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Ovulation - Know the Common Signs and Symptoms
Knowing your ovulation days lets you determine when you are the most fertile, and hence, increases your chances of getting pregnant.
What is Ovulation?
Ovulation happens when the egg is released from the ovaries. One or more eggs get released from the ovaries between your monthly periods.
Usually, 15-20 eggs mature inside the ovaries, and the ripest egg is discharged from the ovarian follicle. The egg gets released only when it is completely mature. It then travels down the fallopian tube which connects the ovaries to the uterus. It is in the fallopian tube that the egg meets the sperm, if available, and is fertilised. Ovulation and hormonal release are controlled by the hypothalamus, which is a part of the brain. Put simply, ovulation is the period when a woman is most fertile.
When Does Ovulation Happen?
You can increase your chances of getting pregnant if you know when you are ovulating. Though it is difficult to predict the exact dates of ovulation, it usually happens between 12 and 14 days before the next period starts. It is important to note that this is an average estimation, and the time of ovulation could be a few days before or after that.
If you have a regular period cycle, which is a 28-day menstrual cycle, consider the first day of your period as Day 1. You are likely to ovulate around the days 10 to 15.
If you have irregular period cycles, ovulation can be a week later or earlier, and it may differ from one month to the other.
Once the egg is released, it has a lifespan of 24 hours. If it does not get fertilised, it degenerates and triggers the next period. On the other hand, your partner’s sperm has a longer lifecycle and can fertilise the egg for up to five days after intercourse.
When is My Fertile Window?
Fertile window refers to the days in a woman’s menstrual cycle when she is highly likely to get pregnant. The woman gets pregnant if she has sex on the five days before her ovulation to the day when she ovulates.
These six days are the fertile window of a woman. As a result, any intercourse that happens within six days of ovulating results in a high chance of conception. If a woman has intercourse closer to the ovulation date, her chances of conceiving are higher.
Do You Ovulate Every Month?
Ovulation gets affected if you are stressed or ill. Sometimes, high levels of stress, extreme exercise or improper diet can trigger an anovulatory cycle which means that ovulation does not occur in that cycle. During this cycle, the woman experiences some bleeding which is not a period but is caused because of a build-up in the uterine lining that is not capable of sustaining itself.
What Causes Ovulation?
The pituitary gland in the brain produces the follicle stimulating hormone at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. This hormone stimulates the ovaries to produce mature eggs. The follicles are cavities in the ovaries that are filled with fluids. Each of them contains an undeveloped egg. The hormone stimulates many follicles to develop and produce the estrogen hormone.
A number of follicles start to develop, but normally only a single follicle becomes dominant. The egg in this follicle starts to mature. The oestrogen level, which is lowest on the first day of the ovulation period, keeps increasing and plays an important part in thickening the lining of the womb with nutrients and blood. This helps prepare your body for a possible pregnancy. If the egg gets fertilised, this lining provides the required support and the nutrients that the egg needs to survive and grow. The high levels of oestrogen are associated with sperm-friendly mucus which is called the fertile cervical mucus. This is a thin and slippery discharge that is cloudy white. The mucus makes it possible for the sperm to swim easily and survive for several days.
The level of oestrogen in the body continues to increase and causes a rise in the luteinizing hormone (LH). The LH surge makes the dominant follicle rupture, and the follicle then releases the egg from the ovary to enter the fallopian tube. This is what causes ovulation.
How to Predict Ovulation?
Though it is difficult to predict exact ovulation days, there are a few ways that help estimate the likely days of ovulation.
1. Calendar method
If your menstrual cycle is regular, you can use this method, which is also known as the Standard Days Method. In this method, you need to count back 14 days from the day when your next period is expected. The fertile window is calculated on the day of ovulation and five days preceding it.
Though this is a very easy method, it is not very accurate even if you know exactly when your next period date is. This is because ovulation does not necessarily happen 14 days before menstruation.
The ovulation day may vary from seven to nineteen days before the day of menstruation. Thus, the likelihood of ovulation happening 14 days before the period is very low. This method may even make you miss out on your fertile window completely. The technique is, however, free, and one can calculate the ovulation day using the fertility ovulation calculator.
2. Ovulation Predictor Kit
The ovulation predictor kit lets you test your hormone levels. The test kits are of two kinds. One tests urine and the other tests the saliva. The pee-on-a-stick test indicates when the LH level has gone up, which indicates that one of your ovaries will soon release an egg. The saliva test uses a microscope and spots a pattern in the dried saliva that tends to indicate the rise in the oestrogen level that happens a few days before ovulation.
The ovulation kit is accurate 99% of the times to detect the surge in LH. However, the kit is unable to confirm that ovulation will occur a day or two later. Also, some women tend to have an LH surge without any egg release or they may have false peaks which could be misleading.
3. Charting the Basal Body Temperature
Using the charting method to track any change in your basal body temperature can also help determine the likely ovulation days. This, however, must be done for a few cycles before you can understand your body’s pattern. The pattern that develops over time lets you know when you may be ovulating next. This method is free but takes a lot of time, effort and patience.
The BBT changes 12 to 24 hours after ovulation, and the fertility of a woman is the highest two days before ovulation. Since the life span of the egg is only one day, when using the BBT method there may be very less time left to conceive.
4. Cervical Mucus Method
Cervical mucus is the vaginal discharge that can sometimes be seen on the underwear. During most of the month, one can spot very little mucus, and it is also very sticky and thick. However, three to four days before, during and after ovulation, there is an increase in the discharge and there is also a change in its texture. It is clear, slippery and very stretchy. This can be used as an indication to predict your ovulation days.
This method requires a woman to check her ovulating days by seeing the consistency of the cervical mucus. The method is solely dependent on the woman’s judgment and since there is no instrument to measure it, it may sometimes go wrong. The method is also not useful for those who produce lots of mucus or have drastically varying cycles.
So, if you want to know when you ovulate, you can use one of the above methods.
Signs That You Are Ovulating
Am I ovulating? You can look for some signs that can help you know if you are ovulating. However, these symptoms vary from person to person, and it is also possible that you may not experience any symptom at all.
The common signs that let you know that you are ovulating are:
1. Change in the Texture of the Cervical Fluid
The cervical fluid resembles egg whites and lets you know when you are close to your ovulation days. A few weeks after your periods, the body begins to prepare for ovulation and this makes the mucus clear and slippery. The mucus stays in this form for around 9 days. . The look and feel of cervical fluids may vary from one person to another. However, you are likely to see some change in the texture of cervical fluid when you are ovulating. If you have a lot of fluid discharge on a day (much more than usual), and the mucus becomes stretchy when collected on your fingers you can expect ovulation to occur within the next two days the chances are you are ovulating that day.
2. Change in the Basal Body Temperature
The basal body temperature tends to be consistent for most women before ovulation. It tends to decrease closer to ovulation and then sees a sharp increase after ovulation. When there is an increase in temperature, it is a sign that you have just ovulated. Tracking the basal body temperature for a few months gives a pattern which, when studied closely, lets you know when you are ovulating.
3. Cervical Position Change
The cervix, which is the lowermost part of the uterus, goes through a lot of changes during ovulation. When you ovulate, it becomes soft and high. It also becomes open and wet. It may take some time to know how your cervix feels and what changes it goes through at the time of ovulation. We recommend that you chart cervix changes for a period to see a pattern.
What Are the Symptoms of Ovulation?
The other signs of ovulation pregnancy indications are:
Light spotting
A slight cramp or pain on one side of the pelvis
Tender breasts
Bloating in the abdomen
Ovulation pain, or a pain in the lower abdomen
Increase in sex drive
Increase in the sense of taste, smell and vision
Nausea and headache
It may be a little difficult to be able to track these symptoms at first, but it gets easy to recognise them with time. Tracking these signs makes it easy to understand the ovulating days and therefore, plan the pregnancy.
When Should I Go for Ovulation Testing?
Knowing when you are ovulating can help maximise your chances of getting pregnant. Taking an ovulation test lets you know the menstrual cycle and ovulation days in the cycle. An ovulation test works by identifying the presence as well as the concentration of the luteinizing hormone that is present in your urine. This test is especially useful for people who do not have regular periods.
About 12-36 hours before ovulation, there tends to be a rise in the LH levels. This lets you know when it is time for your ovaries to release an egg. In other words, it lets you know when you are ovulating. If the ovulation test is positive, it means that you are likely to be ovulating.
You can do an ovulation test on the 17th day minus your menstrual cycle. So, if you have a 28-day cycle, you can start checking whether you are ovulating from the 11th day and continue until the 17th day. If your cycle is irregular, you should start testing based on the shortest cycle that you had in the last 6 months. The more the variation in your cycle, the more tests would be needed to know your ovulation days. Most women ovulate 12-36 hours after their first positive ovulation test.
You can buy an over-the-counter ovulation test kit or consult a doctor. Most kits specify at what time of the day you need to do the ovulation test. Some kits require the test to be done in the morning when the LH levels are high while others require the testing to be done in the afternoon when the hormone traces appear in the urine. Therefore, it’s best to follow the instructions on the package.
If you plan to get pregnant, it is important to know the days you are ovulating on as these are the days on which you are the most fertile. While it is true that no one can predict the exact date of ovulation, the methods and symptoms listed above can help you make an informed estimate and thus increase your chances of successful conception.
Also Read: Clomid Citrate for Ovulation Read more
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आपण साधारण दिवाळीला गावी जाऊन आल्यावर, डिसेंबर ते फेब्रुवारी , दर weekend ला बाहेर ..अगदी बाहेर फिरायला जायचो...त्यात आपण भिगवन bird sanctuary ला गेलेलो. तिथे तू चक्क bird watching केलंस आणि त्यातले किती तरी नावं तुला आज देखील लक्षात आहेत. आपण शिवनेरी आणि सिंहगड ला गेलेलो, तिथे तर to my surprise, तू पूर्ण गड चढून आणि उतरून आलीस...ह्या वर्षी मी आणि तुझ्या बाबांनी तुला खूप काही ठिकणी नेलं. आणि मॉल्स पेक्षा तू त्या सगळ्या ठिकाणी खूप एन्जॉय केलं. मला नेहमी वाटतं की तू सगळ्या प्रकारचं आयुष्य जगावं. आणि त्यातलं बरच काही तू ह्या वर्षी पाहिलं आणि तसं जगलीस. टीव्ही आणि मॉल्स मध्ये रमणारी तुम्ही मुलं... पण तू वेगवेगळे dam पाहिले, पाणी खेळणं, गड किल्ले चढून जाणं, पक्षी बघणं, बाहेर कुठेतरी मोकळ्या जागेत शेतात जाऊन डब्बा खाणं, रस्त्याने गाणे गुणगुणत जाणं, राईड एन्जॉय करणं, शेतात जाऊन भाज्या कशा येतात ते पाहणं, .. असं बरच काही तू ह्या वर्षी केलंस आणि पाहिलंस.. आणि अनुभवलं...
दरवर्षी प्रमाणे तुझ्या खाण्याच्या आवडीमध्ये अजून भर पडली आहे. इतकी की तुला almost कोणत्या भाजीमध्ये काय घालता हे माहिती आहे. Photography ha tujha nava छंद आहे. Lockdown मध्ये मी फूड photography करायला लागले. So आजकाल माझ्या आधी तू, फोटो काढताना जे काही सामान मला हवं असतं ते आधीच आणून देतेस आणि काही वेळा तर चक्क तू कॅमेरा ने फोटो देखील काढून पाहतेस. कित्येकदा plating केलेली असताना त्यातल एखादं सामान तू पळवते आणि मग माझे बोलणे सुद्धा खाते. तितकी तशी मस्ती करणारी आहेस च तू. जशी मस्ती करतेस तितकी च समजूतदार सुद्धा आहेस तू. तुझ्या वयाची किती मुलं हट्टीपणा करतात. मला हे हवा मला ते हवं म्हणून काही ना काही सतत मागत असता. पण तू मात्र तशी नाहियेस. तू कधीतरी मला आणि बाबांना बोलताना ऐकलं होतं. ते मला विचारत होते की तुला birthday ला काय हवं आहे ? आणि मी बोलले होते की मला नको काही, आहे सगळं माझ्याकडे. ते वाक्य तू इतकं लक्षात ठेवलं आहेस की, तुला आम्ही कधीपण काहीपण विचारलं की तुला काही हवंय का ? तर तू एकदा check करते आणि बोलतेस, " नको आई/बाबा, हे आहे माझ्याकडे, अगोदर हे संपू द्या मग आपण नवीन काही घेऊ. मला आत्ता काही नको आहे." हे ऐकून मला तुझा खूप अभिमान वाटतो. And I love you a lot for this... तुझ्या अशा काही वागण्याने तुझ्या रोज प्रेमात पडते मी आणि अजून रोज तुझ्यामधली नवीन ' तू ' मला सापडते....नव्याने...पुन्हा...
असो, माझ्या भाषेत बोलायचं झालं तर तू पिझ्झा च्या slice सारखी आहेस which completes our family. तू एक सद्गुणी, भावनिक, निर्मळ मनाची, उत्साही, बडबडी अशी लेक आहेस माझी...तुझी बडबड ऐकण्यात आणि तुला हाक मारण्यात माझा दिवस कुठे संपतो मला कळत देखील नाही. दिवसभर कस्तुरी हे नको करू, असं का केलं... माझं काम वाढवलं ना? असे एक ना अनेक वेळा तुझ्यावर ओरडुन, तुझा पसारा आवर असं म्हणून तुझ्या मागे पाळणारी मी , तू झोपी गेल्यावर मात्र मला काही करमत नाही...थोडक्यात काय तर माझा दिवस तुझ्यापासून सुरू होतो आणि संपतो देखील तुझ्याकडेच...रात्री झोपताना "आई , sorry, आता मी तुझं सगळं ऐकेल, तुला त्रास नाही देणार" असे रोज खोटे प्रॉमिस करणारी तू. जेव्हा माझ्या कुशीत येऊन झोपते तेव्हा सुख म्हणजे हेच असावं असं वाटतं मला...
अशीच रहा...मनमोकळी, मनमुराद, स्वतःच्या पद्धतीने जगणारी, आत्मविशवासपूर्वक, हळवी, लाघवी, प्रेमळ... माझी नन्या...माझा वडापाव..माझा कचुंबर.. m proud of you for being you !!
वाढदिवसाच्या तुला माझ्या ओंजळभर शुभेच्छा.....आणि माझी ओंजळ तुला देण्याकरता कधीच कमी पडणार नाही. ...
I love you to the moon and back.,...
तुला पुन्हा एकदा वाढदिसानिमित्त खूप खूप शुभेच्छा... येणाऱ्या वर्षाला खुल्या मिठीत सामावून घे...घट्ट पकड आणि वर्षा सरती तीच मिठी सैल करताना जे मिळेल, ती तुझी खरी कमाई... कमाई तुझ्या अनुभवाची, कमाई तुझ्या मेहनतीची, कमाई तू शिकलेल्या नव्या गोष्टींची ...
Onec again Happy Birthday love❤️....
तुझीच,
भेंडीची भाजी
(जेव्हा मी तुला वडापाव म्हणून हाक देते, तेव्हा तेव्हा तू मला भेंडीची भाजी म्हणून हाक मारते ...) Read more
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If You Post Anything About Your Baby Online, Please Follow These 10 Rules To Keep Him Safe!
Happiness multiplies when shared, right? In this age of social media and the internet, we have an amazing platform to share our happiness with the important people in our life. With just a few clicks, we can connect with loved ones across the globe and keep them cued in on major events in our life and the lives of our little darlings. However, when you use the internet to share anything at all about your baby, it is critical that you observe caution. The web is indeed a webby world, and there can be danger for your child if these safety precautions are missed.
Important Internet Safety Rules When Posting About Kids Online
Rule 1. DO NOT Post Naked Photos of Your Baby
There is no denying that our babies are super, duper cute, from head to toe – and bum included! However, even though all of us click those cute photos of our baby when he is wearing his birthday suit, it is best to not post these online. The internet is notorious for abounding in cyber criminals, including people who indulge in child pornography. Plus, you don’t want these pictures to become a source of embarrassment for your child when he grows up (imagine what will happen if someone re-shares this pictures years later on his/her Facebook timeline!)
Rule 2. DO NOT Disclose Your Kids’ Location
This is particularly important if your little one stays outside home for some time every day, say in daycare, a crèche or at the playground. When you post pictures with location-enabled on Facebook or Instagram, what if someone fishy figures it out and uses this info to trace your child? There have been many cases in the past when internet-derived locations enabled kidnappers and criminals to locate the kids, especially if they are people in and around your neighbourhood. It is best to avoid giving away specific location details online such as house number and block number.
Rule 3. Be Careful if You Post Your Ultrasound Photos
Those ultrasound photos have a special, undying charm, especially the one where we first saw our baby! However, if you post your ultrasound photos, remember that they often include the date, doctor’s name and the hospital where the ultrasound was taken. This is too much identifying information to be safe on the World Wide Web! We recommend cropping that part out if you decide to post it.
Rule 4. Avoid Complaining About Your Kids
We have all spent sleepless nights trying to get the baby to sleep. On some days, it is harder than others, and we wish we could just go on a long vacation. However, try and limit your complaints about parenting and children as far as possible. This is in your best interests only; in the long run, spreading negativity does not do anything to resolve it.
Rule 5. Update Your Privacy Settings on All Social Media Channels
Who all can see the information or pictures you share on your Facebook timeline? What about Instagram and Twitter? You don’t want random strangers or people you barely know to be able to see personal pictures of you and your family. To avoid this, make sure you update your privacy settings as often as possible and keep it close, i.e. people you know well (friends of friends of friends may not be a good idea!). This is one of the most crucial rules of cyber safety for kids too, when they become old enough to use the internet themselves.
Rule 6. Avoid Sharing Embarrassing Pictures/Details About Kids
Admittedly, many of these things are funny – a soiled diaper just after you changed it, for example. However, not every private moment between your baby and you should be accessible to the outside world. This is even more important for specific things that your child may do – e.g. bedwetting, or being punished for throwing a tantrum. Every baby does soil diapers, but some moments are meant only for mommy! The main reason we advise this is that such pictures or status updates can embarrass or shame your kids in later years. Violating their privacy even in the early years might create a dent in your otherwise positive relationship with the kids.
Rule 7. DO NOT Post Pictures of Others’ Kids Without Permission
All the kids in your colony may have attended your baby’s first birthday party, and you want to document the moment forever. However, think: how irritated does it make you when someone tags you in a picture you did not want your friends/family to see? Without checking first if you were okay with it? The same rule applies to kids of other people. Some parents don’t like to share pictures of their kids or disclose their details to others. As a rule, never post their pictures before first confirming with their parents.
Rule 8. Ask Family and Friends to Get Your Go-Ahead Before Posting Your Kids’ Pictures
An extension of the above rule, you too must make sure that no one posts pictures of your baby without asking your permission first. This includes your family members too – your in-laws, relatives, guests who came to the party, and friends. Ask them politely to please check with you before posting any pictures on social media (and this includes posting even if they have not tagged you! You may not be aware of it but that picture you didn’t want to make public lurks somewhere on the internet…)
Rule 9. DO NOT Reveal These Details About Your Baby Online
There are some very personal details that equal to sensitive data. This data must never be shared online, even if it seems harmless to do so. When you’re trying to figure out how to stay safe on the internet, NEVER share these things:
Where your child goes to play in the evening
The address (or other details) of your child’s friends and their houses
When you are going to be away from home
Any information that gives away when the child will be alone/with a babysitter
Details about your workplace, address, identity, etc. that someone can use to impersonate you
Rule 10. DO NOT Criticise Others’ Parenting Style/Decisions
Just because we as parents DO NOT use pacifiers, or DO NOT babywear, or DO NOT let our baby sleep separately, it does not give us the right to criticise other parents who do! The way we parent and the decisions we take are ours alone. If we want others to accept our decisions, we must be accepting of their decisions and choices too. While this is not a safety hazard per se, it does circulate a feeling of negativity and judgment – something no parent needs in this already challenging journey.
So moms, how many of the above rules have you been following? They are essential to make sure that your experience of the internet and social media is joyful and safe – just what you want for your baby. Read more
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Toys For Your Newborn - All You Need To Know
Much before your little one’s arrival the toys start arriving and lo and behold your bedroom transforms overnight into a fairytale nursery! You are all set to welcome the newest addition to the family. While your little angel will not be able to start playing immediately with most of these toys, these soft, glowy, squeaky toys will begin to play a big role in the overall development of your baby.
Newborn babies spend most of their initial weeks sleeping. Waking hours are mostly spent gazing at the mother’s face or listening to her sweet voice. In a couple of months when your baby becomes a little more alert, you can start interacting more by playing simple games and introducing some toys.
A newborn’s vision is fuzzy initially and can focus only till a distance of 8-12 inches. So it’s best to introduce your darling to toys which titillate the sense of hearing and are placed close to her vision.
Choose the Right Toys for Your Newborn Baby
You should find the following toys most suitable as the first toys for your little angel:
1. Baby Rattles
Babies are born with grasping reflex. Brightly coloured, lightweight rattles not only make for a great musical pastime but also help in developing co-ordination. Socks and wrist rattles are a great source of safe musical entertainment.
2. Cot Mobiles
Musical mobiles hung within your baby’s vision range which turn or sway and play a tune are great for entertaining your baby. Take care to hang them well out of reach of your baby and watch how he’s able to fix his attention gradually.
3. Soft Toys
While your little one’s grasp is not yet strong enough to hold onto toys, you can still use soft toys made of plush fabric. As your baby discovers different textures you can also discover her preferences for which toys she likes more.
4. Musical/Sensory Toys
Chiming toys, squeaky toys and music boxes which tweet or coo when pressed set the perfect tone for some fun time with your baby. Your baby can starts discovering different sounds as well as the phenomenon of cause and effect. Make sure you avoid sounds which are shrill and sudden and can startle your baby.
5. Soft Books
Brightly coloured books are a perfect way to start bonding emotionally with your baby. They will enjoy looking at the big bright pictures. Plus, hearing you read out helps them learn rhythm, language and speech in the future.
6. Baby Mirrors
Unbreakable baby mirrors can be fascinating for babies as they learn to discover themselves. Soon your baby might start a smiling friendship with her own reflection in the mirror!
7. Playmats
These are invaluable once your baby learns to turn on her sides or tummy. These soft textured mats come fitted with toys, squeakers, mirrors, rattles, etc. and are also portable. An absolute must have for your baby!
Safety Precautions You Must Observe with Newborn Toys
To enjoy hazard free, blissful playtime with your newborn, the following precautions should always be maintained:
Toys should be non-toxic, safe, durable, age specific and conform to quality standards.
Fabric toys should be kept away from fire.
All labels, ribbons and tags should be removed prior to playing.
All toys should be removed from baby’s sleep area prior to bedtime.
Toys with long hair or fibres are a strict no for newborns.
Never leave your baby unsupervised even if older children around.
Cot mobiles should be strictly out of reach of your baby.
A baby at home allows you to relive your childhood again. So, become a baby again with all those toys and enjoy your playtime with your little one! Read more
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My lived experience- how I protected my child when I was Covid positive.
We all know how this second wave of corona is affecting millions of lives around us. This time around my husband and me could not save ourselves from the wrath of Covid19.
Our morale was shaken not because we had contracted the disease, but beacuse we were the only caregiver to our 2.5 year son.But we didn't loose hope and decided to protect our child against this as a unit and took few necessary steps in the process.
Today I am going to share with u all what we did save our child from Corona.
1) Online consultation- The first thing we did was, we immediately consulted a pediatrician and discussed the issue. The doctor asked us to track his temperature and activities.
2) Medication and monitoring- We started giving him Zincovit and D3 syrup daily as a supplement. We kept a watch on his temperature, we gave him calpol only when it crossed 99. We kept checking his oxygen levels.
3) Food and fluids- In order to keep his diet vitamin enriched, I gave him more yellow and orange vegetables. I reduced his lactose intake for few days to avoid any gaseous cases.
Also we noticed that his urine frequency was reduced, I started giving him soups, fruits with high water content like watermelon and muskmelon. Made him drink dal ka paani and coconut jaggery water.
4) Hygiene- We kept our masks on everytime we were around him.When my child slept with me and I would refrain from kissing him or singing lullaby to him.Keep everything sanitized around him was very crucial.
5) Baby care- We stopped using wipes and used warm water for cleaning him to avoid any form of infections.
With proper care and God's blessings we could protect him from contracting the disease from us.😍 Read more
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How To Teach Goal Setting to Children - 6 Effective Tips
People who set goals in life are not only driven to achieve them, but they achieve them too. A person who has a purpose in life has a reason to get up and work for it. Even kids should be taught about setting goals in life and working for them. If you set monthly or yearly goals, it is suggested that you pass on this habit of yours to your child as well. Whether it is about setting academic goals or other goals, teach your child about setting a goal from an early age. If you are wondering how you can teach him, read this article. This article describes what goal setting is and how one can teach it to children about it.
What Does Goal Setting Mean?
Goal setting is planning for the future. For example, if a child makes a plan to study for his test or prepare for his big basketball game, then this is 'goal setting'. Similarly, if a child decides that he wants to become a pilot in the future, then this is his goal of life. We set goals in life, but we don't really work for them. To achieve any goal, proper planning and consistent efforts are necessary. Therefore, planning for how you will achieve a particular target or goal is what goal setting is all about.
Why Is Goal Setting Important for Kids?
Goal setting gives a purpose or direction to kids. This way your child knows what he is expected to do to achieve a particular target. This will increase his self-esteem, focus, and even help him in making better decisions. It is also observed that kids who have some goals to look forward to, tend to perform better than kids who do not have any goals in their lives.
How to Help Your Child in Goal Setting
Here are some ways that you may follow to teach kids about goal setting:
1. Start Small
When you start teaching your child about goal setting, start with small goals. You can set monthly or weekly goals and then gradually move to bigger goals. His small achievements will make him happy and he will be determined to set other goals and motivated to work hard for them.
2. Let Your Kid Follow His Dreams
It is very important that what you want your kid to achieve should be of his liking too. Imagine if your kid wants to be a cricketer and you integrate his efforts into becoming a good pianist. This may not work and will only draw you apart from your kid. Let your child discover his passion and help him work for it.
3. Lead By Example
Kids love to follow their parents, and if they see you doing something, chances are they may do it too. So, involve your kid in your planning strategies too, of course, the ones that are age-appropriate. If you are making a new kitchen garden, you can involve your kid in planning for the same. He will enjoy planning with you and he will also learn the act of planning with you.
4. Give a Reality Check
Kids are not matured enough to understand the importance of hard work in order to achieve something. Your child may often underestimate the amount of effort that may be needed to achieve a particular goal. And if he fails, it is obvious for him to get discouraged or frustrated. But it is very important that you explain the challenges that your child may be required to face. Explain him that if he falls, he has to get up and work again. Teach him that he should not quit in between and work hard if he fails.
5. Praise His Efforts
It is very important to keep your kid motivated throughout the journey. In the absence of proper appreciation and motivation, your kid may lose interest. Therefore, do not forget to praise and appreciate your kid for his efforts.
6. Consider the Obstacles
Just the way it is important to set a goal, it is also important to discuss various obstacles or problems that your child is likely to face while achieving those goals. Talking about obstacles will prepare your child better. Also, if certain setbacks are incurred during the journey, he will work harder to achieve them. It is important to assess the approach and establish the necessary amends that need to be made.
Fun Goal Setting Activity for Kids
Here are some goal setting games for kids that your child may enjoy and learn from:
1. Make a Vision Board
Ask your kid to cut out different pictures from various magazines and periodicals, which represent his dream. Paste these pictures on a board and place the board in your child’s room. Seeing this every day may help your kid become more focused for his dreams.
2. Play a Fun Question Game
Ask your child questions related to his goal as it would give you an idea of what he wants in life and you can help your kid understand better. For example, ask your kid what he should do if he wants to score good marks in a particular subject? If he says 'study and practice', then you know your child is on the right path. However, if he does not work hard, you need to make him understand that if he does not study he will never get desired marks. Explain in a gentle tone and he will understand.
3. Make a Wheel of Fortune
Make a wheel and divide it into sections. Write different categories such as academics, sports, family etc. Let your child choose anyone and then set goals towards achieving it. For example, if he has chosen academics, ask him how he will go about it. He can plan to study 3-4 hours daily and take a weekly test. Let him colour the academics section on the wheel so he can see it every day and motivate himself to work hard.
4. Make a Bowl of Dreams
Gather all the family members and write their aspirations, dreams, and goals (they want to accomplish in that year) on different pieces of paper and place it a jar or a big glass bowl. Keep this bowl at a place where all the members of the family can see it every day as it will remind them to work for their goals. At the end of the year or after a stipulated period take out the papers and read out the goals of each family member and ask them if they accomplished it or not.
5. Play Wish and Stars Game
This is a very interesting game. Ask your child to choose three things that he may be best at and make those activities or qualities, his ‘stars’. Later ask him about the qualities he needs to master and make those his ‘wishes’. Your kid's ‘wishes’ can become his goals and you may help your kid in achieving these goals.
It is important to help your kid plan his life rather than just wait for the things to happen on its own. With the above-mentioned tips, we hope you and your child will have a great time understanding goal setting. With these tips help your child in goal setting and see him succeed in life.
Also Read: How to Teach Child to Share Read more
Vandana Sharma has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
16 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts hi I am at 35 th week 2 days and my baby weight is 1.880 I saw few video in that video they said baby weight would be above 2 kg is that any problem ? my baby weight is okay or not
Vandana Sharma
Nutritionist
15 hours ago
A. Hello mom every baby is different as every pregenancy as well too , so please avoid stress as it wouldnt be good to take that tension please have a healthy diet , and keep your self hydrated
Dr Bandana Joshi has added a new answer
Mom of a 3 m old child
15 hours ago
Q. can I bring 3 month old baby with me to the office.is there any physical harm with the baby
Dr Bandana Joshi
Ayurvedic Physician
15 hours ago
A. Better to avoid as they are so many people in office and you can’t ask everyone to sanitise the hands but if for particular occasion you are planning to taue the baby to office then you can plan
Dr Priyanka Kalra has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
14 hours ago
Q. my mother died 9 years ago. Now I am 8 month pregnant(32 week).my due date is June 25.I am planning my delivery in hospital near to my home since this is my first pregnancy.I have only father and unmarried brother in my home.If there is emergency I don't have any female to support. Does hospitals allow male bystander during delivery. what should I do if I don't have any female support. My aunt live far from our home.
Read moreDr Priyanka Kalra
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
4 hours ago
A. yes. males can come. do ultrasound n necessary tests after consulting a specialist. without proper check up we can't advise or help you.. Avoid shirt cuts when it comes to health if mother n baby. ok.
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
12 hours ago
Q. #asktheexpert hi this is Sarika here . my question is how to encourage my baby to latch because he get irritated whenever I try to latch him
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
12 hours ago
A. It’s very important that when you ask a question please provide us the age of the child currently I would say that if your child is unable to latch properly so whenever you’re feeding Press your breast with your hands for the feeding of the milk is better because the milk flow is going to be better and hopefully that you do the trick
Mohammad amin has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. my baby have gastric problem..
Mohammad amin
Guardian of a 2 yr 11 m old boy
1 hour ago
A. use colimex df drops
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 1 month
2 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts red scretch marks
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
2 hours ago
A. You can mix coconut oil and Kapoor together and that is what you can apply regularly want to your stretch marks is one of the best options that you can use currently other than that also I would recommend you that if you feel any kind of a burning sensation or irritation then you can have a word with your gynaecologist
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santhoshini
Mom of a 4 yr 10 m old girl and 1 yr 10 m old boy
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She is always smelling
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Mom of a 1 yr 2 m old boy
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#thephoto
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Mom of a 9 m old girl
1 min ago
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Mom of a 1 m old boy
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#fashionablemomtobe
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#fashionista
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