Good job!
Your cover story ‘Middle-class India’s child weight management crisis’ (PW April) has done a good job of alerting parents to the growing epidemic of childhood obesity. Digital addiction and increased consumption of junk and processed foods have contributed to sedentary habits and poor dietary choices among children.
By presenting relevant data and expert opinions, the story underscores the urgency of addressing this crisis to prevent long-term health complications such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases.
Molly G.
Bengaluru
Wake-up call
Your Middle Years story ‘Protecting Children from the Insidious Influence of Advertising’ (PW April) has raised important ethical questions about children’s exposure to manipulative marketing and advertising tactics. It’s a clarion call for action by policymakers, educators, and parents to implement strategies that protect vulnerable children from the insidious influence of greedy advertisers.
By fostering awareness within parents and advocating stronger regulation, society can work towards creating a safer environment for children.
Ashwini Shah
Ahmedabad
Compassionate & reassuring
Your health & nutrition essay ‘Pediatric Allergies: Symptoms, Treatment & Preventive Strategies’ (PW April) offers a practical guide for parents dealing with allergies in children exacerbated by rising environmental pollution and lifestyle changes.
Dr. Neeraj Gupta’s detailed explanation about common pediatric allergies, food, seasonal, and environmental triggers was extremely useful. Above all, his compassionate and reassuring tone instills confidence in parents that children can lead healthy and active lives despite their allergies.
Sushma Khanna
Delhi
Valuable advice
Thanks to psychologist Payal Narang’s valuable advice to help children cope with grief (PW April). Helping children process grief requires patience, understanding, and safe spaces to express emotion. After my son lost his grandmother, I realized how important it is to let children grieve in their own way — through words, play, silence. A steady routine provides comfort, but flexibility is just as essential.
Sharing memories, reading age-appropriate books about loss, and simply being present, can offer great comfort. Most importantly, children need reassurance that they are not alone, and that the family is ready to support them through their grief.
Brinda M.
Mangaluru
Excellent resource
Your Kidzone story ‘Heart to Heart’ (PW April) excerpted from the book Growing up with the Mahatma is an excellent resource for parents to introduce the life and tenets of Mahatma Gandhi to children.
I enjoyed reading ‘Mahatma inspires you to be a doctor’ with my children. We love his dietary advice, and instances of how he tended to the sick and ailing in his ashram, as also his tips on patient care. Looking forward to more such extracts from the Mahatma’s life.
Reena Rao
Vizag
Shift focus to child well-being
The essay ‘Helping Children Develop Positive Outlook Towards Schooling’ by Dr. Samir Dalwai (PW April) rightly highlights a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of education — cultivating a mindset in children that views school as a place of growth, joy, and discovery, not of academic pressure.
In today’s fast-paced, result-oriented environment, children associate school with stress and competition. As Dr. Dalwai points out, the role of educators and parents in reshaping attitudes toward learning is vital. Encouragement, emotional safety, and recognition of individual talents go a long way in fostering a love for schooling.
Equally important is allowing children to ask questions, express opinions, and make mistakes without fear of judgment. A positive schooling experience not only boosts academic achievement but also supports emotional resilience and lifelong learning.
Let’s shift our focus from just exams and marks to child well-being.
Shelly Biswas
Kolkata
