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Storytellermom's blog, Feb 22, 2012 9:43 AM

As a child, Social Studies was not one of my favourite subjects. And that's probably because our textbooks stated facts in a plain manner and no one really explained the importance/relevance...

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Cooking with KidsOf the many activities that can be done with kids, cooking is the easiest, given that every home will have a kitchen! The trick is to make it desirable and fun. The manner in which children are...
Teaching children through logical-mathematical intelligence (multiple intelligence) -...Logical-mathematical intelligence is how we understand, manipulate and use logic, numbers and reasoning to understand how something works or detect a framework/pattern that exists or to create...
Teaching science and social studies - tips for making it more fun for young kidsYour young one hates to cram up his Science or EVS (Environmental Science) or Social Studies. You keep bemoaning that not much has changed from the time you were in school and these subjects were...
Parenting a teenager - SimplifiedEmotional roller-coasters, friends today - enemies tomorrow, pressure of studies, first and many crushes, alien changes in the body, the temptation to try the forbidden zones of adulthood, and...
"You are always shouting at me" - Common parent-child arguments and what to do about themYou raise your voice or say something in a stern tone and you hear from your child - "You are always shouting at me". What you are tempted to do or say An overwhelming feeling comes upon...
Smart tips for chic new momsStruggling to keep up with young kids, being on the go and still trying to feel and look cool n' confident. Some tips from the Parentree mommy collection: Wear lots of black (or even dark...
Early brain development - scienceBrain development is one of the most interesting topics for parents. Interestingly, this is an area that even prospective parents should focus on. Early scientific views held that a child's brain...
Can I use household cleaning products during pregnancy? Is it safe?Exposure to mild cleaning agents is generally safe. But it’s a good idea to stay away from very strong fumes and harsh cleaning agents. For example, if the phenyl or disinfectant used in mopping...
How to talk to kids about their art or workHere are some tips on talking to children about their “work” - their painting, writing, lego or playdoh creation, whatever they create. These tips can help Indian parents further develop the...
Getting organized for school admissions : Smart tipsThe school admissions season has started. You are trying to decide on an appropriate school for your child and then working on getting them admitted. Along with these twin missions of trying to...
Sibling revelry"Siblings are the people we practice on, the people who teach us about fairness and cooperation and kindness and caring - quite often the hard way" - Pamela Dugdale We have already written about...
AmniocentesisThis is a diagnostic test that is usually done if the maternal serum screening test (or the triple marker or AFP) done earlier, shows abnormal results. It is primarily used to detect Down's...
Teaching children through bodily-kinesthetic intelligence (multiple intelligence) -...Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence is how we use various parts of our body or even our whole body to make something, find a solution to a problem or to convey meaning. For a child, who is strong in...
Just-before exam tips for your kids (8 commandments)We realize that our education system is very exam oriented already (yes, yes the Sibal commission is on its way to change some of this). And of course we understand that the real learning is...
Learn to read - Children (4 to 6 years)Reading and a love of books are a priceless skill that will benefit our children. They are also an effective alternative to television. Here we would like to share some tips on how you can help...
Moving to another city - helping your big kid copeYou have been handed over a transfer order in your office or you have accepted a new job in a new city. When you break this news at home, you will face a mixed bag of reactions coming from the...
Why preschoolers (2-6 years) lie - 8 reasonsYour little preschooler is just starting to learn language and suddenly you catch him or her lying about small things. Why do they do it? 1. Its not a lie. Preschoolers may not know the...
What Indian foods should we eat for folic acid during pregnancy?A number of Indian foods have naturally occurring folic acid but the percentage is very small. Indian women who are pregnant or planning to have a baby must have atleast 400mg of folic acid every...
My favourite child-friendly eat-outs in bangaloreDear fellow parents, Many times, I have had to do some research or check with other parents before deciding on a child friendly eat-out. In addition to food quality and variety, I look for open...
Ideas for rewarding young children for good behaviourAs parents, we are often quick to punish or take away privileges from children, for bad behaviour. But how about rewarding young children for good behaviour? In general most of us recognize...
Its music to my earsIt is said that Lord Shiva brought sound to this universe in his damroo….whether or not we believe in it, we cannot deny the ethereal nature and effect of music in our lives. Is it a surprise...
Comfortable, stylish and easy-on-the-pocket maternity clothes for Indian mothersDuring pregnancy, you start feeling bloated and dowdy and dressing well can really pep you up. Dressing well during pregnancy helps both working women and women who work at home because all women...
"A child, a parent and the other parent" - managing excessive attachment to one...Young children can sometimes exhibit an excessive attachment to one parent, while shunning the other. No matter what you do as parents, the child always whines to go to only one parent and not ...
Our trip to Malpe and Ooty - kid friendly vacations!We did Malpe and Ooty this year in south India and both were big hits with my kids. Here is a review. Malpe: Malpe is a sleepy coastal area near Mangalore, which we visited last summer. The...
Jaunt to the National Museum, New Delhi with kidsWe were in Delhi recently and I took our 3rd grader and 1st grader to the National Museum for an hour or so. I strongly recommend this trip if you live in the NCR or are visiting Delhi. National...
8 skin care tips for pregnant womenPregnancy is a time when hormonal changes can change your skin significantly - from positive changes like "pregnancy glow" to negative ones like acne. Here are some tips on how you can help your...
Can I travel during pregnancy? Is it safe?Short answer: Travel is safe for normal pregnancies, except in the last month. As long as there are no big concerns or complications in your pregnancy, it is generally safe to travel during your...
"It's not fair" - Common parent-child arguments and what to do about themYour son has been asked to do something or has been denied a request. His response "It's not fair". Typical example: You are about to go to meet your college friends and your son wants to go...
Mast Indian Baby Showers - Bollywood StyleHosting an Indian baby shower? Have you thought of organizing it with a Bollywood/filmi theme? We have some fun ideas. There are many themes - ethnic, bollywood, western etc., You can also mix...
Ectopic pregnancyIn this condition, the fertilized egg instead of moving down to the uterus to develop gets stuck outside the uterus usually in the fallopian tube and starts to grow there. It is not very common...
India Gate: masti and prideOne of our favorite places to take the kids in Delhi is India Gate (in the heart of Delhi) and that too after dinner at night. It is pleasant and fun even in the Delhi summers—thanks to the vast...
Helping our children eat vegetables and fruitsAs parents, we all know the importance of having our children eat vegetables and fruits every day. However, we are also very familiar with our children's responses like "I don't like it", "Yuck",...
Common pregnancy discomfortsPregnancy is a life changing experience. But it also causes a lot of discomforts to the mother. In this article, we provide pointers to a number of smaller articles that cover these...
Bisphenol-A: Are hard plastic bottles safe for food and water?Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical used to make polycarbonate plastics. Polycarbonate plastic is tough and break-resistant and commonly used to make plastic-ware like water bottles, spoons, forks,...
Is it safe to paint the house or the baby's room during pregnancy?Short answer: Stay away from paint fumes during pregnancy. Unfortunately, there are no medical studies that show that house-paint exposure can have adverse effects on pregnant women and their...
A trip to AurovilleAuroville is the "experimental" township that is located near Pondicherry (Puducherry). It can be a pleasant day trip from Chennai, and a good place to go even if you are not from Chennai, for...
Resistance to antibioticsAntibiotics are among the greatest discoveries of human history and they are a miracle cure. However, there has been indiscriminate use of antibiotics resulting in the increasing occurrence of...
My toddler (1 to 2 year child) does not listen to me. What do I do?Indian parents often say "my child does not listen to me". This remark is heard irrespective of the age of the child and particularly when the child ignores the parent who is saying "No, no" and...
Indian foods with high iron contentHere is a list of Indian foods (pulses, beans, nuts, fish, meat, and milk products) with high ironcontent. These have approximately 8mg or more of iron per 100 gms of the food. Local names of many...
Eco-friendly practices for kidsIn these days of global warming, environmental awareness is an important skill that children should have. Besides, teaching them about the environment, Indian parents must realize that children...
Computers and Internet - 6th to 8th standardDo you ponder and fret about what web activities are appropriate for your middle school going child (6th to 8th standards)? What if they bumped into undesirable adult web sites while researching...
Maternal Serum ScreeningMaternal Serum Screening is also called multiple marker screening test, triple screen, quad screen or loosely called AFP. It is a blood test that is given to all pregnant women. Typically it...
Get your young child to chat about their day at schoolParent: "What happened in school today?" Child: "Nothing" or "Same" or "OK" How many of us have had this conversation once our child comes home from school? How do we get around...
7 ways to keep your patience when dealing with childrenFrustrated. Angry. Ready to react in a nasty way. Don't. Tons of research shows that nothing is gained by becoming angry, shouting at or hitting your children and it has a very detrimental effect...
Diet for a healthy pregnancyThis information has been updated. For the new version, please see Pregnant Indian women - Healthy Foods
Travel journal - great way to keep memoriesThe summer would have been a time that many of us travelled with our children and showed them new places, new people and new things. It would have been accompanied by oohs and aahs at the time we...
Shopping list - New babyHere is a handy list of items that you will find useful in your preparation for a new Indian baby. Equipment Tote bag that you can stylishly carry when taking your baby around ...
Nrityagram (exploring Bangalore outskirts)One of our favorite family outings in Bangalore (with our 2 kids--5 and 8) is visiting Nrityagram (the dance village) and the Taj Kuteeram next to it. What Nrityagram is the dance school with...
10 everyday ways to help your child get ready for kindergartenParents often spend a lot of time teaching their children various skills to get them ready for school. But time is always a crunch. Here are some tips for everyday things that you can do to help...
Good table manners for childrenGood and proper table manners should be inculcated in children from an early age, so they become a habit. Here are some tips on table manners that you can get your children started on. Messy...
Eight men's health questions to ask when planning to have a babyAs couples prepare for pregnancy, it is easy to focus only on the woman’s health. However, there are several items that are critical for men also. The father's health also affects his fertility...
Trying to conceive - a guideNow that you are ready to try for a baby, here are some tips that will help Indian women conceive. Toss out your contraceptives & have frequent sex Start having unprotected sex. Spend quality...
Common skin conditions during pregnancyAll women experience numerous bodily changes during pregnancy and one of the most explicit change is the one that is witnessed on the skin. Here are some of the common skin conditions that...
When should I go see a doctor if I am not becoming pregnant?Becoming pregnant can take a long time. However, there are times when it may be wise to visit a doctor if you are unsuccessful after a long time. Here are some guidelines that can help. If you...
Postpartum depressionPostpartum depression is an extended emotional downswing that can occur in new mothers. It may start any time during the first year after delivery and can strike anyone. This is different from...
Developing children's brains - The role of parentsYou have probably come to this article find the magic mantra that will make your child very intelligent. Well you already have it. It is called common sense. Millions of years of evolution and the...
Pregnancy - Packing for the hospitalRemember to pack your hospital bag at least about a couple of weeks before your due date. You can deliver anytime! Otherwise you will be panicking and scrambling to pack when labour starts...
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)SIDS is one of the most puzzling dangers to a baby in his or her first year of life. In fact, the term is not a specific syndrome at all. It is an umbrella term that is used when a baby dies a...
Natural pain relief during childbirthMost women feel anxious about the pain of labour and delivery. Many women prepare for this arduous process of labour and delivery beforehand. But childbirth is different for everyone and however...
10 must-watch movie classics for families with kidsEditors’ picks! Here we have listed some children’s movies in English (Hollywood) that are popular in India and the world over, hailed by movie critics and of course many of these are our...
Indian Baby Showers with a desi flavour - Mast Ethnic Style (Mela, Sangeet)Hosting an Indian baby shower? Looking for ideas ? Racking your brain on how to make it fun and different without making yourself crazy or spending a fortune? And now along with all the things on...
Is it safe to take medicines during pregnancy?Short answer: You should always check with your doctor as to what medicines are safe to take, when, and in what dosage during your pregnancy. Many times, women do not have a choice and really...
Can I have a baby after the age of 35? Is there any risk?Yes you can have a baby after 35 but there are certain factors and potential risks to keep in mind. The fertility of men and women changes with age. Research shows that a woman's peak fertility...
Swine flu (H1N1) - Pregnancy - Precautions, Symptoms, What to do...Pregnancy is a time when mothers have to be particularly careful about swine flu (H1N1). Is it dangerous? It is not clear as to whether swine flu is more dangerous in pregnant women than any...
Is your child being bullied?Bullying is a real problem in India and all over the world. Here are some tips on how Indian parents can recognize it, and address it. When should you suspect your child is being bullied? ...
8 study tips - help children reach their potentialParents can help foster good study habits early in school going children, right from the 1st standard. Of course, your child learns a lot in school. But you also play a big role in creating a good...
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a condition where the baby is not growing adequately while inside the uterus. Symptoms During a routine check-up, while measuring the uterus, the doctor...
What to do when your child hits others?Does your child hit other children or you or other people? Have you found yourself trying endlessly to stop the hitting? Here are some tips that may help. Frustration can lead to hitting Is...
Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG)HG causes severe nausea and vomiting in the mainly in the first trimester (although some women continue vomiting through the last trimester as well). HG keeps pregnant women from drinking enough...
Folic acidFolic acid is a critical supplement for women who are pregnant or trying to conceive. This article answers some questions about Folic acid. Why do I need folic acid? Studies show that folic...

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