PARENTING

Parenting is like flying a kite …You need to hold the string but loose enough to let it fly and soar high in the sky. If you hold too tight it will not be able to fly and will not reach great heights and on the other hand if don’t hold it firmly chances are it might fall down. So it’s all about striking a balance

                 

•          Model the behaviour you expect from them
• .       Listen actively but not say Yes to everything

 

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•        Be empathetic but firm
• .      Express care and concern but don’t pamper/ spoil them

• .       Correct them using logical consequences

• .       Provide them but not over indulge. Delay gratification
• .       Understand their thoughts, feelings and ideas before you come to a conclusion
• .       Have expectations but keep them reasonable based on their capabilities

• .       Accept your mistakes and don’t hesitate to apologize

•   .   Model respect to others especially elderly people
•       Treat them the way you would treat your friend or colleague especially teenagers

•   .   Give them space but make sure you have entry into it
•   .   Give them choices and encourage them to take their decisions

     

•   .   Negotiate with them when there is a difference of opinion
•   .   Monitor but don’t police them
•   .   Don’t use blame, threat or bribe to correct them

 

    

 

10 WAYS TO PREVENT  DIGITAL ADDICTION DURING THE PANDEMIC

 In the present age of technology and the current scenario, the usage  of computers and other gadgets has become inevitable. Digital learning has replaced traditional classrooms and children are required to use digital equipment like laptops, tablets, mobile phones etc..However, due to this requirement, gadget usage while still not an addiction is definitely a compulsion for the children today. As we all know excess of anything could be detrimental  for the body and mind. Over indulgenc or exposure to  gadgets could lead to gadget addiction and it is very difficult to undo the impact. Gadget addiction can have an adverse affect on the cognitive and social-emotional development of children.

AFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE TO SCREENS

1.      Emotional issues such as irritability and frustration

2.      Aggressive /Impulsive behaviour

3.      Poor social skills

4.      Poor communication skills

5.      Vision problems

6.      Procrastination

7.      Poor muscle tone

8.      Eating disorders

9.      Obesity

10.  Lethargy

11.  Poor academic performance

12.  Lack of interest in other activities

The good news is there are ways to prevent and cope with the problem.

1.      MODELLING-Children usually tend to emulate elders and follow them. If adults in the house spend a lot of time with gadgets,  children will have a good reason to do so.  Parents and other adults should curtail the usage of gadgets and lead by example.

2.      LIMIT  SCREEN TIME- You can restrict screen time by having a schedule and fixing the amount of time you, as a family, spend time with gadgets.  Yes, it is necessary to check our phone from time to time for important notifications but that need not be constant.  You can leave your phone unattended for half an hour or so. You can restrict the usage of laptops and tablets for digital learning and academic purposes. Screen time should be limited to 2-3 hours per day. Try and limit the number of gadgets your child has access to .

3.      HOUSEHOLD CHORES – Try and engage the children in household chores like laying the table,  putting back things, dusting the furniture and appliances, folding clothes, watering plants, filling water bottles, mopping the floor,  kneading dough,  chopping vegetables and so on depending  on their age and ability. Explain why they need to do it and ask politely rather imposing and insisting.

4.      SPEND TIME- Children are our priority and responsibility. They need your time and attention. In between your work,  take short breaks and talk to the children, listen to them and ask how they feel.  We usually tend to allow them to use gadgets when  we are unable to give them time. You can play board games  and engage in art and craft activities with them as and when possible. In case there are grandparents around you should encourage the children to spend time with them. Grandparents are good at communicating with children and enjoy doing so. 

5.      PHYSICAL ACTIVITY- Engage the children in physical activities such as zumba,  dance, yoga, hopscotch, aerobics,  cycling, table tennis and badminton if space permits.

6.      BOOK READING- Reading books should be a part of your daily routine to encourage children to inculcate the habit. Avoid eBooks and kindle.  If adults in the house have the inclination towards reading and share their knowledge,  children will be motivated to read. It is good idea to do pair reading with children.

7.      DIY ACTIVITES- When you are unable to give them time, provide the children with a lot of material  and let them experiment with DIY activities.  You can give them things like paper cups, paper plates, straws, plastic spoons,  ice cream sticks,  cotton balls, buttons, rubber bands,  old business cards, newspaper and of course stationery items like glue, scissors tape pencils sketch pens etc. Children usually like to engage in hands on activities and they are sure to come up with something creative. You can organise them in boxes and containers so that  the kids can put them back easily.

8.      .COMMUNICATION- Positive communication is very essential for the social -emotional well being of children.  You should communicate more often with the children so that they feel connected. You may not be able to have long conversations with them but try and listen to them for a few minutes even though you are busy. This  gives them a sense of priority. At  some point, during the day, make it a point to have a short conversation with the children about what they would like to do the next day apart from studies.

9.      NATURE WALK- If possible, take them out or to the terrace and let them spend some time outdoors. You can go to a nearby park as well.  Of course, you need to prepare them for social distancing and other precautions to be followed when you go out.

10.  POSITION OF THE COMPUTER-  Long hours in front of the screen could lead to eye strain and neck pain. To  reduce eye strain, the ideal computer screen position is at a 10 to 15 degree angle below eye level, assuming your child is sitting straight up and looking straight ahead. The top of the computer screen should be at eye level so your child can scroll down with his eyes rather than looking up and down and straining their neck. Place the laptop / Computer/ Tablet in the common area  to facilitate monitoring the child’s online learning.

Considering our time constraints, it may not be easy to implement all these suggestions but it is worth trying. In case of teenagers, we need to explain the consequences and long term impact of excessive use of gadgets. Negotiation and persuasion works better than threats and confiscation. Positive reinforcement can often  be used to encourage self restraint and self discipline. 

Thank you!! Stay safe!! Stay calm!!

TIPS FOR  PARENTS DURING LOCKDOWN

 Dear parents,  are you getting stressed with homeschooling and getting the children to attend the online classes and complete their assignments  during this lockdown period?  Here are a few tips which you could try, to get your child to do his/her  homework/ assignments/tasks etc.

1.        Please don’t force your child to complete study assignments when he/she  is resisting. Negotiate with the child and link it with an activity that he/she  prefers. Give him the homework assignment soon after he has enjoyed his play. ( It could even be a video game)

2.       Try and have a schedule and a specific time allotted to complete school assignments like watching pre recorded videos, worksheets etc. There are sample schedules available on the net which you can modify according to your convenience. Encourage your child to make the schedule himself/ herself. That makes them accountable and responsible.

3.       Appreciate his / her  efforts to sit and complete his/her work after it is done. The child feels encouraged and motivated to do it again the next time. Something as small as a high five or a word of praise can boost your child’s self esteem.

4.       Talk about his/her teachers’ efforts to create the videos and worksheets and how happy she would be when he submits it on time.

5.       Talk about the benefits of being one of the first in the class to submit homework.  For example, explain how watching the pre recorded videos will help him stay ahead of the class and give him an edge.

6.       Avoid engaging  in your preferred activities while the child is doing his homework. Read a book or pick up a chore instead. Modelling helps.

7.        Encourage the child to organize his  study space and be ready for the online class 10 mins  before the scheduled time.

8.       Create a conducive environment for the child to attend the online classes so that he takes it seriously and respects everyone’s time.

9.       Let’s teach  them to set simple goals, prioritize and get a sense of achievement. Eventually they need to understand that they are doing it for themselves,  for their own progress and growth and not to please others.

110.   We need to be patient with them. It is not easy for them too. They have been deprived of social interaction and outdoor activity which matters to them the most. They may not be able to express their  fears and stress verbally and may show it in other ways.

11.    You can reduce screen time by encouraging them to engage in physical activities like dance, aerobics, martial arts, gardening, household chores etc. Set a time limit for gadget usage or gadget free time for everyone at home during the day.

12.    Encourage self correction so that they don’t feel corrected and judged all the time. This way they also learn to reflect and introspect which will benefit them in the long run.

The key to good study habits is developing a routine, learning to prioritize  and setting goals for achieving study goals. With practice and persistence, kids will fall into a positive pattern of behaviour, which should begin to produce solid and consistent results over time.

Thank you! Stay safe! Stay healthy!

TIME MANAGEMENT -  IT’S NOT ABOUT HAVING TIME IT IS ABOUT MAKING TIME

                       

“Time management is a vehicle which will  take you from where you are today to wherever you want to be in the future. “ said by Brian Tracy

Time management is the key to achieve more work in less time.  The time once gone by, does not return. We need to make the best of our time and make more time to do what we  like to do, what makes us happy. Effective time management improves  our quality of life. 

TIPS TO MAKE MORE TIME FOR YOURSELF

1.  RISE  EARLY – Waking up early gives you a head start for the day . It is often believed that early morning hours are the most productive. It may be difficult for some of us, but you feel fresh and rejuvenated early in the morning rather than late at night.  It is quieter,  there are no disturbances and you can focus on what you want to achieve. So, set your body clock accordingly and wake up at 5.00 or 6.00. Being an early riser will give  you enough time to follow an exercise routine and an appropriate diet.

2.   EARLY TO BED – Getting enough sleep is very essential for your mind and body. You need at least 7-8 hours of sleep. If you have to wake up at 5.00 you need to hit the bed by 9.30 -10p m.  You can go to bed by 11.00 in case you want to start your day at 6.00. Some of us prefer to be night owls and like to stay up late but that may not be possible everyday and you  may have an erratic sleep pattern.

3.   PLAN YOUR GOALS- Planning is the first important step in time management.  You need to plan what you want to achieve, your goals and objectives in the next few days so that you have clarity and know what is important for you. Set realistic goals which you want to achieve in the short term. 

4.  HAVE A TO DO LIST- Make a list of all your current, upcoming and routine  tasks and goals that you need to accomplish. You don’t have to necessarily put them on paper but jotting down helps so that you  don’t forget any of the important tasks. You  can also make a mental note if they are not too many and you think you can remember.

                          

5.   PRIORITIZE- There may be a number of  things on your to do list. Time management is lot about prioritizing your tasks based on the order of importance and urgency which, you know best. You can categorize your tasks into

                Type A – Important and urgent

                Type B - Important but not urgent

                Type C- Urgent but not important

                Type D- Not important and not urgent

            

6.   SET REMINDERS-  Certain tasks on your to do list may  have to be  accomplished  by  a particular time. Setting reminders is one of the ways to achieve targets on time. You can set reminders on your phone or jot  it down in your diary.

7.   DELEGATE – There will be tasks and chores which are routine and  can surely be delegated. You need not do them yourself. Do not hesitate to delegate tasks  which are not time effective for you  and which can be entrusted to someone else. This way you are also engaging another person productively as  that task could be the  right one for them to learn and grow. 

8.  MULTI TASKING- Multi-tasking could be a good idea especially when one of the activities is  purely a mechanical one where you don’t need to focus mentally.  For example, you could listen to the news while you are doing household chores. You can finish an official call while you are walking. Club a task which interests you with another  that doesn’t, so you get double benefits.

                      

9.   PRODUCTIVITY – You need to decide whether you want to spend time or invest it. If you  are spending your time in gaining knowledge, enhancing your skills, creating something you are being productive. Avoid spending too much time on entertainment and recreation.

10. AVOID PROCRASTINATION- The best time to accomplish something is NOW!  (Of course based on your priorities)  If there is something  you need to do which you know will help you, you should not postpone it. It’s okay to have a flexible schedule  but procrastination should not become a habit. 

11.  MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY – Consistency helps in forming good habits and good habits is the way to go for a healthy and happy life. Keep yourself motivated and accountable and you will be consistent.  

12.  SAVE TIME- One of the ways to  save  time is to cut down  on unnecessary conversations,  discussions, engaging  in social media and meaningless entertainment. When you save time you create more time for yourself.

13.  REVIEW YOUR DAY- Before you go to bed, quickly review your day  and check if there are any pending tasks which you need to schedule the next day.  They could be important and you may have to include them in your list for the next day. Do not stress yourself about it. 

Friends, nothing is impossible if you have the determination and commitment.  So,  try and follow the tips as much as you can and make a positive difference to your lives!! Stay safe! Stay mindful!

 LOCKDOWN ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Hey kids!! How are you all?  Hope the lockdown has not locked you down and you are making the best of the time you have right now. Why do we have to do that?  It is good to be mentally and physically active as it keeps both your mind and body healthy and fit. When we don’t exercise our muscles, they become weak. And if we don’t keep our mind active we become restless. These activities will help you spend your time creatively, productively and they can be loads of fun!

Let’s look at some of the activities which you can engage in:

}  Reading – Reading is one of the best habits you can inculcate and pursue. It  not only  increases your knowledge but also enhances your vocabulary, improves your spellings, diction, pronunciation, fluency and communication skills. You can read any story book which is appropriate for your age, on your kindle or paperback.  

}  Household chores - As you know we cannot engage domestic help during this lockdown period. You can help your family by sharing the house work  so that  it becomes easier for everyone in the family. You can put back the dishes, fold clothes, fill water bottles, organize your stuff, de clutter and keep your room clean.

}  Art – You can try your hand at drawing, painting, sketching which will improve your  fine motor skills, attention span and imagination.

}  Craft –If you are interested in craft you can look at DIY videos and make things which you can use to decorate your room. Won’t that be fun? You could try origami, paper quelling, beading etc 

}  Fireless cooking-  Cooking  doesn’t  necessarily mean you have to use the stove. You can try baking cookies, cakes and muffins and simple recipes like sandwiches, salads, snacks  etc.

}  Academics- You can spend some time revising your lessons and practising your concepts in the subjects you have. You will stay updated with your syllabus and the concepts, maybe even get a head start! You can have a study schedule and follow it.

}  Video games– Video games are a fun pass time for everyone, but remember to set limits. Playing video games for too long usually affects your back and eyes.

}  Indoor games / board games- There are many  board games such as  scrabble, chess, connect 4, memory games, Pictionary,  Monopoly, Word search, speller, jigsaw puzzles you could engage in.. You can  also play being different characters,  twister, hopscotch, treasure hunt etc indoors.

}  Dance /Zumba /Aerobics / Yoga/ Cycling-  These physical activities will help you keep fit and healthy and you are sure to enjoy some of them. You can try the ones you like.

}  Videos/ movies : You can watch videos related to your science like those on  National Geographic, Discovery, BBC Earth. You can also watch animated  movies. (approved by your parents)

Be safe on social media. Do not  give away personal information like your phone number, your parents phone number, your house address, name and location of your school. Keep your accounts on private, this way you’ll be able to filter who gets to follow you and see your posts and who doesn’t, even who gets to message you. Be wary of unknown people texting you. Block unwanted or unknown contacts. Don’t click on unknown links. Let your parents know if you think  someone is bothering /bullying  you.

Stay safe!! Stay healthy!! Have fun!!