March-April 2016
Vol 5 - issue 5 - `100
PrePare for an
OUT-OF-THE-Ordinary
SUMMER BREAK
Pg 08
Tantrums
Studying abroad -
indian vs. international curricula Pg Pg 43
in young children Pg 36
Are you
spoiling your child? Pg 26 Food allergies -
what you need to know Pg 52
Parenting in a joint family Pg 32 Foreign language movies for children Pg 64 Inclusive education Pg 40 Extra curricular activities for teenagers Pg 55
everyday Parenting
Sridhar Ramanathan is the founder of IDEAS-RS where he is also a strategic innovation coach. Sridhar draws on his work experience in coaching adults in creative problem solving, innovation and communication, and his life experience as a parent and grand parent, in authoring articles and blogs for ParentEdge. You can find his blogs at http://parentedge.in/ author/sridhar/
Summer How to have planned fun with kids this
I was sitting at the kitchen counter, when I saw our two grandsons reading something stuck on the wall. It was a handwritten sheet – a kind of activity calendar. It also had what seemed to be equations.
A grand parent
interviews a parent
Piano + Music Practice + iPad Spelling = Video games I asked my daughter what it meant. One thing led to another and our conversation veered to the upcoming vacation time and how she packs so much fun into it for her kids. This dialogue was an eye-opener for me. Here are a few things learnt from her on the subject.
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Parenting Quotient
ARE YOU
SPOILING YOUR CHILD?
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young Parents Corner
Meena Sivaraman is an early childhood development specialist. She runs Bright Vistas, a chain of corporate day care centres. With rich experience in the holistic enrichment of children’s intellect during their formative years, Meena is a firm believer in involved, hands-on parenting.
Temper Tantrums in Young Children
All households are familiar with tantrums; only their manifestations differ! One child may insist on wearing the same pair of jeans the entire week and another may refuse to brush her teeth. When tantrums are displayed in social gatherings or in public places like malls and parks, it can be rather embarrassing for parents. However, rest assured, you are not alone!
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College education abroad
Studying Undergrad Abroad – Indian versus International Curricula Viral doshi is Founder of Viral doshi Associates, an independent international education and career guidance boutique with offices in Mumbai, Dubai, london and Singapore. Viral has mentored students and families for the last two decades.
Is the high school curriculum/ Board (Indian vs. International boards) that a student opts for, make or break, for college education abroad? I want to categorically state that, no, absolutely not. College admission directors are as likely to choose students from ISC/ CBSE backgrounds as those from IGCSE/ IB curricula, all other things being equal. Many schools in India that offer Indian curricula – Cathedral School, DPS, La Martinere, Modern School – have been sending students for undergraduate stuides abroad for many years now. I would like to reiterate, that the application in its totality determines a student’s chances of getting into a particular university. There are many factors other than the curriculum
chosen for Grade Twelve – academic performance, consistent involvement in extra curricular activities, recommendations from teachers, scores in standardised tests etc. So the student should focus on strengthening all these aspects. The curriculum chosen in high school is not a magic bullet that will ensure admissions to colleges abroad. Many students jump into international curricula, carried away by hype and then end up not doing well. It is important to understand that taking up international curricula in high school virtually closes the door for admissions to Indian colleges (non synchronised exam calendars, clash of exams etc.) So it is important to weigh the decision carefully. I would advise students to pick a Board where they can do well; because all said and done, academic performance is of prime importance. Don’t just pick a board because it sounds good and looks good!
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43
wellness
summer
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wellness
Krishna Mahathi is a paediatrician with postgraduate diplomas in the management of allergies and developmental neurology. She is also training to be an expressive art psychotherapist.
What is a food allergy? Allergy is a condition when a substance that is not harmful in itself triggers the body’s defence mechanism into a tussle that produces discomfort. It is important to understand that not all adverse reactions to food are allergies; that is, they are not a hypersensitive upheaval of the body’s immune system. Some individuals have a tendency to react adversely, and this predisposition is termed ‘atopy’. The substance (this is usually a protein) that fuels an irritated response from the immune system (which we generally refer to by the term inflammation) can be called an ‘allergen’. The inflammatory response is orchestrated by cells in the immune system called ‘lymphocytes’. The discomfort produced is mediated via counter proteins (remember allergens are proteins) called immunoglobulins that release several chemicals into the body. The common mediators are ‘histamine’ and ‘leucotrienes’ and they are responsible for the overt manifestations of the allergic reaction. These manifestations can be seen in all body systems primarily the skin,
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respiratory passages and the gut.This is also the reason why the reaction can be treated effectively with medications that counter these biochemical mediators (antihistamine and antileucotrienes, steroids, etc.). Occasionally the hyper-responsiveness can rapidly affect many systems of the body. It could start with itchiness of the skin and can proceed to shortness of breath and lowering of blood pressure, endangering life itself. This type of reaction is scientifically termed ‘anaphylaxis’. Instances of a seafood feast that led to some people being admitted to an intensive care unit fall under this category. It is also essential to know that food allergies run in atopic families. So those with atopic dermatitis or asthma, which are difficult to manage benefit from treating the co-existing food allergies.
the high School years
Why High Schoolers Also Need Extracurricular Activities Dr. Ali Khwaja is the Founder of Banjara Academy, a unique institution committed to improving the quality of life. He writes books and columns, and is regularly invited to conduct workshops and lectures at prestigious national institutions, schools, and colleges.
With growing competition, both teachers and parents at times tend to push high school students only towards academics. This leads to some amount of frustration, boredom, and loss of motivation. In some cases it even results in overall sense of disconnect and hatred for studies. How do we address this? Read on.
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