We live in a vast and diversified world. It’s mixed with unique cultures, personalities, opinions, objectives, and it’s undeniable; we are always learning something apart from what we know on a daily basis. As we all know, little ones are the fastest learners.
And it’s also true that they would develop the same thinking process as their parents do. So the process of teaching our child starts from us. What would you ideally want to see in your child? A simple attitude and smart thinking because knowledge would anyways be an input during their academics in school.
We need to teach our children the difference between what’s right and what’s wrong along with appropriate social behaviour.
Imagine a situation; we take our kids to a park. And they see children there with different skin complexions. And it wouldn’t be of any surprise if they ask us with immense curiosity why his/her friends look different from him/her. Even when it comes to various religious aspects, everyone has their own way of worshiping God and how do you explain that. Below are the few key points that should be kept in mind while you’re communicating to your child about such crucial topics.
Don’t shush them
When kids ask you any sensitive questions, don’t stop them. In private or public. Ask them to continue talking about it. Instead, even ask them what they think about. But by restricting their questions, we might be putting in a wrong thought process. They probably might think that their question was not appropriate or they were wrong asking in the first place. This might lead to a decrease in their curiosity levels. At that age, they should have a good learning process and shouldn’t be denied it any minute.
Talk as much as you can
You might be busy with your professional life. But this is the only golden period you get to bond with your kids. Don’t stop listening to them. Ask for their opinions, correct them and again ask whats their thought about this particular topic. Judging anyone around is not a mistake, but it’s important not to make their first judgement as to their final one. They need to learn the art of mingling with as many people as possible and always have a positive vibe.
Consume diverse content consciously
Movies and other sources of entertainment are always direct influences on our kids’ minds. In fact, we prefer showing them so that they can learn faster. So why not we opt for more movies that help highlighting such issues and it would be easier to understand these concepts. But be careful to show them age-appropriate shows. Maybe animated is more preferable. These topics may not be essential to understand at first glance but understanding it in the right way is important.
Don’t judge a book by its cover
Yes, we are unique, we all look different, we talk different languages, and we need to teach our kids to see these things as different cultures, but everyone should be treated the same. Maybe someone might need a wheelchair to move around, some can be blind, or perhaps some may not be mentally stable enough like we are. But it’s not their fault. We should be able to teach our kids that ‘it’s ok’, not everyone is fortunate enough, but we don’t have any rights to judge them. Instead, teach them how to approach these people and make them feel better. Teach them how to deal with such situations and always have a smile on their face.
Like I already said, a kid’s thinking process is just the photocopy of their parents’. So before we teach them something, we should be aware of what opinions we have. Everyone can’t view the painting with the same opinion, but we can always appreciate the efforts.
And teach them the art of accepting, show them the art of appreciating and not just pointing out mistakes and differences.
The emotional and personal growth of boys is often less looked after. It’s harder if you had a child who does not like to talk much. But if your child likes reading, the below books help empower them to be the best version of themselves by preparing them, through stories, role models and literal situations to derive life lessons from.
Preteen boys are specially curious and struggling with a lot going on internally. It is so much more important to give them the right tools to deal with or learn about challenges everyone faces. Highly essential to raise kind humans who are empathetic and accepting of all.
In this digital age, there is still a place for knots, skimming stones and stories of incredible courage. This book recaptures Sunday afternoons, stimulates curiosity, and makes for great father-son activities. The brothers Conn and Hal have put together a wonderful collection of all things that make being young or young at heart fun—building go-carts and electromagnets, identifying insects and spiders, and flying the world’s best paper airplanes.
Does your boy have friends who look different than him? Or does he look different from his peers? It is overwhelming how many insecurities we carry within our selves, specially as children of the world. This book is perfect for kids of color to learn about how their actions speak louder than their appearance. With easy to read rhymes, sibling love, Indian culture and concept, this story talks about how one can truly see everyone as they are inside. This book is a must have for any boy who wants to learn a little more about themselves, the world around them and how we truly sparkle!
In this book for boys, author Ayesha Rodriguez uses rhyming verses, followed by a positive affirmation. I am and the words that follow are powerful. Repeated affirmations will build up your child’s self-esteem and transform his sense of self!
From the author of the bestselling Care & Keeping of You series! This book will provide you with the answers that will help you take care of yourself better, from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to shaving, acne to voice changes, and everything in between. With tips, how-tos, and facts from a real pediatrician, it’s the perfect book to help you learn about your body’s changes.
American Boy’s Handy Book
Long before The Dangerous Book for Boys became all the rage , there was the American Boy’s Handy Book. Every father and grandfather should have this on his shelf, waiting there for a boy to pull it off and start leafing through. Dozens of awesome (and unlike another book, some actually dangerous) hands on projects for boys to tackle from how to build kites and forts to how to rear wild birds and trap animals. Originally published in 1882 and still a must for every boy today.
I appreciate the way this book so very warmly and passionately displays ultra positive and inspirational images of young men of color. I’ve read books that trail along similar empowering themes. My kids literally become enchanted by the messages and images, so much so, that they would crave re-reads of the stories. What I cherish the most is seeing my precious students self-select one of these books for independent reading!
Best of Iggy
Meet 9-year-old Iggy Frangi. He’s not a bad kid, he’s really not. Okay, so he’s done a few (a few is anything up to 100) bad things. And okay, he’s not very sorry about most of them. People make a big deal about nothing. What’s a little pancake here and there? Is that something to get mad about? Iggy doesn’t think so. No one got hurt, so there’s no problem. No one got hurt except for that one time, that one time when the Best Idea Ever turned into the Worst Idea of All Time.
Stories for Boys Who Dare to be Different
You won’t find any stories of slaying dragons or saving princesses here. In Stories for Boys Who Dare to Be Different, author Ben Brooks-with the help of Quinton Wintor’s striking full-color illustrations-offers a welcome alternative narrative: one that celebrates introverts and innovators, sensitivity and resilience, individuality and expression.
Middle School is the Worst
Rafe Khatchadorian has enough problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix. Luckily, he’s got an ace plan for the best year ever: to break every rule in his school’s oppressive Code of Conduct. Chewing gum in class: 5,000 points! Running in the hallway: 10,000 points! Pulling the fire alarm: 50,000 points! But when Rafe’s game starts to catch up with him, he’ll have to decide if winning is all that matters, or if he’s finally ready to face the rules, bullies, and truths he’s been avoiding.
Tight
Lately Bryan’s been feeling it in all kinds of ways. He knows what’s tight for him in a good way–reading comics, drawing superheroes, and hanging out with no drama. But drama’s hard to escape where he’s from, and that gets him wound up tight.
And now Bryan’s new friend Mike is challenging him to have fun in ways that are crazy risky. At first, it’s a rush following Mike, hopping turnstiles, subway surfing, and getting into all kinds of trouble. But Bryan never feels right acting wrong. So which way will he go when he understands that drama is so not his style? Fortunately his favorite comic heroes shed light on his dilemma, reminding him that he has power–the power to choose his friends and to stand up for what he believes is right . . .
He may be clueless, but the comically self-confident Timmy Failure is CEO of the best detective agency in town, perhaps even the nation. This is a series full of humor that help you aspire to greatness.
Timmy Failure
August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.
Okay for Now
In this companion novel to The Wednesday Wars, Doug struggles to be more than the “skinny thug” that some people think him to be. He finds an unlikely ally in Lil Spicer, who gives him the strength to endure an abusive father, the suspicions of a town, and the return of his oldest brother, forever scarred, from Vietnam. Schmidt expertly weaves multiple themes of loss and recovery in a story teeming with distinctive, unusual characters and invaluable lessons about love, creativity, and survival.
The Boy Who Never Gave Up
It is the inspiring true story of NBA superstar Stephen Curry. This Fully illustrated picture book biography tells the story of a young boy who many said was too short to play in high school, too weak to play in college and not good enough to play in the NBA. Against all odds, this small boy who follows his dream, not only makes it to the NBA, but becomes one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball.
Boy’s Body Book
Things can get rocky during puberty. That’s why we made the Boy’s Body Book. The updated fifth edition of this #1 bestselling book made just for boys contains everything you need to know about growing up, even the embarrassing stuff; it also includes topical issues like school safety and consent. Author and nurse Kelli Dunham covers everything from body changes to planning for college, giving pre-teen boys the answers they need to prepare for puberty and beyond.
Eating disorders can emerge much earlier than you might expect. As the concepts of body image, self-confidence and identity begin to evolve, young people compare themselves to others and “ideal” images portrayed online in the media. In today’s hyper-connected society, children and pre-teens are conditioned to believe that certain body types and appearances are more acceptable than others.
The need to fit in and belong is inherently human, but children and pre-teens are more likely to validate themselves based on others’ approval. Those who are overweight or don’t fit a certain image may be bullied at school or online, which only reinforces the idea that who they are is not good enough. Being liked becomes equal to being pretty or fit, and children can start to develop the beliefs that lead to eating disorder behaviors early.
If you are concerned that your child or pre-teen may have an eating disorder, here are some telltale warning signs to look out for.
Avoiding Food or Eating Non-food Substances
In children under 12, one of the most common expressions of an eating disorder are food aversion. Children may frequently complain of a stomach ache, claim to be ill, or flat-out refuse to eat.
Children in this age may also begin to eat substances like dirt or soap, a condition known as pica. This behavior typically falls outside of their developmental stage, e.g. a 10-year-old eating chalk or paper vs. a 2-year-old curiously sampling a handful of dirt.
Digestive Problems
If your child or pre-teen uses the bathroom excessively or frequently complains of stomach aches related to constipation, they may be malnourished. These symptoms are also associated with changes in appetite or food consumption. This undernourishment may be because they are not eating enough or because they are purging what they do eat.
You should speak to your child and their doctor about these changes immediately. Early intervention is the most important factor of recovery in eating disorders. Eating disorder treatment facilities for children can help stop the progression of anorexia and bulimia into life-threatening stages.
Hoarding Food
Some children will hide food in their rooms or somewhere else so that they eat later. Others may try to conceal their lunches or other meals to convince parents they’re eating more than they actually are. Some children will restrict their consumption to virtually nothing while others fast for periods of time only to binge large portions later. They may make themselves sick afterward and attempt to “clean” their body of the food they’ve eaten.
Closely monitor your child’s food consumption and comfort levels when eating. Are they claiming to eat regular meals despite losing weight? Some children, especially pre-teens, can be quite crafty about disguising their eating disorders. parents have to do a bit of investigative work to truly get to the bottom of their behavior.
Being Overly Concerned With Their Appearance
Children begin to compare themselves physically to their peers around age 7. Pre-teens are even more worried about looking “cool” and fitting in with their classmates. However, if your child is extremely worried about appearing fat or thin, they may be struggling with an eating disorder. Keep in mind that beliefs precede behaviors; early anxieties can and often do turn into harmful behaviors when left untreated.
Remember to approach your child with love and concern. Do not force them to eat or scold them for their feelings. They are just as confused and pained by the experience as you. Eating disorders are not a choice, and they are not something that can be resolved by simply eating more or dieting. The best thing you can do in this situation is to reach out to your child’s doctor and a licensed psychologist right away.
: Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn’t writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.
Kids love school. Okay, maybe that is not always true, but education is an important part of their lives and will have a huge impact on their future. As parents, we have a responsibility to provide the education they need to further their knowledge and be successful in life. The best way to do that is by teaching your kids to love learning.
Starting Young
Teaching your kids to love learning starts by fostering their curiosity at a young age. Be sure to read to them on a regular basis. Pay attention to what type of books they ask for to learn what they are interested in and encourage that interest. For example, if they like animals take them to the zoo so they can see some in person. Youngsters also enjoy learning using music and games to keep them interested.
Incentives
Once the kids become school age, they may need a little more incentive to continue their studies. Be sure to compliment them when they are doing a good job. You may want to reward good report cards with candy or money. If they are staying busy with their homework, reward them with a dance break or video game time. As they get better, they will learn to take pride in doing a good job.
Researching Different Types of Schools
Some parents prefer to home-school their children, so they have more control over what their child is learning. That may be a benefit, but it will require a lot of resources, patience, and most of all time that a lot of us do not have. Most communities have private schools available, but they are often quite expensive. Public schools are often the best option. The Education Bug has a great comparison of the different types of schooling and the advantages of sticking with a public school.
It is important for kids to enjoy an education that is going to challenge them in a safe environment, moves them to success, and fosters their creativity. Teachers and parents should be able to work together and share in the responsibility.
But to make their education hugely successful, your kids need to be excited about it. They will be when they understand how important it is to their future and when it is an activity they can share with their friends with a sense of community. They can set goals, enjoy extracurricular activities, and be excited about their education.
Unpopular opinion. Kids have no place in social media influencing.
Teen Tik Tok stars in India are killing themselves after the ban of Tik tok.
Other kids have died while making videos for social media sites. Still others have killed themselves coz no one was “liking” their videos.
It is unfortunate that kids today are so ill equipped to handle an overload of emotions.
We make them join N number of zoom classes, want them to become overnight stars and more. But when it comes to giving them an all rounded development, are we doing a good enough job?
During the lockdown more than ever, I have seen kids aged 7-13 and teens overnight becoming authors, teachers, entrepreneurs, youtubers, tik tokers, influencers. SMH
And this is not a “Let’s try this out and have fun with it.”
It’s a, “This is my job now. “Their parents are managers or have have professional people managing their life.
What in the world have we come to when we feel the need to PUSH our kids to be the BEST versions of themselves in front of the WORLD?
Why can’t we let kids be kids?
They have a talent. Just share it on a blog, on account without promoting it and asking people/strangers to subscribe to it.
Yes! I know not every child who is in in the online sphere will kill themselves but it WILL CERTAINLY have a detrimental effect on how they VALUE themselves.
The virtual world is NOT a safe one. Specially not emotionally. Why then are we not talking about moderation to them.
As an entrepreneur, you need to be MINDFUL and CONSCIOUS about your actions. About YOUR INFLUENCE. About WHEN TO STEP BACK. And when to KEEP PUSHING. When to pivot and when to just STOP. When to LISTEN and when to LET GO.
Do we think CHILDREN have that sense? Hell! I’m 40 and still learning all the above. And I have been in the online space since 7+ years in totality now. Kids are just NOT mature enough for it ALL.
Yes! Some kids are specially gifted. And they will naturally be recognized.
Trust time! Talent gets honed with age, experience, and practice. Let’s provide kids the space to grow naturally.
Let them have MINDSET to grow and then let them seek out their path. This is why my book talks a lot about how parents can nurture talents and build a growth mindset early.
Our world currently is SO CHILD DRIVEN, that we as parents have lost our paths.
My kids often say, “I want to be a youtuber.” I tell them. The online space is not a safe one. I work in it. I know the ups and downs. Plus, I do not want them to hang their validation at SUCH a young age on numbers, likes and metrics. Maybe when they are 21+ and KNOW what they want to dedicate their life to.
Instead these growing years should be about what kind of a person they become.
Sigh! This is my plea to parents who want their kids to shine. Take a breather. Their time will come. Let them live their life in the outdoors. Running in the sun. Playing with friends. Talking online to friends in a safe space. Just love them for WHO they are NOW.
They have a lifetime be become who they were meant to be.
This Guru Purnima, let’s go back in time to learn about the Teacher-Student traditions in ancient India.
Two Guru Mantras that are essential to this are –
त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव । त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव । त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणम् त्वमेव । त्वमेव सर्वम् मम देव देव ॥
Tvam-Eva Maataa Ca Pitaa Tvam-Eva | Tvam-Eva Bandhush-Ca Sakhaa Tvam-Eva | Tvam-Eva Viidyaa Dravinnam Tvam-Eva | Tvam-Eva Sarvam Mama Deva Deva ||
Meaning:
1: You Truly are my Mother And You Truly are my Father . 2: You Truly are my Relative And You Truly are my Friend. 3: You Truly are my Knowledge and You Truly are my Wealth. 4: You Truly are my All, My God of Gods.
GururBrahma GururVishnu GururDevo Maheshwaraha Guru Saakshaat ParaBrahma Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha
Guru is the Creator (Brahma), Guru is the Preserver(Vishnu), GuruDeva is Destroyer(Maheshwara)
Guru is the absolute (singular) Lord himself, Salutations to that Sri Guru
These prayers are for anyone who nurtures teachings within a child. In Indian culture, the guru shishya parampara (aka teacher student tradition) used to be strong. Where THIS is the emotion one held for the person who gave their wisdom to another, while honing what already existed. And then Guru Dakshina (payment in different forms) given were the Guru earned what was rightfully theirs for all their hard work.
Guru Purnima honours Ved Vyasa, known as one of the most honoured Gurus of ancient India. Senior Ayurvedic consultant Dr Vishakha Mahindroo says, “Veda Vyasa, structured the four Vedas, composed the epic of the Mahabharata, created the foundation for the many Puranas and the vast encyclopedias of Hindu sacred lore. Guru Purnima represents the date on which Lord Shiva as the Adi Guru or original guru taught the seven rishis who were the seers of the Vedas.
In the Yoga Sutras, Ishvara as Pranava or Om is said to be the Adi Guru of Yoga. Lord Buddha was said to have delivered his first sermon on this day at Sarnath, reflecting the power of this sacred time.”
Within the broad spectrum of the Hindu religion, the guru–shishya relationship can be found in numerous variant forms. Some common elements in this relationship include:
The establishment of a teacher/student relationship.
A formal recognition of this relationship, generally in a structured initiation ceremony where the guru accepts the initiate as a shishya and also accepts responsibility for the spiritual well-being and progress of the new shishya.
Sometimes this initiation process will include the conveying of specific wisdom and/or techniques.
Gurudakshina, where the shishya gives a gift to the guru as a token of gratitude, often the only monetary or otherwise fee that the student ever gives. Such tokens can be as simple as a piece of fruit or as serious as a thumb, as in the case of Ekalavya and his guru Dronacharya.
In today’s time, we can honor our teachers on this day by showing respect and gratitude and trusting in their judgment.
Acknowledgement. Let them know the effect they brought in your life.
Cards / hand made creations.
Respectful listening.
Appreciation of their efforts.
Imbibing their lessons through retention and practice.
In my book, Strong Roots Have No Fear, I have gone in depth about how one can go about finding the right teachers for your student and nurturing the talents / personal growth of a child.
‘Vishnu Sahatranam’ also known as the thousand names of Lord Vishnu should be recited on this day. Be in sync with self and channelize your energies on this auspicious day.”
Most importantly, today honor the teacher in your life, who changed your way of thinking or made you feel better about yourself. Who left an impact.
You already know that pregnancy can be risky business, but did you know that the color of your skin might make you more likely to experience serious complications? The pregnancy-related mortality rate for black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women more than doubles that of any other race. Poorer quality of care and provider biases are thought to be among the reasons for this disparity. If you suspect that your prenatal care suffered because of your race, here are four steps you can take to get justice.
Collect Evidence
The first step in getting justice is to gather all the evidence you can to show that your medical provider was biased and negligent. Hard evidence, including letters, emails and recordings, is always best. However, you can also speak with other patients at the practice who are willing to make statements or testify on your behalf.
Look for white patients who were treated better, other patients of color who were also discriminated against and staff who can corroborate your claims. While bias is a difficult and intangible thing to prove, no bias exists in a void. If you can find real indications of racial bias in the doctors in question, you can add serious credibility to your case.
Report Your Medical Provider
After you have compiled all the evidence, contact your local medical licensing board and file a report against the provider. You will probably be contacted by an investigator in the following days or weeks, so be prepared to answer all their questions. If your provider is found guilty, their medical license will be suspended or revoked.
Find a Lawyer
While reporting your medical provider can help hold them accountable, you also deserve compensation for your expenses and suffering. Find a birth injury attorney with experience getting justice for families who have suffered painful and expensive consequences due to medical negligence during pregnancy and childbirth. If you win your case or reach a settlement, consider putting some of the money in a trust for your child’s future care.
Be an Advocate
Do you want to help prevent other pregnant people from experiencing the same discrimination that you faced? Share your experience to create awareness and change. Join an organization that seeks to advance racial equality in pregnancy and healthcare or consider starting your own. You can also speak to prenatal classes and tell your story in the media or on the internet.
Although getting justice can help you achieve closure, you may also benefit from professional counseling to help you deal with your traumatic pregnancy. You can also find free resources and support groups to help you cope or use social media to connect with others who have similar experiences.
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