Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Suggested for you
15 Amazing Memory Games for Kids
Little kids constantly need to be kept entertained and engaged. At the ages of 6-14, their growing brains are working overtime to learn new emotions, remember new experiences and build new pathways. It's the best time for them to learn whatever they can!
Memory games are a great way to boost different aspects of your child's development. At the same time, they help pass those long waiting hours in the car or outside somewhere, when your kids are restricted from moving around. Such games not only help kids to hone their memory skills but also help them learn strategy, force them to think, teach them concentration, and improve their reflexes.
Below, we will share some interesting visual and auditory memory games you can play with your child, have fun and bond with them in the process.
15 Brain-Boosting Memory Games For Children
1. The Memory Card Game
Card games are a great past time and also great for helping kids with their memory. This one, in particular, is easy to play and hassle-free.
What Do You Need
A 52-deck of playing cards
How to Play
Place the 52 cards face-down on a smooth surface, in four rows of thirteen each. You can also use the jokers, in six rows of nine cards each.
Play starts when the first player picks up two cards from anywhere on the set and places them face up.
If they are of same rank and colour (for example, a seven of hearts and a seven of spades), then that player wins the pair and gets to play again.
If the two cards don't match, then that player loses the round, returns the card's face down to their original places and the next player gets to play.
The game ends when a player picks the last pair. The winner is the player with the most pairs. A tie is also possible.
This game can be played with many variations. Like for young kids, the rule may be to only match according to colour, or players can match cards only of same rank but opposite colour.
2. The Coin Game
A popular favourite as it is fun and fast-paced.
What Do You Need
A handful of coins, a cloth, a timer or a watch
How to Play
Choose 5 coins from the pile and place it in a certain sequence. For example, you can line up two 50 paise coins, a 1 rupee, 2 rupees and 5 rupee coin.
Ask the players to look at the coins and then cover them with a cloth.
Ask the players to now pick up coins from the pile and arrange them in the same order as what was shown.
Use the timer to time each of them. The player who gets the sequence right in the shortest amount of time wins!
3. The Magic Cup Game
Everyone would have played this at least once in their lives. In fact, people even play this with their pets! This is a great game for concentration.
What Do You Need
Three paper cups, a coin/or any small object
How to Play
Invert the three cups and place them in a line.
Put the object or coin under any one of the cups, making sure whoever is watching knows which cup it is under.
Move the cups around for a while, stop and put them back in line. Ask which cup the coin is under. Whoever chooses right, wins.
Take turns with moving the cups. You can see which player is best at finding the coin.
4. Memory Train
This one is perfect for long car rides as it is completely verbal and depends only on your concentration skills.
What Do You Need
Just yourself and your kids!
How to Play
The game starts with a player saying, "I am going shopping. I pick up a....."
The next person repeats the phrase and adds another item. The second and third player does the same.
The game continues with each player mentioning all the previous items and then adding another item when it is his or her turn. Players drop out of the game if they make a mistake.
The player able to repeat the phrase for the longest time wins. You can use any line to begin with, like "I am going on vacation. I am taking my...." or "I am going on a picnic. I am packing my....."
5. Rhyming Game
This game is similar to the memory train but is also is great for developing vocabulary in children.
What Do You Need
Just yourself and your kids!
How to Play
The game starts when a player says a sentence. It can be anything, from "I fed the dog" to "I love toys".
The next player has to say the sentence followed by a word that rhymes with the last word and having the same vowel sound. For example, "I fed the dog" can be followed by "I fed the dog....log...".
The other players follow up with other rhyming words. They have to say all the words in order and are 'out' if they repeat a word already said.
The player who is left in the end is the winner.
6. The Sound Chain Game
This is an auditory memory game, based mainly on listening and which is big on concentration powers. Gets a bit noisy but double the fun!
What Do You Need
Just yourself and your kids!
How to Play
The game starts with a player starting a pattern of finger snaps or claps (for example, two snaps and a clap).
The next player must do the same pattern and add a pattern of his or her own.
The game goes on with each player repeating the entire pattern along with adding a new one each time.
The player who forgets or makes a mistake in between is 'out' and the last player remaining, wins.
7. Memory Experiment
This is a fun family game, a little more scientific and suitable for slightly older kids.
What Do You Need
Pieces of paper and crayons
How to Play
Give each player a piece of paper and a crayon
Read out a list of 10 nouns (people, places or things)
Wait a few minutes and then have each player repeat as many words as they can remember
Next, list out 10 different nouns
Have the players draw out the ones they remember
Ask them to write down the 10 words
Compare to see whether the drawings helped with recall
8. The Tray Game
A party game to help develop visual memory skills in your child
What Do You Need
Pens, pieces of paper, a tray, small objects from around your home (e.g coins, spoons, plants, toys, shoes etc)
How to Play
Take the tray and fill it with a bunch of small objects taken from around your home.
Give the players a minute to memorize all the objects and give them a pen and paper.
When a minute is up, take away the tray and ask the players to write down as many objects as they remember.
Whoever correctly remembers the most is the winner!
9. Spot the Difference
A simple game you can play literally anywhere - your house, the car, the doctor's office, the parking lot of the mall...
What Do You Need
Again, just yourself and your kids!
How to Play
If you outside, ask your child to close his or her eyes.
Rearrange something about yourself. For example, take off/put on your glasses or take off one earring or even rearrange a lock of your hair.
Ask your child to open his or her eyes and figure out what has changed. You can even put a time to it.
Alternatively, if you are at home, ask him or her to leave the room, rearrange items in the room and ask to figure out the difference.
10. Flashcard Memorization
This is a party game you can play with a bunch of kids. A great way to get all of them to sit and have fun in an organized way!
What Do You Need
A pictorial set of flashcards with a good degree of detail, pen and pieces of paper
How to Play
Select a flashcard and hold it up
Give your child or the group of children some time to memorize what is there on the card
Hide the card
Ask them to write down what they recall of the image, as much as possible
Play a few such rounds. The player who recalls the most details of each round as possible wins!
11. Round Robin
This is a group game which helps children not only with memorization but also with creativity.
What Do You Need
Yourself and a bunch of children
How to Play
Get all the players to sit in a circle
Choose one player and have him start a story with a sentence
The next player has to repeat the sentence and add one of her own
The game continues like this until a player cannot remember all the sentences
As the kids are free to add their own creative touch to the story that is developing, it usually gets very funny with the number of twists and turns they add. Will get the whole family laughing!
12. Simon Says
This much-loved game is a classic and is a great concentration game for ages 3 and above!
What Do You Need
Yourself, your children and a wide space you can move around in
How to Play
Gather around the players and give them an instruction, preceded by 'Simon Says'. For example, 'Simon says jump up and down' or 'Simon says bend your knee and hop around the room'.
The rule is that the players follow the instructions only if it is preceded by 'Simon says'. If the instruction is simply 'dance around the room' then the player who does it is out.
The winner is the player who remains until the end and has successfully followed the instructions.
13. 'I Went on Holiday'
This game is better with older kids as it requires at least some geographical knowledge.
What Do You Need
Just yourself and your kids!
How to Play
The first player thinks of a city, continent or country beginning with the letter A, and then says it out loud. For example, 'I went on holiday to America'.
The second player repeats the sentence and follows it up with a place starting from the letter B. 'I went on holiday to America and Beijing'
The next player does the same and follows with a place starting from the letter C.
The game continues in this way till a player makes a mistake or forgets the order of the places. The last player to remember the order and continue without a mistake wins!
14. Map It
This game is a fun one to help your child to remember what he or she sees or hears in their immediate environment.
What Do You Need
Paper, crayons
How to Play
Take your child on a drive or a walk through a common everyday route
Ask your child to note her surroundings and observe everything carefully.
Once you get home, give her paper and crayons and ask her to draw whatever she saw on the route, including landmarks, buildings, and people
15. Storytelling Word-by-Word
Similar to the round robin game, this game is the shorter version but can go much faster and is much simpler!
What Do You Need
Just yourself and your kids!
How to Play
Get the kids to gather in a circle
Choose the first player and ask him to start a story with a single word. For example, 'The' or 'Once'.
The second player then repeats the first word and adds a second word to it. For example, if the first word is 'the' and second is 'bird', the sentence will be 'the bird'.
The third player also repeats the sentence from the beginning and adds a third word. A tip is to keep sentences short so that players can start new sentences with new words.
In this way, a story is built up in words. The game continues till a player forgets the sequence or gets stuck in between.
The last player who remembers everything wins!
Memory games increase a child's awareness, cognition and the best thing is that they learn while they are not even aware that the activity is learning! The above are a few great games you can play with the family, with your child's friend group or even one-on-one. Pretty soon, your child's memory powers and observation skills will be much improved, maybe even better than your own!
Also Read: 15 Easy & Fun Christmas Party Games For Kids Read more
Suggested for you
10 Surprising Raw Banana Benefits You May Not Know
Green bananas might sound a little exotic, but they are just regular bananas with numerous health benefits. Many people only eat bananas after they are ripe and yellow, but unripe bananas can also be eaten. They make amazing dishes and are an interesting food item to experiment with inside your kitchen. Unlike ripe bananas, you can consume green bananas only after they are processed, either by frying, sautéing, or boiling. However, fried, raw bananas have excess calories as they are fried. So, consuming boiled or stir-fried raw bananas are better for your health. You could use them in curries or gravies.
Nutritional Value of Unripe Banana
Nutrition
Value
Carbohydrates
22.84 g
Choline
9.8 mg
Dietary fibre
2.6 g
Energy
89 kcal
Fat
0.33 g
Folate (B9)
20 μg
Iron
0.26 mg
Magnesium
27 mg
Manganese
0.27 mg
Niacin (B3)
0.665 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
0.334 mg
Phosphorus
22 mg
Potassium
358 mg
Protein
1.09 g
Riboflavin (B2)
0.073 mg
Sodium
1 mg
Sugars
12.23 g
Thiamine (B1)
0.031 mg
Vitamin B6
0.4 mg
Vitamin C
8.7 mg
Zinc
0.15 mg
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana#Nutrition
10 Amazing Benefits of Green Bananas
Here are some amazing health benefits of raw bananas.
1. Improve Nutrient Absorption
When you include unripe bananas in your diet, there will be an improvement in the health of your colon because of the short-chain fatty acids present in these bananas. This type of fatty acid is known to improve the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, especially calcium.
2. Regulate Blood Pressure
Unripe bananas have a high content of potassium. Potassium is a very important mineral needed for better muscle movement, proper functioning of nerves, and purifying of blood by the kidneys. This mineral acts as a vasodilator, which means that this mineral can lower the strain or tension on the arteries and blood vessels. Green bananas help prevent conditions related to the heart like strokes and heart attacks.
3. Promote Development of Probiotic Bacteria
These bacteria are specifically good for your gut. Unripe bananas are one of the best foods for friendly and good bacteria. These bacteria live in the intestines, and when you consume green bananas, you will be able to achieve a healthier digestive tract and stomach.
4. Help Digestion
Green bananas contain high levels of resistant starch, and this makes them really good for the process of digestion. These bananas contain dietary fibre which helps prevent problems like constipation and bloating when you eat them in moderate levels. They also help to improve the functioning of bowel movements and the digestive tract.
5. Prevent and Treat Diarrhoea
Green bananas can prevent and treat diarrhoea. This problem is caused by a virus, bacteria, or parasitic infection and when green bananas are consumed, they help fight off the germs causing the infection. Unripe bananas can also help prevent the symptoms of diarrhoea which are nausea, headache, abdominal cramps, fatigue, etc. You should cook these bananas before consuming.
6. Improve Metabolism
Green bananas are rich in essential nutrients and minerals which optimise metabolism by giving the body a stable, and complex carbohydrate base. Unripe bananas can also help speed up the process of burning calories in the body which will boost your metabolism.
7. Weight Loss
When green bananas are added to the diet, they help lose excess fat present in the body. This is because the bananas contain resistant starch that keeps the stomach full. When the body has this type of resistant starch, it will block the excess carbohydrate consumption and thus promotes healthy loss of weight.
8. Important for Healthy Hair and Skin
Green bananas are rich in vitamins. Raw bananas are especially rich in Vitamin B6, and Vitamin C. Vitamin C is important for healthy hair and skin. It helps boost the immune system and protects your body from any damage caused by free radicals. Vitamin B6 is responsible for the conversion of food into useful energy. It is good for the health of your heart and helps improve the functions of the brain. Vitamin B6 is needed for the formation of haemoglobin and helps in blood sugar control.
9. Good for Diabetes
Raw bananas are great for diabetes because the sugar content in raw bananas is very low. It keeps the digestive system healthy since it has a glycaemic content that is less than 55. Foods that have less glycaemic content help by preventing the rapid spike of sugar levels.
10. Support Proper Kidney Functioning
Raw bananas help maintain the health of the kidneys. These bananas help in maintaining the electrolytic balance of the body and support the proper and healthy functioning of kidneys. Regular consumption of raw bananas will help prevent kidney problems and even kidney cancer.
FAQs
Here we answer a couple of questions about raw bananas:
1. Does Carbs Composition Change When Green Bananas Ripen?
Yes, the composition of carbs changes as the banana ripens.
2. Yellow Banana vs Green Banana - What’s the Difference?
Green bananas are usually harvested when they are still raw. Other than the difference in colour, they differ in:
Texture: Yellow bananas are not firm when compared to green ones. Green bananas can sometimes be waxy.
Taste: Green bananas are not sweet. They have a bitter taste.
Composition: Higher starch content is present in green bananas. The starch transforms into sugar when the bananas turn ripe and yellow.
Green bananas also have a longer shelf life. Therefore, storing them without refrigeration is easy. You can get the ones that have green and fresh skin without any other discolouration, dark spots, or bruises. If you don't want them to ripen very quickly, you can separate each banana, wrap the stems with aluminium foil, and keep them in an airtight container before refrigerating them.
Also Read:
Possible Side-Effects of Eating Banana at Night
Is It Safe to Eat Fruits Before Going to Bed
Why Balanced Diet is Important for Your Health Read more
Suggested for you
Interesting Tiger Facts & Information for Kids
Beautiful, strong and fast, tigers are a force to be reckoned with. Native to Asia and eastern Russia, their scientific name is Panthera tigris and these animals are a part of the feline family, which basically means they are just really big cats! Tigers do share similar characteristics with the common house cat but they are much bigger and therefore much more dangerous. They prefer to live and hunt alone.
Physical Features of Tiger
Tigers can weigh around 300 kilograms and measure to a length of 3.3 meters. They are the biggest cat species in the world. Tigers have a unique coat that is most commonly a reddish or orange shade with black stripes. Females are smaller than the males of the species, and the northern tigers are found to be much larger than the ones in the south. For example, Bengal tigers are much larger in size than Sumatran Tigers, which are native to Indonesia. Every tiger has around 30 sharp teeth and is known to have the biggest canines amongst all the big cats. Their legs are muscular, and they have very sharp claws.
Types of Tigers
While there are some sub-species of tigers that have gone extinct, there are currently six in existence.
1. The Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
These tigers are native to India, though they are also found in Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. They have the standard orange and black striped coats, but there have been cases of tigers being born with white and black striped fur and blue eyes. This is a genetic mutation and “White Tigers” are not a separate sub-species.
2. The Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)
These tigers are found mainly in certain parts of Russia, which is very cold. In order to survive, these tigers have extremely thick skin and their coat is very dense.
3. The Indochinese Tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti)
These tigers are smaller in size and are more solitary creatures that avoid populated areas as much as they can.
4. The Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni)
Their native home is distributed among the tropical forests of the Malay Peninsula. When it is available, this tiger hunts and preys on livestock, causing there to be much conflict between them and humans.
5. The South China Tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis)
Native to South China, these tigers have not been spotted anywhere in the wild for more than twenty-five years! There are only a few remaining in captivity.
6. The Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae)
These tigers are native to Sumatra and are one of the smaller sub-species of tigers.
How Do Tigers Give Birth to Their Cubs?
Here are some interesting facts on how their mother gives birth to and looks after her offspring as well as some baby tiger (called cubs) facts for kids:
Female tigers are pregnant for three and a half months before giving birth to a litter of three or four cubs.
Mama tigers prepare a den that is in a safe and secluded spot to give birth to her cubs. These include caves, hollows of trees or even dense grasses. She will often find a place with a soft ground or dry leaves and grass.
Male tigers do not help in birthing or rearing the cubs. The mother does it all on her own.
The cubs are born blind but their eyes open between six to twelve days after birth.
The mortality rate of tiger cubs is very high. Often only half live to reach maturity.
Tiger cubs breastfeed until they are six to eight weeks old, which is when their mama weans them onto solid food.
Mama tigers teach their cubs to hunt at eight weeks, but they do not go out with her to hunt until they are at least six months old.
Tigers leave their mothers to look for their own territories at the age of two years, at which age they are considered to be proper adult tigers.
A tigress will give birth to a new litter once every two and a half years, but if for some reason her entire litter dies, she is once again ready to mate within five months.
How Do They Form Their Own Territories?
Tigers form their territories in the following way:
Like most animals, tigers urinate or use anal gland secretions to mark their territories.
Tigers, like lions, roar to announce that a certain area belongs to them.
Tigers tend to move around only in their own territories, which is why they choose a habitat that can satisfy all their needs.
Tigers choose territories that are close to bodies of water as they enjoy a good swim and it helps them to cool off.
Food Habits of Tigers
Tigers are carnivorous and therefore prefer to eat meat. Here are some hunting and food habits of tigers:
In the wild, tigers hunt medium to large animals.
In India, tigers prey on chital, domestic buffalo, water buffalo, gaur and wild boar.
Siberian tigers prey on moose and deer.
Sumatran tigers feed on sambar, muntjac and Malayan tapir.
Tigers also eat vegetation.
They hunt alone rather than in groups and rely on their sight rather than their sense of smell. Their coats provide them with a certain amount of camouflage, especially in areas where there is long grass. This helps them to get really close to their prey without being detected.
They are very patient hunters and can wait for their prey for hours, often launching an attack when least expected.
Female tigers only hunt within their territories whereas the males hunt anywhere they choose.
How Long Do Tigers Live?
Though the average lifespan for tigers is around eight to ten years in the wild, they have been known to live for as long as 26 years in captivity. This is because they face many dangers in the wild that prevents most of them reaching maturity. Some of these dangers include starvation due to a shortage of prey, fighting over territory and being unable to defend themselves when they are old and when they are cubs, thereby making them prey for others such as packs of wild dogs and bears. Siberian tigers live for 10 to 15 years in the wild but can live up to 22 years in captivity.
Are Tigers Endangered?
Sadly, human beings are causing tigers to become extinct. They are being hunted mainly for their beautiful fur coats. Another way mankind is responsible is by destroying their natural habitats; without a proper habitat, these animals will not survive in the wild due to a shortage of prey and territories.
Other Must Know Facts of Tigers for Children
Here are some other interesting tiger facts for kids:
Tigers need to eat at least five kilograms of food each and every day but can sometimes even eat up to thirty kilos.
A group of tigers is called a “streak” or an “ambush”.
Being such good swimmers, tigers can swim for up to six kilometres.
Tigers usually hunt during the night.
Tigers can reach speeds up to 65kph (40 mph).
Tigers can jump over five meters high.
A liger is a hybrid between a lion and a tiger. They are also known as tigons.
Tiger stripes are unique, and no two tigers have the same pattern.
Tigers do not eat their entire prey in one day. They eat as much as they need for the day and then bury it under dirt and leaves. When they need to eat next, the uncover it and eat.
The sabre tooth tiger is the oldest tiger sub-species. A few sabre tooth tiger facts for kids include that it went extinct at the end of the ice age, which was around 10,000 years ago; they have extremely long canine teeth which is what they were named for, and the scientific name for the sabertooth tiger is “Smilodon”.
A couple of endangered tiger facts for kids are:
The Caspian, Bali and Javan tiger sub-species became extinct in the last century
The tiger population today is only 7% of what it was less than a hundred years ago
Tigers are a rich part of the Indian culture, not only because they are the most popular and largest of all tiger sub-species originates from the Indian sub-continent, but also because they are the national animal. Around the world, tiger species are becoming extinct as more and more of their habitat is being destroyed to make way for human settlements. As humans, it is our responsibility to do all that we can to help tiger populations to survive around the world; otherwise, we are in danger of losing these magnificent creatures forever.
Also Read: Animals Facts for Kids Read more
Suggested for you
Flat Feet in Children - Reasons, Symptoms & Treatment
When you become parents, there are a million things that you may worry about your kid. What your kid eats, his growth, reaching various milestones etc. may be on top priority but has it ever occurred to you that kids may sometimes have problems with their feet too. If you think what may probably go wrong with the feet, well, flat feet is one such condition that you should certainly not ignore. If you are not much aware of this condition, reading this post may prove to be informative.
What are Flat Feet?
Flat feet or pes planus is a condition in which your kid does not have an arch in all of his foot, or most part of his foot may touch the ground. As the name is suggestive enough, this problem is associated with the foot, but actually, it is the heel where the problem initiates. When your child has flat feet, his heel bone rotates inwards, causing your child’s feet to collapse inwards. This may hamper the proper distribution of body weight, and your child may walk using the inner part of his foot.
What are the Types of Flat Foot?
Following are some common types of flat foot in children:
1. Flexible Flatfoot
This is the most common type of flatfoot. This hypermobile flatfoot may not cause any disability in your child. Also, this condition may affect both the feet of the child and in most cases no treatment may be required.
2. Flexible Flatfoot With Short Achilles Tendon
This condition usually affects both the feet of a child and the child may experience extreme pain and discomfort. However, it is a very rare occurrence in children.
3. Rigid Flatfoot
This condition may affect single foot or both the feet. It is seen that 1 out of 4 children suffering from this condition may experience severe pain and discomfort. It is more prevalent in children who suffer from issues related to their bones or feet.
What are the Causes of Flat Feet in Kids?
Here are some common reasons that may lead to this condition in children:
If your kid has low muscle tone, it can make his muscles too stretchy. When the muscles become too stretchy, they may allow movement beyond its normal range of motion. This may make your child’s heel to rotate inwards and remove the arch.
In case, your child has high muscle tone this may result in shortening of Achilles' tendons. All this may put pressure on child’s feet, and his feet may get pulled inwards.
Symptoms of Flatfoot
Symptoms that may help you establish this condition in your child:
Your child may face difficulty with shoes.
Your child may experience outward tilting of his heel.
Your child may face difficulty in walking.
Your child may exhibit no enthusiasm for participating in physical activities.
Your child may experience cramping, pain or tenderness in his foot, knee or leg.
Problems Faced by Kids Due to Flat Feet
As trivial as it may appear but flatfoot may lead to complications and following are some of the problems that your child may face:
Abnormal or improper walking style
Muscle weakness
Improper body alignment
Improper foot development
Joint pain
Diagnosis of Flat Feet
Your kid’s doctor will physically examine your kid’s foot and look for the type of flatfoot your child may be affected with. Establishing the type of flat foot may help in diagnosing the correct line of treatment. Your doctor may also want to know if anyone in your family suffers from flatfoot, in order to establish if it is because of genetic glitches. Also, you may be asked whether or not your child suffers from any muscular or neurological disease. The doctor may like to examine the kind of your shoes your child wears. Your child may be asked to do some movements, to check his Achilles' tendons. X-rays, other kinds of imaging or tests may be conducted to see the severity of the condition.
How to Treat Flat Feet in a Child?
The course of treatment may be established after ascertaining the severity of your child’s condition. If your kid experiences no discomfort or pain, he may not be suggested any treatment option, however, he may be reviewed on a regular basis. If your kid shows symptoms, your doctor may recommend some of the following options:
1. Non-Surgical Treatment
Here are some non-surgical treatment options:
Medicines
Anti-inflammatory medicines may be prescribed to reduce pain and discomfort.
Shoe Modifications Or Children’s Insoles
You may be told about the kind of shoes that your child should wear or may be told to use insoles for reducing the discomfort.
Physical Therapy
Some stretching exercises for flat feet in children may help in providing relief to your child.
Orthotic Devices
Sometimes certain orthotic devices may be suggested to improve the foot function and support the foot structure or provide arch support for flat feet for kids.
2. Surgical Treatment
If the non-surgical methods do not work or your child’s condition is severe, surgery may be one of the resorts. The surgical procedure may depend on the type and degree of the deformity that your child may be suffering from.
Most doctors may recommend the wait and watch approach because by the time your child is 10 years of age his flatfoot issues may become okay. However, if it doesn’t become okay or you see your child’s condition becoming worse, get professional help.
Also Read: How to Deal with In-toeing and Out-toeing in Children Read more
Suggested for you
Celebrating Bhaiya Dooj With Your Kids
The bond between siblings is one like no other. In India, the celebration of love between brothers and sisters is a very special one – first with Raksha Bandhan earlier in the year, and then with Bhai Dooj, celebrated on the fourth and final day of the Diwali festivities, i.e. on November 13 this year. This is a good time to tell your kids just why this festival is celebrated, so they can participate with full gusto!
Indian culture and traditions are rich with celebrations of love and bonding in all forms. But what makes Bhai Dooj different? It's association with stories from the past, and the gentle affection that underlies the Bhai Dooj rituals!
Why We Celebrate Bhai Dooj
The festival can be traced back to celebrating the second day of the new moon - “Bhai’ means brother and “Dooj” means second day post new moon. In the eastern part of India, the festival is known as Bhai Phonta. The sisters observe a fast until they apply a sandalwood tilak of goodwill on their brothers' forehead. In fact, such is the significance of Bhai Dooj that sisters courier/e-mail the “Tika” if their brothers cannot visit them on this day. Talk about keeping a promise!
The Bhaiya Dooj Story
It is said that Lord Yama, or the God of Death, visited his sister Yami on this day, to ask for protection and well-being. Another legend goes that Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra on this auspicious day, after defeating the demon Narakasura. Share this dash of mythology with your kids; they are sure to love it as well as learn about the importance of Bhai Dooj through it!
How To Celebrate Bhai Dooj
The celebration kicks off with sisters applying a red tilak on their brothers' forehead and praying for their long life and prosperity. The diya, or the symbol of Diwali, marks the unending sisterly love that protects the brothers from all obstacles in life. And yes, the brothers leave no stones unturned in getting their sisters amazing presents! This is also a great time for the extended family to reunite and make everlasting memories. As for the kids, the Diwali goodies are still on a roll and they are not complaining!
Fun Things To Do With The Kids on Bhai Dooj
Organize a game especially for the siblings. Musical chairs, antakshari, dumb charades and board games always work. If your brothers are coming along, the kids can have a blast with their Mama and his family too.
Whip up some Bhai Dooj special desserts. Yes, you are likely to have a lot of sweets left over from Diwali, but as they say, there's nothing like too much mithaai! Better still, ask them to help with laying out sweets for the Bhai Dooj thali.
Plan a story-telling session with a dash of mythology. Exchange stories about the traditions of Diwali and Bhai Dooj and just why it is important to stay connected to our roots. You could also watch some festive-themed films, or better still, shoot some with your video-camera!
If you have an only child, don't let him/her feel left out on this festival for siblings. Take them out for a treat to their favourite haunt, or organize a get-together with their cousins.
Here's wishing you a happy Diwali season. Reunite with your loved ones and enjoy the true blue traditions of India that are old as the hills but beautiful forever! Read more
Suggested for you
DIY Skin Care Products for Pregnant Women
Change the way you care for your skin during pregnancy with products you can make right at home. They can work just as well as commercial products and are a lot safer for your skin.
Pregnancy brings out the best in your complexion. But, it's also a time where you need to be extra careful about what you put on your skin. Those store-bought, chemical-based creams and lotions need to be pushed behind in favour of gentler products that do their jobs without posing a risk to you and your baby. Instead of rushing out to buy a new collection of items, consider whipping up a batch at home. DIY skin care products for pregnant women can work just as well and save you loads of money!
1. Kiss Acne Goodbye
The flip side to that pregnancy glow that has everyone raving is the onset of acne. Your body's going through hormonal changes that can manifest themselves in the form of zits and red bumps. Fortunately, there are ways to tackle this with homemade skin care products during pregnancy. Make a simple face mask with a grated apple mixed with honey to form a gooey solution. Apply it all over your face, leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes and rinse off with tepid water. You can also make an exfoliating mask with just honey and sugar.
2. Brighten Your Skin
During pregnancy, some women get what's called Chloasma, which are dark patches mainly on the nose, cheeks and upper lips. Being out in the sun can worsen it. What you can do as part of your natural skin care regimen during pregnancy is to make a mix of milk and oatmeal that will act as an exfoliant. Apply it to the darkened areas and leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes. Wash off and apply a good sunscreen.
3. Remove Blackheads
Blackheads are nothing but blocked pores caused by build-up of oils. They can occur any time, even during pregnancy. The key is to unblock the pores gently by using an exfoliant and keeping your skin clean. Make a paste of ground rice soaked in milk and apply it all over your face. Massage it for about two minutes and wash it off with cold water. Do this once or twice a week if you get blackheads often.
4. Manage Dark Circles
Your skin care regimen during pregnancy can be expanded to counter dark circles that are common among many women. With a few slices of refrigerated cucumber, you can lighten the darkness and perk up your eyes. Take two slices of cold cucumber and place it over your eyes. Sit back and relax for about 20 minutes. Remove them, splash your face with cold water and follow up with a moisturiser.
Don't let acne, spots and dark circles stop you from looking your best. Show off a terrific complexion with the help of gentle skin care products that are safe for use during pregnancy. You can make the most of this time to try your hand at whipping up some wonderful DIY beauty recipes. Read more
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
9 hours ago
Q. #AskTheExpert hello dr.
baby planning kar rhi kuch tips btayiye conceive ho jaye
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
8 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
7 hours ago
Q. when baby is kick? I'm 13 weeks pregnant
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
7 hours 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
7 hours 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
6 hours 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
7 hours 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
6 hours 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
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
6 hours ago
Q. This is my cbc report
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
6 hours ago
A. No there is nothing visible on my wall so I can really really cannot help you can you please repose the question once again providing all the necessary details as once I’m certain what are you talking about what’s mentioned in the report according to that I can provide you proper help on your question
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
4 hours ago
Q. #asktheexpert
now I'm 24 weeks. Sometimes I'm feeling pain in my thigh.
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
4 hours ago
A. For thegh query asked needs consultation with doctor for proper guidance so it is better that the doctor will guide you the correct way .
Onlfine consultation can also be taken and the expert will give you the proper answer .
Check out this new Memory
Mariyam
Mom of a 10 m old girl
5 mins ago
#babyphotochallenge
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Mariyam
Mom of a 10 m old girl
6 mins ago
#stylishbaby
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
monika yadav
Mom of a 3 m old girl
13 mins ago
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
monika yadav
Mom of a 3 m old girl
16 mins ago
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Asha Parveen
Mom of a 1 m old boy
16 mins ago
#stylishbaby
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