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Welcome to India’s most comprehensive parenting portal! We have for you excerpts from ParentEdge, our bi-monthly parenting magazine, resources for parents, activities for children and a variety of blog posts. What’s more, we have interesting offerings for...

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The importance of failure in the growing years! | ParentEdge

Much is being written and said about failure and how crucial it is. And indeed, failure needs to be as treasured as success. As a psychologist, I often see instances where parents tend to overlook their ward’s success and instead complain about areas where the performance is not as expected. This pattern of interaction needs to be checked and changed.

http://parentedge.in/the-importance-of-failure-in-the-growing-years/

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5 attributes to look for in your child’s paediatrician | ParentEdge

Every child must have a pediatrician instead of being sent to the family GP for treatment. We explain the qualities that the best pediatrician must possess.

In India, we follow a system of going to the ‘family doctor’ for all our health problems. We see specialists only when the family GP advises us to do so. We tend to follow this system for our children too. But every child must have a pediatrician who knows his history right from the time he was a baby, so that the correct treatment plan may be devised for the child. http://parentedge.in/5-attributes-to-look-for-in-your-childs-paediatrician/

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Dealing with Childhood Obesity | ParentEdge

I come from a place where the only way to demonstrate love was through food. My mother never hugged us or said ‘I love you’ or tucked us into bed with a story and a goodnight kiss. My mother cooked. From elaborate breakfasts to chaats, homemade papadams and chaklis, jams and ketchup… we had our world of home-made I-love-yous. So, while I did weave in the hugs and the bedtime tucking in, as a mother it was in-built in me to be gratified when my child eats.

I panicked when my infant daughter threw up, and chuckled with great pride when my younger child had a voracious appetite. A fat baby was the only sign of certified good parenting. Me, a working mom—educated, intelligent—still required worldly authentications and endorsements. I wrestled with the food issue for a bit, always worrying about my scrawny daughter despite the fact that she was physically fit and despite the doc telling me that coughs and colds and diarrhea were part of the immunity strengthening process each child goes through and despite knowing about it inside my head. I still needed the fat baby. 

http://parentedge.in/dealing-with-childhood-obesity/

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Medical tests for children - their use in detecting diseases and health issues | ParentEdge

Are medical tests and lab investigations helpful for children? How can medical tests help in identifying diseases and health issues in childhood?

“Science is the process that takes us from confusion to understanding…” ― Brian Greene

“You doctors of these days!” sighed my friend’s father after he spent a long day at the hospital for his master health check-up, “You people do so many tests for God knows what ….earlier the doctors would know everything just by looking at a patient….. ”I was indignant but managed to keep quiet. Many years ago I read this line in a book-“perhaps to be great is to be misunderstood” and I tell this to myself when a volley of accusations are thrown at me without giving me a chance to explain. http://parentedge.in/investing-on-investigations/

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Teaching Kids Healthy Eating Habits | ParentEdge

For most parents getting their children to eat a balanced meal is a daily struggle.As a Child Food Habits Consultant I have always found that the trick is in getting children involved in the decision making instead of forcing a set of values and concepts on them.

I strongly believe that even the pickiest eater can be taught to eat right and healthy. Teaching children to eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and plenty of healthy proteins is important to maintain a healthy diet and weight. In India mothers are constantly worrying about their children’s diet and eating habits but feeling completely helpless about improving the situation. It is important that as parents we start implementing healthy food habits early on in our children’s life.At a young age start by encouraging children to try new, healthy foods, allowing them to listen to their internal signals of hunger and fullness, and as a parent learning to respect their decision on how much they eat http://parentedge.in/teaching-kids-healthy-eating-habits/

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The Masti Quotient – The importance of Joy in parent-child interactions | ParentEdge

You have heard of IQ, EQ and now even PQ. Let me share with you on another equally important quotient – MQ or Masti Quotient.

I know, I know, you proabably think I have lost my marbles – Why would I compare something as trivial as masti to things as vital as intelligence, emotion and passion?  http://parentedge.in/the-masti-quotient-the-importance-of-joy-in-parent-child-interactions-2/

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How to keep the silver shining – Helping children think creatively | ParentEdge - Part 2

“How will all this help?” “You provide different stimuli every day. It would evoke a different response. It could be just 5 or 10 minutes. Every day she will be challenged to think differently about a different issue. You will find your daughter getting a hang of it.”

“Will this work?” “Give it a try. If one idea does not work, try another. You have to keep at it. These are easy ways in which you can keep their creative juices flowing. But do it regularly, that is important.” http://parentedge.in/how-to-keep-the-silver-shining-helping-children-think-creatively/2/

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Speaking up for oneself – a skill children should learn | ParentEdge

I have observed that most people like to take a shortcut in life. Rarely have I found find someone backing all their asks with complete effort; mostly, an easy route that requires minimum effort is adopted

I noted this with sharp relief while my daughter was growing up. Though she was a good student who got decent grades, she was an extremely shy girl. Despite that, she was exceedingly eager to participate in various extra-curricular competitions. As a mother I encouraged her to sign up for participation. Each time this shy little girl went up to the teacher and offered herself, to be unfailingly rejected. It was heartbreaking. “Mom, I am never selected. Each time it is the same. Ma’am always selects Charvi or Sayan only.” Hmmm. http://parentedge.in/speaking-up-for-oneself-a-skill-children-should-learn/

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The Burden of Expectations and the Impact on Young Minds | ParentEdge

Christopher was a bright young boy who excelled at sports but was a little behind in academics. His parents were indifferent toward his sports performance but would be after him to improve his academics. He was not bad at academics; just not the best in his class. So after every long and tiring day, when Christopher would come back home, his parents would nag him about his studies. Eventually, Christopher lost interest in sports and became dull in class, gradually slipping down in academics as well. This is a classic example of how parents’ expectations from their children can do more harm than good and today, we are going to talk about the burden and impact of parental expectations on young minds. http://parentedge.in/the-burden-of-expectations-and-the-impact-on-young-minds/

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(This blog is an excerpt from my book Effective Parenting: A New Paradigm) My father came to live with us a when Ankita had just turned ten – months, not years. He had retired as a professor four years ago and spent the initial period catching up with his friends and relatives. A forced bachelor, he had no responsibilities and wanted to make the best use of his new found freedom.

http://parentedge.in/unconditional-love-grandparenting/

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Dealing with Exam Anxiety | ParentEdge

It is the exam and assessment season once again. Visit any home with a young adult and you will see that life practically comes to a halt around this time of the year for every member of the family. Whether it is meal timings, family gatherings or festival celebration, everything gets structured around the examination schedules of the student, especially if this student belongs to the fateful group that is appearing for board exams. Sometimes, in the entire hullabaloo, the student develops exam or test anxiety – an extra demon to beat in the wake of all the pressure that comes with appearing for examinations in our nation.

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People often ask me about improving creative thinking skills. I suggest some simple stuff like the exercises that follow.

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parents want to protect children, but it is important to allow them to be independent

The country is in a furore over what an actor’s wife said: she wants to leave the country because the atmosphere is turning unsafe for the kids.

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Some signs and signals that your child may have a speech delay. what can you do about it? What kind of professional can provide remedial therapy for speech

You have a 3 yr. old son daughter who does not seem to speak as he should. Or you find that your 3 yr. old says only a few words and his friends communicate much better than him. Worse still, you notice that his elder sibling was able to say almost full sentences by this age. You hope, or may be your friends tell you that it is ok, and that your child will outgrow it soon. You think your child may just be a late talker. And therefore, you postpone seeking professional assistance.

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How using mind maps can boost a child's creatvity | ParentEdge

Using mind maps to boost children's creativity - word association activities.

Write the word “Cake” in big bold letters in the centre of large blank sheet. Ask the child what it reminds them of. There are no right or wrong answers. He might say “Birthday”. Don’t stop with that. Keep pushing for more. Ask what else. “Candle”, “Friends”, “Party”, “Chocolate”, “Plane”, “Christmas”, “Cup Cake”, “Brownie”, “Nuts”, “Icing”, “Cream”, “Ice Cream Cake”

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why we should encourage our children to use indian toys | ParentEdge - Part 3

How indian toys are more beneficial to our children and help them with contextual and cultural understanding

This article first appeared in a 2013 issue of Mother & Baby. Toys and playthings are an integral part of any child’s growing years. Both pediatricians and child psychologists agree that playtime is very essential to the development of a child. It is a tutorial for life really. While playing with their toys they...

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Understanding Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease (HFMD) in children: symptoms, treatment | ParentEdge

What are the symptoms of HFMD in children? how to treat HFMD in children?

Hand-Foot-and-Mouth (HFM) disease is on the rise in the recent years. This condition occurs mainly in children under ten years. While it can affect older children and adults, we are only mildly discomforted or asymptomatic owing to better immune status. However we are still capable of transmitting the viruses that cause this condition.