks within arm’s reach. An even larger box can be used to make an organiser that stores books or files. Use textured cloth for better effect.
(6 servings) Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 8 large sliced garlic cloves 4 cups peeled, chopped, and seeded tomatoes ½ cup chopped onion ½ cup chopped carrot 1 ½ tbsp sugar ½ tsp salt ½ tsp ground black pepper 250 ml milk and two tsp milk powder 2 cups fresh sweet corn ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped (you can use coriander leaves as well) Preparation guide Heat olive oil in a pan over low heat and add garlic. Sauté for 4 minutes. Add tomatoes, onion, carrot, sugar, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat and simmer until the onion is soft and translucent, for about 10 minutes. Blend the mixture in an immersion blender. Now cook over low heat for 1-2 minutes adding milk, milk powder and corn. Serve soup in six bowls. Top with basil or coriander leaves and serve.
(8 servings) Caprese garlic bread Ingredients 1 loaf ciabatta or French loaf, halved lengthwise ½ cup softened butter 2 chopped garlic cloves 1 tbsp freshly chopped parsley Salt to taste Freshly ground black pepper ¼ cup balsamic vinegar 1 tbsp honey 1 ½ cup shredded mozzarella 2 large tomatoes, sliced 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling 2 tbsp thinly sliced fresh basil, for garnishing Caprese garlic bread preparation guide Preheat oven to 180oC and place bread (cut-sides up) on a large baking sheet. Stir butter, garlic, and parsley in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Spread this mix on ciabatta halves and bake until golden for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, simmer balsamic vinegar and honey, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half, for 8 to 10 minutes. Let it cool. Top toasted ciabatta with mozzarella and tomatoes and bake until cheese is melty, for 5 to 10 minutes. Drizzle caprese garlic bread with oil and balsamic glaze, garnish with basil, and slice. Other recipes: Delectable stay-at-home meals Kenyan vermicelli bread recipe Recipe for Pindi chole
Tomatoes are the perfect immunity booster in these pandemic times – Parvathy Menon In ancient times, humans were afraid to eat tomato assuming it was poisonous because of its relation to belladonna or the deadly nightshade plant. Now, of course we know better and no meal is complete without the tangy sweet taste of tomato. The edible red berry of the plant solanum lycopersicum, aka tomato, is rich in potassium, vitamins B and E and lycopene — a bright red carotenoid hydrocarbon — which protects body cells from damage and boosts immunity. Tomatoes also contain carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin which protect eyes from the blue light emitted by digital devices such as smartphones and computers. Some research studies have shown that tomatoes may prevent emphysema, a condition that slowly damages the air sacs in the lungs. Try out these simple tomato-rich recipes. Tomato Bun Burger (6 servings) Ingredients ½ kilo minced chicken 1 beaten egg 1 cup bread crumbs 1 packet cheese slices 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce Salt to taste Freshly ground black pepper to taste 6 small tomatoes, halved 1 tbsp mayonnaise Lettuce, for aesthetics Yellow mustard, for self serving Preparation guide Mix chicken and Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Form mixture into small patties (that will fit the size of the tomatoes), dip in egg wash and then roll in bread crumbs. Fry the patties in a pan. Now place half a cheese slice over each patty/cutlet when it is hot. Slather mayo on the bottom half of the bun. Place tomato slices and top with lettuce and chicken patty. Drizzle with mustard and serve.
– Monojit Ghosh is a former gymnast and fitness trainer and gymnastics coach at Art Corner Gymnastics, Bangalore An excellent home-based physical workout activity is push-ups. Push-ups work the triceps, pectoral muscles, lats, and shoulders as well as strengthen the lower back and core muscles – Monojit Ghosh Do it right Hold your body in a high plank position, with your spine and arms straight. When you are pushing up and down, have a good range of motion, bending your elbows to 90 degrees. Point your elbows backwards and not sideways while you bend down. To protect shoulders, avoid flaring your elbows outwards. Correct form and technique are important to avoid injury and lower back or shoulder pain. Keep your back straight throughout the exercise. To avoid arching your back, tilt your pelvis backward. Use your core and glutes to keep your spine steady. You should also look down, instead of up, to maintain a neutral neck position. Make sure your back and neck are aligned at all times. If push-ups are too difficult at first, do them on your knees or against a wall till you become comfortable. Push-up routine Do two sets of push-ups two-three times per week. Women should aim for four-eight reps per set, while men should aim for 10-15 push-ups per set. Just two-three sessions over a few weeks will show excellent results. Here are a few common types of push-ups. Regular Done right, the basic push-up can help you get steady with good form, and allow you to increase repetitions. Declined Keep your legs on a sofa or any steady surface and take the push-up position. Inclined Keep your hands on a raised, hard surface like a bench and legs on the floor. This is easier than the regular push-up. Beginners can start with inclined push-ups. Diamond Touch your thumb and index fingers to make a diamond or triangular shape. This is rather difficult at first but your strength will slowly improve. If you can’t go all the way down at first, just go half-way. Wide arm Place your hands wider than your shoulder width, and bend down. These are relatively easy. Mountain Keep your legs farther apart than your shoulders. Touch the floor, and bring your head to a position between your arms. Make a mountain position and do push-ups. Archery Place your hands wide and as you go down, lean towards one elbow. Then come up again and lean towards the other elbow. This is tough initially, but with practice, you can ace it. Explosive As you push up, take your hands off the floor and land slowly. Use a soft surface at first. Push-up claps After you push-up, do a full clap, loud enough to be heard. When you can do this, you can try explosive push-ups with claps.
Oil and gas companies, national governments and environment organisations are engaging the services of marine biologists to study aquatic plant and animal life – Paromita Sengupta With rising global awareness about the importance of preserving and protecting marine flora and fauna and its direct impact on sustainable life on Planet Earth, the study of oceans and water bodies, and underwater life or marine biology has emerged as a highly-specialised vocation. Pharmaceutical, oil and gas companies, national governments and environment research and conservation organisations are increasingly engaging the services of marine biologists to study aquatic plant and animal life ranging from the microscopic pico plankton to the majestic blue whale, and suggest ways and means to protect the fragile oceanic ecosystem without adversely affecting commercial shipping, oil and gas drilling, recreational cruises and the plastics, chemicals, among other industries. Marine biology covers all facets — evolution, physiology, and biochemistry — of marine organisms and their environments, and much of the work of marine biologists is done in research labs. Typically, this involves building species inventories, testing and monitoring marine life exposed to pollutants, collecting and testing ocean bed and water samples, preserving specimens and mapping the distribution, multiplicity and migratory movements of marine populations. Given that marine biologists spend most of their time outdoors or in the water collecting samples, affinity for science-based field work, love of ocean, wading, snorkeling, scuba diving, ability to rough it out on sea and land and an analytical mind are desirable aptitudes for success in this 21st century profession. Study Programmes Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in botany/biochemistry/biotechnology/fisheries and aquaculture/microbiology/zoology are eligible to apply for postgraduate degree programmes in marine biology offered by Pondicherry University, Port Blair campus; University of Goa, Centre for Advanced Study in Marine Biology; Annamalai University, Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry; University of Cochin, and the department of postgraduate studies, Karnatak University. Among the reputed foreign universities offering marine biology programmes are Carolina, North Carolina, Miami and Hawaii universities (USA); the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences, Charles Darwin and Queensland universities in Australia; Cambridge University, Scottish Association of Marine Sciences (UK); University of Ghent, Belgium; Stockholm University; University of Bremen (Germany) and the Finnish Institute of Marine Biology, Helsinki. Pay & Perks In academia, a research assistant with a Masters in marine biology or a Ph D student (junior research fellow) can expect Rs.25,000-30,000 per month, while a post-doctoral fellow is likely to draw Rs.40,000-50,000. On the other hand, marine conservation and oil and gas exploration companies offer start-up pay packages of Rs.50,000-100,000 per month. Marine biologists can also work in education, research and development, energy or other industries requiring environment clearances, aquariums, zoos, the tourism industry, environment NGOs and in government fisheries and natural resources departments. Professional Profile “For environment-conscious youth inclined towards a seafaring life, this is an exciting career option offering the satisfaction of contributing to the preservation of critically important marine ecosystems. The importance of ecological renewal by conserving the flora and fauna of oceans, seas…
– 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 two children are bored with online school. I believe their full potential is not being realised, as they do limited study, with no sports and co-curricular activities. How can I help them? — Menna Mathur, Delhi These are challenging times for all families especially children. I suggest that you create a list of enjoyable activities by making an ‘Our (Family Name) Ideas Jar’ or ‘Our Great Indoors Jar’. Decorate an unused jar with glitter. Then ask your children to write on slips of paper simple, enjoyable, inexpensive activity ideas. Place these slips into the jar. When the children complain, ‘We’re bored!’ ask them to pick a slip from the Ideas Jar and execute the activity. Some ideas for the jar — learning about volcanoes/mountains/animals, exploring a new hobby such as painting, learning to cook or bake or play a new musical instrument, setting up a family challenge, playing board games, indoor gardening, going for a bike ride, reading a book, climbing a tree, organising a puppet show, walking the dog, etc. My eight-year-old son is shy and reticent. How can I get him out of his shell? — Shyla Tiwari, Mumbai You need to role model confident social behaviour by doing the following: Take the lead in social situations/gatherings by being the first to say “Hello”, introduce yourself and strike up conversations. Make a list of the social interaction skills you want your child to acquire — e.g, talking with other children, teachers or classroom assistants, making phone calls, etc. Make it a point to do all these things yourself. Be friendly. Routinely smile and greet people. Compliment friends/family often. Make an effort to help people without being asked. Role model taking risks and learning from them by making positive comments. For instance: “That wasn’t much fun, but I’m glad I did it and got it out of the way! At least now I don’t have to worry about it.” or, “That didn’t go as well as I thought it would, but at least I know what to do next time.” Take up a new hobby, learn a new skill or join a book club. Arrange play dates and seek out safe places for your son to interact with peers and practice social skills. Help him understand what it takes to make and keep a good friend. Talk about your friends, read books about friendships. Never shame or embarrass your child in social situations. Moreover, understand the nature of your son’s shyness to develop a plan of action designed towards his specific needs. My 14-year old son wants to ride a motorbike. I have explained to him that it is illegal, but many of his friends ride two-wheelers. — Aahana Singh, New Delhi Say ‘No’ as it’s illegal and dangerous. Choose a good time to discuss and explain the issue. Acknowledge his frustration about…
– Dr. Shweta Kumari is a senior periodontist and implantologist in The Dental Office, Bengaluru My 15-year-old son grinds his teeth while sleeping. This is a new phenomenon which my husband and I noticed recently, post the Covid-19 lockdown. To the best of our knowledge, he doesn’t have any major sleeping problems, or feelings of anger and stress. What is the cause and what’s the solution to this problem? — Sreemathi Kirupa, Coimbatore Teeth grinding and jaws clenching is known as bruxism. Occasional bruxism doesn’t cause harm, but if it happens on a regular basis, it can cause wear and tear of tooth enamel, chipped teeth, jaw pain and tooth sensitivity. Stress is a major contributing factor for bruxism, so investigate and address the problem. Sometimes, irregular alignment of teeth or crooked teeth can also be a cause. Usually this problem resolves itself. But if it persists, consult a dentist and discuss the possibility of getting a night guard moulded as per your child’s teeth alignment. My daughter suffers bad breath. She is 13 and is also developing acne. Is there a connection between hormonal changes during adolescence and bad breath? She brushes her teeth twice a day. Please advise if she needs to drink more water and change her diet? — Kavitha G, Bengaluru Bad breath, or halitosis, is triggered by several factors — poor dental hygiene, mouth infections, and dry mouth (especially among those who sleep with the mouth open). Often, food trapped in the mouth causes bad breath. Therefore rinsing the mouth and brushing teeth after every meal is important. Hormonal changes also affect oral health. I recommend that you get an oral prophylaxis done to investigate both intraoral and extraoral causes. Re your query about dietary changes, it would help to include more foods containing fibre and less sticky and sugary food, and increase consumption of water. However if the problem persists even after improving oral hygiene, consult a dentist. My eight-year-old daughter’s milk teeth have not yet fallen out. Should we have them extracted or is this normal? — Jolly James, Cochin By the age of eight, four central incisors fall normally. It happens before the eruption of permanent teeth, but in some children it may happen later than others. Take an x-ray to correctly ascertain the position of the permanent teeth below milk teeth. If there is a problem, your dentist will provide remedial treatment. My children, a nine-year old boy and eleven-year old girl, often choose colourfully packaged toothpastes from supermarket shelves. But I believe these flashily advertised toothpastes may not be the best for dental health. What should we look for when buying toothpaste for children? — Reena Varma, Mumbai Children should use toothpastes which contain fluoride as it prevents cavities. Fluoride, in correct doses, is safe for children. Children above three years should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and should be strongly advised not to swallow toothpaste by mistake (or on purpose.) It’s also important to teach children the correct…
– Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett is an associate professor in early childhood education, Early Start and School of Education, University of Wollongong and Steven Howard is an associate professor, child development, University of Wollongong. (This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license) With governments around the world asking their citizens to avoid places, activities and gatherings to save lives, this just might be the largest ever international effort to self-regulate our actions against competing desires and impulses. To achieve this, we must overcome our desire to enjoy the sun and sand, go shopping or to the pub, and even embrace family and friends. Of course, it’s not so easy for young children, who must forego activities they previously enjoyed and may be confused by contradictions — like being able to see friends at, but not after, school. But there are ways parents can help children learn to regulate their emotions and behaviour, and to practise these skills. Why do kids need to learn to self-regulate? Self-regulation has always played an important role in our lives. It’s what underpins our ability to control our behaviour, emotions and interactions, while at the same time avoiding distractions and enticing alternatives. With lower levels of self-regulation, our decisions and behaviour would more frequently be poorly conceived, unnecessarily risky or inappropriate to the situation — often with undesirable results. Even in the early years of life, the ability to self-regulate is important. Preschool children who have better self-regulation are often better prepared for school and life. They tend to: have higher levels of academic success make fewer risky decisions as adolescents and enjoy better health, wealth and productivity as adults. So, what can we do to support children’s self-regulation, especially during this pandemic, when their capacity for self-control already appears to be under strain? Self-regulation requires at least three things: setting goals, problem-solving and working on motivation, and overcoming distraction and impulses. 1. Selecting goals Self-regulatory behaviour is goals-directed. This means children themselves must decide to behave in a particular way. If a child is unaware of (or forgets) a family tradition of waiting for everyone to be seated before starting to eat, she would be providing proof of poor self-regulation. Yet perhaps this child never decided to pursue that goal in the first place. We need to support children’s thinking and decision-making towards attaining goals, while acknowledging that goals can change and plans may need to be adjusted. Adults can support children to become goal-oriented by giving them opportunities to lead and make decisions, as well as encouraging them to devise simple plans, strategies and procedures to achieve set goals. This may be as simple as asking children to decide what they would like to play (building a cubby house), and plan where they would play (bedroom), with whom (mum, dad, sibling), and what resources they will need (cardboard box, cushions). 2. Problem-solving and motivation Even when a goal has been set, the path to realising it is seldom smooth. Children are…
Discovering new objects can be a delight for toddlers, but nightmarish for parents because of danger of injury. Therefore it’s important to design safe rooms for youngest children – K.P. Malini As your child grows out of infanthood and enters the next development stage, life becomes exciting but challenging for parents. Toddlers will want to explore the world, starting at home. Discovering new objects can be a delight for toddlers, but nightmarish for parents because of danger of injury. Therefore it’s important to child-proof your home and design a safe room for youngest children. Toys Before purchasing toys, check them for non-toxic paint labels and small parts choking warnings. Be especially careful when toys require tiny round batteries. These can cause severe chemical reaction if ingested by children. Purchase toys that encourage imaginative play such as building blocks rather than battery-operated toys. Inspect every pillow and soft toy to ensure that they don’t readily shed fibres. If your child has cold or cough allergies, avoid carpets, blankets and soft toys that shed fibre. Colours If play is main purpose of a toddler’s room, choose pastel shades of yellow, orange or off-white. If the room is often used for sleeping, light blues and greens are soothing and calming. Colourful decals can be added to make the room attractive. Red increases energy levels but can trigger aggression. Safety Hemna Prit, a Chennai-based freelance interior designer, shares some ideas on designing a cheerful and safe toddler’s room: All furniture should be blunt-edged so that the children don’t hurt themselves while playing. Cots also must be blunt-edged. There should be no sharp wooden corners on any furniture. Avoid tables or chairs as youngest children don’t engage in formal learning. But if they must be used, they must also be blunt-edged and low height. Decorate the room with cushions and pillows and roll out mats. Good lighting should be provided. If children sleep in this room night lights must be provided so that they aren’t scared and/or stumble if they walk at night. In playrooms, cotton tents are safe. They cannot be climbed and children won’t suffocate inside them. Toys can be arranged inside tents. Electric switches must never be located below five feet height. If there are any, child safety plugs must be used to cover the sockets. It’s best if a toilet isn’t attached to a toddler’s room. This will rule out accidental injury in toilets . Children can drown in a bucket with even a few inches of water. So if there is a toilet, it should always be bolted.
Introduce children to the enchanting world of art and encourage them to appreciate and value it through these three resources – Mini P. Google Arts & Culture Here’s a great opportunity for children to experience and appreciate India’s miniature painting masterpieces. Google Arts & Culture has partnered with the National Museum, New Delhi to showcase Indian miniature paintings virtually. Google has used cutting-edge technologies such as machine learning, augmented reality and high-definition robotic cameras to enable virtual real-time viewing of these special collections. Download the Google Arts & Culture App on your smartphone and enjoy a virtual walk through the museum, zooming into your favourite artworks. The virtual collection includes 1,200 hi-resolution images from 25 collections around the world and more than 75 stories, depicting scenes that include marriage processions, epic battles, etc. Art Camera, an ultra-hi-resolution robotic camera, was deployed to capture and virtual-stream the masterpieces making it possible for art connoisseurs to appreciate minute details such as wisps of smoke from firecrackers, finesse and variety of a person’s attire. Raza’s Bindu by Ritu Khoda & Vanita Pai, Illustrated by Kundan Shanbhag Publisher: Art1st Publications Price: Rs.400 What did the dot mean to legendary Indian artist S.H. Raza (1922-2016)? How did it change his life? In Raza’s Bindu, the writers demystify the artist’s trademark bindu encouraging children to introspect on its meaning and significance through interesting anecdotes, large visuals and stunning illustrations. Generously interspersed with some of the artist’s iconic artworks, the book also features interactive games and worksheets encouraging children to learn, explore and experiment with Raza’s drawing techniques. Simply and lucidly written, it’s suitable for children above seven years. The Great Artists Pack 1 (Set of 6 books) by Om Books Editorial Team Publisher: Om Books Price: Rs.600 Monet, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Picasso, Van Gogh… this series published in early 2020 introduces children to the lives and works of the world’s most famous and loved artists. Read about how Dutch post-impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) painted almost 900 canvases in less than ten years; how one of his most famous works was painted when he was in an asylum and how he died tragically at the young age of 37. Another interesting biography in this six-pack series is of French artist Oscar-Claude Monet (1840-1926) famous for his series of oil paintings depicting water lilies, gardens, and Japanese footbridges, all of which adorned his home in Giverny. The impressionist painter was best known for his beautiful understanding of the subtleties of colour and shades. Learn about Monet and other artists in this painstakingly produced six-pack series.
In progressive schools and households across the country, teens are being encouraged to find the time, drive and energy to turn their ideas into business plans and real-life businesses. This new tribe of ‘kidpreneurs’ are promoting innovative start-ups and simultaneously learning valuable business and life skills that will enable them to succeed in evolving workplaces of the future – Mini P & Cynthia John The highly contagious Coronavirus aka Covid-19 pandemic — the worst global blight since the Spanish flu pandemic of 1914-18 which claimed an estimated 50 million lives worldwide, including 13.8 million in pre-independence India — has taken a huge toll during the past year since the Coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China last November. An estimated 56 million people have been infected and the virus has caused 1.3 million fatalities worldwide including 132,029 in India which is gradually opening up education institutions, business and industry after the comprehensive national lockdown of March 25. Meanwhile, following the lockdown, the Indian economy is expected to contract by an unprecedented 10.25 percent in fiscal 2020-21. However, even the worst winds and disasters blow some good. Not a few business management gurus believe that the problems and constraints imposed upon industry and business by the national lockdown have stimulated creativity, innovation and new technologies management skills of India Inc. Perhaps even more important, the pandemic has aroused the dormant entrepreneurship skills — suppressed by decades of bureaucratic socialism — of citizens in industry and agriculture. Suddenly, media and particularly television channels have discovered the virtues of free markets. These days television ads are proclaiming the virtues of free enterprise and entrepreneurship. These new winds of liberalisation blowing across the country have prompted the rise of an ever-growing number of unicorn companies (i.e, with $1 billion-plus market capitalisation) promoted by entrepreneurs in their 20s and 30s. Moreover in progressive schools and households across the country, teens are being encouraged to find the time, drive and energy to turn their ideas into business plans and real-life businesses. This new tribe of ‘kidpreneurs’ are promoting innovative start-ups and simultaneously learning valuable business and life skills that will enable them to succeed in evolving marketplaces of the future. A case in point is Bengaluru-based teenager Anish Garg (14), a class IX student of the top-ranked Vidyashilp Academy, Bangalore. In April, Anish and his classmate Haashir Ahmed Shaikh (15) launched their company/website virtudopt.com offering virtual adoption services of household pets during the lockdown. “The prolonged six months-plus Covid-19 pandemic has forced millions of people to work and study from home. I discerned a need for families to adopt online pets and follow their progress on their phones and computers. This idea came to me because my father is in the business of importing and marketing exotic pets such as iguanas, macaws and diamond doves on our farm on the outskirts of Bengaluru. It occurred to me that families would love to adopt pets online without the bother of caring for them personally. Under our programme, families or…
Adolescents who perceive their parents to be loving and supportive are less likely to engage in cyberbullying, according to a new study conducted by NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing (September). The conclusions published in the International Journal of Bullying Prevention, are especially relevant given the shift to online learning necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Citing data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) Health Behavior in School-Aged Children survey, the researchers analysed responses from 12,642 American pre-teens and teens (ages 11-15 years old). The researchers found that adolescents who perceived their parents as loving, are less likely to engage in cyberbullying. “Our findings point to the importance of parents’ emotional support as a factor likely to influence whether teens cyberbully — and more importantly, it is how teens perceive the support they receive from their parents,” says Laura Grunin, a doctoral student at NYU Meyers and the study’s lead author.
Antenatal steroids such as dexamethasone can boost the survival of premature infants when administered to pregnant women in developing countries such as India, say researchers at the World Health Organisation (WHO). Although dexamethasone and similar drugs have long been shown to be effective in saving preterm infants in high-income countries, this is the first time a clinical trial has proven that these drugs are also effective in low-income countries. The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (October) was conducted from December 2017-November 2019, and surveyed 2,852 women and their 3,070 infants in 29 hospitals in Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Beyond finding a significantly lower risk of neonatal death and stillbirth, the study also says there is no increase in maternal bacterial infections when pregnant women are administered dexamethasone in low-resource settings.
Kid influencers on YouTube are racking up billions of page views, marketing junk food and sugary beverages to children, says a new study published in Pediatrics (October). Researchers analysed videos posted by the five most-watched kid influencers aged 3-14 years on YouTube in 2019 and found 179 of the 419 videos studied featured foods and beverage with 90 percent of posts endorsing unhealthy fast/junk food. According to study author Marie Bragg, an assistant professor of public health nutrition with joint appointments at New York University’s School of Global Public Health and Langone Medical Center, YouTube’s most popular under-18 hosts frequently promote such products directly, and children are often receptive to the message. “It’s a perfect storm for encouraging poor nutrition — research shows that people trust influencers because they appear to be ‘everyday people,’ and when you see these kid influencers eating junk foods, it doesn’t necessarily look like advertising. But it is advertising, and numerous studies have shown that children who see food ads consume more calories than children who don’t see them. This is why the National Academy of Medicine and World Health Organisation identify food marketing as a major driver of childhood obesity,” says Bragg.
In an innovative experiment conducted in Finland recently, child daycare workers rolled out a lawn, planted forest undergrowth such as dwarf heather and blueberries, and encouraged children to tend to plants in planter boxes over a one-month period. The results indicated that the children showed vastly improved immunity measured in terms of diversity of microbes in the stomach. According to Marja Roslund, environmental scientist at the University of Helsinki who was involved in the experiment, 3-5-year-olds at the greened-up daycare centres in Finland showed increased T-cells in their blood within 28 days compared with children enroled in urban daycare centres with yards of pavement, tile and gravel. “We also found that the intestinal microbiota of children who received greenery was similar to the intestinal microbiota of children visiting the forest every day,” says Roslund who has published the study results in the journal Science Advances (October).
While we are facing an addiction to all things electronic, there are other serious addictions to which teenagers could succumb. One of them is drugs. Your October cover story touched upon this issue that is wreaking havoc with the lives of young people across the country. Parents believe that their own child is exempt but the fact is that drug addiction can happen to anyone. It is up to parents and teachers to spend time with their students, not just talking about academics but talking about issues like this that can truly destroy an innocent child’s life. We hear about the drugs addiction of many school children. Our children are likely to be exposed to them sooner or later. We need to be vigilant to ensure that our children don’t get ensnared. Parenting is not always easy, and having a magazine like ParentsWorld helps us feel that there are many others who understand our problems. It is always interesting and thought-provoking to read PW. Chandra Das Bengaluru Independent play is an important skill I have homeschooled all my three children and one of the most important aspects of that process was encouraging independent play (PW October). It teaches children how to be creative and imaginative. It shows them that there are possibilities galore. It teaches them that there are innumerable solutions to a single problem. Solo play brings out the individuality in a child. And helps them stay calm and happy in their own company. In a gadget-dependent world, children need to learn to entertain themselves. Malini A Pune Dangers of online school The pandemic has resulted in schools closing and classes going online. I found the article on eyesight and children relevant especially with the number of hours they are spending in front of the mobile phone and the computer (PW October). Our unfortunate children have lost the joys of going to school and playing outdoors. They spend most of their time — especially if they are in higher classes — with their eyes glued to computer or television screens. Working parents should bear in mind that children model their parents. Therefore it is up to us to set examples. If parents spend less time in front of their mobile devices, children will simulate our example. The easiest way to begin is ban mobile phones at meal times and to agree on a time when electronic devices are turned off at night. I believe it’s time to open schools, to protect our children from other dangers caused by excessive access to the Internet. Moreover, I tried out two of your recipes, and since all of us are at home, we enjoyed the experience. Do share more healthy recipes. Poornima L Chennai Nurturing love for books As a child, I remember exchanging books with friends and reading as many as I could, especially during the holidays. Sadly, children today don’t have the same passion for books. As parents, we should help them enjoy reading and take them to libraries. Several…
For three quarters of known economic history, i.e, until 1750 AD, the Indian subcontinent accounted for one third or 33 percent of global GDP because of its free markets and private enterprise-driven economy. The subcontinent’s manufacturers, traders and businessmen freely established business enterprises and marketed their goods across the country and around the world. This centuries-old Indian tradition of free enterprise was weakened by the British who ruled India for nearly 200 years. They suppressed indigenous industry and trade under preferential imperial tariff rules and regulations. Nevertheless, a substantial number of private industry leaders persevered to promote large industries and corporates that funded India’s freedom movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. These post-World War II leaders of industry were poised to lead post-independence India into a new era of economic revival and prosperity. But a sharp left turn into socialism scotched India’s ancient tradition of free markets and private enterprise transforming high-potential post-independence India into one of the world’s poorest and most under-educated nations. Almost half a century after independence, the country’s political leaders acknowledged the cardinal error of free India’s disastrous “dalliance with socialism”. In 1991, the late prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao’s government at the Centre decreed the historic liberalisation and deregulation of the Indian economy. As a result the annual GDP rate of growth doubled and 400 million citizens were lifted out of extreme poverty. Since then in the new millennium a host of privately promoted start-up enterprises — especially in the hi-tech IT, ITES (IT-enabled services), pharma and biotech industries — have captured the imagination of India’s large 300 million-strong middle class. In this issue of ParentsWorld, we highlight how despite — or perhaps because of — the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy and employment, a growing number of parents and educators are becoming aware of the importance of nurturing entrepreneurship skills within the next generation to prepare children for the looming uncertain future. As our experts interviewed for this feature explain, entrepreneurship skills such as creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, leadership, communication, resilience and ability to adapt to change are critical for success in 21st century workplaces. Our path-breaking cover story provides parents a roadmap to nurture entrepreneurship capabilities within adolescent children. Also, check out our Early Childhood stories on designing safe and cheerful toddlers’ rooms and managing children’s emotions and behaviour during the pandemic. Moreover, our highly-qualified columnists, the UK-based parenting expert Sue Atkins and well-known periodontist Dr. Shweta Kumari answer parents’ queries ranging from ways and means to manage children’s online learning during the lockdown to inculcating good dental hygiene practices
