Restrict children’s access to violent content
Your cover story titled ‘Managing rising wave of child aggression’ (PW October) touched a deep chord. In the age of the Internet and social media, children are exposed to insidious content glorifying violence, exploitation and abuse. Parents should install parental control apps to restrict children’s access to all violent media content.
As a parent of a five-year-old child, I’ve been a witness to this ‘rising wave of child aggression’. My son was bitten by a classmate more than once in school. It’s time for educators to focus on equipping children from young age with emotion management skills enabling them to canalise their energies in productive activities.
Maya Chakravarty
Mumbai
Ban all plastics
The hazardous effects of plastic on the environment is not unknown However in your Newsbyte section (PW October) I was shocked to read about a study that revealed children diagnosed with autism and/or ADHD have reduced ability to clear out the common plastic additive bisphenol A (BPA) from their bodies, resulting in increased exposure to the chemical.
The government needs to take stringent measures to ban plastics, especially one-time use plastics. Easily available tiffin boxes and water bottles are mostly not BPA-free certified. Unaware of the hazards, parents reuse plastic goods several times, increasing risk of contracting diseases.
Lisa Oomen
Chennai
Excellent suggestions
The ‘Importance of eye contact in early childhood’ (PW October) story was useful and revealing. As a mother of a two-month-old baby, I have observed that many a time my child doesn’t make eye contact. This was worrying me. Counsellor Shubhada Shekar’s suggestions on ways and means to improve eye contact in toddlers are excellent. I will be following them.
Mita Sen
Kolkata
Celebrate Indian superfoods
The Health and Nutrition essay on benefits of makhana aka foxnuts (PW October) was informative. Makhana has been part of the traditional Indian diet for centuries together. It’s an ‘Indian superfood’ which aids digestion, prevents constipation and ageing.
Other ‘Indian’ superfoods worth celebrating are sago, jeera, moringa leaves, curry leaves etc. They are rich in nutrients and valued for their medicinal and healing properties. As parents we must educate our children about the benefits of Indian superfoods.
Lima Lokhande
Pune
Don’t ignore child aggression
Your cover story ‘Managing rising wave of child aggression’ (PW October) sends out a strong message to parents that incidents of aggression should not be ignored and taken lightly. Children are responding aggressively to minor issues such as parents not allowing them to watch television and/or play video games. As parenting coach Riri Trivedi says, parents should make it their business to prepare children to manage their emotions and discipline them with firmness and compassion.
I believe parents and educators need to put their heads together to analyse this problem and its consequences. We need to stop obsessing about children’s academics and focus on their mental and emotional well-being to nurture a generation of well-balanced, harmonious individuals.
Radha Ramchandani
Delhi
Off-beat travel destinations
I loved your Leisure & Travel feature ‘The perennial allure of Thailand’ (PW October). While most articles focus on touristy spots in Bangkok and Phuket, your story covered the less-known cities of Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Phi Phi islands. I look forward to reading more such features on off-beat destinations.
Krish Kumar
Chennai
