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Competitive tests (Macmillan, Olympiad, NTSE, ASSET)-info. and questions

mango_mama's blog, Sep 2, 2009 8:52 AM

Recently our family got exposed to the wonderful (I say) or slightly wicked (my husband says) world of “competitive” tests like the IAIS, Olympiad etc. and wanted to share our lear...

Featured Articles

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Should we "let them win all the time"?As parents we often play games and sports with our kids. These require skills, effort or luck for winning. And when the little one runs into trouble, we often contrive to let them win. We let them...
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...
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...
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How much protein do mothers need during pregnancy?During pregnancy, increased protein consumption is very important for Indian mothers. Proteins are an important material used to build the home for the baby including the amnion, yolk sac, and...
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...
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...
10 things pregnant women should always keep in mindPregnant? Congratulations! Pregnancy is a time when your body and you are going through many changes. On top of all this, it is also a time when you get tons of advice from all sides - relatives,...
When can my baby hear music during pregnancy?Listening to nice soothing music can have a calming effect on both mom and the baby inside her womb. Babies can usually hear sounds form the outside starting around the 20th week of the...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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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...
Non-stress test (NST)This is not a routine test. A doctor will use this any time after 26-28 weeks for high-risk pregnancies to ensure that the baby is getting enough oxygen and is not in any kind of distress. This...
Fitness Fundas"If it weren't for the fact that the TV set and the refrigerator are so far apart, some of us wouldn't get any exercise at all" - Joey Adams While this probably defines us adults most aptly,...
Medicines for pain relief during childbirthMany times the labour process can be very long, arduous, and complicated. Mothers may experience long and unbearably painful labour or the mother might be too panicky. In these cases, it is best...
"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...
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"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...
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...
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...
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...
Placenta PreviaIn placenta previa, the placenta (organ providing oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the baby) lies low in the uterus and covers (or partially covers) the cervix (narrow opening that connects...
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...
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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...
Common sleep problems in young childrenSleep is an essential part of a young child's health. In this article, we tell you what are some of the common sleep problems in young Indian children, less than 10 years of age. (preschoolers,...
Practical money skills for young kids (under 8 years)Children, even at a very young age, learn about money by observing parents. Besides through observation, parents can teach young children essential money skills by following some of the tips...
"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...
Musings on wild life for kids & Kabini tripWe had a bunch of family over and taken them to visit the Kabini River Lodge in the Nagarhole national park in Karnataka. So thought would share the highlights of our trip and also some of my...
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...
Teaching children about honestyBringing up children to be responsible and mature adults is one of the important responsibilities of parents. Among the traits that we have to teach our children, honesty is an important one....
Summer of 2009Every summer vacation begins with the usual queries what are we going to do this summer ? Well this summer there was no time for such queries we had planned our trip tovisit Delhi and Vaishno...
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...
Stress TestThis is an invasive test so doctors use it only as a last option. The stress test measures how the baby can handle the “stress” of labour and is conducted in late pregnancy. This maybe done if...
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...
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ThumbsuckingSucking of the thumb is a common sight among young children. During pregnancy, even babies in a mother's womb suck their thumb. However, thumb sucking is a children's habit that produces a strong...
How much protein do Indian children need?Indian children have differing protein needs based on their age. 1-3 years: 22 grams/day 4-6 years: 30 grams/day 7-9 years: 41 grams/day 10-12 years (Boy): 54 grams/day 10-12 years (Girl): 57...
Breech BabyAs the pregnancy approaches its full term, most babies will move into the typical delivery position with their head down. When this does not happen, the baby will have to be delivered feet first...
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...
Toy room organization - Tips on how toToy room organization is a big challenge for parents, especially because kids these days have a large number of toys. Whether we organize the toys in a toy room or in a corner in the children's...
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...
Children - Living with epilepsyChildren with epilepsy can go on to lead happy, active, successful lives except in the most extreme cases. Here are some tips that parents can use when they have a child with epilepsy. ...
8 read-together classics for parents and young childrenEditors’ picks! We have come up with a collection of classics for little ones (babies, toddlers and even preschoolers). These are some we have really enjoyed and also researched, and feel are...
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...
Fish, dinosaur and stars (outing with kids in Bangalore)'Masti' and wonder in Cubbon Park and vicinity in Bangalore. Other than the park there other activities like the govt. aquarium, Visveswaraya museum with a fun dinosaur model and the Jawaharlal...
Teaching children about strangersTeaching children about strangers is important as society gets busier and the world around us gets more dangerous. Here are some tips parents can use. Whenever you discuss this issue, be clear...
Leave that stress outside the bedroom to get pregnantStress in the workplace has become common for all of us. Indian mothers-to-be need to pay attention to stress, as it can affect conception. What is stress and what is its effect on the...
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...
Computers and Internet - Preschool & KGPondered and fretted about when should your preschooler or KG child should first use the computer, what websites are appropriate, what computer games are okay. We have some pointers here to help...
Gandhiji's little fans and Rajghat tripWe had gone to Delhi in summer holidays and my little ones’ (8 and 6) big highlight was a visit to Rajghat (Gandhiji’s memorial) and the adjacent Gandhi museum. Btw, Rajghat is the samadhi or...
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...
Tumbling tots - Rough, physical playChildren often indulge in what parents consider to be rough, physical play - tumbling and rolling around, holding each other tight, screaming etc., As parents we often get concerned about whether...
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...
Teaching children to cope with a deathThe death of a near and dear person, whether family or friends, can impact children and may result in numerous questions from them, irrespective of age. Here are some tips on how Indian parents...
Managing aggression in young childrenYoung children, especially preschoolers can often show aggressive behaviour. This includes grabbing toys, kicking, yelling, and even playing very roughly with friends or siblings. This can be very...
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Why are proteins important for children?Proteins are very important for children as they help their body grow. Proteins are the source of amino acids, which are the building blocks of your child's body. Amino acids help the development...
Teaching children about money - the basicsRich or poor, big spenders or not, all Indian parents know that teaching children about money is one of the most critical skills we must inculcate in our children. As in many other cases, the...
Fostering inner discipline in childrenOften our approach to discipline in India, involves a carrot and stick approach. We reward good behaviour and punish bad behaviour. There are advantages and disadvantages to this approach. One of...
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...

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