ParentsWorld November 2024

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Words of appreciation
Thanks for the information packed Kidzone section (PW October). My children love solving the puzzles and DIY creative activity. They even found your suggestions on making the world a better place inspirational. My son is excited about spending his birthday with the inmates of an old age home in the neighbourhood […]

News Bytes

Insomnia therapy during pregnancy improves sleep
A new research study by Canada’s University of British Columbia’s Okanagan and Vancouver campuses, and University of Calgary reveals that cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi) — a therapeutic intervention — administered to pregnant women improves sleep and reduces postpartum depression.

Sixty-two women with insomnia and depressive symptoms participated in […]

Breastfeeding prevents childhood obesity

Dr. Deepalakshmi Sriram

Breastfeeding plays a vital role in helping infants and mothers combat obesity

While it’s widely accepted that breastmilk is the best, nutrient-rich food for infants, it’s not as well-known that it plays a vital role in helping infants and mothers combat obesity.

Several studies have warned that childhood obesity in India is […]

Expecting again? Tips to help your first-born child thrive with a new sibling

Sheri Madigan

Marissa Nivison

(Marissa Nivison is postdoctoral research fellow, Department of Psychology, University of Calgary and Sheri Madigan is Professor, Canada Research Chair in Determinants of Child Development, Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary)

Helping your older child or children navigate having a new sibling […]

Protect children with regular vaccination

Dr. Tejan Bhatt

I have met some parents who are against vaccination. They advocate theories that promote natural immunity, and express reservations against vaccine safety. Please advise if vaccines are safe for children.

— Mithila Nagarajan, Hyderabad

In recent times, there’s conflicting information especially on the Internet and social media about vaccination, and […]

Teach children gratitude & empathy

Please suggest ways I can teach my children the values of gratitude and empathy in a highly competitive environment.

— Dipa Das, Mumbai

Here are some strategies to instill valuable life skills such as gratitude and empathy in your children:

Practice gratitude daily. Ask your children to write down a list of things they are grateful for […]

Brave new vistas for space scientists

This sunrise industry has room for youth with electrical and mechanical engineering, IT, physics, maths and aerospace engineering qualifications.

After the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 Mission by the Bangalore-based Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in August, India became the fourth country to land on the moon and the first to land near the south pole, […]

Family health trackers

Family health trackers enable parents and other family members to track their fitness, diet and other health indicators while also connecting them to healthcare providers, diagnostic centres and online health products/medication sellers. Our pick of the four best family health apps – Kiran Balimane

MyFitnessPal
Platform: Android, iOS
Age group: Adults and teenagers
MyFitnessPal is […]

Cultivating healthy screen viewing habits

Dr. Tejasvi Sheshadri

Parents need to focus on developing healthy digital screen viewing habits to safeguard children’s physical and emotional well-being

In the digital age, screen viewing is unavoidable. With technology and electronic screens playing a significant role in education, entertainment and social interaction, it’s impractical to ban screens from children’s lives. Instead, parents […]

DIY stem activities

Here are three engaging DIY STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities tailored for different age groups. These activities introduce children to science concepts and boost their problem-solving and critical thinking skills – Jeetesh Gilani

Ages 5-8. Building bridges with paper

This activity explores the concepts of strength, stability, and structural engineering

Instructions

Explain to your child the […]

Georgia: The Land of Wine and Song

In 2023, over 9 million tourists visited Georgia, drawn to its ancient cathedrals, forts, monasteries, scenic mountains and wineries – ANIL THAKORE

Georgia was never on my bucket list. So, when friends suggested a holiday in this East European country, all I could recall was that a few years ago a brutal Russian invasion had […]

The blame game with ad hominem

Roopa Banerjee

“You can’t trust his opinion on politics; he doesn’t even have a college degree.” This is a classic example of an ad hominem attack, an argumentative tactic where the focus shifts from the issue to personal characteristics of the adversary. Rather than addressing the issue at hand, the adversary is attacked based on personal […]

Teaching children to be empathetic

PW invited parents from Bal Bharati Public School, GRH Marg, New Delhi to share their thoughts on how they teach their children the value of empathy

“We actively engage our daughter Anjali (class XII) in activities that foster compassion and understanding. She is a member of an NGO that raises funds for underprivileged children, teaching […]

How to beat the morning rush

PW invited parents from Bal Bharati Public School, Ludhiana to share their thoughts on how they beat the early morning rush

“Managing a plethora of domestic chores to get myself and the children ready in time for school and work can be hectic. However, with a little advance preparation and smart strategizing, my mornings have […]

Safeguarding children from toxic air pollution

There seems little awareness that the most vulnerable segment of the population to seemingly unstoppable air pollution, is India’s children. Their still-developing lungs inhale more air relative to their size than adults, resulting in absorption of greater concentrations of pollutants. Exposure to toxic air causes respiratory infections, asthma, and developmental delays, which can cause lifelong […]