Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Suggested for you
Importance of Play in Your Child's Development
Playing is literally synonymous with childhood. Children and kids all around the world seem to invest a lot of time in playing around. Though this might not seem productive to us as adults, as parents, we need to understand that child development through play is essential and integral to their growth. Play and early childhood development go hand-in-hand right from social skills to kinetic skills. The value of play in early childhood education plays a strong role in keeping that in focus even during schooling.
Why is Play Important in Kid's Development?
Here are some reasons why regular play is essential for children.
1. No better education than play
Playing around with other kids in various environments literally sets the basic stones for kids to learn, practice, and create a safe space for expressing their own selves.
2. Learning in a social construct
Most learning activities focus on individual focus and studying intimately in an isolated environment. While playing, right from hide-and-seek to playing tag, your kid understands and learns from group dynamics and how people interact with each other.
3. Communication between children and adults
In a parent-child dynamic, having only disciplinary or authoritative communication does not relate to being a good parent. Letting down your guard and engaging with your kid on their level further solidifies the bond, and also teaches them how to interact with other adults in a polite manner.
4. Understanding the strength of spontaneity
All the learning activities in a kid’s life are gradual and paced. Sports and other physical play activities are where your kid understands how to respond to situations quickly or know what their natural spontaneous response is. From balancing a ball on their heads to gauging the distance for a throw, these activities help develop instantaneous thinking modules of your child’s brain.
5. Introducing children to the concept of choice
Digital games give too many options to choose from without really teaching your kid anything much. In an environment with other kids and sports choices, your kid learns to make rational thought-out decisions out of many others. This allows them to choose what they want to play, as well as make quick choices and decisions while immersed in play.
6. The joy of open space in expressing yourself
Sitting in classrooms and study tables every day can get easily boring for any kid. The openness of playing outside and running around wherever they wish brings a level of joy and freedom to your kid that is quite newfound.
7. Rediscover your own joy of playing all over again
You, as parents, tend to rarely find time for any play activity from your daily responsibilities. Mixing yourselves in your child’s play not only makes you a better parent but reinvigorates you by making you a child again as well.
8. Understand your child’s non-verbal cues
Observing your child as they play can help you glean a lot about them. Their body language can reveal a lot about their attitude, whether they are hesitant or aggressive, whether they are a follower or a leader.
9. Learning the skill of patience
As a kid tries their hand at any sport, they naturally fail and make mistakes. As a parent, it is extremely important to be patient with them and help them get over the obstacles they face in their way. It might be the most obvious and simplest in your eyes, but for the kid, it is new and confusing. Help them through it.
10. Becoming a fun and sociable person in life
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. With just a little amount of play introduced in life, both you and your children will be happier and more interactive with the people around you.
What are the Different Types of Play?
1. Passive Play
Your kid is unoccupied and just simply engaging in random activities and exploration.
2. Independent Play
Your child starts playing alone by themselves with their toys. They might want you to join them, but they don’t know it yet and are satisfied with what they are doing.
3. Observational Play
Your child observes other kids or adults play, but does not participate. They could be shy, or they could be understanding the game, or they could just be stepping back and enjoying it.
4. Parallel Play
Imagine two kids playing in one room by themselves. Not with each other. This may seem strange but even in such a scenario, kids learn a lot about each other in this play style.
5. Associative Play
This is a step further from parallel play but there’s a level of interaction between the kids. Imagine each kid making something using clay and asking each other whether they should make it better or asking for their help.
6. Co-operative Play
The most natural pinnacle to attain, this is where kids play together with each other. This could be in sports, or solving puzzles, or planning a game together, too.
7. Fantasy Play
Kids love to enact different roles and that’s what they start doing. They could be making sound effects using toys, or mimicking incidents they read in books or saw on television.
8. Competitive Play
Introduction to the concept of winning and losing is where this type of play holds the greatest value. Kids begin to understand what it means to be better than where they are and would need your advice at times to be able to process a loss.
9. Constructive Play
If you’ve made houses out of pillows, or castles in the sand, or even a model out of craft material, that is what constructive play is all about - the creation of an entity that helps them learn how things come together.
10. Symbolic Play
Playing doesn’t have to be restricted to games. Kids could indulge in singing together, or making random music, or even drawing abstract art on a paper to express what they would want to.
How to Encourage and Make Play Enjoyable for Children?
Here’s how you could make your kid excited about playing.
1. Restrict digital screens
Kids should definitely watch good TV content and work on computers. But it’s best to keep a restricted time for them and schedule it on an incentive basis. Also, avoid placing any gadgets or screens inside your kid’s bedroom.
2. Restrict electronic games
Remote cars, flashing toys, Kinect, are all flashy gadgets but are not exactly sociable games or focus on physical movement. Go for a variety of toys such as Frisbees, badminton racquets, or even dolls and playhouses that help kids indulge in their creativity to make them interesting.
3. Fixed hours of play
Kids can instantly indulge in play when they are distracted. This can cause them to not focus on their studies or be constantly anxious about when they would get a chance to play. By scheduling a fixed time for play, their mindset is already prepared when the time begins and are back in the zone for studying or other activities once playtime is over.
4. Outdoor play should be highly encouraged
Kids spend a lot of their time inside classrooms and then back inside homes. Child development through play can be achieved with a good amount of time spent out exploring in nature. Take them out to a park or a playground and join them if you can. Plan an outdoor picnic once a month that includes activities like camping, exploring, and so on.
5. Dress well to play well
Only when a child is fully comfortable will they focus on the play and have a great time. Make sure they wear proper shoes with comfortable clothes. Use breathable fabric in summers and jackets in winters. Ensure they are wearing protective gear whenever needed.
As adults and parents, we always look back at our childhood and play years in a nostalgic fashion as an era when we had fun. Beyond fun, it is an activity that makes sure everyone grows together as humans and lives together as a society by learning to interact with each other and communicate in the best of ways. This is key to childhood development and play is just as an important factor for it.
Also Read:
Cognitive Development in Kids
Language Development in Kids
Moral Development in Kids
Physical Development in Kids Read more
Suggested for you
9 Exercises You Should Avoid When Pregnant
A pregnant woman is often advised to refrain from any strenuous activities and one of the first things to come to mind when you think of these activities is exercise. However, as logical as it may seem that exercise during pregnancy is to be skipped, exercising during pregnancy is very safe, provided the right kind of exercises are chosen and done under the guidance of a trained person. High impact exercises that put stress on the abdomen or lower back need to be avoided as it may affect the developing foetus.
Is It Safe to Exercise During Pregnancy?
It is safe to practice light exercises every day during pregnancy. By avoiding rigorous and stressful workouts, you can stay fit and healthy with some simple exercises. Practising light exercises not only gives you stamina and energy but also gives you good sleep, reduces stress and tunes the body for delivery.
When Not to Exercise
Typically, there are some exercises that need to be avoided during the first trimester and some others that are unsuitable for the second and third trimester. It is better to learn the exercises from an expert who understands the impact of each exercise on the various muscles of the body. If you have conditions like diabetes, heart problems, low placenta, weak uterus or bleeding, you must seek medical advice before starting on an exercise regime.
9 Exercises To Avoid During Pregnancy
Your instincts are the best judge in deciding what exercises to avoid during pregnancy. A growing baby bump considerably shifts the centre of gravity and restricts body movement. The following are some activities that you can avoid during pregnancy.
1. High Impact Aerobics
Those exercises that involve heavy jumping, jogging and exertion can be avoided during this period as there are chances of losing balance while doing so.
2. Heavy Weight Lifting
Exercises that involve weight training by lifting weights, cause a pull in the abdomen putting pressure on the uterus. Overhead shoulder presses also put a strain on the lower back.
3. Lying on the Abdomen
Lying on the abdomen and doing exercises can be very harmful to the foetus. After the first trimester, even lying on the back can be a little uncomfortable. Exercises in both these position cause discomfort and can be avoided.
4. Contact Sports
Active sports like volleyball, basketball, horse riding etc., have a high risk of injury. The ligaments and bones tend to be more fragile during pregnancy and are prone to damage.
5. Cycling
Cycling is a very good physical exercise. But during pregnancy, the growing uterus can make it difficult for you to balance the cycle. The chances of tripping and falling are more due to the altered centre of gravity.
6. Crunches
Crunches are great exercises for shaping the area around the abdomen. However, it is especially an exercise to avoid during pregnancy first trimester. The pull in the lower abdominal muscles can cause undue stress to the uterus and the baby.
7. Sauna/Hot Yoga
Exposure to excessive heat is harmful to the developing baby and for this reason hot sauna baths or hot yoga techniques must be avoided during pregnancy.
8. Tough Yoga Asanas
Yoga is very good during pregnancy, and in fact, there are many pre-natal yoga courses that you can take to relax and de-stress themselves. However, there are some yoga postures that require a lot of twisting and bending. If you have practised yoga before getting pregnant, consult the doctor or a trained yoga instructor before continuing with those asanas during pregnancy.
9. Back Bending Exercises
Exercises and yoga postures that involve bending of the back, for example, the sun salutation, must not be done during pregnancy. These postures create an unnecessary pull in the uterus, which can affect the foetus.
Safety Tips for Exercising
While exercising during pregnancy, it is very important for you to understand the changes in your body. Hormonal changes that lead to losing ligaments and bones, increased resting heart rate, along with a sense of imbalance restricts the options available for an exercise routine. Here are some of the exercise don’ts when you are pregnant:
Don't exert yourself to do any exercise. Stop or at least briefly pause when there is a pain in any part of the body, nausea, dizziness, headache or shortness of breath.
Don't do exercises that give any kind of stress on the abdomen or the lower back.
Don't do your exercises without consulting experts.
Don't start exercising without consulting your doctor if there are any pre-existing medical conditions.
Don't exert yourself in the hot sun or in hot water baths. Set the surrounding temperature equal to the body temperature.
Always remember to:
Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and replenish the loss of fluids.
Practise deep breathing exercises to increase the oxygen uptake, which eventually gives good oxygen supply to the growing foetus.
Exercise Frequency
If the doctor gives a go-ahead for exercise, then you can follow a light exercise regime for about 30 minutes a day for four days a week. However, walking and other physical activities can normally be done as before.
Staying fit and active in the journey to motherhood is very important for any woman. Apart from the regular chores, a few minutes of stretching and exercising can go a long way in preparing the body for a safe and easy delivery. Making an informed choice of exercise ensures that any kind of complication is kept away.
Also Read: Squats During Pregnancy: Benefits, Tips And Safety Read more
Suggested for you
9 Toys and Games to Keep Kids Entertained During the Coronavirus Outbreak
“A lot of parenting is loving, caring, and thinking about when you can lie down again!” – Anonymous.
Doesn’t it ring true during the current coronavirus condition that’s forcing us to stay home? While most people are spending their time creatively, parents are flustered, thinking of ways to keep their kids engaged. If you are a parent, you must have tried everything - books, movies, television, etc.
You might have also crammed in an unlimited supply of snacks, only to find your kids demanding for more. Well, fret not. Here are some ideas for toys and games you can buy for your little ones so that you can get down to that cup of tea you’ve reheated thrice already! What are we waiting for then?
Toys and Games to Keep Kids Entertained During the Coronavirus Outbreak
Okay, so your kid has a lot of toys already. But how often do you still here “Mama/Papa I’m so bored!”. Now, when we’re all stuck home, keeping the little ones busy minus the playdates with friends, is proving to be a task, isn’t it? Let’s look at some games and toys that don’t lose their interest value so quick!
1. Catchy Business Games
Why wait for your cute little darling to be old enough for a B-school? Pique her interest in entrepreneurship and the world of business right now through these business board games. They can get the ball rolling on boosting her critical-thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills. How about that for an edge?
2. Captivating Cognitive Games
Cognitive games can help your kid settle down, keep herself busy, and let you feel like you’ve finally found the “pause” button. All cloaked under the category of “fun”, these games help enhance cognitive skills, IQ, and logical thinking. A sure shot way for your kid to fight boredom!
3. Fun Dexterity Toys
It’s the time to keep your hands away from everything that may potentially carry the coronavirus. But, you gotta do something to keep your kid active, energised and healthy too. The solution - dexterity toys. Choose the ones that can build your child’s gross and fine motor skills, and ensure you sanitise them before letting your kid play with them.
4. Wonderful Word Games
Add a touch of learning during the coronavirus outbreak with these word games. Your kid doesn’t have to be crazy about words; she has to be crazy about having fun. Learning can be a by-product. And, if she can spell words like pharaoh, logorrhoea or gobbledygook, you know the games are working their magic!
5. Kits for the Curious Cats
Some kids are naturally inclined towards the 5Ws of everything that functions in the world. If you’ve often found yourself looking-up answers to the things your kid wonders about, you have a curious contender in the family. One of the effective ways to keep such kids engaged and entertained is to fuel their inquisitiveness with science kits. Don’t forget to enter the laboratory with caution.
6. Energetic Sports-Themed Toys and Games
Got a little sports freak in the house who will jump out of her bed at the mere mention of her favourite sport? Then, you have to get some sports-themed toys and sports-related games to keep her engaged during the coronavirus outbreak. Now, if your child cannot go out to play her favourite sport, the sport can come to her. Let the game begin!
7. Mesmerising Musical Toys
“It’s home, I’m with my family, but it’s still stressful.” If these are your thoughts, too, you and your child both need music therapy. Whether its musical mobiles, drums, xylophone, or robots, musical toys can help you lighten a little bit and also keep your little darling entertained while she is home. How about a live gig in your living room soon?
8. Imaginative Play Toys
Children are most comfortable in their own world, even if it is an imaginary one. No, they aren’t going crazy; they are naturally imaginative and love pretending to be someone they are not. You must have already seen your child copy you and your mannerism. Well, you can use it to your own advantage now. How, you ask? By keeping them occupied with imaginative play toys and role and pretend play toys and games. Let your child get as imaginative as she wants to. Just remember to play a coma patient when she plays a doctor.
9. Subscription Boxes
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9x_riShYEa/
It’s crazy out there, and you might forget buying something absolutely necessary to keep your kid engaged. Hey, you’re human too. But you can make a smart decision by subscribing to FirstCry Intellikit program if your child is between 2 and 6 years old. These subscription boxes are themed and meticulously prepared to develop the 8 Smarts in children (logic, body, nature, self, people, music, word, and picture) through activities, storybooks, games, quizzes, etc. They are not only age-appropriate but are packed with activities and play ideas to last a month (or more)! Become a smarter parent by getting an Intellikit to keep your kid entertained during the coronavirus outbreak.
If you still find yourself struggling to decide what to buy for your little one, go for the indoor toys you’ve grown up playing with. Get creative to keep your child entertained. It’s a tough time, but don’t beat yourself up. Instead, enjoy all of this extra time with your child and invest in her growth, it’ll pay off for sure!
Also Read: Indoor Activities to Keep Your Child Engaged During the Coronavirus Outbreak Read more
Suggested for you
5 Quick and Healthy Breakfast Ideas for Kids
When it comes to parenting, feeding a nutritious diet to the child is a great challenge. The meal should be balanced, tasty, and have pleasing aesthetics so that the child likes it.
Following are the few simple recipes that will ease your challenge:
1. Banana and Oats Pancakes:
Ingredients: Powdered Oats, Egg, Banana, and Hershey’s Syrup/Honey/ choco chips for drizzle.
First, mash the banana in a bowl, followed by beating an egg and the mashed banana. Then add powdered oats slowly to keep the batter in a semi-flowing consistency.
Heat non-stick pan, grease it with little refined oil or butter. Put the batter with the help of a spoon in the shape of small circles. Flip the side when bubbles start to appear. Cook till it gets a golden brown color. Now drizzle some honey/Hershey’s syrup (whatever your child likes) over it and finish it with some banana slices and a sprinkle of choco chips.
2. Oats Chilla:
Ingredients: Rolled Oats, vegetables: shredded carrots, onion and capsicum (finely chopped),
Spices (salt, red chili powder, coriander powder) and coriander finely chopped.
Take equal quantities of oats and water and soak for 15 min then blend in the mixer. Now add vegetables to the mixer followed by spices as per your child’s taste. Heat non-stick pan put the batter with the help of a spoon, and try rolling it out with the help of a spoon or fingers till it takes the size of a pancake.
Serve it with curd or stuff it with some shredded paneer by folding it into half and serve it with ketchup.
3. Rice floor Dosa:
Ingredients: Rice flour, Ragi flour, spices (salt, cumin seeds, chili)
Start by mixing rice flour and Ragi flour in the ratio of 2: 0.5, respectively. Now add all the spices as per your taste. Then add water and make it into water-like consistency.
Heat a non-stick pan grease it with little ghee.
Pour the batter on the pan and fold it in half once the batter is thoroughly cooked.
4. Vegetable Sandwich:
Ingredients: Whole wheat bread, Cheese slice, butter, Cucumber, Tomato, Potato(boiled), spices (salt, pepper)
Take two slices of Whole wheat bread, then spread little butter on both pieces.
Put all the ingredients and sprinkle salt and pepper as per taste.
Heat a pan, put a little butter, and toss the sandwich on the pan until the cheese melts and the bread becomes a little crisp. Serve with tomato ketchup.
5. Multigrain Chilla:
Ingredients: Rice flour, wheat flour, Ragi flour, Gram Floor and Maida, shredded Carrots, Onions and Spices (salt, chili)
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, then add water and make a slurry.
Heat the pan and put some quantity of batter followed by spreading it with your hand or a spoon.
The recipes mentioned above are easy, healthy, and delicious. Try it out for yourself and enjoy your kid's reactions to these yummy meals.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions (including content in any form) expressed within this post are those of the author alone. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The responsibility for intellectual property rights of this content rests with the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with him/her. Read more
Suggested for you
Suggested for you
How to Raise Your Child to Be Independent, Happy, and Confident
"Please repeat". "You are wrong, listen to me", these short sentences may be a small statement for us but it causes a powerful impact on our children. By saying these, we are smothering the thinking, questioning, curiosity and independent cognitive skills of our budding wonders.
Instead, we can rephrase the same by saying: you are doing so well, can we try a new way now or I am all ears to your point of view but after I have listened to you would you like to give me two minutes.
Instead of trying to force-feed the daily routine homework or classwork, try to give a break to your child by letting them play with their age group children develop their own language, their secret codes, their way of speaking, and thinking.
Then you may intervene and say "Oh that's an interesting thing to do. Have you learnt it from your friend? Will you teach me how to do this?". By saying these simple sentences, your little wonder will develop a sense of achievement and accomplishment.
Instead of saying - "just finish this fast", try and say, "would you like to take a 5-minutes break before you try again?". "Why don't you teach me your way, then 'Ill try introducing you to how I have learnt from my parents."
From my experience, I have seen my child stay happy when she spends more time in physical activity than she spends quality time on her academics. Like we try and nourish our babies with proteins, carbohydrates and vegetables, we should strive to nourish their minds with fun, frolic, poems, stories, hide and seek, playground squabbles and lots of monitored playdates. We remember our childhood filled with lots of stories, fun, and frolic with siblings and cousins. Don't our children deserve a slice of that similar piece of heaven? We can try and create that similar atmosphere with a little extra effort on our part.
A healthy mind and healthy body make a healthy soul and a happy future. Every day we should remind ourselves that the key to a happy child is a happy and patient parent or parents.
Happy parenting!
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions (including content in any form) expressed within this post are those of the author alone. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The responsibility for intellectual property rights of this content rests with the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with him/her. Read more
Humara has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. I am 7 weeks pregnant. Before pregnancy I used to take medicine named Cyra 20 mg for acidity. Now since the day when I got to know that I am pregnant I am not taking any medicine for acidity but daily I am suffering from it. After having breakfast it starts. I am not eating any spicy food , oily food etc. Please help on this
Read moreHumara
Mom of a 2 m old girl
1 hour ago
A. dear mom u can take digene syrup or ulgel they as safe my doctor recommended me during pregnancy u can also take biorab dsr in the morning and syrup before meal at least 30 min i was faciny the same issue
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Mom of a 1 yr 9 m old child
2 hours ago
Q. hi mam , my baby 1 year and 9 month old just now onwards stop breast feeding .pls suggest formula milk to my baby
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. your baby is more than 1 year 9 months of age any milk including buffalo milk cows milk ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
2 hours ago
Q. #AskTheExpert hello dr.
baby planning kar rhi kuch tips btayiye conceive ho jaye
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. it's a natural process ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. when baby is kick? I'm 13 weeks pregnant
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
59 mins ago
A. during first pregnancy you may feel the baby movements after 24 to 25 weeks of pregnancy and till then only mild flatters may be felt but which you may not be feeling if you are doing some work
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
43 mins ago
Q. I’m in my 31 week 1 day of pregnancy. What will be my delivery date??
As I have low lying placenta with grade 1 maturity.
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
4 mins ago
A. you had to correlate is ultrasound examination. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
40 mins ago
Q. My hemoglobin is 6.4 from 28 weeks of pregnancy. Now I’m 31 weeks pregnant. What should I do?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
5 mins ago
A. Haven’t when you having some kind of iron supplement because they’re very good during the time of pregnancy if you are not having one you need to start with and whatever tabs you take you should just take it with any good juice specially pomegranate juice that’s going to help in doubling the impact of the medicine that you’re taking secondly try and include more of Iron which diet like spinach broccoli beetroot pomegranate black rice sweet potato these things are exceptionally healthy for you to consume
Check out this new Memory
Poornima S
Guardian of a 2 m old girl
1 min ago
#babyonboard
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Dolly Tiwary
Mom of a 8 yr 8 m old boy
2 mins ago
#MamyPokoMilestoneMemories
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Imran khan
Guardian of a 11 m old boy
3 mins ago
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Mousumi Kalita
Mom of a 10 m old boy
4 mins ago
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Shubhangi Yerne
Mom of a 9 m old girl
4 mins ago
0 Likes
0 Comment
Tell us more about yourself get More Personalised
- Infant0 to 6 Months
- Baby6 Months to 2 Yrs
- Toddler2 to 4 yrs
- Kids4-6 yrs
- Big Kids6+ yrs
- Expecting
- Trying to Conceive