One evening, my little one and I went to a vibrant and colourful mela (fair) in our locality that had captivating rides, exhilarating activities, and delightful swings for children. As we were roaming about in the fair enjoying our ice creams, someone came up to us from behind and gently tapped my hand. I turned around to see a small girl sobbing and continuously wiping away tears with her tiny hands. Overwhelmed by concern, I knelt down to the girl’s eye level, comforted her, and gently patted her. When I noticed a glimmer of hope twinkle in her eyes, I inquired about the reason behind her tears in a compassionate voice, not before asking why was she by herself, unescorted by any adults.
She radiated a remarkable skill she possessed.
Taking a deep breath, she began narrating the situation in a step-by-step, precise manner about how she got separated from her parents in the fair. She first introduced herself to me, starting with her name. She spelled out her first name, A-D-I-T-I, and then told me she was 7 years old. Later, she went on to explain her situation nicely.
She told me that as she wandered through the fair with her parents, she became captivated by a colourful carousel spinning in mesmerizing circles. Unable to resist the temptation, she hopped aboard one of the gleaming horses. Lost in her own world of joy, she had failed to tell her parents that she was going on the ride. Her parents had gone forward thinking that she was close behind them, as this was the norm and they didn’t normally hold hands.
When the carousel ride ended she realized she was alone. Panic washed over her, and she started crying.
After hearing her story, we took Aditi to the fair’s concierge. The host reassured her and informed her that her parents would soon be reunited with her. He asked her some personal details, such as her name, her father’s and mother’s names, and contact numbers if she knew of anyone. My little one and I watched as she confidently shared all the asked-for details.
The host was also impressed by Aditi’s confidence, and he immediately made an announcement about the lost child. He contacted the provided numbers so that her parents could reach her as soon as possible. Thanks to the personal details Aditi had memorized, she was quickly reunited with her parents.
To Aditi it felt like an eternity, but in reality, it was only a short while before her parents arrived at the concierge’s desk. Their concerned faces reflected relief as Aditi’s eyes welled up with tears of joy. She ran into her parents’ warm embrace. They were immensely proud of their little girl, and their diligent efforts in teaching her to memorize personal details- such as the spelling of her name, their names, grandparents’ names, complete address along with the PIN* code, nearest police station, post office, and their contact number- had proven to be a lifeline in this moment of distress.
From that day onwards, Aditi’s experience became a powerful anecdote in my life, emphasizing to children and parents alike the importance of memorizing personal details.
Here are some parting words for parents:
Dear parents, I urge you to instill in your children this valuable life skill. The Power of Memorizing Personal Details can prove to be empowering in moments of urgency or emergency. Having these details memorized could be the key to a child’s safety and well-being. Children can also be enlightened about the first steps to take when they get separated from their parents or get lost in a fair or find themselves stranded in unknown places.
Aditi’s experience at the fair teaches everyone a vital lesson: sometimes, the most valuable skills are not the ones measured by academic success but rather the ones that empower children to navigate the world safely.
For your children aged 3 years and above, start emphasizing the importance of memorizing personal details such as spelling of their names, father’s name, mother’s name, grandparents’ names (optional), complete address along with the PIN code, nearest police station, post office, contact number of parents and caregivers (optional), and nationality.
Holidays are an amazing period – to relax and to get refreshed. We all need breaks from our busy schedules and routines, and so do our children.
After a long and tedious routine of school and exams, children’s excitement and curiosity have already set in for the holidays which are waiting just around the corner. However, sometimes managing children’s free time becomes quite challenging and tough. To think of ways to keep children creatively engaged and active during their holidays to avoid boredom and them wasting time is quite an uphill task for many parents.
But, let me tell you this, getting bored is a good thing for children, and we must allow them the boredom space from time to time. Children not only learn how to manage their free time proactively by exploring ways to handle boredom in an efficient way, but they also develop independence and ownership of their own happiness and well-being.
Let us face it; whether one is an adult or a child, we all have been confronted with boredom at some point of time in our lives. We have almost always looked for ways to tackle it proactively and efficiently and the best part is – that we’ve mostly responded by doing something we genuinely enjoy doing e.g., invested ourselves in learning new things, returning to our favourite hobbies, or enhancing one’s creative skills. This helps in channelizing our energy and time productively.
For young children, urge them to listen to the audio story, “Jason Helps Out“. Children are sure to empathize with Jason and come to understand that they are not alone and will be able to learn how to utilize one’s own free time in doing something new, creative and useful. This story will help them take charge of their free time and respond to boredom with excitement.
One of the best practices that I know of is- to sit with our children and chart out their activities every morning and share the length of time they’re expected to engage with each activity on the list. This will assure them that they’re not on their own and will help them stay on activities/tasks more enthusiastically and happily, looking forward to each day with eager eyes. How to structure one’s own time is also important for them to learn so that they can eventually do it independently.
Returning to the topic, consider these top 12 activities to engage kids and keep their young minds creatively occupied and active during holidays.
Here goes…
Play games
Fresh air and exercise are essential for children during holidays to be physically fit and healthy, else laziness will make its way in. Encourage them to go out and stretch. Pick their favourite outdoor activity- cycling, skating, swimming, basketball or simply play hide and seek with friends. Visiting nearby parks and having fun with equipment like slides, see-saw, merry-go-round, swings and kids’ gym are other good options.
Similarly, indoor games are fun and exciting to keep them mentally active. Go for playing board games with your children, remind them to solve jigsaw puzzles, or play Name-Place-Animal with siblings or friends by picking random letters of the alphabet.
Some classic childhood games that teach important life skills can be found here.
Aim for ‘Recreational Reading’ time to inspire the love of reading.
Inculcate the habit of readingand help them make books their life-long friends!
Reading helps them grow mentally, psychologically and emotionally. It improves concentration and imagination power, enhances creativity, and improves language and vocabulary skills. Visit nearby libraries; read aloud book/s of their choice before bedtime –short picture books, graphic novels and comics or even academic books. Remember, every book is worth reading!
Take a Walk in Nature
Move outdoors and immerse in the beauty of Mother Nature. Nature trips relax the minds and promote observation skills in children.
Choose a garden, riverside or explore the neighbourhood. Accompany your children in the mornings when it is peaceful and quiet all around. Feel the crisp air, walk on the green grass, hug tall trees and observe flowers blooming in the warmth of sunrise. Listen to birds’ melodious songs, and watch for bugs, animals, and flies.
The first thing that I like to do whenever we go out to any new place is, ask my child to list down (orally) 5 or 10 things he saw, heard and noticed around. With this approach, I have seen a child usually zooms in and becomes mindful of the surroundings he/she is in to appreciate the environment a little more. Try this with your little ones too and let me know if it was a helpful tip or not!
Alternatively, plan some evenings with your children to witness a scenic sunset and stargazing in the night sky to have a memorable experience of the natural world.
Gardening
Gardening is a fun way for children to be innovative and to stay close to nature. Children like digging in the dirt and are happy to mess around in the mud and get all dirty!
Planting is an easy activity – and all you got to do is collect some seedlings, find a small patch of soil in the garden or arrange planters. Next, assist your children in planting some veggies or flowers; encourage them to water those plants every day and to notice how they grow. This activity teaches a part of Science- Plant growth and Photosynthesis.
Also, watering daily develops a sense of responsibility among children, and eating what they are growing gives them immense happiness and satisfaction.
So, keep time for gardening during the holidays. If you want to foster gardening as a lifelong therapeutic me-time with nature, then keep a window for it in your child’s daily planner!
Sort out old toys andorganize the room
The bedroom plays a significant role for a child. It is that favourite and precious space in the whole house, where they dedicate maximum hours of a day. During holidays, if the family outing is not on the list, this part of the house becomes all the more important for children.
So, during vacation, encouraging them to sort old toys and donate what is no longer in use can help promote empathy, creativity and enthusiasm in them. Dusting off the photo frames and bookshelves; moving a table, a couch or a bed; rearranging the wardrobe can help block out distractions. Children feel more joyful and self-regulated when their room has a calm and pleasant ambience.
Be a Chef and Don the Chef’s Hat
There is something in cooking for all. And children too can try their skills as Chefs. Cooking in the kitchen with adult supervision will teach them the importance of hygiene and nutrition.
Begin with some easy stuff like fruit salad, milkshake, smoothie, fruit juices, making popsicles, cracking an egg or making sandwiches. This activity will boost their confidence once their dish is ready and enjoyed by all.
Dear Parents, keep calm and maintain patience as kitchen mess happens for sure. But children can be enrolled in clearing the clutter too!
Learn New Skills
Vacations are great opportunities for children to learn new things. Investing this time in learning something new, one that interests and inspires them- like playing an instrument, some form of dance, fine arts, learning a new language or creative writing- can help in tapping their talent and assist them in becoming more innovative and skilled. Access YouTube channels, ‘how-to’ resources and other available online resources without investing more money.
Go Crafty
One of the excellent ways to spend time during the holidays is doing arts and crafts. It goes well for all ages. Get those drawing sheets, paints, crayons, and sketch pens and turn on your child’s creativity and imagination in the artwork; get engaged with them. Those interested can indulge in jewellery making art using beads, wire and clasps. It gives a proud feeling to wear a piece created by oneself. Other forms of crafting include knitting, nail art, embroidery, papercraft and rock painting. Go Crafty!
Water play
Water play offers an excellent sensory experience to children and adults alike. It also enhances gross motor skills and sensory exploration. Washing the family car or any vehicle, upcycling a plastic bottle and using it as a sprinkler, playing with water balloons and water guns, going out fishing, and swimming are a few water play therapeutic activities that offer lots of learning opportunities. Inflatable bathtubs are an excellent option to enjoy a calm bath at home or in the backyard.
Water activities are always energetic and entertaining. And it is an excellent way to have fun and stay cool! But avoid wasting water and encourage children to use it consciously!
Create Vacation Journal and make memories
Children can engage themselves in writing their thoughts, ideas and experiences.
Ask your children to prepare a fancy scrapbook or Daily Journal and design it attractively using colourful stationery, stamps, smileys etc.
Help them express what they want to be, do, and have by making self-portraits. They can add or draw photos of special moments and write notes on them. Let this journal be a lovely memory for the future. Indulging children in such activities develops innovative skills, improves writing skills and brings out the hidden talent too.
Listen to Audio stories
A well-paced narration and a comforting audio story with a moral message empower the young and impressionable minds in many ways. Make the most out of the opportunities with the audio stories available online during vacation.
If you are wondering where you can encourage your children to listen to empowering yet entertaining audio stories. Well, well, audio stories curated with care, especially for little ones at ‘Storyland’ by ‘She Narrates’ are our recommendation! These are for free! So, make the best use of time with your little ones at ‘Storyland’.
Spend time with Family
The greatest pleasure of all is spending time with family. Collect those priceless moments and not the things. Go for picnics, camping and road trips. If not far, then opt for some close-by beach or garden. Visit a Zoo or Museum and explore the world.
Visit grandparents and other families and share stories over meals. Invite all cousins and aunts to your house and have a bash night. It is thrilling!
Plan a day for shopping. Watch movies together. If nothing, be at home and have a debating chat over snack time.
And finally!!
With these activities, I trust you’ll be able to chart along a daily schedule during children’s holidays efficiently and keep them engaged with fun-filled activities and add sparkles of joy, learning and entertainment. Capture and cherish the special moments. Activities mentioned above will surely bring contentment; feelings of time well-spent, making children also feel more revived to concentrate better when schools reopen.
Have you noticed that all babies and toddlers have a natural instinct to do things on their own? This cue is the beginning of independence, and as parents, it is important we encourage and nurture this instinct.
Giving our little ones the gift of independence tells them that we value them as individuals and they grow up developing a strong sense of self-belief. This not only helps children in their optimal growth and development but also helps them build confidence and competence, thereby fostering their inquisitive and creative mindset.
Fostering a sense of security is the first step before promoting independence. Having a sense of security helps children know that they always have a safe place where they can return to fearlessly, without being judged. And when a child has developed this sense of security, we can then encourage them to explore the world beyond. This allows them to know themselves better, understand their capabilities, and develop a sense of competence, security, and healthy independence.
Independence, when nurtured from an early age, allows them to make decisions, take responsibilities and solve problems on their own. The self-confidence coming from an independent mindset further boosts an understanding of societal values and norms and moulds them into kind and empathetic human beings.
There are many ways in which we can help our child to learn to be independent. Let’s talk about a few of them.
Give children space to explore
We can only nurture a child’s inherent curiosity by giving them space to explore, and make mistakes. Experience is the best teacher. Let the children make mistakes and learn from them, and find out ways to not make the same mistakes again.
Ask them open-ended, thought provoking and reflective questions pertinent to situation/s as means of support to help children handle affairs in a better or more efficient way. Let them think and answer.
As a parent, finding the middle grounds is important so that if the child ends up in a strenuous situation, they are aware of the ways to face it and come out of it. Try to keep the surrounding secure, but not over-protective.
Offer choices to children
Give your child the freedom of choices, and add ceiling guidelines. For example, what s/he wants to have for lunch can be a choice, but that it will not be changed once the food of choice is prepared acts as a cap. This way, it helps in fostering the sense of responsibility in children and gives them the freedom of choices. It also helps a child honor boundaries.
Such choices make children think logically and shape their personality traits. This further helps children to hone their independent mindsets and become independent players. Offering choices help develop a healthy sense of independence in children. And being able to make good choices is a skill that children can carry into adulthood and use for the rest of their lives.
Here’s the thing to note, offer choices and options only when the child will truly be allowed to follow their choices.
Involve children in household work and develop the sense of responsibility
Doing household work helps children learn essential relationship skills, feel good, competent and responsible while contributing to family life. Praising a child’s performance and efforts boosts their confidence in doing the given work. Age-appropriate household work can motivate a child to do things on their own. Young children can sort toys after playing, help in dusting, fold their clothes, and water the plants. Older children can help set the table, clean, cook, manage kitchen inventory and more.
You may also encourage your child to handle a particular situation. Give him or her some money and let them make a choice of what to spend them on. Allow them to take care of their siblings or pet/s at home.
Such activities will boost the self confidence in children. It’ll give them a feeling that what they’re doing is important and they are contributing to the family’s well-being.
Participation in household work/chores helps children live independently if parents are away from home for a while. They will be able to take care of themselves and the house without much problems.
Doing household work is a good way in honing healthy independence among children.
Engage them in outdoor activities
“No playtime outside can make Jack a dull boy.”
Encouraging children to regularly engage in outdoor activities and unstructured playtime outside of the house gives children opportunities to imagine, create, develop positive self-esteem, try out new activities, take risks independently. This further nurtures their curiosity and motivates them to learn good social skills.
Children find a number of opportunities to learn and grow independently when they engage in outdoor activities on their own. The ceiling of the house offers limited opportunities to learn, but outside, children can actually find their interests, hobbies and more.
Also, sending children out to play, on their own gives them a chance to take care of themselves, have fun and make mistakes when no one is watching. This helps them think independently, do things well on their own and achieve even more.
Make sure that road and pedestrian safety rules have been imparted. Staying safe from and around outdoor hazards is equally important and the children should be taught about it.
Build an open and comfortable communication space
We always say parents are the child’s first friends. So isn’t it important to keep the ‘fear’ of being honest out of the equation? By teaching them to be honest but not letting them be one, we aren’t helping them. Appreciate them for their honesty, hear them out attentively and, of course, for unavoidable behaviours and severe mistakes; discipline them accordingly.
How we communicate with our children and respond to their concerns today has a direct impact on shaping up their future behaviours and relationships with us and others.
If the child shares something and parents start judging or yelling, they feel worse and start perceiving their parents as moral police.
Therefore, it’s important for parents to BE that FIRST friend to a child so that the child finds a safe harbor in their parents and knows they can exchange their thoughts/concerns/situations openly and comfortably. This way, the parents also get to know and understand what goes on with their child and will be able to help them feel comfortable and confident to communicate anything and everything under the sun without any fear.
We all know good communication is a two-way process, and good communication with children involves listening and speaking in a way that makes them feel important and valued. Affirmative dialogue can instill just the confidence your child needs in dealing with real-time situations independently.
What’s Next?
“Treat a child as though he is already the person he’s capable of becoming”- Haim Ginott
Aren’t our children the most beautiful, most capable? Then why hold them back? A little gift of independence, not looking down upon what they want to do and a little reassurance can go a long way! Don’t worry about them, be with them!
Healthy independence plays a huge role in the optimal growth and development of any child. Thus, it is important to provide such learning space from the very beginning, to boost their confidence and help foster independence from early on.
Compared to the usual fast-paced, the slower and relaxed way of life during the lockdown made almost everyone appreciate nature, and the fact that it was blooming in all its glory was on everyone’s lips! Almost everyone remarked on the chirping birds and other nature sounds. People observed flora and fauna more closely, and it was no different for us either. We, too, would wake up to slow mornings and enjoy the nature sounds in our sanctuary – our little green garden, for an hour or so. We would watch the birds chirping and singing around, observe butterflies flittering and fluttering from flower to flower, notice the busy ants marching back and forth carrying food, hear the bees and insects buzzing and droning here and there! And ‘Chocolate’, our neighbour’s dog, would never miss wagging its tail seeing my little one!
Well, so many things happen in nature and in my little one’s wandering mind around animals, insects and birds! Most of what goes unnoticed by me are always brought to my attention by my little one! We are kind of instinctive partners for each other to grow and learn, you can say.
It is during this time that I got thinking if I am doing enough to teach my little one about nature, its resources, its importance for our well-being, to our existence, economy, and society at large. Are we conscious and active enough about our participation in nature and wildlife conservation?
Though wildlife primarily exists in the forests or outside the city limits but if we look closely, the creatures and animals sharing the world with us can be found just under our feet or up above us in the sky. In the garden, there are birds looking for water in the summers, squirrels hoarding nuts for winters in the backyard, frogs croaking in the pond during the rainy season and dog/s crossing the road during heavy traffic. ‘Saving one animal won’t change the world, but surely for that one animal, the world will change forever’. Survival of even one rescued animal or creature would send a ripple through the ecosystem. I AM SURE OF IT.
Ahh! Feeling grounded to the bountiful nature and Mother Earth!
Without further ado, let me share with you some fun ways and activities that I like to follow to help my little one actively participate and learn about nature and wildlife conservation. Trusting that if not all, at least some from this list would definitely bring you and your children closer to nature and we can all participate in our small little ways to help build and maintain the ecosystem.
Here goes:
Explore parks and go for nature hikes
Take your little ones out on nature hikes and let them explore wildlife sanctuaries. They will appreciate what they see from their point of view. You could have a Q&A related to nature and wildlife. The Wild Wisdom Quiz book series can be your great partner if you like to travel with books.
The first thing that I like to do whenever we go out to any new place is, ask my child to list down (orally) 5 or 10 things he saw, heard or noticed around. With this approach, I have seen a child usually zooms in and become mindfully present to the surroundings he/she is in and appreciates the environment a little more. Try this with your little ones too and let me know if it was a helpful tip or not! As a multitasker, I also follow this exercise myself to become consciously aware of what I’m doing, the purpose of work at hand, how I’m contributing, etc.
We can shape compassionate and responsible future citizens by creating awareness about nature. Associating kids with the natural world can help preserve our natural environment and even enhance it. It will help them gain a deeper appreciation of life and lead them to respect our planet.
Watch documentaries/shows related to the topic
A nature documentary, show, or movie can be an excellent educational experience for children. This can be very beneficial in inculcating awareness about nature and furthering conservation efforts. It is one of the simplest and quickest ways to foster nature and wildlife conservation learning.
Feed birds
The benefits of having interaction and discussions with our children about nature and animals are immense. It helps children develop empathy for other living creatures. Along with taking care of the environment, children also learn to take care of plants and animals.
Include little details like the types of birds you see and the types of food they eat in your interaction with them. For example, some eat insects, bugs, and worms, while others prefer seeds and fruits.
In addition to having fun, they will identify bird species and understand the concept of co-existence.
We can also engage in a simple activity of feeding birds and keeping water for them (especially in the summers) and encourage them to start doing so independently.
Practice Tree therapy and Plant a Tree
Educating the next generation on the importance of trees is another step in protecting the environment.
Consider creative ways to share your thoughts on trees; perhaps walking amongst the trees is the easiest. Allow them to climb trees. Let your children take photos of as many different trees as they can find. Pause and check if there are any peacocks or birds or squirrels in them.
A trip to Nainital (Uttrakhand, India) is what we prefer during the long weekends, especially in July.
And don’t miss out on the golden opportunity of participating in tree plantation drives with your little ones if one is happening in your locality or society!
Promote nature photography by encouraging it
Ask your young ones what they’d prefer to photograph? Encourage them to capture images of insects and bugs and see how excited they get. This will help them appreciate nature and the diversity of life it sustains.
By teaching our children to photograph the outdoors from an early age, we not only allow them to make good use of their free time but also help them experience a whole new world. As a result of all this, children who pursue nature photography as a hobby are more likely to be creative, confident, and socially aware adults.
I want to add that hobby is always a personal choice; never impose a particular one on a child, but help them find one that they would like to follow.
Book Reading
We live on a planet that is home to incredible and diverse animals. Yet, many of them are on the brink of extinction. They are either being forced out of their homes, or their lives are in danger because they cannot find food and water for survival.
These books contain valuable information for beginners, including helpful recommendations and the experiences of many trying to help safeguard nature and its wildlife. You will also find lots of fun activities and DIY projects to try at home in these books!
One of my favourites is ‘Wild Symphony‘ by Dan Brown- the debut picture book of Dan Brown- it has mindful, mysterious, musically entertaining content. Read the book aloud keeping a prop in your hand and enjoy life-lessons that every wildlife animal has got for our children and us.
Help them grow their flowers and vegetables
Children have a lot of fun when they garden, and it can be beneficial to them in many ways. For instance, they will learn new skills and understand the process of growing their food.
Moreover, gardens attract various kinds of butterflies, ladybugs, and other fascinating insects. You can start by giving them their own garden space (if possible!) Make sure it is a safe place with age-appropriate gardening tools.
You can even visit nurseries and gardens for ideas. Introduce composting, recycling and gardening techniques to teach children about sustainability.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Various people are working to preserve nature in different ways. Waste creation has risen significantly as a result of the increase in the population, making recycling more crucial than ever. It eases some of the pressure on limited natural resources.
Ensure that your children always throw items in the appropriate bins. Create different types of crafts by using recyclable materials such as cartons, newspapers, cardboard boxes, etc.
You might also like to create flashcards that contain images of recyclable and non-recyclable items.
In my opinion, children need to be taught the importance of recycling from an early age to shape the young minds early on and make the world a better place.
Let them adopt a pet
Pets can instill compassion and respect for nature and its surroundings in children. In addition to teaching children responsibility, it also gives them a sense of nurturing. Caring for their pets also helps them build empathy towards all living beings.
Allow them to care for them. Additionally, it may provide them with an insight into the natural cycles occurring around them. My little one will be a pet parent soon. Wait for our announcement!!!
And finally,
Educating children need not be boring at all. We must introduce them to nature at an early age. We got to let children experience everything they do as part of the learning process, and the best way to achieve this is to incorporate fun activities into these teaching moments.
Happy Parenting! May you always feel the healing and restorative power of nature!
Noticed how the title made you make a beeline towards this article!
You owe this attraction to the growing claims about ‘immunity-boosting food’, ‘superfoods’ and the like.
Living in the time we do, it is understandable to be worried about your family’s well-being, even more so if you’re the parent to a young one.
But with all the stirring buzz about superfoods, you find yourself in a conundrum: to believe, or not to believe…
To deliver you from your (known or unknown) confusions, here is a shocking (for some) revelation about your favourite superfoods and what you can do instead of fuelling their reign:
How super is a superfood?
The term superfood is no novelty for any of us. But did you know that it is a relatively recent phenomenon?
The term was coined in the early 1900s as a marketing gimmick to push the sales of bananas, the world’s first ‘superfood’. Trade groups funded research to back a major import of bananas.
Many researchers and experts since have said that no such thing as a superfood exists. Putting all your faith (and money) in buying a certain food item as an end-all remedy is against science and, pardon the pertinence, beyond common sense.
Facts or Fiction?
Likewise, many food myths have cropped up since to boost sales of various food products. Such a deluge of misinformation is enough to make one doubt the claims on food labels and those made by trade-group funded research.
Let’s uncover some such myths and see what’s factual and what’s fictitious in the wide world of nutrition and immunity (which is a buzzword of its own in these times of health-ambiguity):
Claim 1- The more immune-boosting foods you consume, the healthier your immune system gets, and the better equipped it is to keep away diseases.
FICTION- Let’s begin by reiterating the age-old saying: too much of anything is harmful. And nothing rings true to this ancient piece of wisdom.
It is a less-known fact that an overactive immune system (yes it’s possible to have one) is linked to diseases like lupus, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. It also causes the flaring up of allergic reactions.
Having a hyperactive immune system leads to its reacting against run-of-the-mill substances in and around your body.
ADVICE- Having a hyperactive immune system as you’ve seen, isn’t ideal. What’s required is an optimal immune system which does its job just enough to keep infections and pathogens at bay.
It does not mean that you will not fall sick. A healthy immune system means having fevers and a runny nose at times, which is necessary to expel irritants from your nose and to kill germs that invade your body by raising its core temperature.
Claim 2: Taking supplements of immunity-boosting nutrients is healthier (or) supplements are mandatory to fulfil your daily nutritional requirements
FICTION- It has become a general belief that supplements are indispensable to have good health and to fulfil daily nutritional requirements. But this is a myth too.
ADVICE- A balanced diet provides the right nutrients in the right amount. Supplements are only required by those who follow vegetarian or vegan diets, or by persons suffering from nutrient deficiencies caused by a lack of particular nutrients in their diet.
Taking supplements is not necessary if you have good food habits. They can often do more harm than good if taken without prescriptions.
Moreover, taking too much of a nutrient or vitamin can also be problematic. Once again, practise moderation and do not DIY in matters as such.
Claim 3: Exotic foods claimed to be superfoods are better than local fruits and seasonal vegetables as they are more nutrient-dense
FICTION- Yes folks, it’s true this also a false fact shoved down our throats to boost sales of certain imported (and expensive) food items. It is not necessary that you consume chia seeds or cranberries because they have a higher concentration of a certain nutrient you want.
ADVICE- Locally grown fruits and veg, preferably seasonal are more beneficial for the body than any imported or exotic food. This is because the food sourced from local regions has adapted to its current form after thousands of years of evolving in the region. It provides a better combination of nutrients than exotic food, depending on the season.
Moreover, it provides a boost to the local economy and is not pricey, owing to the lack of import duty. So, instead of a cherry, eat an Indian gooseberry (or amla) when you need a boost of Vitamin C next time.
Claim 4: Instead of having a range of healthy food, one can have a few nutrient-dense foods instead
FICTION- This is what marketers and superfood PR strategists want you to believe. The truth remains that nothing is better than having a balanced diet, and eating a selective diet can lead your body to over-consumption of particular nutrients, which is counter-productive.
ADVICE- Your body requires an array of nutrients and ideally from varied sources. Not eating a balanced diet is an invitation to infections and diseases as every nutrient has its role in maintaining bodily functions going smooth and co-ordinated.
So, the takeaway here is that you need a balanced diet, lest your bodily functions get impaired, and you become prone to diseases.
Claim 5- Certain foods act as medicine
FICTION- The fact still remains. Every nutrient present in food plays a role in maintaining a body-function. No particular food item or nutrient can ‘cure’ your ailment.
ADVICE- The easiest way to say this has been already covered: a balanced diet. Eat a varied diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and you can prevent diseases. The cure? Well, what’re the medical experts for?
EASY KID-FRIENDLY RECIPE OPTIONS FOR WINTER FESTIVITIES
As a bonus, we are offering you a few recipes for your kids and you.
They’re easy enough and made of winter-friendly ingredients.
1. Nuts and seeds Laddoos
SERVING SUGGESTION- Ditch your store-bought, sugar-loaded laddoos for Nuts and seeds ladoos this Diwali.
Made with pumpkin seeds, watermelon seeds and flax seeds and nuts like almonds, cashew and walnuts, it provides Omega-3 fats, minerals like magnesium and phosphorus and small amounts of protein.
Additionally, using jaggery and/or honey as a sweetener instead of sugar leads to a guilt-free gorge session!
2. Chatpata Bhel with Berries
SERVING SUGGESTION- Instead of namkeen, you can make bhel at home and add the goodness of berries (increasing the daily fruit intake of your family. Well, aren’t you the sneak!)
Just like an ordinary homemade bhel, you can add sprouted pulses and beans, sprouted or fermented millets and berries with a dash of lime juice on the top. Don’t forget to add berries like pomegranate seeds to give the sweet kick!
This makes for a healthier alternative to fried food, keeping you and your kids away from trans fats and polyunsaturated fats. Also, it is wonderfully easy to make and not to mention, delicious!
3. Leafy Vegetables
SERVING SUGGESTION- For dinner, you can easily whip up some Palak Paneer, or a Punjabi classic, Sarso da Saag. You can also make kale crisps in the microwave or incorporate them in fried rice. If not, you can make a Palak-ki-daal and serve it with buttery naans.
After all, winter is the time for indulgence too!
Remember to practise moderation and try not to turn your Diwali and Christmas celebrations into a fest of your nutrition anxieties. It is okay to binge on delicacies sometimes if you strike a balance.
You and your kids deserve a healthy life and its reinforcement begins at home. Inculcating these habits goes a long way in your child’s life, and although they make faces when you make them eat their veggies, you know they’ll thank you one day!
Don’t forget to fact-check marketing claims on your next grocery run. Be a responsible consumer, a mindful parent, and a happy person! Happy Celebrations!
As a parting gift, here is a reading list you might want to go through:
The creation of a child from a single cell is magical, and so is the development of the complex human brain. But what aids the development of the human brain is rather a series of simple activities.
The brain controls and facilitates the functioning of the entire body stimuli. So the development of our brain can be seen as a coding process whereby our brain learns various skills over time. One set of such skills is termed as ‘Fine Motor Skills’. Fine motor skills involve fine coordination between small muscles in our hands, wrists, fingers, feet, and toes to act in accordance with what we see. ‘Hand-eye coordination’ is a type of fine motor skills.
Following are the six integral aspects of Fine Motor Skills:
● Agility ● Balance ● Coordination ● Power ● Reaction Time ● Speed
As we have highlighted above, the development of children’s fine motor skills can be boosted by some simple activities which are all about a fun learning experience. So the next time your child is tempted towards screen-time, try involving them in some of these fun activities instead!
Activity 1 – The Pulse Puzzle
The activity might sound like a tongue-twister, but it can be a great pastime activity, that involves absolutely no cost. Pick two distinct coloured pulses, say, the split Bengal gram and green gram, and add in beans like red kidney beans or the white-eyed peas. Mix them together in a bowl and your activity is ready. Now encourage your child to segregate them and put them into different bowls. The activity not only involves the act of picking and holding but also improves the child’s recognition skills with respect to colours and textures, and might even encourage them to eat pulses. Start with two pulses and then you can make your way up from there.
Activity 2 – Lego
Lego building blocks are children’s absolute favourite (and adults’ too, honestly!). Turning, placing, and flipping the pieces support the development of fine-motor skills. And they also promote creativity and imagination as every Lego play hour is an opportunity to build and talk about something new altogether!
Activity 3 – Craft Fun
Often parents fear giving scissors to their children concerning over the sharp-edges. But now there are a variety of child-safe scissors (safety scissors) available in the market that are kid-friendly. Cutting and pasting activities are a perfect setup to build hand-eye coordination and boost to creativity is a bonus! Also, colouring and painting are great activities too.
Activity 4 – Threading Beads
Threading beads can be a great activity to promote visual motor-skills. And you can always play around colours and types of beads that encourage children to come up with newer patterns. Also, it enhances children’s detail to attention. You can step-up the activity and play with variations. One such variation can be showing a pattern of threaded beads of different colours and asking your child to replicate the same. Playing around such variations can keep the freshness of the activity intact and boost your child’s retention.
Little activities like these go a long way and strengthen the foundation of our children’s development. Also, it is important to incorporate these activities as a fun learning experience and not like a to-do-list activity. Our children learn everything at their pace. The ‘right-age’ or the ‘right-pace’ is a myth. Don’t let any of these viral ideas ruin your experience of parenting.
To read about my parenting experience with my child on his fine motor skills and when it consciously started, visit the link here.
I prefer encouraging what my child is genuinely interested in (mainly Lego brick building) along with free-printable activities I receive from ‘Growing Hands-On Kids’ website by Heather Greutman.
Lego Classic Bricks set were Santa’s present for Pratham during Christmas celebrations in winters of 2018. I remember this day because I was intuitively guided to introduce a Lego kit to my child.
The blog is over!
I got to be kidding, right?
Yes! Of course, I am kidding…
The story of Pratham’s gift from Santa goes like this… C’mon, read on…
It was sometime in the month of July 2018, when Pratham and I were waiting outside the car parking at a South Delhi mall for my husband to bring around the car from the basement parking at the fourth level below the ground. It was going to take some time, and I knew it. After a few minutes of waiting, I started looking around at the shoppers passing by and began hearing some distinct voices along with thunderous clapping that was getting louder by the minute. A small thank you speech followed by the clatter of cups & plates. I so wanted to know what was happening and followed the direction where all these celebratory sounds were emerging from. I soon came upon a gathering where kids of ages three and above, escorted by their parents had begun dispersing in twos and threes, carrying a card and a goodie packet in their little hands. I asked one of the leaving parents keenly, what was the gathering all about? The lady answered, “This was a Lego robotics workshop for kids above 3+ years old.”
My guess was right; it was a ‘Parent & kids’ workshop as Parent’s day was round the corner. Pratham & I strolled a little closer to the celebration area. My eyes grew big and round seeing the large colourful rubber blocks, almost 6-7-inches long, sorted and kept arranged in different large boxes. On the table, set around the centre stage, were many medium & small-sized blocks, a few pullies and belt systems and few laptops. Also, stationed on the centre stage were some small to big Lego mats positioned on the interlocked colour mats. There were kids doing alphabet writing, some were busy colouring, some in the process of making objects of their choices – all fully engrossed. Some kids in groups were around the table, some playing over the mats, some others leaving with their parents and some reluctant to leave & being pulled by their parents. It was a beautiful sight to see so many genuinely interested and engrossed children in the making and learning. It was a pleasant and invigorating experience for me as a parent, “Alone the Lego sets keeping them engaged so sincerely.Wow!”
Pratham wanted to go inside to play with big blocks, and he started wailing and pulling my hand to take him inside. Seeing this, a fair, golden brown-eyed lady standing by the entrance invited me inside. I immediately called my husband and requested him to wait a bit for us.
As I stepped inside, I realised that this was a path-breaking moment for me. I wanted to know more about the Lego robotics workshop. This opened me up to bombard the host with questions that were flooding my mind; I was excited. I wasted no time in introducing ourselves my name, my son’s name, his age, his interests etc. Quick as a supercomputer, she registered our names and returned in a jiffy with exuberance “Hi Pallavi, Hi Pratham”. As soon as she smiled at Pratham, he rushed off to the play area, as if he just needed that invitation. My little one understands smiles well, approval signs. Now, I jumped asking my questions. At what age can we introduce Lego to the child, what is the age group required for robotics workshop, where & when does the classes happen, is there any Lego class for toddlers?
It was quite apparent looking at the large turnout of kids and parents that it was one of a kind and rare classes. She replied for the first time “My organization is called Zeki Jaan*, named after my father and I am a Turkish.” She further added with a broad smile, “Zeki means intelligent in Turkish and Jaan same as in Hindi means life, so it is intelligent life.” She also shared details about her decades of experience in Lego training, her aim to encourage critical and coding skills in children, STEM learning through Legos bricks and blocks with hands-on exercises. She added, “The classes are for toddlers, kids 4 -16 years old. Kids get to learn how to build simple machines using large pieces from an early age. Lego helps in fine motor skills development and spatial thinking.” Fine motor skills stood out to me as soon as she made that mention. She further explained “Introducing science concepts like balancing and gravity becomes easy, explaining physics concepts with models like gears and axles, wedges and screws, levers and pulleys becomes effortless too. We can also explain pattern matching, colour contrasts etc. through Lego-based activities.”
My phone rang before the conversation with the Turkish lady ‘Emine’ could come to any logical ending. It was my husband waiting at the exit gate. I had to leave. I could not wait for a second more. I quickly grabbed her business card as she handed one to me and left from the place with Pratham.
It was then that I first explored more about fine motor skills development in children. I usually prefer learning new subjects through books, so, I ordered the book ‘Basics of Fine Motor Skills’ by Heather Greutman**. I also learnt more about the bricks and blocks, their types and related activities for kids.
I had made up my mind after the conversations with Emine to gift Pratham his first Lego sets on his 3rd birthday, 10th December 2018. But somehow it skipped my mind in preparation for his birthday party. Later, when Pratham’s class teacher asked all the parents to send across a surprise Santa gift with the child’s name on it. It was then that I remembered buying Pratham his first Lego set. These gifts were supposed to be distributed respectively to the child by the Santa during Christmas celebrations hosted by the school.
I bought the set, gift-wrapped and labelled it with his name on the sticker and handed the gift box to the teacher. On 24th December, after the Christmas celebrations in the school, he came home happily, hopping and jumping, all excited and showing me his gift from Santa, it turned out to be a momentous day for both of us.
The ease of introducing him to new activities and new concepts with Lego is tremendous. An added advantage, my concerns over his increased screen time, and worrying about his overall development have reduced to a large extent.
A Santa bringing in a treasured memory and a gift for their child’s development, what more a mother could have asked for! All this happened automatically, at the right time, place and order. I had no knowledge of Lego or fine motor skills development up until that day. Had I not been there waiting for the car, had I not heard those mysterious clapping thunders, had I not followed my instincts? Lego sets and creative learning through bricks & blocks wouldn’t have taken its birth in my son’s life at the right time, and I wouldn’t have explored consciously about fine motor skills development which now is one of my favourite indulgences when choosing toys and activities for my little one.
This year we’ve enrolled him for structured bricks and blocks building programme.
The need for the Higher Education segment to adapt to the changing world scenario due to the novel coronavirus is way greater than what we have discussed with regard to pre-schooling and primary schooling. This greater need arises from a relatively rigid and demanding curriculum and associated worry for quality grades, increased pressure to manage studies from home, adapting to the online mode of classes after years of experience with in-person learning at institutions. All this results in mental pressure, anxiety, lack of motivation, and decreased productivity.
If you are a student who can connect to these feelings or a parent reading whose child might be having a tough time adapting to the changing education environment, we want to take a moment to assure you this is normal and the way you are feeling is genuine, we are all together in this!
Unprecedented times bring unprecedented challenges, and that’s how innovation is born. Where the hard time is presenting us with challenges even with routine activities, it is also an opportunity to innovate and experiment. The core truth in this situation is that it’s going to take time, and uncertainty is going to prevail for the time being. But there are always some ways we can think of to make things easier for us to adapt and enrich the learning experience ‘at one’s own pace’, isn’t it?
Making the Routine Effective
A good and consistent sleep routine, often ignored by older students, is the key to good health and ensures a better mental and productive state. A body that has had a restful night’s sleep is way more ready than a body that has pulled an all-nighter of binge-watching to take on the new day.
Attention span issues are common with distractions around. And we would say, don’t say a strict no to distractions like social media, instead make time for them. If studying two hours on a stretch is posing to be a challenge, then instead try experimenting with smaller studying sessions. Try studying for 45 minutes after which you give yourself a 20 minutes’ break. You can use this break time to enjoy all that you want. But keep it to the ‘break-time’ only. Similarly, resist the desire to complete a Netflix show in a single-day and instead reward yourself with one episode a day, maybe with a meal or later towards the end of your workday.
You can also try ‘focus music’ in the background with apps like Headspace while studying if it fits you. Try making a concise to-do-list (‘to-accomplish-list’, much better!) every day and start by taking small steps. After all, only those who are strong enough to take small steps when times are tough can brave enough to take the leap!
Build a habit! Personally, this is what I practice. Whenever I have a hard time keeping up with my routine or rituals, I try incorporating a new thing or a new activity to my routine or rituals. So now I have something to take along in parallel, and the likelihood of me managing both increases! Reading a book, a new form of workout, meditation, it could be anything.
Take a day off! Being at home has also blurred the lines between weekdays and weekends. After a week of work, we all deserve one day off and indulge in some recreation or simply sit back and relax. Spend time with your family, get on a video call with your friends, play with your pet!
Take it easy. We are often drawn to thoughts ‘no one will understand’ and resist sharing our problems and feelings. In case, if something is not working out for you, seek help, from your parents, your siblings, friends, teachers. And sometimes we don’t even need a solution, all we need to do to make things better is just talk it out with someone or free-write all the feelings or indulge in something we like doing, to allow the inspired actions to flow in. Don’t worry, it will all be fine!
Explore and Experiment
This is a perfect time to explore your interest and delve deeper into various career opportunities as the market needs change after the global crisis.
Various global platforms are standing in support of students by providing free courses*. Even certifications and forms of vocation that might cost some amount are worth exploring as they add to the students’ learning curve and aid in realizing what they are drawn to, their ‘calling’. Webinars led by industry leaders and professors of reputed universities can broaden their perspective and give direction in their field of interest.
Also, if you are passionate about some form of art like music, dance, craft, writing, or any other sphere, now is the time to devote some. Incorporate them in your routine, dedicate some time and energy, learn more, and you can even consider sharing what you learn, which is easier than ever as the world functions online! Make a move! If it works, fabulous, and if it doesn’t, we can always keep learning and working! Whatever you will do in this phase, will add to your experience, and that’s the best thing one can gain.
And once again, a gentle reminder, we are all together in this, and it will all be fine!
*Links to a few online resources that might help and interest you,
The Covid-19 pandemic has necessitated a new way of life for all. The need for change in one of the critical areas is ‘education’. The effects of coronavirus and the observance of preventive measures announced by the government has changed the entire outlook of the education system, resetting the life of students, parents, and teachers exponentially.
When pandemic started, schools had to shift to online teaching. Many of them have been successful in turning the physical school into virtual school, while some are yet to achieve it for all the grades.
The time spent during the lockdowns & transition to online learning has given parents the direction to adapt and cater to their kids’ learning & development themselves customised with online lessons to the changed scenario.
In India, while the schools are still closed, parents of playschool and preschool going children want to know whether their children’s admission can be postponed by a year or should they be learning online through the classes arranged by the schools. Or just let the children be, not doing anything at all, as far as a formal way of learning goes.
Some parents are hesitant (not wanting to, despite peer pressure) enrolling their children between the age group 2-4 years for online preschool classes as they are not comfortable with the idea of their toddlers spending two-three hours in front of the screens as this being their first time experience and exposure to the formal way of preparing their children. The screen time of many children presently has anyways increased, so to draw children away or to minimize the screen time, some parents feel home teaching is the best way of learning- teaching right now. But one of the big concerns then is, their children are losing the peer group to play and interact with, giving them the important social skills.
For all stakeholders, the safety of children is essential, especially during the time of the pandemic. So, parents and children have options to either choose the new learning environment and make the learning possible through online resources or home school their kids or give the best of both worlds (if possible).
Swati Popat Vats, author and early childhood education expert, says, “Parents need to know that preschool contributes to the foundation of the child. Parents can defer the enrolment into a physical school, but they must not defer the academic year of the kids. Even if the schools are physically closed, parents are unable to give language stimulations at home, but the brain of the child still needs these invigorations, so parents can defer an academic year, but not the child’s learning.”
90% of a child’s brain development happens by the age of five. Children have a natural motivation to learn. Children are curious learners; they like discovering everything around them, and exploring every object under their reach. Just as they learn to stand and walk on their own by trying continually and master their walking, the same goes with learning to read, write, and speak.
Home is the first best place to start the journey of early childhood learning. Parents and teachers can integrate many learning principles in daily life by observing the child’s interest, noticing what they often like exploring & delving into, encouraging their curiosity and guiding appropriately, also setting some ground rules so that they learn to be respectful, can assist in nurturing the child’s uniqueness and, all the while, spending time together with parents.
Children’s perceptions are built at home; they start learning about objects and things around them with their sense of touch, feel, sight, hear and interaction, to understand and experience the nature of the world. Majority of the activities that children can perform should be physical explorations where they have an assurance that they are safe and have plenty of time. If children are physically active, they engage mentally fast. No better place than home for this and no better adults than parents to facilitate the learning for a child there can be. Parents can make it possible and provide a well-rounded education to their children with the help of online activity guidance, book kit and preschool material kits.
As a child grows, they start to become explorative, inquisitive and the desire of acing all activities increases. Workbooks and picture books are good companions for a child at this age. In this stage, augmented reality enabled books to deliver interactive content, focused on curriculum-based education are a good resource. With stories, rhymes, alphabets, words, images, storytelling-precisely explained and projected just like physical learning with a teacher, concept building and early childhood learning can be strengthened by parents. Parents get virtual teachers on the pages of the books that provide instant support and guidance on how to teach their children on the particular concept or activity of the book. Hands-on learning also comes with a virtual teacher. This is convenient for the parents to learn the procedure in a few minutes and guide the child to perform the activities correctly.
A good education system always needs an effective, age-wise curriculum that imparts the urge for learning, making it easy and fun-filled. To enhance the child’s ability to apply the knowledge, parents can teach and encourage the activity-based and innovative learning approach. Dr Maria Montessori says “The hands are the instruments of man’s intelligence” and that the hand and brain must develop in harmony.
For toddler group, aged up to 3 years, lot of well-crafted hands-on training materials are available online; parents can use these training materials to train a few activities such as music and movement, language, arts and crafts, hand-eye coordination. For children, 3 to 6 years, parents can teach languages, phonics, numbers, read bedtime stories, practical life exercises with the help of online materials. Besides, parents can give their children pretend play items, building blocks, hand-eye coordination materials and many more items that reduce the screen time and keep the child actively involved for a longer duration. Some of our favourites for early structured age-wise educational supplies & programmes are from firstcryintelli kit and flintoclass@home.
Today, homeschooling is also largely accepted by many parents, and they are more comfortable with the alternatives of imparting education to their kids. All thanks to the Internet! The Internet has revolutionized, parents and children can access all the knowledge in the world. There are some brilliant educational websites for kids like National Geographic kids, STEM works, Exploratorium, how stuff works, science buddies and many more that provide an excellent way for kids to learn.
Children need the right age-related learning resources. Digital resources are available on an easy to navigate portals where parents can teach a child with just a click. Learning resources are set up in a clutter-free form and are available age-wise. As children progress through the curriculum, level-by-level, lessons become challenging, exactly the way it happens in schoolroom learning. This is called adaptive learning.
Online learning helps the parents, teachers and children learn-teach, whether on an aeroplane trip across the country or on a quick ride in the car. Wherever they are, parents can take the preschool with them on the laptop, tablet or even on the smartphone, if required.
Although parents have busy schedules and many both working, they can fine-tune their timings; can swap shifts or work from home, so that one of them can supervise the child when the other is at work. Children’s academic schedule when well-planned in advance, a day prior or weekly or even monthly overview can help in channelling resources in a better way. Also, parents keeping themselves flexible and open to the changes that may come uninvited in the schedules would serve a multitude in maintaining one’s peace and harmony.
Children need holistic development, they must be in a safe and secure environment, and all this can happen harmoniously only if there is genuine understanding, cooperation and support from the family and all participating members in the education of the child.
