Blogs - Page 1

mango_mama's blog, Oct 29, 2008 12:13 PM

Usually my husband and I are not very “religious” and do not follow too many rituals and hate to admit try and shirk doing stuff (other than patakas) for Diwali. We usually just look for e...

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"It's my choice. I can do what I want" - Common parent-child arguments and what to do...Your daughter asks you for something and you say that she cannot have it. Her response "It's my choice. I can do what I want" Typical example: "I want to eat my kheer before I eat lunch" What...
Television and your childTelevision is often called the "one-eyed babysitter" by parents. Our kids seem to become calm, quiet, attentive in front of the television. Most importantly, it seems to parents like a load is...
Is it safe to drink coffee during pregnancy?Short answer: Moderate your consumption of coffee. Not more than 1 or at most 2 cups of Indian coffee with milk per day assuming no tea, colas, chocolate etc., The lesser the better. Coffee...
Fostering fun, wit and humour (Under 2 years)Babies start laughing by four months of age, but that is more in reaction to your happiness and love, rather than due to humour. But it is an important part of developing a sense of humour. Once...
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...
Creative writing tips for young childrenDoes your little one have a love affair with the pen and paper and loves to write or scribble endlessly? Or does she have a writer’s block and is reluctant to pen away her thoughts? We have here...
New dads - 6 ways to bond with babyNew dads often find themselves wondering how they can bond with their baby, especially when compared to mom who is spending so much time with baby through maternity leave, feeding the baby etc.,...
My child is a poor eater. What do I do?A number of Indian parents say that their children are "poor eaters", "bad eaters" etc. Often this is during the toddler and pre-schooler years. Indian parents tend to use the term to describe...
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...
Packaged fruit juices and drinks - Juice for thoughtFruits are an important part of eating a balanced meal. However, more and more parents think that packaged fruit juices and drinks are a substitute for fruits. These packaged products are...
Eating for two - How much more should I eat when I am pregnant?The extra energy that is required during pregnancy is only 300 kcal/day and any consumption above this will only add empty calories and weight to the mother. This is only about 15% more than usual...
Poopoo, Susu - Potty talkIs your preschooler fascinated with bathroom humour? Do you catch him or her saying the most embarrassing things like "You are Ms. Poopoo" or "I want susu for lunch" ?. Isn't it mortifying when...
Teaching children through linguistic intelligence (multiple intelligence) -...Linguistic intelligence is how we use language, to express one's thoughts and feelings with clarity so others may comprehend, understand, even enjoy them. This can be verbal or in written form....
Father-daughter bonding - advice for dadsBeing a father to a little baby daughter is often an awkward experience for some fathers. In our culture, men are often brought up be the unemotional stereotype and even if they grew up with...
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...
Fun and easy playdates for preschoolers (Part 1 - Preparing)“Playdates” or planned kiddie social get-togethers are getting popular these days - because of increased demand for safety, parents being busy and kids not living in an area or apartment complexes...
How do I make my child (2 - 6 year old) sleep early?Going to bed and to sleep is always a struggle between parents and children. Especially, preschoolers seem to be particularly determined to try and go to sleep as late as possible. Here are some...
Are you preserving those precious moments?Your children are growing so fast. You are busy with that long to-do list. But the special moments will fly and never come back. Be spontaneous. And make the most of each moment with your...
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...
Phone skills for childrenTeaching children to talk on the phone is as important as teaching children to talk. Given the level of communication that is now carried on through telephones, it is imperative that children be...
Feeling tired? - 8 ways to feel more energetic during your pregnancyFeeling tired and fatigued is part of being pregnant. Here are a few things you can do to try and build up as much energy as possible. Exercise Low impact exercises (like walking and swimming)...
Baby toys - the first year - buying guideThe following is handy month by month guide for toys that Indian babies can enjoy in their first year. Download this guide in Adobe Acrobat PDF format - Baby toys - The first year - Buying guide
Travel to Agra and Taj Mahal with kidsThis time when we visited our home town Delhi, we took the kids (ages 8 and 6) to Agra to see the Taj. About time lest they think of the Taj more as a hotel. ;-) rather than one of the most...
Toddler development - 12+ to 18 monthsYour baby is now 1 year old. The period between 12 and 18 months is an age where toddlers show a lot of development but there is also very wide variance in when they reach certain milestones. ...
Typical language related milestones for childrenEvery child is unique. They develop different skills at different times. The milestones given below are the average and many children can be ahead or behind the milestones. Comparisons are unfair...
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...
Teeth grinding (Bruxism)Bruxism is the phenomenon of clenching or grinding of teeth, especially when asleep. In a study conducted in Chandigarh, India for children between 3 - 10 years, 12% of parents reported this...
Common fertility problems - men and womenInfertility is typically defined as failure to conceive after 1 year of unprotected sex. Contrary to the common assumption, infertility affects both men and women equally. It is also a reasonably...
Piano classes for kids - a guideLooking at putting your child in a piano class? But are lost about how to find the right class, what to look for in the class, at what age should your child start learning the piano, what kind of...
Ten early good manners for a young childPoliteness is an essential characteristic in everyone. It is important that parents help children learn politeness early in life. Usually, preschool and kindergarten years (2 1/2 to 6) are the...
"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 ...
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...
Multiple languages and your child's brainLanguage is a gift that helps us to think, imagine and express ourselves. India has a rich bounty of over 25 languages and hundreds of dialects. Many families and children have regular exposure to...
Make kids problem-solvers, early!As parents, it is our responsibility to help children develop the skills to solve problems. With this skill, they can weigh every situation, assess the possibilities, balance the pros and cons...
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...
MiscarriageIn medical terms, miscarriage is the term used for a pregnancy that ends on it's own, within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Most miscarriages occur during the first 13 weeks of...
Tips for parents who spend long periods away from childrenThere are many families where parents have to be separated from their children for an extended period of time - it could be from Monday to Friday because the parent works in another city or it...
Computers and Internet - 1st to 5th standardPondered and fretted about what websites and web activities are appropriate for your primary school going child. What if they bump into undesirable adult web sites while researching for a school...
Saying YES when we mean NOOften, as parents, we are faced with situations where a difference of opinion is about to arise between young children and us. When necessary, a firm NO, can and should be the appropriate...
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...
Making kids clean up and put away their books, toys and other thingsMesses, chaos, clutter are all words associated with children. Who among us parents has not found Lego pieces under the sofa cushion or tripped on a toy car in the dark or found a doll in our...
Can I eat non-vegetarian food during pregnancy? Is it safe?Short answer: Eat fully cooked non-vegetarian food. Meat can be packed with protein and iron, but, stay away from meats like salami and hotdogs. They have been known to be contaminated with...
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...
Pregnancy - week by weekSee how your pregnancy and baby are growing and progressing week by week. Our detailed articles inform pregnant mothers about their baby's progress, what changes they can expect, doctors' visits,...
Relaxed parents = Better parentingIt gets crazy for all parents - stay-at-home parents, working parents or parents who work from home- - house work, paper work, “work” work if you “work”, errands, kids school work, birthday...
Lactating Indian mothers - Meal planningIndian mothers need to maintain a high quality diet when they are breastfeeding their baby. In this tip, we help you create a balanced diet during lactation. Read our article about the various...
Fostering fun, wit and humour (2 to 4 years)From the age of 2, children start developing the ability to talk and verbal humour starts coming into play. Parents will see new avenues where the child detects and expresses humour. By fostering...
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...
"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...
5 memorable "things to do" with your kidsAs parents, we are all trying hard to do the best for our children. We make sure they eat well, study well, become all rounders, are well read, buy them the best things etc., etc., But life is a...
Tips for brushing children's teethHere are some basic tips to take care of children's teeth, when they are young. 1 to 2 years Take your child to the dentist every 6 months Let her watch you brush your teeth Get...
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...
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...
Some ideas for toughening 'em (children) upYour little one cannot stand the heat, the dirt and the flies when he goes vegetable shopping with you? She walks just a little bit, and starts huffing and puffing and complains that she is tired....
Children - snoring, sleep apneaSnoring in children is a fairly common phenomenon that parents report. In one study conducted in Chandigarh, India for children between 3 - 10 years, 6% of parents reported this problem in their...
Top 10 Bollywood movies to watch with your children“Bum bum bole, masti mein dole” aur bachon ke liye lots of films bole... Editors’ picks! We have here some Bollywood films that you can enjoy watching with your kids. Some are light and fun and...
"This is no picnic for me either, buster" - work ethic, discipline and relationships...“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety nine percent perspiration” - Albert Einstein Exactly how important are values like strong-work ethic, discipline and diligence in our children’s...
Fine and gross motor skillsWe often hear these terms as it relates to the development of babies, toddlers and preschoolers. In this article, we throw some light on these skills. Gross motor skills Gross motor skills are...
Chore ideas for young children - Increases independence and self-confidenceHere are some common household chores that you can ask your young children to do. Letting children do these chores helps them gain confidence and also increases their ability to act independently...
Medical induction of labourFor most pregnancies, labour progresses naturally. The cervix (the narrow part of the uterus between the uterus and top part of the vagina) keeps dilating and becoming thinner and the contractions...
8 tips for an easy, stylish and organized wardrobe for kids Kids clothes spilling out of all their shelves, tired of sorting through kids clothes, spending a fortune on their clothes and still not being able to have the right thing for them to wear? Of...
Twins (or multiples) - PregnancyCongratulations! You are carrying are a couple (or more) bundles of joy. A time of joy and also a time of special caring for you and your babies. Having a pregnancy with one baby causes enough...
Teaching small kidsThese days there is a lot of emphasis on teaching kids as many things as possible and as early as possible at that. Parents begin singing nursery rhymes,alphabets, numbers, shlokas to the baby...
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...
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...
Fibroids - Symptoms, Effect on fertility and pregnancyWhat are fibroids? Fibroids are benign (not cancerous) tumors which grow in tufts or groups on the uterine walls of the female reproductive system. Medically known as leiomyoma, fibromyoma and...
Lactating Indian mothers - Healthy foodsThe National Institute of Nutrition, a part of the Indian Council of Medical Research has created Recommended Dietary Allowances during lactation for Indian women. These are shown in the table...
Books, materials and tips for beginner readersEarly reading helps a child gain confidence and early proficiency in different areas. Kids can also enjoy the pleasure of reading and this can mean more spare time for you. You can encourage early...
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...
Sibling rivalry - The older child and the new arrivalHaving another baby is a decision that not only impacts parents but also the child or children you already have. Some siblings deal with this easily while some do not. Also the ability to cope...

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