Excellent resource
Your Activity Zone story ‘DIY STEM activities’ (PW November) is an excellent resource for parents looking to make learning enjoyable and interactive at home.
Engaging activities for children to boost their problem solving and critical thinking skills are the need of the hour. In this tech-driven world, learning to build bridges with paper, crafting high-flying paper planes, and engineering a DC motor-driven car are hands-on experiments with easy-to-follow instructions that encourage creativity and introduce children to fundamental STEM concepts.
Looking forward to more such articles in the new year.
Veena Rao
Mangaluru
Impractical advice
As the parent of a five-year-old, I found your essay ‘Cultivating healthy screen viewing habits’ (PW November) somewhat impractical. Although Dr. Tejasvi Seshadri highlights the risks of excessive screen time, his advice lacks real-world solutions. For instance, limiting screen time to one hour a day or banning screens during meals won’t work for many households, especially homes with working parents or online learning needs.
The essay offers basic tips like turning off screens before bedtime but doesn’t provide practical alternatives for calming or engaging children. I would have benefited from more flexible, empathetic advice for modern parenting challenges.
Shalini Kumar
Chennai
Must-read essay
Your early childhood story ‘Breastfeeding prevents childhood obesity’ (PW November) is well-researched and insightful highlighting the critical role of breastfeeding in reducing childhood obesity risks. It combines scientific data and expert recommendations, clearly stating the long-term benefits for infants and mothers.
That breastfeeding is a natural way to regulate weight, improve gut health, and shape physiological processes is informative and encouraging news. Nutritionist Deepalakshmi Sriram also addresses the broader health benefits for mothers, making a compelling case for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months after delivery. A must-read for new parents seeking practical, evidence-based guidance.
Srishti Menon
Hyderabad
Vivid narrative
Your Leisure & Travel article ‘Georgia: The land of wine and song’ (PW November) serves as an open invitation to explore this relatively unknown country’s beauty and depth. It will be treasured by history buffs, foodies, and adventure seekers alike. That viticulture has been practiced in Georgia by the monks of Alaverdi was a revelation to me. As a connoisseur of vintage wine, I would love to sample at least one of 32 varieties produced at the world’s oldest wine cellar. Anil Thakore’s vivid narrative supported by colourful pictures made it a compelling read.
Shashank R
Bengaluru
Useful apps
Your Resources feature recommending online apps for families to maintain a healthy lifestyle and staying connected to healthcare services (PW November) was well worth the read. As a working mother, I found all four health apps very useful in helping families monitor their diet, exercise, and medical information.
Payal Kohli
Gurugram
Unrealistic advice
Your cover story ‘Safeguarding children from toxic air pollution’ (PW November) highlights the severe impact of air pollution on children’s health, emphasizing the vulnerability of their developing lungs and immune systems. While it effectively outlines health risks including respiratory diseases and developmental delays, the authors’ reliance on parents to mitigate these effects are unrealistic.
Measures like using air purifiers and monitoring air quality may arrest the toxicity of air pollution in a limited radius to some extent, but what your story clearly lacks is any form of acknowledgment of the systemic failures that perpetuate pollution. A stronger focus on holding policymakers accountable would make the advice more actionable.
Kalyani Chaddha
Delhi
