So This is what the kids are doing in lockdown, at home!

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Now that you are here, I would just say that I hope and wish you are doing fine, your loved ones are safe and healthy, and that you are able to manage your mental, physical and emotional health the best you can.

Things have changed of course, and I am no different.

As someone who is now working from home, managing the work from and at home, and also fully involved with two kids, it's all about a new kind of lifestyle.

If you have followed any of my posts or other blogs, you may have realized that I travel a lot, and by lot, I mean at least a big road trip every two months, if not more frequently. From that to being in the house, within the apartment since the 10th of March 2020 (today as I write this is this it's the 27th of May 2020) and I've already told the kids that once the lockdown is officially over, we still won't really go out for at least a month or maybe more.

So there.......

A lot of parents are using this time to get the kids involved in a host of activities, including different types of online classes, courses and whatnot. Which is great.

And what are we doing? Well, nothing really.... Yes, nothing :) Or rather, the kids are doing and learning a lot by doing nothing :D

Going against the tide, I realized that while most other parents I know are engaging kids in tons of activities, what with so much time on hand, I actually chose to do just the opposite for them. Give them nothing structured.

And before you take offence, let me just be clear that all of this is my way of doing it, my way of letting my girls connect and refresh and learn. Since they are mine, I do get to say what to teach them, and I respect how other parents are using this time for their kids. Just wanted to clear that out first.

So what are we really doing?

Well, here's what...

A lot of reading, a lot lot lot

No kidding, but my home is about 75 percent books, and books are stacked everywhere, from bookshelves till the ceiling to bookshelves in every room to here and there and everywhere, there is never a space in the house where the kids don't have immediate access to books.

And in our case, it helps, what with me and both my girls being such avid readers, that not finding at least 2 books at a time makes us anxious! Not sure if that is really a good thing or not, but that's how it is.

And with so much reading, there's a lot of learning that automatically follows. So, the younger one at 6 has her own blog that she started, where she has already started reviewing books she loved. She also has very easily transitioned to reading very big words and understanding the meanings of her own, or finding them out on her own by referring to a dictionary. Not bad, and makes things much simpler, and interesting!

A lot of communication

With me, and with each other. This is one of those times when the girls are really talking to each other a lot, understanding about things from different perspectives, just thinking their thoughts out loud, sharing information, the older one who is about to turn a teen teaching so much to the younger one just through their regular 'sister chit-chat' as they call it.

And of course they do it all the time with me too. Lucky me!

Learning to read and write a new language

This time, I have taken it upon myself to teach them how to read and write Bangla. I do speak, read and write bengali, even though the way I speak it is not really always correct, and reading bangla for me takes up a lottt of time, but yes, I am glad my ma took the effort to teach me the language and thanks to that, I have been able to read some really amazing literature in its original language (the translations are simply pathetic I realized long back!!!). So, even though it takes me a hundred years to read bangla, I do.

And now I have started teaching the girls the same and it's going at a snail pace yes, but it's happening. I will share about this in a different post some day. The biggest reason why I want them to try and learn to read and write bangla is of course to be able to read the books, what else ;)

Becoming independent

With so much to handle, of course the girls are trying to help out in their own small bit and see what all they can do without assistance. From cooking to cleaning up to arranging their own clothes and books and cupboards to making their own beds, watering the plants, giving water to plants and all, they are doing it pretty well.

How this will help? It will eventually help them be independent, where they won't really need to rely on anyone else to help out, which is the best way to be, isn't it?

Understanding the concept of earning and saving

Not all chores are done by choice, and sometimes, bribing comes in handy, albeit in different ways ;) So I have set up a system where at the end of the day, I take a look at what all they have done through the day, and depending on the chores, the final result, the willingness and so on, they are given a small amount of money.

This will eventually go in their savings pool for now, which they are free to use up or continue saving. Already they are learning how to calculate how much to earn for a particular something and how much to save up to achieve a target. Not bad either.

Sleeping relaxing resting

It's okay to sleep and relax and be lazy, and sometimes wake up late, or sleep late than the usual bedtime and wake up time that they have been following till now. My younger one has always slept off by 7pm to wake up at 6:30 for school, while the older one has always slept by 9 to wake up by 5:30 for school.

But that's not really needed now, right?

So instead, they do wake up late, they spend more time playing, doing arts and crafts, reading, relaxing, talking and whatever takes up their interest, and then sleep late. And then wake up late. And continue the cycle. And why not? It is important to be rested and relaxed, especially now. Along with other things, mental health is one aspect that everyone needs to be careful about, including for kids. So as long as they are happy, healthy, active and relaxed, I am happy and fine with some lack of routine related to the bedtime.

Lots of art and craft

The girls have always loved arts and crafts very naturally, and it's been a great boon especially now. From canvas painting to creating small art pieces using whatever leftover art supplies they have at home, to making their entire Monopoly Indian edition board game using the cardboard from a washing powder box and re-using paper for making cards to using pista shells as pawns, they did it all on their own.

And I am proud, for I could never have done that. Will share that pic soon one day.

So you see, the not doing anything bit has really been working great for us till now, and the girls are happy. As am I.

Of course there are days when things are tough and there are fights, sulking, tears, but that is natural and how it should be with kids, and with us too, isn't it?

There's always time for routine and discipline and deadlines and more studies and all that chaos we end up filling our lives with, but for now, it's important to let them just breathe. And that's what I am doing with my girls.

Letting them breathe, spread their wings and fly the way they want, even if we are all locked in.

That's the beauty of the imaginary mind after all :)

Take care, stay safe and make sure you take time out to relax too.

Cheers
Debolina Raja

Let your child learn with loads of fun at the British Council Summer Workshop for kids in Mumbai

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The summer vacations are on and the heat is on at home too, what with trying to manage the two kids and completing all the work deadlines.

I am really having a challenging time I tell you!

So it was really interesting to see that the British Council has organized a workshop around this time that will be a week long thing.

Of course my older one is excited and she is looking forward to be a part of it, as well as write about it on her blog once the workshop kicks in. You could also take a look at it here on her blog Little Girl Talks To The World

Here's a look at what all British Council says you can expect to have there at the workshop.

This summer, we bring you theme-based workshops for young learners (8-14 years). The two exciting themes for the workshops are, Explorers and Media Magic.  Here’s what children will learn through the themes: 

Explorers: Through a virtual trip around the world, children will learn about different cultures, develop language skills and build confidence through a lesson about one country each day.

Media Magic: Children will explore communication channels such as the radio, television and the internet. They learn how to write blogs, create an advertisement and even explore ways of using the internet (wisely of course!).

All this and more, as they develop specific skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and aspects of language (vocabulary and pronunciation) in a fun, secure and learner centric environment.

Age Group	Dates	Class timing	Theme
8 to 10 years	21 to 25 May (Mon - Fri)	9 am to 11 am (2 hours each day)	Explorers
11 to 12 years	21 to 25 May (Mon - Fri)	10.30 am to 12.30 am (2 hours each day)	Media Magic
13 to 14 years	21 to 25 May (Mon - Fri)	2 pm to 4 pm (2 hours each day)	Media Magic

Fee: INR 5400 for non-members (includes an online library membership) and INR 4000 for library members.

How To Register: Call 0120-4569000/ 0120-6684353 (Monday-Saturday, 09:00-18:00hrs) or send an e-mail to IndiaCustomerCare@britishcouncil.org. 

So that's all the details and what you need to do if you want to enroll your child in the same. I definitely am looking forward to take my kiddo there and let her be a part of it, as she already has her own blog and is interested in such topics.

Registrations close on Sunday, so do hurry.

- Debolina Raja

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And like I always believe in and say:
'Heal the world we live in
Save it for our children' - MJ

Happy Parenting!!!!

Debolina Raja

Why letting your children get bored is so good!

It's the start of the vacations and I am in a mess....

How can you even pretend to be all organized and in control and all that blah blah when you have a 4 and a 10 year old in the house the entire day?

With work deadlines to be met on time, delicious healthy and appealing home cooked meals to be prepared and just about 1057573497596497 things to be done, (and mind you, no help for the next few weeks as my sweet help also wants to celebrate her kids' vacation time away from the big city) I can tell you the one secret weapon I found that is helping me take care of that big question all parents face when the kids are home - "How To Keep Them Occupied????"

So without the drumrolls, the simplest answer is:

I AM LETTING THEM GET BORED AND FIGURE IT OUT THEMSELVES

Yes

You read that right...

The art of getting bored is actually an art in these days of over-exposure and too many things to choose from and do... From summer camps that have everything you could ask for for kids, petting farms, nature trails, swimming, dance, art and craft, music, building workshops, exhibitions, plays, movies, sports, theatre and so so much more, when do our kids get a chance to just take some time off and let their mind do the work for them, instead of guiding it on what to do all the time?

So this vacation, I have honestly not engaged them in any activity, except for swimming classes for the younger one as I want her to learn it and then swim fearlessly anywhere.

So all they are doing the entire day is to get really bored, crib, disturb me no end on what they should do (and it is taking a toll on my work of course, but mommy duty calls too), and then, when they don't see any help coming, they let their brains do the work and come out with ideas and things to do.

And it's helping...

Also, they are learning the art of sharing, of taking the initiative and calling up other similar-sized friends and planning on what to do and then organizing it properly as well. So you see, not only is this letting the brain work, it is also helping them get more social, be vocal and learn to plan.

Also, in case you were wondering, these are scientific reasons why getting bored is good for the brain:

• Makes you more creative
• Helps you become productive
• Allows you to plan and set goals
• Helps you think and take time out, which helps you stress less (did you know that children and even toddlers can be boggled with stress?)
• Makes you happier
• Gives you the opportunity to find out new areas of interest and hobby

So all you parents out there, if you too are at home with the kids, let them get bored...they'll be happier :) 

- Debolina Raja 

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And like I always believe in and say: 'Heal the world we live in Save it for our children' - MJ Happy Parenting!!!! Debolina Raja

There are countless reasons to #CelebrateYourChild and all it takes is a moment to spot and nurture it

It's been almost a year I haven't come back here and really there couldn't have been a better way to come back to this parenting nook of mine than to share this beautiful campaign called #CelebrateYourChild that has been taken up by Mindseed, a pre-school chain.

In an effort to find out if parents really know their own child, Mindseed  asked the children to make something for their parents and invited the parents to come and see what each child had made for them.

The twist?

The parents had to walk through a display of the art and craft work and guess which one was made by their child. Superb!

Next?

The parents picked up the things they thought their kids had made and explained why they thought so. A very interesting thing that came out was that most parents found their child's work by focusing what their child was lacking in and needed improvement on - "my child always colours outside the lines" "my child always writes this letter in a mirror way" and so on.

And now it was turn for the children to walk in.

When they did, and actually identified the work that was theirs, the parents were left speechless. In an effort to focus on what their kids can't do and how to help them improve, they forgot to see what the children were really good at and what creativity and potential they have.

The idea behind this entire campaign is that while it is important to help and encourage your child to do better, it is also very, if not more, important to actually celebrate them for who they are.

If you haven't seen their campaign yet, here's a look.

I loved the message, and let me just say that I am proud of myself as a parent, for celebrating my kids everyday for who they are, and for encouraging them to reach for their dreams instead of just giving in to the so-called 'standards' and boxes that society creates for them.

Thank you Mindseed and lovely campaign!

- Debolina Raja

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And like I always believe in and say:
'Heal the world we live in
Save it for our children' - MJ

Happy Parenting!!!!

Debolina Raja

Our First Flintobox 3-4 Years: First Look And Details On How To Subscribe

Some weeks back I was contacted by this very sweet person called Hariharan from Flintobox. The mail came in good time, as I happened to see some digital ad about the same around that time, but I had no idea what it was about.

So when I asked more about the concept, I realized that it is a super fun monthly subscription box that aims at making education and learning extremely interesting and fun. Of course there are various activities and offers from different brands that have come up with creative boxes for kids, but in this day of subscription boxes, Flintobox did manage to come up with something unique and really interesting.

I couldn't share it earlier but now with the long weekends here, finally managed to open it up and the squeals of delight and the jumps my younger one made around the house was too much to not get excited along with :)

So before I show you what all this month's Flintobox came up with, here are the age groups you can go for:

• 2-3 years
• 3-4 years
• 4-8 years
• 8-10 years
• 10-12 years

Actions Help Children Learn Better With Chu Chu TV

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As a parent, it's quite fun and interesting to see your little one try to emulate your actions and copy you in any which way possible. Did you know that your child's first learning comes from watching you or the primary caregiver and trying to do exactly what you are doing? From the way you smile and greet your child to the way you pitch your voice while speaking or the way you embrace your little one with love, your child notices everything, right from the initial months after birth.

It is these everyday actions that help your child better understand the world around, and also help to teach the first few lessons of how to behave and react.

A very important method of learning that your child will have, especially in the toddler and pre-school years, is the media. With so much exposure to media in all forms these days, there is a host of options to choose from, not all of which may always be appropriate for your little one. As busy parents, we often tend to hand our gadgets to our children, hoping it will keep them entertained while we end up finishing our deadlines and chores.

Interesting Christmas Tree Ideas This Christmas !

It's Christmas month !!!! Yaaaayyyyyyy :) And instead of the usual Christmas tree decorations, here are some super cute ideas that you can absolutely and easily try out at your place too....check them out...



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AppyStore.In - The Fun Way To Keep Your Little Ones Happy!

These days we are all on a screen.......glued to it, literally. Reading, writing, working, listening, creating - you name it, we do it all on the screen. Go on, Google me up and you will know what I mean.....

Some time back I was contacted by this interesting team that wanted me to check out a new website targeted at toddlers and young kids. Before I proceed, this is not a sponsored post, I have not been paid to write this and nor am I in any way associated with the team...That out of the way, let me tell you what this is about.

If you've been visiting here often, you'll know I have two very cute little monkey babies at home. Well, one is a toddler and the other is a young child. And as they are both babies of the electronic generation, they do know their way around a screen. Which makes it even more difficult for me as a mommy.

No place is safe for our babies any more, and that includes the big bad world of the internet and the wi-fi. I absolutely do not allow my babies any screen time where I am not sitting right next to them and they are watching something. You just have to be doubly sure.

This is exactly the though that made me wonder why should I recommend an online site for kids? Don't we already have enough content overload that needs monitoring? Don't our kids already browse so much that we find it difficult to keep a tab? Then why more?

I decided it would make sense to check out the site first and then decide.

How Your Baby's Bath Time Is So Much More Powerful Than Just Cleansing Time

As a mom you know that the time you spend playing, interacting and bonding with your babies can have a significant effect on them for a lifetime. This is especially true during the first three years of your toddler’s life when their tiny brain starts developing. Ever noticed how the simplest gestures like singing a lullaby or holding your baby in your arms evokes happy emotions from your baby? This is because as soon as they are born they use their sense of sight, smell, touch and sound to learn about their environment. The nurturing that you provide during everyday rituals have a profound impact on your baby's reactions and development.

One of the daily rituals that you may not even realize is a great learning opportunity for your baby is bath time, and your interaction with your baby during bath time is key to this learning.  The bath is a place where touch and smell contributes to your baby’s development. For example, simply talking back and forth with baby during bath time can help with language development, or playing music during bath time can stimulate memory. Bath time, therefore, is so much more than a time to just to clean your baby.

As a baby care expert, Johnson & Johnson India is now advancing new research that explores the science behind happy, healthy baby development. The research shows that the time you spend with your baby during bath time can be more than a time to connect and bond. It can be an opportunity to

Paddington The Family Bear Is Coming To A Theater Near You On 16th Jan 2015

 

If you have a little one at home you're probably already familiar with the adventures, or should I say, mis-adventures of a bear called Paddington. For years this cute little darling has enthralled kids and parents alike, and my daughter is no exception.

So when I told her that Paddington was ready to step out of her books and come alive on the big screen, she was super excited. Of course I am going to take her to experience this wonderful adventure. And going by the looks of it, so should you..... :)

ABOUT THE MOVIE

The icon of children's literature, Paddington the bear, will make his way into India in January of 2015.

PictureWorks is proud to announce the release of the forthcoming family entertainer PADDINGTON in India on January 16th, 2015. PADDINGTON is based on the best-selling and internationally adored series of children's stories by British author Michael Bond. A Heyday Films and
STUDIOCANAL production, PADDINGTON is directed by the twice BAFTA- nominated Paul King and produced by multiple award-winning David Heyman (GRAVITY, the HARRY POTTER series fame).

10 Ways Of How We Are Active Hands-On Parents To Our 6-Year Old

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As parents, both me and my hubby were very sure from the very beginning that we wanted to be hands-on parents.

While work and other commitments do end up taking a toll on us, especially after the arrival of the new baby, we have made it a point to ensure that though it may not be as much as it was earlier, we still give enough time to our first born, and are there with her for most of her interests and activities.

Things of course change when there is a new baby in the house. The demands and need are different, and your temper and crankiness level, not to mention the tiredness and stress levels, shoot up the roof. But that is really no reason to ignore your elder child, or make them feel as if now they are no longer the special ones, as a baby has arrived.

In fact, just the opposite.

While initial few months were difficult for me to constantly be with my elder daughter, now that the younger one is 10 months old, things are great! In fact, I spend a lot of one on one time with her, and also together with the younger one.

There is so much we do together, or if the baby wants to stay home and not participate, one of us is always with the older one.

10 Christmas Decoration Ideas To Do With Your Kids

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Do you hear that? Do your the jingling? The merry making? The ho ho ho? I can hear it almost! And both me and my daughter are super excited with all the fun that comes along with Christmas.....

Each year we set up our Christmas tree, and this year is no different...But if you don't have one at home, for whatever reasons, but would still like for your kids to feel this wonderful celebration, you can indulge in some cheerful bright decorations around the house instead!

So even as we are busy setting up some cute decorations around the house, here are some great ideas for you to try out with your children....Christmas tree or no Christmas tree, these decorations will still give your home that decked up, bright and cosy look!

1. Lots of sparkles....

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To Push or Not to Push

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Parenting is all about pushing; it begins with labour, and after that, there’s really no getting away from it. Initially, it’s all about the little things – push in one more spoonful of food, make the child sleep, potty-train, that sort of thing. And of course, you tell yourself that you’re so not going to be a pushy parent; that once the child can understand reason, you will make him/her come around to your way of thinking without resorting to parental pressure and authority. All because you don’t want to be a pushy parent; all because there isn’t a word with more negative connotations than ‘pushy parent’, is there?

Gift Her A Life Lesson On Her Birthday

Some time ago, I had written an article on ‘Planning Birthday Parties’, and I tried to list a number of different ideas for unusual kinds of parties. Here’s one more I came across recently that sounds very interesting, beneficial and unique.

Smita Karbanda runs EcoKids, an organisation that is dedicated to spreading environmental awareness amongst young children and teaching them to go and grow green. I knew that she runs gardening classes for children (we took her inputs for our article on Children and Gardening), but recently, when browsing the EcoKids FB page, I discovered that she has also begun organising ‘green’ birthday parties for kids.

The Power Of Family Meals

Being a nutritionist I have always paid attention to what my family eats. But until recently, I was not aware
that how they eat is equally important. Research has shown that eating together as a family is key to inculcating healthy eating habits in children.

Researchers at Rutgers University have looked at 68 studies that have examined relationship between family meals, eating habits and children’s health. Amazingly all studies pointed to a similar trend – families who had “meals together” during the growing years had children and teens who ate more fruits and vegetables, other nutrient rich foods and less of soft drinks. The research also indicated that they had a lower BMI (body mass index) than kids whose families did not eat together! Of course, this is not a magic bullet but with so many studies confirming this trend it will be good to pay attention to these findings.

Family That Eats Together Stays Connected

Image courtesy Google Images

This is a conscious family practice that I've been trying to inculcate in the home for some time now. While we do try and have meals together, to be honest, most of the time it doesn't really happen. Well, there are many reasons behind that:

Father's Day DIY Gift Ideas

It's almost here, Fathers' Day that is.....This year, Father's Day is on the 16th of June 2013.

While there are sooo many gifts out there at the stores to gift dads, there's nothing like a home-made gift, a personalised DIY thingy, especially special if done with the help of your baby/child. So even while you may have browsed through your options online or at the stores, here are some of the really amazing DIY Father's Day gift ideas I liked while surfing the web.

(*all pics have been sourced from Pinterest and I claim no rights to any of the pics in any way)

WWW.BARBIE.COM My Absolute Summer Vacation Saver!

I'm no perfect mom, and I have no shame in admitting that!

Well, if you thought I would be sitting with my little one through the 40 days of summer vacation and make her study and read all day, think again! All this studying and all is already happening on school days, right? So what's the point of having a vacation, a break?

Nah - I haven't burdened her with too much studies these past 20 days, and nor am I going to.

Simple Summer Indoor Activities For Your Little One

Oh it's the summer holidays and trust me, I've already gone bonkers - handling my daughter at home the WHOLE day and managing office work and other assignments too - Uff!!!!

Though I enjoy having her around more and it's a lot of fun, there are times when I know she gets bored bored bored! She does go to an activity center in the day for a couple of hours, but that's not enough to keep a 05-year-old interested, right? So was going through other ideas to let her have fun indoors (can't go out its simply tooooo sunny and crazy hot!) and thought it would be a good idea to share some ideas here with you all.....

Fun Mother Daughter Things To Do This Mother’s Day

Its almost here…MOTHER’S DAY!!!!!

While I personally believe that each day is Mother’s Day and each day is special, there’s nothing like having some extra attention and pampering on D-Day, right? Especially if that attention and pampering is directed at me ;-)

My daughter is all of 5 now and yes, she too is aware that Mother's Day is somewhere near!!! Yippeeee!!! Thanks to all ads and commercials popping up here and there, she knows the special days of the year.

I'm planning to do some really fun stuff with her this Mother’s Day, in fact, I'm gonna do it the entire week as it will be a great treat to spend the vacations and to do some more fun mother-daughter bonding…

So I'm definitely gonna indulge, enjoy and feel special, that too with my daughter with me, the one who’s rightfully given me the privilege of enjoying this day as a mommy!