Have you become parent recently or are about to become one?

There is lot of excitement among would be parents. Specially when having the first child, excitement is mingled with a sense of responsibility. In an age with smaller families, couples are apprehensive regarding the rearing of the child.

But one thing is certain, they want to give the best to their child. Ask any couple, and they will list you a number of things that he/she has planned to do after the arrival of the new one: best environment at home, more time for the baby, taking care of all the needs of the baby etc.
They are ready to spend any sum of money to buy the best for the baby.

What is the best gift that a couple can give the newborn baby? Not every good thing in life is costly. Same is the case here. If a couple wants to really give a gift to their child that will last for a lifetime, they should give the gift of breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and then adding new foods but still continuing breast feeding for as long as possible.

There may be pressures from all corners. Mother may say that the baby still remains hungry after feed - my breast feed in inadequate. The grandmother may say " Why don't we start the expensive new formula available in the market?" The doctor may say " If you are not able to feed, then you can try formula." The TV ads will pressurise " The complete food for your baby." Husband may think "Lets bring the new formula, lest people say that I am stingy and not taking care of the baby." The innumerable number of visitors at home will come with stories of successful weight gain in some of their known baby after adding formula feed.

But I would say " Dikhaawe pe mat jao. Apni Akal Lagao." Mothers, you must be bold and say " I breastfeed my baby well and I will continue."

I am sure that if you do this, your child will be very happy to be born to a mother who is strong and confident to do the right thing. He/she will learn this character from you.

Reasons why there should be NO Holiday Homework for students

It has become a trend with the schools to burden the students with homework even they go for holidays. The more reputed the school,  tougher and harder is the holiday homework. May be the school authorities want to 'teach' the most to the students. It is true not only for the long vacations like summer holidays but is equally true for Sundays which incidentally is supposed to be a holiday.


But what is the point of a holiday when the child is so over burdened. And mind you, not only the child , the parents are equally burdened. Is it the best way to teach the children? Personally I believe that there should be no holiday homework for the students.

Let me give you the reasons why, and what is the alternative.

First of all, it is a holiday and you should respect it that way. What is

12 Tips for Parents on Education and Child Rearing:

1. Do not judge your child by the marks he gets in his quarterly exam,  rather judge him by the number of friends he/she has.
2. Let the child follow his/her dream. Do not force your dream on the child.
3. Teach your children that those who fail and learn from mistakes are the ones who are most successful in life.
4. Make learning fun. ( It should be " If you play for 2 hours then you will get to read your English book that has nice stories." and not the other way round as it is in most cases.)

Make your child Environment Friendly

Every one knows about pollution. You and me despise global warming. But no one is ready to take the blame. Whenever the topic of pollution is aroused, you blame the government for doing nothing, you blame the neighbour for creating garbage, we blame the buses and cars for emitting toxic fumes and you blame the industries for realising noxious gases.

But remember, you and I are the most vital link in this chain. If you want to break this chain, 1st step begins at home. And what better way to do this than to teach children environment friendliness from the early childhood.

Adolescence - the most rewarding period of one's life

Adolescence is a period of growth, both physically and emotionally. It is a time when self identity is established and a child attains autonomy. For the parents, within no time a kid turns into a responsible adult. But it is our responsibility and duty to help this process to be smooth and rewarding for the for the adolescent primarily, but for the nation at large.

At a time when adolescents and young adults from 10 year age through 24 years make one-third of the population, their priorities and welfare cannot be forgotten if a healthy workforce is to be created for the bright future of the nation.