Category: Uncategorized

Writing well is a craft honed over time, and it takes plenty of practice. By encouraging your child to write from a young age, you will help them develop a knack for writing. This has to be done in a smart and fun way though, so that they don’t find the process difficult and give up.

Show them

Kids love imitating their parents. Sometimes you would rather they not copy what you do or say, but that’s the way it is. When children see their parents write, they become curious and want to try as well. So write in front of them. Make grocery lists, type emails, fill out forms – write, write, write. When they have questions about what you’re writing, stop and show them. Take the time to explain what you’re doing.

Words matter

Writing and reading are very connected. A love for stories will ignite an appreciation for words. So read to your child often, read together, read a variety of stories. Always have books around for them. They will learn how to structure sentences and play around with syntax, almost subconsciously, while listening to you read or reading themselves. Pretty soon your kids will be writing stories of their own.

Mistakes happen

There will be plenty of mistakes when it comes to spelling and grammar when your child is just starting to write. It is all part of the learning process. Do not get frustrated and jump to correct them when they make a mistake. Instead, praise your child for their efforts and be encouraging. Over time they will learn to spell and punctuate properly, but for now allow them to enjoy the exercise of writing and sharing their thoughts.

Write everywhere

Alphabet-shaped magnets, chalk and a blackboard, pencil and paper, markers and a whiteboard, even a keyboard. Let your child have easy access to these tools. Let writing become second nature to them, a part of their environment and not a chore. The more practice they get playing around with words and stringing together sentences, the more their writing will improve.

Write together

Sit at the table with your child and write together. Is there a story your little one is fond of? Make a storybook out of it, you could even add illustrations. Do you have family living in another city or country? Help your child write a letter to them. Is your little one interested in nature? Put together a scrapbook of their finds, and let them write the names and a little description for each of the items they collect. Take what interests them and find a way to add writing into the mix.

Learning to write will open up avenues for your child. So, praise your toddler’s scribbles, read them plenty of stories and poems, and talk to them. They will learn to love words, and writing will come effortlessly from there. Not to mention, when they are older homework time will be that much easier thanks to their comfort with writing.

The summer holidays are the perfect time to tick off the things your family has wanted to do all year. Sit down together and ask your kids what interests them. What they would like to learn more about? What have you all always wanted to do as a family but never had time to? Jot the ideas down and go through the list. Narrow down the list based on priority, budget and time.  Remember to schedule the different activities through the summer. This cuts down on hearing the refrain, ‘I am bored!’ from your child during the long holidays.

It’s a good idea to write the final list out on a piece of chart paper and pin it up where the family can see it. As you go through the activities tick them off one after the other.

Here are some ideas to get you started on creating your family’s Ultimate Summer Bucket List.

• Watch a movie at a drive-in theatre. If you don’t have one in your city set up a projector at home and create a mini theatre for your family. Don’t forget the popcorn!

• Spend the day at the zoo or aquarium. Many zoos and aquariums allow you to feed the animals or even spend the day learning from the staff and experts there. Check out what programs your local animal sanctuary has on offer.

• Organise a make-your-own pizza night or an exotic dosa dinner, where everyone can choose toppings and experiment. You can make this idea your own whatever your choice of cuisine, the only criteria being that the entire family has to participate in the cooking and eat dinner together.

• Does your city have a local interesting museum? Maybe a natural history one, or a museum dedicated to locomotives.  Find out and take your kids to visit. It will be a fun learning experience for all.

• Spend more time outdoors. This could be in the form of a trek or a picnic. Take binoculars and drawing supplies. If you spot an exotic bird or find an interesting insect or flower, note it down or draw it. At the end of the day everyone can share and exchange notes on what they saw.

• Have a dance party at home. Decorate the room, invite friends over (both old and young), put on some fun music and dance the evening away. You burn calories and tire out the kids, all in one go.

• Learn something new as a family. This could be anything from origami or baking, to dance or magic. Find a class taught locally on something the entire family is interested in, and go for it.

• It’s important to teach your kids to value what they have and to help the less fortunate. Spend the day at retirement home, or volunteer as a family, at a financially strapped school. These are just some ways in which you can give back as a family.

The above are just suggestions. Make sure to put together a list that reflects you and your loved ones – have a mix of educational and fun activities, indoor and outdoor ones. This definitely has the potential of being the start of a great summer tradition for your family.

Kids shrieking with laughter while splashing water everywhere, attempting cannonball dives and seeing who can hold their breath the longest underwater – this is the scene that will greet you at most swimming pools on a hot day. With the summer holidays here, many kids will be attending swimming classes. Those who already know how to swim will be at the pool paddling in the water with their friends or practicing their strokes.

If your child is keen on learning how to swim this summer, here are some things to keep in mind while picking a swimming class. Yes, there are loads of advertisements for swimming classes and camps during the summer holidays, but you don’t want to put your child into the first one you find. It always helps to send your child to a swimming coach who other parents recommend, so ask around! Keeping in mind your budget, shortlist a few and make a visit. Check to see the child-to-instructor ratio. You don’t want to put your child in a pool that is over crowded and lacks enough adult supervision.

See if the class offers a trial lesson and sit in to watch how the swimming coach interacts with the kids and teaches them. Is he or she able to give each child the required attention? Talk to the coach as well and find out about their experience, make sure they are CPR and first aid certified. You can never be too careful when it comes to your child’s safety.

Before, during and after

Whether your child is learning to swim or already knows how, certain steps should be taken before they get into the water, while they are in the pool and once they are done. Most of us know that we shouldn’t get into the water on a full stomach. But how many of us apply sunscreen before swimming? Make sure to slather your child with sunscreen at least half an hour before they get in to the pool to prevent skin cancer and damage from sun exposure.

In each swimming pool rules are in place such as no diving, watching out for others, getting out of the water if you need to use the toilet etc. Inform your child about these rules. Let them know that the swimming instructor and lifeguard are in charge.

Chlorine and chemicals in the water can cause a lot of damage to hair and skin. So, have your child wear a swimming cap and take a shower before getting into the pool.

Once your child is in the pool, watch them. Even if they know how to swim, keep an eye out for them. An accident can happen in an instant. If your kid is using floating devices make sure it’s on them at all times. Many pools over chlorinate, so see that your child isn’t swallowing too much of the water. Sharing goggles is a big no-no as well, since this can spread eye infection from one child to another.

When your child is done swimming, dry their ears out well with a towel to prevent ear infections. Swimming coupled with the heat can be dehydrating, so give your little one plenty of fluids to drink post-swim. Of course, a bath and hair wash is mandatory after a swim to get rid of the chemicals and chlorine build-up. Follow that up by applying plenty of moisturizer to hydrate the skin.

Your child will definitely have fun in the water but safety and hygiene are very important, so teach them that from the very beginning.

We lead busy lives. What with work, household chores, taking care of loved ones and social obligations. Not to mention the kids are busy with school and after-school classes, which makes it hard to find time to spend together as a family. But now that the summer holidays are here, and the kids are out of school, you can finally plan activities to bring the family together.

Here are some ways to unplug and connect as a family.

• Get outdoors: Plan a hike or a visit to a nearby park.  The kids can help with packing a picnic before you set off. Your family will get some fresh air, you can spot interesting flora and fauna with your kids, and everyone can just relax and be.

• Holiday mode: Save up your vacation days from work for the summer when your kids are free. Go on a trip as a family to a hill station or a beach destination, whatever suits your fancy and budget. Maybe, even plan a road trip. What a great way to create great memories as a family!

• Be present: We are always looking at screens – be it our phone, tablet, computer or television. Unplug from tech once a week as a family. Switch off the Wi-Fi for the day, and just spend time together. Talk, read together, eat together – you will be amazed what you may learn about yourself and your family members.

• Get involved: Let the family get involved in running the house. Set up a chore wheel and let everyone at home take turns doing basic household tasks. Why not spend an afternoon baking together, and an evening gardening? These are activities that the entire family can participate in.

• Learn together: Pick an activity or sport that you can all learn or play together. Maybe you can attend yoga classes as a family, or take a language class. If you have a particular interest like chess or knitting, you could teach your kids. This is a great way to bond and learn something new.

• Bring out the board games: Schedule family board game night a couple of times a week. Scrabble, Monopoly, Life – the options are endless and you can find a game that every member of the family can play. There will be much laughter and friendly competition!

• Explore your surroundings: Play tourist in your own city with your family this summer. Check out art exhibitions, try out new restaurants, visit the local museums – it will be a fun way to learn more about the place you live in, and spend time as a family.

All it takes is spending time together to bond as a family. This summer make it a point to prioritize your family, and the rest will fall into place.

It’s normal to be apprehensive about being in a different environment and trying new things. Especially for kids, since they thrive on routine. Summer camp will be an amazing experience for your child, but it will also involve being around grown-ups they aren’t used to, making new friends, and trying activities they’ve never attempted before. So, if your child is heading to summer camp for the first time, here are some things you can do to make the transition easier.

Communication is key

Talk to your child, it always helps! Ask them how they feel about going to camp. Listen to what they have to say, and address their anxieties. Tell your child about all the activities that they will get to try at camp, and get them excited about trying something new. If they get to choose activities, discuss the pros and cons of each and help with the decision-making process.

Involve them

If your child is going to learn to swim at camp, they will need a swimsuit, swim cap etc. If tennis is the activity of choice they might need a new racquet or cap. Taking your kid shopping before camp starts to pick up all the necessary supplies, is a great way to get them enthusiastic about attending. They can help choose items, and will look forward to using them at camp – making them forget their anxieties.

Label their stuff

A day at camp is jam packed with activities. From painting classes and robotics, to theatre and photography, the kids will be moving from one class to the next, and in the process their stuff – water bottles, towels, art supplies – can get misplaced or forgotten. Make sure that your child’s things are labeled with their name. This way they won’t lose their things, and there won’t be unnecessary arguments and fights over water bottles and pencil boxes.

Know their surroundings

If it is permitted, take your child to camp a day before so that they can familiarize themselves with their surroundings. Introduce them to the camp facilitators and counselors, so that they know whom they can approach in case of any issues. If they have anxieties, say for example, about using the toilet in a new place, let them see where it is and get used to the idea. Letting them explore the camp will allow them to get over many fears.

Inform about health issues

If your child has to take medication, or has allergies and needs to stay away from certain foods, please inform the camp director and teachers ahead of time. Speak about any medical conditions like asthma or diabetes that your child might have with the camp-in-charge, so that they can take the necessary steps to make sure that your child is looked after. Also, tell your child that the camp facilitators know about their health issue, and that they can approach them if there is a problem.

There will be some teething issues during the initial couple of days while your child gets used to summer camp, but pretty soon they will find their place and have a terrific summer.

Summer treats shouldn’t only mean dripping ice cream cones and glasses of sugary lemonade. Neither is particularly healthy, and on a long, hot afternoon the last thing you want is your child on a sugar-high and bouncing off the walls. On the other hand, the thought of making time-consuming, nutritious snacks for your kids on a searing day isn’t appealing either. But don’t worry! Because, we’ve got you covered with these easy-to-make healthy summer snacks.

Yum Yoghurt!

Curd or yoghurt is a summer staple. It cools the body, and is filled with much-needed nutrients. A great way to get your kids to eat yoghurt is by making frozen yoghurt bark. There are tons of easy recipes online like this. Start by taking some Greek yoghurt or hung curd, mix in honey and spread the mixture on a baking tray lined with parchment paper or foil. Have your kids pick from toppings like chopped berries, coconut shavings, dried fruits, and nuts and sprinkle it over the curd. Place the tray in the freezer till the yoghurt bark is completely frozen. Remove, break the bark into pieces and enjoy!

Icy Popsicles

A cold popsicle is a great way to beat the heat. It is healthier than an ice cream, can be made at home and you can experiment with flavours. You can try combinations like coconut water and berries, yoghurt and mango, or even watermelon and mint. Once you make the mixture, pour it in to the Popsicle molds and freeze. You can easily get the molds online, and there are plenty of recipes available, click here for some. This is a cool, delicious treat your kids (and you) can savour on a summer evening.

Great Granolas!

Summer holidays call for tons of outings with the kids – taking them to activities, ferrying them to play dates, etc. Children as we know get hungry often and it’s always a good idea to have snacks handy while out and about. An easy and healthy treat to carry are granola bars. The problem is that most store-brought granola bars are high on sugar. Luckily, they aren’t hard to make at home! All you need is rolled oats, a sweetener like date syrup or honey, a binding agent like almond butter or plain butter, and toppings such as dry fruits, nuts and chocolate chips. There are tons of foolproof recipes online you can follow like this, and this. The granola bars can be stored for up to a few days.

Grazing Platter

Even the most ordinary ingredients when presented in a fun and special way will instantly appeal to kids. This is where snack or grazing platters come in. Take a large bright coloured plate and fill it with healthy foods, and place little bowls for the dips. You can include apple wedges to dip in peanut butter, carrot and cucumber slices to go with a yoghurt-based dip, and boiled egg with pita bread and hummus. The options are endless! You could also cut the fruits and veggies in fun shapes for added kid-appeal. This makes for an ideal play date snack, where the kids can try new combinations of food and eat together.

With these snack ideas you won’t be spending hours in the kitchen, and they are easy enough recipes for the children to help with. Moreover, your kids are guaranteed a delicious snack that is nutrition dense. What’s not to love!