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Develop exams positivity With rising incidents of children experiencing panic attacks and nervous breakdowns during the exams season, your cover story ‘Helping children during exams season’ (PW February) was timely and welcome. I agree with Dr. Venkatesh Babu’s view that in the new age of social media, parents need to take exam stress more seriously than something that will simply fade away after exams. My teenage daughter suffers academic stress and anxiety long after her exams are over. Dr. Babu’s coping strategies and Dr. Nagpal’s advice to teach children mindfulness practices were very helpful. During exam time, parents have to play the role of stress management gurus and enable and support their children to confront exams with positivity. The rising number of student suicides is a wake-up call to parents to prioritise children’s mental well-being over academic success. CA Tariq Sait Ernakulum Useful advice Your Health & Nutrition story on early signs of children’s hearing loss (PW February) has raised my awareness of the importance of early identification, diagnosis and treatment of auditory problems in children. Dr. Swaroop Reddy’s primary symptoms of potential hearing loss in children were informative. My newborn is two months old and I intend to closely observe and monitor her speech and language development milestones. Jennifer D’Souza Bengaluru Lunchbox recipes please! Your ‘Superfood recipes’ (PW February) made with healthy ingredients such as broccoli, raw mango and bottle gourd were an instant hit with my three-year-old daughter who also loves looking at the pictures in your magazine to identify fruits and vegetables. Please also publish some easy-to-make school lunchbox recipes and snacks for children. Kisha Rao Mumbai Avoid labeling I am a mother of a toddler but read with great interest your Middle Years column ‘Six reasons why your child may be lazy’ (PW February). The underlying causes of laziness — in particular specific parenting styles — drew my attention. I instantly went into self-reflection mode about my own parenting style. That there is a deep connection between permissive, uninvolved, and authoritarian parenting styles and loss of motivation within children was a revelation. Parenting consultant Dr. Debmita Dutta and child psychologist Hamida Rashid’s observations have raised my awareness substantially on the importance of providing a supportive home environment to effectively motivate children. The most important advice I hope to follow is to avoid making arbitrary judgements and labeling children lazy. Physical causes such as inadequate sleep and nutritional deficiencies can also prompt children to become lethargic. As parents we have a duty to investigate the underlying cause of children’s low motivation and energy before rushing to judgement. Shivani Joli Hyderabad Newfound desire Your Leisure and Travel on Varanasi (PW February) was well-researched and written. There’s more to this sacred city than the ghats where the dead are cremated. It’s a city rich in history, culture, and spirituality. Your vivid description and captivating photos have sparked a newfound desire to visit and experience Varanasi’s unique “spiritual peace and calm”. Pooja Shah Ahmedabad Valuable strategies Thanks to educator Bhavna…