 If you were going to a class to learn something..
Would you carry a notebook and a pen? Most of us would. But what if we picked up the wrong notebook in a hurry? What if it didn't have any blank pages? As adults we would probably manage by scribbling on the sides of the pages. But would a little child be able to do that? Highly unlikely. A child who is just beginning to learn how to use notebooks would need blank ruled pages to write on to carry the information from the classroom back home. Without the right notebook they would learn much less than they could. I am sure most of us find this easy to imagine. And we would always have ruled blank notebooks available for our children. But in the early years - children don't take notes in a notebook. They gather and store what they are learning directly in the brain. So they need to come to school with a brain that is ready to learn If they don't - they will learn only a fraction of what is taught by the teacher. How can we prepare the brain to learn? How can we work in tandem with our children's teachers to ensure effective learning? I have been invited to speak on this at the ISEY conference organised by KLAY Prep Schools and Day Care I will be conducting a #parentingworkshop on the 3rd of September (Friday) 2021 at 11 am as part of the conference. Registrations for the workshop are now open. Select my workshop when you register for the conference. https://www.klayschools.com/isey-2021/ See you there.  One of the things I just love doing -
is writing informative articles for expecting and new moms on the Morisons Baby Dreams (@̌morisonsbabydreams) website. I have been writing these articles for the past 5 years and I am extremely proud of every article I have written for them. Each article is always a labour of love. First I work with their team to select the most relevant topics. Over the years this careful picking of topics has turned the website into a treasure trove of information on pregnancy, breastfeeding and baby care. Then I plunge into research. I love this bit the most. I am literally breathless with excitement as I find new and important facts to share. Next I write and rewrite until the information becomes really easy to understand. And I always include clear action points for the reader. And then we publish. I love this process - because at every step my only focus is - creating value for the thousands of moms who will read it. And I am constantly charged up and excited about how the words that I am writing will create a generation of healthy, happy, calm and confident parents. Here is the link to an article that is sure to help new parents relax. It is called - "How do babies learn?" It is a question that all parents ask - and unfortunately - usually get wrong answers to. No - you don't need to buy products that will turn your babies into geniuses. You only need to do some very simple things. Sharing what they are in this article https://www.smartmums.in/how-do-babies-learn/ Do check their website for more articles from me. I would love to answer questions if you have any  I am so excited!!!!
My 6th book #published by Juggernaut Books Is on the HERO HEADER of their home page right now. This is such a HUGE honor. And I am thrilled because 'picky eating' is a topic so close to my heart. So many children eat only a few select foods - usually junk food And they refuse to eat any healthy food. And this is so bad for their health I have been working with parents who are struggling with picky eaters for the past 21 years now. And in this book I share why children become picky eaters - so that if you have a child who is a #pickyeater - you can eliminate the reason for picky eating and actually make your child want to eat healthy food. The book is available in the new releases section of the Juggernaut app ( or you can go to it by clicking on the hero header) You can also read it on Kindle amzn.to/2UzIucc  At yesterday's consultation - a 10 year old burst into tears as she recalled being bullied because the outline of her panty was seen through her leggings as she played.
The mindset of the bully - (another 10 year old) makes me sad. Obviously she has been coached by some adult into believing that this is something 'bad'. Is it wrong to wear underwear? Is it a crime if the outline of what everyone knows you are wearing shows? No of course not. And it is time we taught our children that. I am not sure how many of us will be able to teach our children that however - because some things have been so strongly ingrained in us by society. But I know that eventually our children will teach us not to be embarrassed and hide what is physiological and normal. I have discovered this in my consultations with other teens. Many teen girls have been brought to me for counselling because they refuse to wax their legs before they wear shorts. And I am on their side. "If it is ok for you to see my brother's hairy legs - it should be ok for you to see mine too." They say. And they are right in my opinion. I think it is time women were accepted as they are - just like men are. With their body hair and hairy eyebrows and upper lips... And other things like accidentally stained dresses or inadvertently seen straps. In my experience it is not the boys who are making a big deal of this - they are happy to accept their friends like this. It is other girls and women who are objecting. And this must stop. What do you think?  In my book
"How to motivate your teenager to study" Published by Juggernaut Books(@juggernaut.in) I share 20 tips - based on my experience of working with teens and their parents over the past 10 years. Tip 6 is - Turn Threats into Challenges. Is there a difference between a threat and a challenge? Yes there is. Challenges are motivating because they keep you focused on the rewards that success will bring. Threats are intimidating because they keep you focused on the respect that you will lose if you fail. Most parents I consult with - make the mistake of threatening their teens to ensure that they do what needs to be done. And the fear that the threats create - kill motivation. In my book I share - how you can convert threats into challenges. If you have been struggling to motivate your teen - read this book to understand them. This is the link https://www.amazon.in/How-Motivate-Your-Teenager-Study-ebook/dp/B099F9JJMF/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1629262147&refinements=p_27%3ADebmita%20Dutta&s=books&sr=1-1&fbclid=IwAR17l1Sp2qxVIz7USH7pjXrqkfmMR1FhSF0GoEFOQOm0PcLCs-2XjtEmYc4 Teens who feel understood will not need you to push them. https://www.facebook.com/whatparentsask/posts/1861952300655805  It was such a pleasure to speak at the Vidyasagar Preschool (vidyasagar.preschool) on Saturday.
The topic of the #parentingworkshop I conducted there was - "Learning during the Pandemic." And I was completely overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the parents who attended it. Is learning during the pandemic different from learning otherwise? Of course it is. That is apparent. Everything is different when a child is learning online. And many parents are worried about how children are reluctant to learn in this way. So what is the key difference between online and offline learning in the early years? When children are learning offline - they are motivated to go to school because of the fun that it offers. Learning abstract things like alphabets and numbers is incidental. In the online format however, children need to be motivated to learn the abstract. How can we help them to develop that motivation? And how can we ensure that they stay motivated through the challenges of learning the abstract online? I spoke on this in my workshop. When children learn from home - we don't need to turn into teachers - we need to understand learning - so that we can create an environment that makes learning easier. And this environment is not just about having a room or a desk. It is about what happens at home - during before and after class hours. It was a pleasure to work with parents who were eager to learn more about learning. Looking forward to interacting with them again soon. PS - Lata Dalmia (@dalmia.lata) thank you for this absolutely beautiful sari. I felt so loved in this exquisite weave.  Grabbing a crash course in the new text language...as my daughter shows me all the chats of the day with her friends.
idk wyd wbu cya ryt ikr.... And so on..... At one time I would have disapproved and turned my nose up at all this.... But now I don't. The world is changing...I am happy to learn the new language it uses. In my opinion it is most important to connect and communicate. I have learnt new languages in the past to communicate with my patients. Now I am learning one more.  "He eats more if I feed him.
So, should I keep feeding him? He is now 9 years old." A mom asks me at a consultation. "No!!! Stop immediately." I say. Every human being must learn to listen to their body and respond to the signals appropriately. Every human being must take responsibility for their own health. And the first step towards that is putting the right food into your body, at the right time and in the right quantity. Ideally by 9 years - children should also be able to put together a healthy meal to satisfy their hunger. We may believe that feeding our children ensures better health because they eat more and eat what we serve. But in the long run it leads to poor health because of - 1. Overeating or skipped meals 2. A desire to eat junk food 3. Not developing an affinity for healthy food. Is that what we want? If you are feeding a child who can feed themselves - stop now. Photo by Katerina Holmes from Pexels Without the right tools - this period of staying home can create more stress than it allays11/8/2021  6 months paternal leave has recently become a reality in many organizations.
Either (both) parent can now avail 6 months of leave in the months preceeding and upto 1 year after they begin a family. This is a very welcome move. And has the potential to change our whole world. The intention is to ensure that 1. Mothers feel supported and are able to manage their careers better 2. Fathers can experience the joy of raising a family 3. The child gets a better start on life because of the participation of both parents in caregiving. I love these objectives. And I believe that this can help parents to raise children who are so emotionally secure - that parenting them becomes a completely stress free journey. But to make this happen - parents will need the right support. Parents will need - 1. Prenatal classes to understand their babies and their needs and how to fulfill these needs without stress. So that there is no rift in the parent child relationship. 2. Infant care classes to understand how to go through weaning and sleep training etc. So that they do not create behavioural problems like picky eating. Without the right tools - this period of staying home can create more stress than it allays. I hope organizations will recognize this and offer this support in addition to the leave. If you are availing parental leave soon - do reach out. I would love to introduce you to the prenatal and infant care support that I offer. If you are part of an organization that is offering parental leave - do reach out - I would love to support your employees too. Looking forward to an exciting Saturday with the parents of children at the Vidyasagar Preschool10/8/2021  Looking forward to an exciting Saturday with the parents of children at the Vidyasagar Preschool (@vidyasagar.preschool)
I love the topic I am speaking on. And I am looking forward to answering your questions. |
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