Tag: Parenting

Posted in Food

Healthy Eating during Exams – Easy Tips

Posted on by happyheartforever

Healthy Eating during Exams!

Healthy Eating during Exams, with exams approaching, healthy snacking is the last thing a student thinks of. It’s easy to get into the habit of quick coffee and take-way pizza, because you don’t want to waste time on dining in detail. But, actually, good nutrition should be part of a students study plan because it’s going to help him ace those tests. 

Remember the rule:

The better the fuel your brain gets, the better you’ll study.

Healthy Eating during Exams, with exams approaching, healthy snacking is the last thing a student thinks of. But, actually, good nutrition should be part of a students study plan because it’s going to help him ace those tests.
Healthy Eating during Exams, with exams approaching, healthy snacking is the last thing a student thinks of. But, actually, good nutrition should be part of a students study plan because it’s going to help him ace those tests. Photo by Giftpundits.com from Pexels

Whether you are a student or mother of a student preparing for his exams, these tips will help you build healthy eating habits during exams. 

Here are 10 tips for eating right during exams:

  1. Meeting daily vitamin and mineral requirements will make doing your best much easier. Iron and Vitamin B are especially important to maintaining the physical and mental energy necessary to study well. Iron-containing foods : red meat, cereals and spinach. Some foods that contain B vitamins are: whole-grains, wheat germ, eggs and nuts. Some other foods that provide nutrients to the brain are Fish and soy. 
  2. Food is always a better choice than Dietary supplements. So try to replace Vitamin C tablet with an orange. An orange contains not only Vitamin C, but also fiber, beta carotene and other minerals. Fruit ranks high among the best foods you can eat for your brain. The natural sugars in fruit offer clean energy, so you don’t experience the crash that follows consumption of refined sugar. Blueberries (which can be bought frozen in bags) get a lot of attention because they contain powerful antioxidants and other nutrients.  When you’re heading for the library or to your room, pack whole-food items like apples, bananas, carrot sticks or a handful of dry fruits.
  3. Eating regular meals helps keep nutrients and energy levels more stable. It reduces the temptation of empty-calorie snacks in the vending machine. Eat at regular intervals.
  4. Consider taking 5 or 6 well-balanced, smaller meals. Big meal stays in your stomach. Eating the standard three-big-meals-a-day slows you down mentally and physically. A sandwich or some fruits could do the magic. Fresh fruits, fruit smoothies, dry fruits, honey-coated nuts, soups, interesting salads etc are good options.
  5. Meet for breakfasts. Meet your study buddies during morning hours. If you feel like having a snack break, breakfast is a good time. Oats, Muesli, Upma, Khichdi, Idli etc are great options with a low glycemic index which provide a constant and steady supply of glucose.
  6. Hydration is the main thing to care for. When you sit in the comfort of your room and probably with your AC on, you do not feel thirsty and hence end up drinking less fluids. When dehydrated, the body and mind are dazed, restless. It is hard to concentrate on studies. Choose your beverages well. Reduce caffeine, sugar intake. Since too much caffeine can make you jittery, try to drink moderate amounts: 400 to 450 mg per day, the equivalent of 2/2.5 cups, (16 to 20 ounces or 500 to 625 ml). Better choices include water, fruit juice, milk, antioxidant rich green tea, milkshakes, fresh soups, lemonade, lassi and coconut water. Avoid aerated beverages. Have at least 8-10 glasses of water per day.
  7. Choose power packed vegetables. Not all vegetables are created equal. Use the hint – the darker the color, the higher the concentration of nutrients. Spinach has more nutrients for mind and body than lettuce. 
  8. Snack smartly while studying and you may find that you retain more. Try to get two food groups into your snacks to balance the nutrients and keep your blood-sugar level stable. Eat healthy snacks in between meals like protein bars, fresh fruits, peanuts, makhana and roasted chana etc. specially when you are studying till late at night.
  9.  It’s easy to feed the brain well. Gather simple recipes for nourishing foods. Brain boosting foods include foods that improve memory and concentration like almond walnuts, fish, flax seeds, banana, chickpeas, spinach, broccoli, etc.
  10. Avoid junk food. Foods like chocolate, cookies etc can cause a sudden spike in sugar levels in the blood. After a while, when the stomach feels empty it could lead to craving for more such junk food.

Healthy Eating during Exams!

Thank you for staying till the 10th tip. Extra 6 important suggestions for you to make your exam time less stressful.

  1. Feed yourself with good eight hours of sleep. Sleep is important. Good sleep is as good for your brain as food for the body. Lesser sleep can interfere with learning ability, causes mood swings and compromise your immune system.
  2. Keep yourself away from electronic devices.Take out an hour everyday for some recreational activity to keep yourself happy and motivated.
  3. Make sure you get your stress-buster foods. During stressful times like exams, the body’s requirement for certain water-soluble vitamins like Vitamin B complex and C, minerals like zinc goes up. These help in the synthesis and functioning of adrenal hormones that are basically our stress-fighting hormones. Brown rice, nuts, eggs, fresh veggies and fruits can help.
  4. Give yourself foods to increase efficiency of the brain: Antioxidants like Vitamins A, C and E reduce damage to brain cells due to increased stress by fighting the free radicals. Eggs, fish, carrots, pumpkins, green leafy veggies, fresh fruits  can help meet this requirement. They also help increase the body’s immunity and help reduce chances of the child falling sick during exams.
  5. Don’t miss out on memory enhancer foods. Omega 3 fatty acids found mainly in fish are required to enhance brain function and memory. It is recommended that you have at least two servings of Salmon (rawas fish), herring (bhing) or mackerel (bangda) per week. For restricting calories, they are best eaten grilled, shallow fried with very little oil or baked. If you do not eat fish or do not have access to good fish, add ground flax seeds (alsi), pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds (til), soya bean oil, canola oil to your diet. Omega 3 fatty acid supplements are also available.
  6. Avoid eating outside food during exams. Exams being times for high-stress and low-immunity, children are highly prone for infections. So, avoid eating outside food as much as possible. 

Healthy Eating during Exams!

Examples of some healthy options for healthy eating during Exams and preparations for competitive exams.

BreakfastOats, Muesli, Upma, Khichdi, Idlis,eggs, poha, idlis, dosa, dhokla
Smaller mealsred meat, cereals and spinach, whole-grains, wheat germ, eggs and nuts, Fish and soy, Brown rice, nuts, eggs, fresh veggies and fruits, carrots, pumpkins, ground flax seeds (alsi), pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds (til), soya bean oil, canola oil, milk and milk products, sprouts, tofu, chicken, healthy nuts in combination with healthy cereals like dalia, oats, quinoa, and whole wheat products.
Snacksapples, bananas, carrot sticks or a handful of dry fruits, Fresh fruits, fruit smoothies, dry fruits, honey-coated nuts, soups, interesting salads,protein bars, fresh fruits, peanuts, makhana and roasted chana, milk and milk products, sprouts, tofu, eggs, chicken, fish, healthy nuts in combination with healthy cereals like dalia, oats, quinoa, and whole wheat products.
For hydrationwater, fruit juice, milk, antioxidant rich green tea, milkshakes, fresh soups, lemonade, lassi and coconut water. 
Food that you can avoidchocolate, cookies, aerated drinks, fast food, heavy and oily meals
Examples of some healthy options for healthy eating during Exams and preparations.

Eating healthy, adequate rest and proper sleep are the key for fresh and healthy mind which makes retaining the knowledge easier.

All the best.

Also read 8 ways to discipline without spanking

9 tips for spending quality time with your child

What should be the parent’s role in a child’s life?

Posted in Happy parenting

Is Physical Punishment OK?

Posted on by happyheartforever

Physical punishment involves the use of physical force with the intention of causing a child to experience bodily pain or discomfort so as to correct or punish the child’s behavior. This includes spanking, hitting, pinching, paddling, whipping, slapping, and so on.  

Is Physical Punishment OK?

Is hitting a Child Ever OK? It is a big question for every parent. I wrote this question as a poll in different social sights and I found that thankfully a views are not much towards spanking.   Views vary sharply, with very little common ground. No one wants to scold or hit their child for fun. This question rises when it comes to child discipline, and just about everyone has a strong and often emotional opinion.

While most people deny the use of physical punishment as a form of child discipline, more people do spank their kids than they let on.

Most define spanking as any physical contact that involves striking a child for the purpose of stopping a behavior or action or getting their attention.

Views of physical punishment opposers:

Most child psychologists, pediatricians, so-called parenting experts, educators and middle-class parents oppose physical punishment as according to them:

  • Spanking can cause life-long emotional damage to a child. 
  • Sometimes it can cause physical damage as well.
  • Hitting a child teaches them to become violent adults.

 Plus, spanking opponents argue, there are plenty of other ways to discipline a child who is acting inappropriately.

Views of supporters of physical punishment: 

Supporters of spanking are often the ones who think that if they as children have been disciplined through spanking, it is OK to do the same with their children too. 

  • Supporters say that spanking, when used appropriately, creates a better sense of discipline and doing the right thing in children. 
  • Proponents also argue that occasionally spanking a child who is acting unsafely or terribly does not make them child abusers or parents with anger problems. 
  • They also point to how well-behaved their child is, especially compared with out-of-control, disrespectful and tantrum-prone youngsters whose parents keep threatening them with “time-outs” or “going to bed early” without changing the behavior.

Who Uses Physical Punishment as a Form of Child Discipline Today?

It’s hard to know exactly what percentage of parents or caregivers (like grandparents) actually spank a child, because many who do, don’t admit to it. 

But essentially, people who spank, at least occasionally, include:

  1. Caregivers from older generations, who were spanked as children and believe that they turned out to be absolutely fine.
  2. Grandparents and even older parents whose parents spanked them appropriately indicate they remember the experience, and as a result, effectively learned to not repeat the same inappropriate child action again.
  3. Parents of multiple young children, who spank but usually refer to it as an occasional “smack” or “slap” rather than spanking. These parents indicate that they only correct their children this way only when it involves an inherent danger to a child (themselves or others. An example of this is a parent who smacks a child’s hand who is about to touch a hot stove.
  4. Caregivers (parents or any adults) may also spank a child when, after being disciplined using another method, deliberately repeat the same behavior, as if to antagonize the parent. An example is a child who runs through a store (yes, it happens) and pulls things down from shelves, after being told not too repeatedly. 

Why Is This Such an Emotional Issue?

Child Protective Services or even the police have been called to investigate situations where an adult spanks a child in public. Well-meaning adults may intervene when the situation may or may not call for it. There is a fine line and considerable judgment involved when a spanking becomes abuse.

Parental rage, brought on by an out-of-control child, can result in horrible and tragic results. At the same time, a swat on the backside to stop a really bad behavior isn’t abuse, although some may still insist it is.

Is Physical Punishment OK?

Until the last 10 to 20 years (depending on the school), corporal punishment was routinely used in the classroom to put an immediate halt to inappropriate behaviors. 

Now, most, if not all, schools ban the use of corporal punishment and even designate their stance opposing it in their informational handbooks.

Whether or not you strongly oppose any type of physical punishment, support it in very limited cases, or like many parents, publicly decline its use but privately have used it at least once on a defiant or out-of-control child, the controversy surrounding it isn’t likely to end for generations to come.

If you have a strong opinion about physical punishment of any type and under any circumstances with a child, be sure to convey that to your child’s caregivers (family providers, nannies, babysitters, or friends). At the same time, be prepared to indicate what alternative measures you permit.

Too many previously successful child care arrangements have ended because of a lack of communication about allowable child care discipline strategies. And, if your parents spanked you on occasion but you adamantly oppose it with your child, don’t just assume the child’s grandparents will just know your position. Get it out in the open before they take on child care duties.

If hitting a child is not wrong, then nothing is wrong. 

8 Alternative ways to Discipline without Spanking

Posted in Happy parenting

Discipline Alternatives to Physical Punishment

Posted on by happyheartforever

Discipline Alternatives to physical punishment. Physical punishment is a major public health problem in this country. Approximately 60 percent of adults still approve of physical punishment, despite compelling evidence that it does not work, it makes things worse, and there are effective alternatives.  

Discipline Without Physical Punishment - 8 Alternative Ways

Spanking is a euphemism for hitting. One is not permitted to hit one’s spouse or a stranger. Why in the world should one be permitted to hit a smaller and even more vulnerable child?  

Studies show that children who are hit identify with the aggressor and are more likely to become hitters themselves, i.e., bullies and future abusers of their children and spouses. They tend to learn to use violent behavior as a way to deal with disputes.   

Is hitting a Child Ever OK? 

Hitting is one of the most widely debated and sensitive parenting topics. While most pediatricians and parenting experts don’t recommend spanking. But still majority of parents around the world admit to spanking their kids. We can include spanking, hitting, pinching, paddling, whipping, slapping, swats, smacks, the popping of the hands on head as different forms of physical punishment.

Discipline Alternatives

It is a big question for every parent. This question rises when it comes to child discipline, and just about everyone has a strong and often emotional opinion.

For many parents, slapping can feel like the fastest and most effective way to change a child’s behavior. And it often works in the short-term. But, studies show corporal punishment has long-term consequences for kids.

8 Discipline Alternatives

If you’re looking for alternative ways to Physical Punishment, these are eight ways to discipline your child without slapping.

1. It’s Time-Out

There are lots of ways to discipline children without spanking them.

Hitting kids for misbehavior (especially aggression) sends a mixed message. Your child will wonder why it’s OK for you to hit your child but not OK for your child to hit her sister.

Time-out can be used as a better alternative. But in order for time-out to be effective, kids need to have plenty of positive time-in with their parents. Then, when they’re removed from the situation, the lack of attention will be uncomfortable and that discomfort could remind them to behave better in the future.

If it is done properly the child will learn to calm himself down, which is a useful life skill.

2. Ignore Mild Misbehavior

You can ignore attention-seeking behavior. Selective ignoring can actually be more effective than spanking.This doesn’t mean you should look the other way if your child is doing something dangerous or inappropriate. 

It just means don’t pay attention to their activities. When your child tries to get attention by whining or complaining, don’t give it to him. Look the other way, pretend you can’t hear him, and don’t respond.

Then, when he asks nicely or he behaves, return your attention to him. Over time, he’ll learn that polite behavior is the best way to get your attention.  

8 Discipline Alternatives

3. Take Away Privileges

Although hitting hurts for a minute or two, taking away a privilege hurts longer. Take away the TV, video games, his favorite toy or a fun activity for the day and he’ll have a reminder not to repeat that mistake.

Make it clear when the privileges can be earned back. Usually, 24 hours is long enough to teach your child to learn from his mistake.

So you might say, “You’ve lost your time to play with your favorite toy for the rest of the day but you can earn it back tomorrow by picking up your toys the first time I ask.”

4. Teach New Skills

One of the main problems with spanking is that it doesn’t teach your child how to behave better. Spanking your child because he threw a temper tantrum, won’t teach him how to calm himself down the next time he’s upset.

Kids benefit from learning how to problem-solve, manage their emotions and compromise. When parents teach these skills it can greatly reduce behavior problems. Use discipline that is aimed at teaching, not punishing. 

8 Discipline Alternatives

5. Provide Logical Consequences

Logical consequences are a great way to help kids who are struggling with specific behavior problems. Logical consequences are specifically tied to the misbehavior. 

For example, if your child doesn’t eat his dinner, don’t let him have a bedtime snack. Or if he refuses to pick up his trucks, don’t allow him to play with them for the rest of the day.

Linking the consequence directly to the behavior problem helps kids see that their choices have direct consequences. 

6. Allow for Natural Consequences

Natural consequences allow children to learn from their own mistakes.  For example, if your child says he’s not going to wear a jacket, let him go outside and get cold—as long as it’s safe to do so.

Use natural consequences when you think your child will learn from his own mistakes. Monitor the situation to ensure that your child won’t experience any real danger.

8 Discipline Alternatives

7. Reward Good Behavior

Instead of spanking a child for misbehavior, reward him for good behavior. For example, if your child fights with his siblings often, set up a reward system to motivate him to get along better with them.

Providing an incentive to behave can turn around misbehavior fast. Rewards help kids to focus on what they need to do to earn privileges, rather than emphasize the bad behavior they’re supposed to avoid.

8. Praise Good Behavior

Prevent behavior problems by catching your child being good. For example, when he’s playing nicely with his siblings, point it out. Say, “You are doing such a good job sharing and taking turns today.”

When there are several children in the room, give the most attention and praise to the children who are following the rules and behaving well. Then, when the other child begins to behave, give him praise and attention as well.

Posted in परवरिश में मददगार टिप्स

गृह कार्य का उद्देश्य क्या है?

Posted on by happyheartforever

क्या आपको लगता है आपके बच्चे को गृह कार्य करने में परेशानी हो रही है?  यदि हां तो जाने की गृह कार्य देने का उद्देश्य क्या होता है- 

क्या आपको लगता है आपके बच्चे को गृह कार्य करने में परेशानी हो रही है? यदि हां तो जाने की गृह कार्य देने का उद्देश्य क्या होता है-
गृह कार्य होमवर्क क्यों दिया जाता है?

होमवर्क या गृह कार्य क्यों दिया जाता है?

गृह कार्य देना या ना देना स्कूल या शिक्षक या अन्य किसी स्थानीय दृष्टिकोण पर आधारित होता है 

 कुछ शिक्षक  दूसरी कक्षा तक बच्चों को होमवर्क नहीं देते हैं

जबकि कुछ किंडर गार्डन में गृह कार्य देना आरंभ करते हैं

 कुछ शिक्षक होमवर्क बनाते हैं जबकि अन्य पहले से तैयार वर्कशीट का  उपयोग करते हैं

अभिभावक अपने बच्चों का गृह कार्य ना करें

 अधिकांश शिक्षक गृह कार्य का उपयोग यह जानने के लिए करते है कि बच्चा क्या और कितना जानता है

  वे नहीं चाहते कि माता-पिता अपने बच्चों का होमवर्क करें

शिक्षक अभिभावकों से आशा रखते हैं कि अभिभावक सुनिश्चित करें कि होमवर्क पूरा हो गया है

यदि  अभिभावकों को कोई गलती नजर आए तो वे उसकी समीक्षा करें 

अपने बच्चों का प्रयोजन कार्य / प्रोजेक्ट ना करें

 शिक्षक नहीं चाहते कि माता-पिता अपने बच्चों का प्रयोजन कार्य/ प्रोजेक्ट बनाएं

 अपितु वे चाहते हैं कि माता-पिता अपने बच्चों का मार्गदर्शन करें और प्रोजेक्ट में लगने वाली आवश्यक वस्तुओं का प्रबंध करें

आप चाहे तो इसके बारे में शिक्षक से जानकारी लेकर अपने बच्चे के साथ इसकी समीक्षा करें

गृह कार्य एवं रोज की पढ़ाई करने के लिए घर का कोई एक स्थान निश्चित करें

 सभी बच्चों को एक ही चीज की जरूरत होती है और वह है एक साफ-सुथरी जगह

 लेकिन ध्यान रखें कि प्रत्येक बच्चा अलग तरीके से काम करता है

 कुछ अपना काम रसोई की मेज पर तो कुछ अपने कमरे की डेस्क पर करना पसंद करते हैं

स्वभाव को देखते हुए उसके बैठक की जगह और समय सुनिश्चित करें

 कुछ बच्चे स्कूल के ठीक बाद होमवर्क करना पसंद करते हैं

दूसरों को एक लंबे समय के ब्रेक की आवश्यकता होती है

कुछ बच्चों को  शाम को कुछ नाश्ता करने के बाद होमवर्क करना पसंद आता है

 यदि आपका बच्चा स्कूल से आने के बाद अन्य किसी  क्लासेस के लिए जाता है तो होमवर्क करने का कोई एक समय निर्धारित कर ले

 आप जो भी दिनचर्या चुनते हैं अपने बच्चे को उसके अनुसार कार्य करने में  मार्गदर्शन करें

जाने कि आपका बच्चा  कैसे सबसे अच्छा अध्ययन करता है

उदाहरण के लिए, 

  • कुछ बच्चे शब्दों को वर्तनी लिखकर 
  •  दूसरे उसे आंखें बंद करके और उन्हें चित्रित करके उन्हें जोर से कहते हुए सीखेंगे 
  • बच्चों को अध्ययन के लिए एक अनुकूल वातावरण की आवश्यकता होती है
  •  कुछ बच्चे  संगीत सुनना चाहते हैं
  • कुछ को और के बीच में ही रह कर पढ़ने से मदद मिलती है 

 बच्चों को अनुकूल वातावरण चाहिए

 अपने बच्चे के व्यक्तित्व के अनुसार आप उन्हें घर का वातावरण  दे

अपने बच्चे के साथ है, मगर आसपास मंडे राय नहीं

 यह ध्यान रखें कि यह उनका कार्य है, आपका नहीं

आप उनके लिए तब उपलब्ध रहें जब उन्हें आपकी जरूरत हो

  एक्सपर्ट्स के अनुसार

एक आदर्श सेटअप में माता पिता अपना काम करते रहेंगे और बच्चा पास ही बैठा अपना ग्रह कार्य कर रहा होगा

लेकिन यह हमेशा संभव नहीं है

कई बार माता-पिता के पास अपने काम होते हैं

 उन्हें काम के सिलसिले में  घर से बाहर जाना पड़ता है या फिर मां को खाना पकाने के लिए रसोई में रहना होता है

यदि आप घर पर हैं तो अपने बच्चे को बताएं कि आप सहायता के लिए उपलब्ध है पर आप साथ में अपना भी काम कर रहे हैं

 यदि आप घर पर उपलब्ध नहीं है तो सुनिश्चित करें की एक विश्वसनीय वयस्क वहां हो जो कि आवश्यकता पड़ने पर बच्चे को होमवर्क में मार्गदर्शन दे सके

 यह भी याद रखें कि हर होमवर्क एक समान नहीं होता  इसलिए हर चीज पर आपके ध्यान की आवश्यकता नहीं होती

 मीडिया एक्स्पोज़र को सीमित  करें

जब आपका बच्चा होमवर्क करता है तो टीवी बंद कर दें। जब तक किसी जानकारी के लिए कंप्यूटर की आवश्यकता ना हो उसे भी बंद रखें

  बच्चे के होमवर्क शुरू करने से पहले आप उससे पूछ सकते हैं कि उसे अपना कार्य करने में कितना समय लगेगा

 याद रखें यदि कमरे में आप टीवी देख रहे हैं तो आपके बच्चे का ध्यान गृह कार्य में नहीं लगेगा

शिक्षक को बताएं कि आपने अपने बच्चे के गृह कार्य में उसकी कितनी मदद की है

यदि आपके बच्चे को अतिरिक्त सहायता की आवश्यकता है या वास्तव में कुछ समझ में नहीं आया है तो शिक्षक को बताएं 

शिक्षक को सूचना देने के लिए आप निम्नलिखित तरीके अपना सकते हैं

  •  असाइनमेंट पर लिखें की कार्य अभिभावक की मदद से किया गया है  
  • डायरी में लिखे या अलग से नोट कॉपी में लगा दे 

शिक्षकों द्वारा होमवर्क करने के कई उद्देश्य हो सकते हैं

  • जिसमें अभ्यास करवाना या
  • देखना कि बच्चा कितना सीख चुका है
  • उसे किन  विषयों में मदद की आवश्यकता है मूलभूत कारण होते हैं

इस अद्भुत यात्रा में आप सभी को शुभकामनाएँ। 

यदि यह सुझाव आपको अपना उत्तर खोजने में मदद करते हैं तो कृपया पोस्ट को लाइक करें और कमेंट करें

 यदि प्रिंटिंग से संबंधित आपका कोई और प्रश्न है तो उसे भी कमेंट बॉक्स में लिख सकते हैं

To read in English: What the point of homework?

Posted in Schooling

Is Playschool Education Necessary?

Posted on by happyheartforever
Should you send your child to a playschool? Here's what you should consider before making the decision.
Is Playschool Education Necessary?

Should you send your child to a playschool? Here’s what you should consider before making the decision.


A few decades ago, the concept of playschools in India was unheard of, and few children, if any, attended playschool. Still, everyone grew up into mature, sensible, well read and well-spoken adults. Now however it seems as if every parent sends their pre-nursery child off to a playschool.

Most playschools in India are privately owned, and expensive. If you are wondering whether to send your child to a playschool or not, here’s what you should consider before making a decision.

Time

Do you have a lot of time that you can devote to your child?

If both you and your spouse are working and you don’t have a lot of spare time, you may not be around to teach your child much – with the result that when your child starts school he may lag behind his classmates who have attended playschool. However, if one spouse is a stay-at-home parent and has the time to attend to the children and teach them, you could consider not sending your child to a playschool. Remember that very young children too have an incredible ability to learn. Their brains are remarkably sharp, and it makes sense to put them in an environment conducive to learning at this young age.

Playschool Education – Academic routine

When deciding which playschool to send your child to, try and find something that isn’t very academically inclined. Your child shouldn’t be struggling, trying to learn something like math at such a young age. Instead, find a play school that focuses on letting a child have fun while learning.

Playschool Education – Social opportunities

Play schools also provide an opportunity for children to socialize with other children. In addition, he will also gradually get used to the concept of a classroom in an informal manner, making his transition into school that much easier. So, if you live in an isolated neighborhood or in a place where there are not many other children your child’s age, it makes sense to send your child to playschool. Your child will learn to interact with numerous children at a young age.

Yes, the social benefits of sending your child to playschool are undeniable, but don’t expect miracles. If your child is shy, sending him to playschool will not automatically transform him into a confident person. In addition, you may find that there are other ways to help your child socialize. If you have membership to your local club for example, you could consider enrolling your child in sports.

Routine

Sending your child to a playschool helps ease him into a routine earlier on. However, remember that even if your child doesn’t go to playschool initially, 12-14 years of schooling followed by college will get him accustomed to a routine anyway. Whether or not he continues with the discipline depends on his innate nature and the job he takes up – and not on whether he has been to playschool or not.

What’s the point of homework?

Happy childhood is every child’s right.

All the best wishes to you on this amazing journey. This will surely give us an easy life.

If these tips help you in finding your answer, please comment. You can also comment, if you are having any other questions related to parenting. 

Posted in Schooling

What’s the point of homework?

Posted on by happyheartforever

Wondering how to help your children with homework — or how to get them to do it without a struggle? Here’s how.

Wondering how to help your children with homework — or how to get them to do it without a struggle? Here's how.

What’s the point of homework?

“Homework is designed to help students reinforce key concepts, process and solidify new information, provide time for extra practice of skills, and reflect on how much they’ve learned,” notes teacher Susan Becker, M.Ed. However, approaches to homework vary from district to district, school to school and teacher to teacher. Some schools don’t give children homework until the 2nd grade, others start in kindergarten. Some teachers create original homework, while other use or modify prepared work sheets.

Don’t do the homework for your child.

Most teachers use homework to find out what the child knows. They do not want parents doing their children’s homework but do want parents to make sure homework is completed and review any mistakes to see what can be learned from them.

Don’t take over your child’s projects.

Teachers do not want parents doing their kids’ projects. Instead, they want parents to support their kids’ learning and make sure they have what they need to accomplish a task. Check with your child’s teacher for his policy and review it with your child.

Set up a good space to work.

All children need the same thing: a clean, well-lit space. But keep in mind that each child may work differently; some will do their work at the kitchen table and others at their desks in their rooms.

Pay attention to your child’s rhythms and help him find the right time to begin his work.

Some children will work best by doing homework right after school; others need a longer break and must run around before tackling the work. Most will need a snack. If your child does after-school activities, set a homework time before or after the activity, or after dinner. Whatever routine you choose, help your child stick to it.

Find out how your child studies best.

“You should find the ways your child likes to study. For example, some kids will learn spelling words by writing them out, others by closing their eyes and picturing them and saying them aloud,” . “The sound environment is also important,” .”Some kids may want to listen to music, some are helped by being in the middle of noise, others need absolute quiet.” These are some of the advises by the experts.

Don’t hover — but stay close by.

Keep in mind that it’s their homework, not yours, but remain available in case you are needed. “The ideal set up would be for a parent to be reading nearby while the child is studying because then you both are doing your educational work together, but that’s not always possible,” says Michael Thompson, Ph.D. “A parent may be working out of the home, or need to be working in the home and cooking dinner. So if you are home, stay close, and if you are not there, have another adult check to make sure it’s going OK. And remember that all homework is not equal, so not everything will need your rapt attention.”

Limit media exposure.

Turn off the TV and the iPod when your child does homework. And the computer too, unless it’s being used for research. You might start by asking how much time he thinks he should spend on this, and negotiate from there. Remember, you have the final word. And keep in mind that if you watch TV when your child can’t, the plan may backfire.

Let the teacher know if you gave your child a lot of homework help.

“If your child needs extra help or truly doesn’t understand something, let the teacher know. Write on the assignment, ‘done with parental help,’ or write a separate note,” advises experts. If your child resists, explain that homework is used to practice what you know and to show the teacher what you need help learning more about — so it’s a parent’s job to let the teacher know.

Happy childhood is every child’s right.

All the best wishes to you on this amazing journey. This will surely give us an easy life.

If these tips help you in finding your answer, please comment. You can also comment, if you are having any other questions related to parenting. 

Posted in Happy parenting

Children need to play, but this doesn’t require toys

Posted on by happyheartforever

Children need to play, but this doesn’t require toys.

Children need to play, but this doesn't require toys. They will explore their environment and examine articles that are interesting to them- from pots to pans to blocks."
“Children need to play, but this doesn’t require toys. They will explore their environment and examine articles that are interesting to them- from pots to pans to blocks.” says Deborah MacNamara, author of “Rest, Play, Grow” a manual for parents.  Before having my son, I was determined!
A Happy childhood is the most precious gift we can give to our child. Photo by Rene Asmussen from Pexels

“Children need to play, but this doesn’t require toys. They will explore their environment and examine articles that are interesting to them- from pots to pans to blocks.” says Deborah MacNamara, author of “Rest, Play, Grow” a manual for parents.  Before having my son, I was determined!

This means that children can find a lot of things to play with at home. they can play with things like cardboard pieces, pots, pans, blocks and many other things.

Children of different ages can use cardboard boxes, plastic bowls and lids, collections of plastic bottle caps, and other “treasures”.

As children grow, their relationships with toys change. While babies are mostly preoccupied with being around the people they are attached to, they can also be content exploring things with their mouths and hands.

As toddlers, they become more and more interested in the exploration of objects. During this stage, the key is to give them access to open-ended things that foster imagination. If we like to provide actual toys, things like building blocks, nesting cups, dolls or stuffed animals are good options.

children don’t need prescribed minimum number of toys to play . They played with each toy longer, allowing them to focus more and play more creatively. Parents should allow their children to gravitate towards the toys or objects that interest them.
A Happy childhood is the most precious gift we can give to our child. Photo by Rene Asmussen from Pexels

Posted in Happy parenting, Toys

Before having my son, I was determined!

Posted on by happyheartforever

Before having my son, I was determined to have a clean, tidy and organised living room 24×7 unlike the ones I had seen, taken over by toys.

But like all the other things I said, I would never do, it was difficult to avoid, once I was a parent. And I am thankful to God for having such a loving and caring family members. My children have always got all their best toys as gifts.

I have always tried to curtail their collection of toys. As a toddler, he had spent most of his time at home, playing with mixing bowl and measuring cups.

Before having my son, I was determined to have a clean living room 24×7.

As I watched him enjoying and playing with gift boxes and wrappings while ignoring the toys inside, I became curious about how many toys kids actually need. So I decided to do some research. Thanks to Google, I got answers to all my questions. 

As a mother, I am putting down all my finding related to toys, parenting, food and everything that a parent need to this blog. This will satisfy your curiosity and save your time.

Before having my son, I was determined to have a clean, tidy and organised house. here are all my finding to satisfy your curiosity and save your time.
As a mother, I am putting down all my finding related to toys, to this blog. This will satisfy your curiosity and save your time.

Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels

Please Do read the part 1, to know the list of  occasions we buy toys.

Do read the part 2, list of mindset while buying the toys.

and Do read Part 3 of 3, Points to keep in mind while taking the final decision at the store.

A Happy childhood is the most precious gift we can give to our child.

Posted in Toys

Why do we buy toys for our children? Part 3 of 3. (final decision)

Posted on by happyheartforever

Why do we buy toys for our children? Part 3 of 3. (Points to keep in mind while taking the final decision at the store.)


Why do we buy toys for our children? Part 3 of 3. (Points to keep in mind while taking the final decision at the store.)

Why do we buy toys for our children?As parents, practically, you don’t need a reason to buy toys. But is it the correct way? 

Please also read Do children need a room full of toys? Rethink.

No, it is not. We cross by the shop and we buy a toy because our child likes those building blocks or cars. 

Do read the part 1, to know the list of  occasions we buy toys.

Do read the part 2, list of mindset while buying the toys.

Part 3 of 3, Points to keep in mind while taking the final decision at the store.

Here we can list the things to keep in mind before paying the bill. As parents, please check:

  • Will this toy help my toddler grow intelligently? I know many parents selecting useful puzzle games, board games like chess, English learner laptop, robot games to help their toddlers grow intelligently.Guiding Puzzle Games :Example: Abacus, Maze Chase, Size Exploration Board & Shape Sorter – This interesting indoor game, help kids use their abilities & get the right shape & order for the toys.
  • Will this toy be serving the purpose or help in the present interests of my child? Parents choose infant and toddler toys based on educational value, child’s interest and also if the toy has an off switch. Educational value will be different for each child. I want to stress that this does not mean academic learning. If a child shows an interest in cooking then a play kitchen would be a good option. If the child is learning to walk then a toy they can push or stand at would be an option.
  • Does the toy serve multiple option?. Try to pick toys that allow for multiple options. A walking toy that has shaped blocks, or a kitchen that has a clock/timer so they start to understand the concept of time.
  • Is the toy safe for the intended child?

Buying specific toys for kids depends on kids interest & toy advantage to the kid growing age. As a parent I would have always decided to buy educational toys & games for my kids which can enhance their learning skills & motivate them to get social as well.Hope these points are of some use to you. Please mention in comments box, if you have any other mindset for buying toys.

A Happy childhood is the most precious gift we can give to our child.

Posted in Toys

Toys*! Why do we buy toys* for our children? Part 2 of 3.

Posted on by happyheartforever

Toys*! Why do we buy toys* for our children? Part 2 of 3. (how do you decide what toys to purchase for your infants and toddlers?)

Why do we buy toys* for our children?As parents, practically, you don’t need a reason to buy a toy. But is it the correct way? 

Please also read Do children need a room full of toys? Rethink.

No, it is not. We cross by the shop and we buy a toy because our child likes those building blocks or cars. 

Do read the part 1, to know the list of  occasions we buy toys*.

Part 2 of 3

Why do we buy toys for our children? Here we can list the mindset while buying the toys. As parents, while purchasing toys, these things are to be kept in mind:

Here we can list the mindset of parents, while purchasing toy or games:

  • Purpose: While purchasing or choosing from a collection of toys*, one should always remember the difference between a toy with no objective and a toy serving an objective. An objective oriented toy will stimulate the senses in a child, giving a chance to explore things around. Example: if your child likes cars or teddy bear, making a collection of the same will not stimulate the senses in the child.

  • Value for Money: With prices for many toys being high because of an associated “brand” value, it is wise to see if the toy really is worth the money paid in terms of entertainment or learning for the child. Check if the toy is relevant for an age as well as cultural perspective. Example: the same kind of board games are offered by many companies. If the packaging or the brand name is making the difference in price, please choose wisely.

  • Simple Toys: In the era of digitization, toys are getting more confusing and complex day by day. The golden rule for young children – the simpler it is, the more likely that they will enjoy it. Complex toys could potentially confuse the child by giving too many inputs simultaneously. So, keep it simple yet challenging.

  • Appeal: Fancy super colorful and filled with imagery could hit the eyes initially, but children are likely to just ignore all this after a couple of times of playing with it. Example: Kinder joy, children buy this chocolate for the excitement of getting the tiny attractions in the package, they play with it, for some time. Then it goes to some corner of the toy box. What will excite them, is the challenge. Classic examples are tops like bey-blades & fidget spinners. This catches the fancy of all older children, because they enjoy the challenges that these toys pose. For the younger children, wooden blocks/toys score really high on this factor of appeal.

  • Age Appropriate: Many a time when the toy is bought, it has all the features that an individual is looking for, but somehow it has not taken the child’s fancy fully. Usually the reason for this is that it may not be age appropriate. In the initial years, every phase for a child is critical, and every age group has some milestones to be fulfilled. So if the toy bought for the child is not appropriate to his or her age, he or she will either: (a) get bored fast if the toy is below their age, or (b) they may get irritated if the toy’s complexity is too much for them to handle. It is always wise to match children’s age to the appropriate toys to make their time joyful and interesting.

  • Safety: For obvious reasons safety is the greatest concern. Sometimes a child puts a toy in his or her month to explore and understand more about it. Unaware of any dangers due to sharp corners, the paint used on the toy, they choose to experiment with the toy. Keeping all this in mind it is necessary to look for preferably CE certified ones or the ones you have checked and assured keeping all the above points in mind.

  • Battery Operated Toys: Battery operated toys are made up of typically metal or plastic. These will obviously need periodic battery replacing. This is not environmentally friendly both in terms of the battery as well as the outer metal/ plastic case. Battery operated toys* also tend to take away the manual element in toys which young children need. Pressing buttons to move cars is less preferable to moving the car around manually. They also need a constant supply of batteries to work. 

  • Discovery and Exploration: While purchasing a toy, ensure it provides ample opportunities to explore and discover. When children start to discover different ways of playing with the toy, then they learn a lot while playing.
  • Why do we buy toys* for our children? Here we can list the mindset while buying the toys*. Buying specific toys for kids depends on kids interest.

Buying specific toys for kids depends on kids interest & toy advantage to the kid growing age.

As a parent I would have always decided to buy educational toys & games for my kids which can enhance their learning skills & motivate them to get social as well.

Why do we buy toys for our children? Part 3 of 3. (final decision)

Hope these points are of some use to you. Please mention in comments box, your mindset for buying toys.

A Happy childhood is the most precious gift we can give to our child.