10 TIPS TO IMPROVE KIDS IMMUNITY THIS WINTER:

10 TIPS TO IMPROVE KIDS IMMUNITY THIS WINTER:

I`m sure you would have already taken out the woolens for your little ones. You have already started instructing them to avoid ice-cream & cold water. But still you are worried to improve the immunity of your child as each year we not only face the cough & cold but some new allergy or infections also.

Here are  10 tried and tested traditional ways (scientifically verified) which has been here for generations, to help your child have a good immunity shield to fight diseases:

1.     GO COLORFUL – fill your child`d plate with colorful seasonal veggies. And winter is ideal season for getting large variety of veggies. You have green leafy vegetables, cabbage, turnip, onion, broccoli, carrot, tomato, beans, peas, the list is endless. If your child screams at sight of them then try out dishes like stuffed parathas, pakodas, salads, pasta, sandwiches, tehri, soups, cutlets , omlette, chilla , uttapam, poha, upma & more.

2.     LOVE THE CARROT-Use ample amount of carrot as it is a good source of antioxidant & beta-carotene, try making- Halwa, juice, salad, carrot fingers, sandwich.

3.     ONION & GARLIC IN DIET -These also contain antioxidants, crush them & use in curries, soups & pasta where they are hard to be picked & thrown by kids.

4.     DRY FRUITS KICK THE POWER-Dry fruits are rich in Vitamin E & minerals. Use them in puddings, kheer, porridge, badam milk & cakes .

5.     BONE BROTH IS A MIRACLE – if your kids are non vegetarian, you must give them bone broth during winters, it`s easy to make (not quick), you can use it in soups & curries, it protects kids from cold.

6.     SLEEP LITTLE BABY- Proper sleep is essential for immune system throughout the year. In general kids require 10-12 hour sleep daily.

7.     DAILY MASSAGE- Daily oil massage during winters is an old Indian tradition running in most families. Massage improves immunity in kids.

8.     WARM WATER- During winters give kids warm water to drink. Keep boiled water in a flask & use it throughout the day. Also ensure hot drinks like hot milk with turmeric, hot milk with dry fruit powder, soups etc.

9.     WASH YOUR HANDS- make it a family ritual to wash hands with antiseptic soap whenever you come back to house from outdoor. This small change would go a long way in general health of the family.

10.  TOP UP WITH SUNLIGHT- Sunlight is the biggest source of Vitamin D which no other supplement can substitute. Vitamin D helps in calcium absorption, hence sun bath makes bones & teeth stronger, apart from improving the immunity.

So go out in the sun, play with the kids & don`t forget to take the healthy snack basket with you.

Have healthy & funfilled winters.   

8 WAYS OF TEACHING KIDS TO VALUE FREEDOM

8  WAYS OF TEACHING KIDS TO VALUE FREEDOM

It`s AUGUST- THE INDEPENDENCE MONTH. All the schools and parents plan to celebrate it in their own creative ways..fancy dress, craft, flag making , folk dances...I feel though celebrating freedom is important , it`s equally important to teach our little one`s why freedom is so precious and why they should avoid any trap that can take away their freedom in any form. Here are a few ways to do the same

• Switch off the NET- we used to read as kids -" technology is a good servant but bad master" . Today i see most of the kids spend their free time with technology, they crave for it, and they are addicted to it. It has started showing in their behavior that they no more play with these devices....now these devices are controlling our kids. Don`t let it happen. Once in a while specially AUGUST..ask kids to switch off all internet devices else these devices would take away their freedom..Controlling their urges, emotions, time, behavior & mind. 

• Avoid commercial trap - most often the commercial advertisements make kids their easy target, forcing kids to compel their elders to buy those unhealthy..useless things just for a free gift or to make them smarter, taller, fairer as promised . Explain your kids this is also a way to lose your freedom..teach them to make choices based on their needs and logic not because of a catchy ad..believe me this Z & alpha generation knows logic better than us...just facilitate them.

• Freedom has a price called self-reliance - So they want to have freedom..great..give it ...their own room to start off but them keeping that room clean and tidy is their responsibility, no help.  0-8 years of child development, are crucial to teach them self reliance. Avoid doing anything for your child which he/she is able to do as per their age. You`ll be amazed how happy your child would be to be self reliant..only if you let them with patience.

• Stories and tales of freedom- I grew with stories of great freedom fighters told to me by my Dadi, Nani and my mother. This had a lot of impact on me, on how much i value freedom. Tell them stories which give a message that freedom is not free; it was fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.

• Creative ways - There are a lot of creative ways to teach value of freedom to kids. Ask them to write story on a picture with a girl releasing a bird from cage, to write on how they would feel if they were taken away the right to education. Ask them to recite a poem on freedom, making a collage on freedom fighters of India. For elder kid try a practical project on RTI.  

• Trip to cantonment- if possible take them on a trip to Cantonment, make them talk to soldiers, see pictures, to let them know how they guard the nation in adverse conditions so that we can have freedom.

• Right to Freedom but Duty? - Freedom is not just a right but duty is the other side of the coin. Teach them to respect other person`s freedom as well.  Let them wait for their turn till the first person has completed their speech, waiting for their turn on a swing, keeping our city clean, saving energy are all duties associated with freedom. Not to mention, you have to teach all this by being a role model yourself.

• Watch movie on freedom fighters- Get some freedom fighters movie CDs and watch together. Have a talk after the movie about freedom and it`s value.

So this August don`t feel contended by teaching your kids about colors in "TIRANGA"...teach them the value of freedom. And in process, may be you`ll also recall some....

5 WAYS TO RAISE A WELL ORGANISED KID

5 WAYS TO RAISE A WELL ORGANISED KID

1.     DAILY PLAN: Prepare a daily schedule with mutual consent. Suggest your child to keep the time for study when is mind is fresh, TV time can be negotiated but fixed duration. Include meal and reading time. Saturday can be revision day and Sunday can be a free play day.

2.     ROLE MODEL: if you want the child to be well organized...first check yourself. Kids learn what they see not what they are told to do.

3.     FLEXIBILITY: allow flexibility in case of sudden changes eg. b day party, guest etc. , don`t make it a military camp. Check your goals weekly, allow some daily flexibility.

4.     21 DAYS: follow the magical 21 days trick (it works on all age groups), decide on an award if the child follows schedule for 21 days.. then it`ll be a habit.

5.     REVIEW: Review hits & misses at the end of the month, make changes. 

HAPPY PARENTING ...

7 CHANGES TO RAISE SMARTER KIDZ

7 SIMPLE CHANGES IN DAILY LIFE TO MAKE KIDS SMARTER

1. KEEP LEARNING - Show them that learning something new keeps one ahead ...a new skill, new art, new music, new game, new friendz...anything & everything.

2.FIXED SCHEDULE - Kids feel secure and confident when they know what is the routine. A regular time for Eating, Reading, Sleeping would make life smoother for both of you.

3. KNOW THE NEWS OF THE DAY- read newspaper, online news or on TV... have a discussion on top 5 news of the day.

4. NO BACK BITING- be a role model , show them that gossiping is not a natural process , use your time for better options like, reading, gardening etc.

5. CREATE A POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE- kids learn from us, if they see us struggling with stress...believe me..coping with stress would be a problem to them as they grow. Show them that every problem has a solution, only it may take some time for you, to find one.

6. HAVING FUN- add lots of masti maza in your daily routine, jus jumping on dancing suddenly on a commercial break, making funny faces, innovate ... ...

7. GO ON A DATE - yap go out on a date with your child, just one child and you at a time...you`ll have a better connect and would get to know them better as individual. Kids also get a feeling of importance.

WARNING- trying these steps may lead a sudden rise in your kidz smartness quotient.

8 DAILY POSITIVE PARENTING RULES

8 DAILY POSITIVE PARENTING RULES:

A child's feeling of self confidence and self worth plays a major role in
 shaping his future personality and behavior. It affects their choice of 
peer group, social behavior, and academic performance. A child 
having a positive self image is ready to face all life challenges. Hence it 
is very important to handle your kids self esteem with utmost care.

Here some tips to boost self worth in your child through positive 
parenting:

1.     Refrain from shouting and name calling.

2.     Do not comment in general tagging them as “slow” 
“disobedient” , always speak about the immediate  mistake  
and it`s corrections.

3.     Shower a lot of praise and appreciation for their little efforts.

4.     Allow them to make mistakes, there`s no long term learning 

without mistakes.

5.     Promote independent and responsible behavior by being 

a role model.

6.     Foster in them, ability to cope stress and make decisions.

7.     Never compare them with other children.

8.     Quality time and appreciation is the best gift you can

 give to your child.

7 WAYS TO GIVE FREE TIME TO OUR BUSY KIDZZZ…

             7 WAYS TO GIVE FREE TIME TO OUR BUSY KIDZZZ…

Do you also feel that in our daily life today, we have no time to give a hugs or cuddle to our kids. Since morning are busy making kids ready for school ...till night when they pack their bag and go to bed... for reading time...have we started missing that personal touch?

Oh going to school is important...so is disciplined eating and sleeping time...homework & Tuition….Dance or Music class or Cricket class... what about relaxing time???

Do we allow free time to our kids today...their own time, where they can throw their bags….run around in the house without being nagged….or…watch sunset with us…when did both of you had a good laugh??

Here are few easy ways to squeeze in some free time for kids into our busy routine:

1.   Mutual decision – decide on after school activities mutually. Review regularly to see that kids are feeling overburdened, and then redesign the routine.

2.    Bunk it – when they have settled down to routine...giving an occasional break from tuition or after-school activity, to just be at home can be refreshing for them & you too.

3.    Go unplanned- so you planned for evening dance class, she wants to have an ice-cream rather…get two for both of you...chat and drop in late for dance class …apologize to teacher & move on…

4.     Just two of you- go on a date with your child…one parent with one child at a time…it works.

5.     Late night movie- early to bed …can take a break on Saturdays, and both of you can enjoy a movie till late night. A pillow fight can be a bonus …

6.     Pajama chai party- get up this Sunday , brush…and drive with kids to nearest tea stall for morning cuppa & bread butter together, (in pajamas ..Strictly)

7.     Socialize on festivals/ holidays- a joint family get-together can be a real stress buster for both of you.

Try to use few of these every week…and see the change…

HAPPY PARENTING