Educative & informative
Your cover story ‘Free-range parenting phenomenon’ (PW July) was educative and informative. Till date, I was familiar only with helicopter, tiger and bulldozer parenting styles.
Now I believe free-range parenting is perfect for Gen Z as our children have access to limitless information on the internet and are far more independent than our generation ever was. Free-range parenting which advocates giving children freedom with responsibility is certainly the best option available.
Moreover, your Ask the Counselor column in the July issue was excellent. Counselor Shubhada Shekar’s advice on how parents can support aggressive children was nuanced and useful.
Lima Shekar
Hyderabad
Free-range parenting safety concerns
Your cover story on free-range parenting (PW July) was thought provoking. As much as you may advocate that free-range parenting is like a breath of fresh air for India’s patriarchal and so called ‘interfering parenting’ culture, I believe it must be practised with a caveat. It is uninspiring to watch careless parents in the neighbourhood encouraging their under-age, immature children to independently explore ‘the outdoors’ where many dangers lurk.
The spate of lawsuits filed against practitioners of this negligent parenting style in the US should serve as an eye opener and warning to Indian parents. Children’s physical safety and well-being should be the top priority of parents.
Tanisha Ravi
Mumbai
Excellent apps selection
Thanks for an excellent selection of reading and spelling apps in the Resources section (PW July). My three-year-old son is learning to read and loves interactive activities, games and puzzles. The Kids Reading and Spelling app recommended has very interesting activities to improve children’s spelling and vocabulary through funny animations and phonics. Look forward to more reviews of educative mobile apps.
Manasa Sankar
Chennai
Wodehouse nostalgia
I loved reading your inaugural Wry Musings column by Suresh Subrahmanyan titled the ‘Double Negative Trap’ (PW July). Being a 1970s person, I loved the references to Calcutta and the smash hits of Pink Floyd and The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Elvis Presley. They brought back so many childhood memories.
Moreover, Subrahmanyan’s style of writing made me nostalgic about my childhood favourite and one of the most widely read humorists of the 20th century — P G. Wodehouse. Looking forward to more wry musings!
Kalki Chatterjee
Kolkata
Regional cuisines recipes request
Your Health and Nutrition section (PW July) on black urad dal recipes prompted me to try them all out and with great success! I never thought black urad dal could be cooked in so many ways. And the fact that this lentil is rich in calcium and aids digestion is bonus. Would really appreciate it if you could share recipes from different regions/cuisines of the country in your future issues.
Your Leisure and Travel section featuring Malaysia was also a compelling read. I was excited to learn that this country, known for its scenic beaches and dense rainforests, is also emerging as a golfing and Formula One racing hub.
Mansi Deva
Bengaluru
Trampolining health benefits
The ‘Keeping fit with trampolines’ essay in the Health and Nutrition section (PW July) was a revelation.
NASA’s endorsement of ‘rebounding being 60 percent more effective than jogging’ was news to me. Rebounding is a fun activity with many health benefits. My children occasionally engage in trampolining at the neighbourhood mall. I believe it’s time for adults to join them. It can become an enjoyable and healthy family activity.
Nisha Mathur
Delhi
