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ParentsWorld August 2024 | EducationWorld Mailbox
Timely and relevant Your July cover story ‘Avoiding affluenza parenting pitfalls’ was timely and relevant. It beams a harsh spotlight on the dangers of over-indulgent parents raising spoiled brats with scant respect for laws, rules and regulations. I know several parents in my neighbourhood who to be different from their own authoritarian parents are giving in to their children’s every whim and fancy. I can’t agree more with Dr. Pallavi Chaturvedi when she says that such parents are raising dangerously entitled children lacking manners, empathy, social responsibility, and patience and resent being disciplined and corrected. We must not forget that as parents, our role is to guide our children, teach them the right values, principles and set boundaries so they develop into positive contributing citizens. Psychologist Usha Rani’s tips on how to teach children the value of money and gratitude were excellent. Also parenting coach Ritu Jain’s pearls of wisdom on instilling positive values in children. Tribhuvan Mishra Pune Valuable recommendations Your Resources feature recommending online safety apps (PW July) was well worth the read. As a mother of two children who spend substantial time on digital devices, I found the app recommendations — Family Safety by Microsoft, Bosco, Kaspersky SafeKids, and Google Family Link — valuable. Some of the features such as screen time limits, content filters, and real-time alerts simplify digital monitoring of children and ensure their online safety. Charulata Banerjee Noida Beyond academic learning Your Middle Years essay ‘Develop your tween’s emotional intelligence’ (PW July) is a must-read for all parents. We often tend to forget that learning goes beyond academics; it’s also about developing children’s emotional intelligence — their capability to manage emotions, develop inter-personal relationships and cope with stress and life’s challenges. Many adults, though academically brilliant, fail to succeed in the workplace because they lack people skills and emotional intelligence. The activities and games recommended by clinical psychologist Akanksha Pandey to develop children’s emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills are thoughtful and practical. Vidya Shenoy Mangaluru Positive results Thank you for addressing the common but under-discussed problem of constipation in children in your Health & Nutrition story (PW July). Developmental pediatrician Dr. Tarun Singh has given useful advice about management of constipation through dietary changes. I have begun introducing greens and foods rich in fibre in my children’s diet and am beginning to see positive results. Piya Shah Vadodara Healthy snack foods recipes, please! I tried with success your ‘Healthy Summer refreshers’ (PW July) recipes. In particular your semolina sandwich and tender coconut ice cream were big hits with my children! Please share more recipes of nutrient-rich snack foods. I am trying to restrict my children from consuming junk snack foods such as chips and sugared juices. Therefore, some suggestions of alternative healthy snack options would be much appreciated! Sylvie Rodrigues Bhubaneswar Better substitutes Your Ask the Doctor column (PW July) has rightly acknowledged the critical importance of inculcating healthy sleep habits at youngest age and prohibiting electronic devices usage in the bedroom. I…