School lunchbox recipes, please
Nutritionist Vasanthi Senthilvel’s column on foods which boost brain development in children was informative and useful (PW October). My daughter is three years old and I understand the importance of providing her the right diet to boost physical and cognitive development.
I also liked your banana recipes. My grandmother always recommended bananas with their high nutritional and energy value for children. In your next issue, please share some easy lunchbox recipes. With schools having reopened, it’s a challenge to rustle up lunchbox meals every day.
Lishika Mathur, Bengaluru
Give priority to children’s well-being
Thanks for your cover story ‘Don’t overload children with extracurricular activities’ (PW October).
My seven-year-old daughter attends art and tennis coaching classes after school. Since the past month, I’ve been noticing that she returns home tired and exhausted with little energy for homework and study. Though she loves her tennis and art classes, I think she is experiencing difficulty coping with full-day school and extra-curricular programmes. I plan to withdraw her from the art classes and move tennis practice to the weekends.
I am in complete agreement with you that children’s well-being should take first priority and parents must desist from overloading children with too many extra-curricular activities.
Meena Muthaiah, Chennai
Don’t pressurise children
You’ve hit the nail on the head in your cover story ‘Don’t overload children with extra-curricular activities’ (PW October).
I have many friends whose children go to full-day school, tuitions as well as abacus, public speaking, ‘brain power’ etc classes. It’s so obvious when I speak to these children that they are stressed and are attending all these classes only to keep their parents happy.
Parents need to understand that cramming children’s schedule with sundry activities is no guarantee for them transforming into geniuses and super performers. It’s better to select one or two activities which children enjoy. Pressurising children to excel in academics and co-curricular activities will be counterproductive and result in them suffering anxiety and stress.
Meena Sharma, Delhi
Parents should lead by example
I enjoy reading your informative and comprehensive parenting magazine especially the essays written by health and child experts.
In your latest October issue the essay by Dr. Rajan Ali on how parents’ internet addiction can rub off on children was excellent. Many parents are hooked to their mobile phones and even when at home spend most of their time with these devices instead of children. Unfortunately many unthinking parents also encourage children to use digital devices to keep them busy. In the long term this will fuel their children’s digital addiction.
Rajan Ali’s suggestions to wean parents and children off the internet are good. There is no alternative to spending quality non-tech time with our children and bonding during outdoor activities. Parents need to lead by example and restrict their own digital screen time.
Mihika Mohan, Hyderabad
Children need rules & discipline
Congratulations on publishing an excellent parenting magazine. I live with my daughter and 15-year-old granddaughter and am amazed at the numerous parenting challenges today’s parents are confronted with.
The biggest one is the online world of social media and dating apps. My granddaughter is addicted to Instagram and has become hyper-sensitive about her physical attributes. Moreover she is using dating apps without the knowledge of her parents.
I believe parents should strictly monitor their children’s online usage and set rules and regulations about what’s permissible to be posted on social media. Teenage children are very vulnerable and need parental rules, discipline and guidance.
Miriam Begum, Pune
