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.
“Books about skin colour at an early age are part of the problem. Kids make friends with other kids that they get along with. They don’t give a crap what colour skin their friends have. By pushing racial awareness on them, it actually makes them think about it. Can’t we just let them be young and free and innocent? ”
To THAT I answer …
The story mentioned is inspired by the experiences of myself and my other brown friends who are in diverse classrooms. Many of whom have come home to ask their mother WHY do I look different? OR why does my friend look different from us. And the parents have brushed aside the question with a laugh.
Kids see color. Everyone sees color.
We need to teach our kids EARLY that how they LOOK is NOT that which defines them. It’s not about teaching them about racism. It’s about instilling values that last them a life time so they can GROW into being people to stand by friends who may have different OPINIONS or LIKES than them.
My books (ones I have written and in the process) are bullying prevention and body positive on top of being diverse (since they from a brown person’s POV .
Racism is not a word you teach or NOT teach your children. It’s an attitude that you instill by choosing to NOT talk about the important topics. A child’s character is strongly built by the time they are 9/10. There is NEVER a perfect time to talk to them about the important things. You GROW into them as a family by talking to kids about little things like WHY skin colors are different. WHY someone chooses to wear a head scarf. HOW we can help our friends feel included in our games. HOW we can stand up to someone who pushes a friend around.
The “I don’t see color” is a false narrative. Every child sees color. MOST don’t let it affect their judgement of those around them, TILL they do. They imbibe it from the things we do NOT say and the thoughtless comments WE as adults pass on others appearances.
We want to ensure we keep nudging them in the RIGHT direction to keep building strong moral characters.
Books do NOT CAUSE Racism.. Quite the opposite actually. I don’t usually respond to or share negative comments but it’s important for those who MAY even think about this or are AVOIDING talking to their kids about important topics to “protect them”.
Sitting in a classroom surrounded by 20-plus other students can create difficulties for some teenagers. Not everyone learns the same way, and some of the teens who are ‘acting out’ might do better in another learning environment. Their needs can be better met now by switching them to online high school.
Choosing Their Own Curriculum
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of homeschooling your teen is that you get to help them customize their own curriculum. You can choose what meshes well with your child’s unique learning methods and encourage them to learn different points of view. Instead of being forced into some arbitrarily designed grade level, your teen can move at their own speed through the curriculum they select.
Construct More Meaningful Learning
Since homeschooling means working one-on-one with your teen, they do not have to fight for the attention of their teacher. There are many styles of homeschooling you can use to create more meaningful learning experiences, such as the eclectic method, which means mornings are more structured while the afternoons are more relaxed for learning. Your child might do better with interest-led learning, but you can also integrate inquiry-based learning into their schedules every day to encourage critical thinking.
Emphasize Life Skills
One thing some schools struggle to do is coach life skills to students. In middle and high school, these lessons get lost on the kids who are slipping through the cracks. Instead of watching your teen slip, start preparing them for becoming adult. What are they going to need to know how to do out in the real world? Life skills can be anything from learning how to budget their money to doing home repairs. This gives them time to interact with you in a productive manner.
College and Career Preparations
Instead of getting burnt-out on busywork, your teen can show the colleges they apply to their homeschool transcripts. In fact, studies demonstrate that homeschool students have better graduation rates, higher ACT scores, and better grade point averages than their peers. They can also spend more time preparing to enter the workforce, figuring out what it is they want to do and how they wish to achieve that goal.
Focus on Their Mental Health
School can be downright stressful. If your teen is already dealing with mental health issues, school can sometimes add fuel to the fire. Giving your teen the space and support they need to deal with their mental health issues is important. If they have social anxiety, depression, or any structural or chemical issues with their brains, they might need to be in a less-crowded area where they feel secure. They can be coached on autonomy and developing their positive behaviors and still get to socialize with others when the time is right.
They Can Socialize More
One of the arguments against homeschooling is the lack of socialization. This misconception is harmful since social development is a strong factor in homeschooling. Not only can your teen develop closer relationships with you and the rest of the family, but they can become more independent, get involved in the community, and be taught that it is okay to go against stereotypes. There are also homeschooling groups that get together and have their kids socialize out in public.
Your teen might just find that online high school is more effective for them than traditional high school. They are acting out for a reason, and in the safety and comfort of their own home, the two of you can begin exploring the reasons while your teen learns to become a healthy, intelligent, and capable young adult.
Those who know me personally, know that I am not in a good space these days. Anyone who asks how I’m feeling gets the truthful answer that I’m not feeling okay.
It is a million things. Covid | Kids upset | Home school over whelm | Recent hatred overflowing among people | The lack of connection | The constant processing of things to “try to be upbeat” | work stress and the selfishness people show CONSTANTLY.
There was a recent straw that broke the camel’s back.
I have LOVE from all quarters and lots of well meaning people who keep telling me to just “get over it”.
Now I know the practical things that need to be done in order get out of my personal “FUNK”.
🌼Unplug
🌼Take a walk
🌼Exercise
🌼Talk to friends
🌼Look at my blessings
🌼 … and simple things that distract.
I am happy to say I have been blessed to have listening ears that are always up to give me the “tough love” I need. And I DO appreciate it.
Here’s the thing many others do not realize though.
Depression and the feelings similar are not a switch. One can’t just “look at blessings” and feel better about themselves. It’s not logical and makes EVERYTHING seem darker than it is.
Every obstacle starts seeming like a mountain. Every person who one cares for, starts feeling like the enemy. I know though, I’m not “suffering from depression” in the REAL sense. I’m just heavy in my heart.
A desire to run away constantly overcomes me and I have to keep pepping myself up with all the above in small doses. And yet, these days all I want is space from everyone.
What does someone do for such a friend then? Specially when you cannot physically be there with someone.
💖Pray for them for strength or send good vibes.
💖Let them know you are there (NOT IF you need them but that you are there).
💖Listen with understanding, NOT just to respond.
💖Make time to call them every day, just to say hi.
💖Let them know they are loved.
And above all empathize that everyone is under different weights of suffering. What may seem “trivial” to you, might feel like a mountain of a weight on their being to another. The difference between drama and depression is drama is LOUD, depression is QUIET. Evident in subtle things.
Stand by those you care for. Not only IF you have time, but all the time. Keep nudging them step by step till one day , the sun starts shining again.
Let’s help each other walk the tight rope of life with grace.
AND if your heart is as heavy as mine, give yourself time to wallow and then get to healing. Keep chipping at that heaviness with small joys. You have gotten through worse! Hugs.
For those who do not know why Indians around the world are feeling heart break today. THIS is Sushant Singh Rajput.
An actor that went from acting on TV to films. Amazing powerhouse of talent.
Gone too soon! This goes to show that depression doesn’t fall out on those CLEARLY suffering …. It can be a parasite on those “apparently” successful as well.
To most, a death that makes sense is easier to digest than one that they cannot comprehend. This is one of them!
Remember, if those close to you seem strong or OK, doesn’t mean that they are. Even at the slightest sense, ASK. TEXT. REACH OUT . Don’t pay condolences for a day, after . Let people know you care, while they are with you.
Don’t be alone with your pain. Say something. Anything. I’m here. There’s always someone WILLING to be with you.
My heart is broken thinking of this talented man no more. Someone who was so well spoken, rising through life to a place few can reach. Alone in an apartment, with no one to walk him off the ledge of forever never. Imagining those who cared for him getting the news of his death.
My hands feel like lead as I as write this but write I must. I know what it feels like to be alone in a room wondering if it’s all worth it. Feeling so desperate, when all feels hopeless. Which is why my focus in raising my kids is NEVER going to be the “empty drive for success or the rat race of life”.
Indians everywhere have SUCH a huge stigma where mental health conversations are concerned. Many people around me, who clearly have issues will never see a therapist or admit to their situation or just pick up the phone and say,” I’m feeling … “
That is why In the world of fake “How are yous?”, I always give a REAL answer. So people see ME as the REAL me, and I wish all I know do the same.
It is heart breaking.
In those darkest moments where light even is a vacuum, we need our children to know they can come to us with ANYTHING.
Let the pressure of success, excellence, growth, talent be taken off! Focus more on the love you have for them and the joy you feel at their mere existence. Why do we have this drive to constantly push ourselves, beyond our capacity or expect MORE and MORE all the time? To follow that butterfly of success or happiness that is always moving?
So what if you fail? So what if you fight with a loved one? So what if today things seem all wrong? So what if you aren’t the BEST of the best? There’s always hope. There’s always another day.
KNOW YOUR WORTH!
I hope every son and daughter around the world knows that above all, their parent wants them to just BE a part of their lives. Every sibling knows that they are cared about. Every friend knows that they are wanted.
Oh gosh! There is so much wrong with our society. I hope children everywhere know that contentment comes from within and if they are not feeling happy, or are feeling desperate, they can always ask for them. Specially from their parents.
Ways in which we can empower them early –
Journal your feelings.
Don’t be alone when you are low.
Know who to go to for what issues.
Be honest in your communications.
Asking for help is not a weakness.
Listen with heart, not only ears.
Stay connected to friends and family always.
Be truthful with family about personal struggles.
Never be scared to go to parents with ANY issue.
Have a hobby you can turn to to feed your soul.
Don’t let anyone define your self worth
Know early that popularity, wealth, success all mean nothing without self contentment.
Stand talk in front of peer pressure
May we raise them with the strength of asking for help. To die so young! With so much within. What a loss for the world!
Prayers for his soul and for those who cared for him. My tears are not just for him but everyone who left too early, not having someone close to tell them, “You are not alone. I’m here.”
Please take time out to check on friends and family and LISTEN to them when they talk.
Let’s a raise a generation of children strong enough to INSIST for help and kind enough to LISTEN carefully when needed.
When I was a kid, I was scared of the dark. I was so petrified about going into a dark room that I would usually have my little sis, five-and-a- half-years younger than me, to accompany me in to a dark room. There she was, all of four-years-old, holding my hand, “Are you scared? Don’t worry, I will come with you!” She would promptly step in to the dark room, her re-assuring hand holding my hand tight, and would switch on all the lights in the room. Then she would smile at me and step aside.
While a part of me was embarrassed, I couldn’t help but admire my sister’s courage at that young age. I also realized that my problem had a simple solution … simply switch on the lights. Problem solved!
To this day, before I step in to a dark room, my hands look for the switch board, and then I hear a few clicking sounds and there is light everywhere. My sister doesn’t accompany me anymore, but the image of her smiling face floats in my head as I thank her for all those times that she was there for me.
There is the darkness in a room and then there is the darkness in our soul. Not all darkness can be conveniently removed in this manner. The darkest of the dark feeling is when you lose the will to live. I can not even imagine what goes through a person’s mind when they contemplate taking their own life. Do they wish for someone to reach out to in those dark moments? Do they even stop caring enough to try to come up with a solution?
It is so easy to judge them and call them a coward. It is so easy to claim that they should not have given up so easily. The truth is we all should be doing something that we are not doing. Or we should all not be doing something that we are doing. Hindsight, as they say is 20/20. But is it really that easy to do or to not do?
In an ideal world, I should not have been scared of the dark. In an ideal world my little sister shouldn’t have to take care of my fears. But both of the situations happened. In fact, I grew up to have my own children and constantly tell them to overcome their fears. And yet, to this day, my hands look for the switchboard before I step in to a dark room. When I think logically, I know that there is no reason for me to fear anything. Nothing bad has ever happened to me in a dark room. And yet, I still feel that irrational fear. It can happen to the best of us, all rational thoughts disappear when we are stressed about something. So, I close my eyes, imagine my four year old sister telling me, “Don’t worry. I will come with you.”
As I tell my children, the world is filled with good guys and bad guys. Some people are there for you even when they are not physically present. Some people are there just to pull you down so they can feel on top of the world.
When you come across the latter, hold on tight to the former. Reach out and cry for help. Tell them that you’re in pain. If there are ten people pulling you down, there will be ten people smiling at you as they say, ” I’m there for you!”
Learning about the traditions and values of your little one’s native background can reveal a rich heritage of beliefs and practices that your family can continue to share.
Childhood abuse lasts a lifetime. Trauma, be it sexual, psychological, or physical, has devastating effects on identity, self-esteem, and mental health. Survivors often grow into adults who struggle with attachment, intimacy, trust, emotional regulation, as well as depression and anxiety. Although many can get professional help and recover, it is even better for intervention to occur during childhood. If you have recently learned your child was abused or are now caring for one who has been in the past, there are some steps you can take to protect their well-being and help them heal.
Find a Licensed Children’s Therapist Skilled in Trauma
Professional help should be every parent or caretaker’s first step when supporting a child who has been abused. A children’s therapist who specialized in trauma and abuse recovery will be able to find ways to help your child communicate and address their most painful memories without causing further distress. Therapists can also provide advice and strategies for the entire family to support the child. Spending time together to establish a secure attachment style, building trust and providing the child a sense of safety is of the utmost importance.
Offer Reassurance
When a child talks about their abuse, express the fact that you hear and believe them. Many adult survivors of childhood abuse have stated that they tried to tell adults what was happening or had happened to them and were told they were lying or making up stories. While you may already accept and know about your child’s abuse, they may have been rejected, threatened, or scolded for talking about it in the past.
Give them as much emotional support as possible while respecting their boundaries. They may not be comfortable being hugged or touched right away, so be mindful of their body language. Understand that emotional outbursts, fearfulness, and clinginess are also normal responses to abuse, so be as compassionate and patient as possible.
Seek Legal Justice
Seek the counsel of a child sexual abuse lawyer or another attorney if you know the abuser. Every child deserves justice, and putting the individuals who harmed them in prison also prevents them from hurting others in the future. Collaborating with your child’s psychologist is imperative to the legal process as they can provide expert testimonies and observational reports to use in the court. Although the court can never undo the harm of abuse, it can prevent it from happening again and can help bring a sense of closure.
Holding child abusers accountable is the duty of the legal system. Do not let fear or shame prevent you from seeking restitution as you help your child recover.
The truth is, even today MANY consider being “fair” to being superior. Specially to the older generation in India (I can speak only per my experience), who pass thoughtless comments on everyone’s appearance.
These thoughts have come to me as I made a Tik Tok using Priyanka chopra’s voice (Instagram.com/raisingworldchildren) . Priyanka Chopra herself was part of fairness cream campaigns that she now regrets. Just yesterday, some one commented that some indian jokes do not translate to other languages. I noted, it was because outside of Indian mindset body issues like baldness, being dark, being fat is NOT considered FUNNY. It appalls me how often I hear comments on others’ appearances with no regard for how it makes them feel.
When I go to India, I’m too fat and thus passed comments on , and others in my family are too thin so they are made fun of. And the amount of self deprecating comments I hear by people about their own appearance is CONSTANT! No one seems to remember the effect of such negative self talk has on kids.
THIS is why we need to empower our kids early with body positive conversation and acceptance of all as they are. Read the children’s book How Our Skin Sparkles with your kids.
To help your kids build NEW beauty standards, and accepting themselves as they are, you can find books on our website below.
If you’re the parent of a teen, it’s important to be aware of the risks of teen addiction. The problem of addiction affects teens of all socio and economic backgrounds, and understanding the risks and possible treatments can help you take swifter action to get your teenage son or daughter the help that’s needed.
The Mental Health Factor
Teens who suffer from mental health problems are often more prone to addiction. Depression, anxiety and other struggles with mental health can entice more teens to use drugs and alcohol, to try to cope with their mental and emotional anguish. Young people who struggle with thoughts of suicide are also often likelier to fall into addiction.
Societal Influences
Young people are often influenced by their environment even more so than adults, and certain negative influences can increase a teen’s chances of engaging in dangerous practices. If your teen sees their friends using drugs or alcohol, your son or daughter may succumb to peer pressure and start using these harmful substances themselves as a way to feel “cool.” Abuse and bullying are other factors that can lead teens to start abusing substances as a coping mechanism. The problem may be compounded further if a teen sees adults using drugs and alcohol regularly.
Possible Treatment Alternatives
Different treatment methods exist to help teens overcome their addictions, and the right method for your teen will depend on his or her specific needs and the level of their addiction. Some teens have experienced success by completing 12-step programs or other types of outpatient care. Inpatient residential care gives teens with addiction challenges the chance to live in an addiction treatment center while having 24/7 access to care and more intensive therapy options that what most outpatient treatment facilities provide.
The Power of Parental Support
Your support will be paramount to your teen’s recovery. Without the proper parental support, teens often have more difficulties completing their treatment plans and often relapse into addiction. It’s always important to keep an open line of communication so that your teen can talk to you whenever he or she has questions or needs additional support. You should be willing to discuss topics that might be uncomfortable, as these issues may be related directly to your teen’s addiction challenges.
Teens can overcome their addictions more effectively with the right resources and parental guidance. Doing whatever is necessary to curb your teen’s addiction will help your son or daughter lead a healthier life throughout adulthood.
We have been hit by the worst crisis of all time and all lives have come to a standstill. There is uncontrollable mayhem that nature has brought before us in the guise of a lethal virus. But what about the virus that we humans have shaped and allowed to breed alongside? Mankind has left no stone upturned to let its demons like racism and hate add to the turmoil.
These words that put mankind to shame. I usually refrain from indulging in debates but I have to condemn mindsets that overlook the simple fact that NO life is any less precious. Today I find myself involuntarily involved in the agony. Agreed that there are two sides to everything you see but I believe you must swerve regardless when you hear “I can’t breathe”. The three words that have rocked the emotions of already wearied hearts of millions of people.
George Floyd’s unfortunate death has flooded social media after the pandemic. It is overwhelming due to the updates, videos on peaceful protests across the country gone wrong, slogans, and painful messages from the African American community. Then there was a heart-wrenching post on Facebook by the former president of the United States of America Mr. Barack Obama.
Tears rolled down my eyes as I read his post. In the post, he shared parts of conversations with his friends equally outraged by this, and the video of a song by 12-year-old Keedron Bryant that stirred my soul. His song reflects pain and anguish as he appeals for the life he deserves and what is his right anyway. To me, he not only represents the community that hasn’t been looked beyond color and has struggled for way too long, but also the innocent hearts of young children that don’t deserve to hold so much pain and fear. His song titled ” I just wanna live” breaks my heart for I’m a mother and I feel a child’s pain.
Respect for all. No conditions apply.
Many people come to this country with the dream of a secure life for themselves and their future generations. A country that is now far from the path of becoming great again. But as this event unfolded, we witnessed the prevalence of depth-less mindsets that still carry out their conduct towards others based on color and race. It is disturbing to learn that despite our headway in technology, better education, and globalization, we still have prejudices like racism and discrimination in our society. The sheer fact is any country can’t become great or rise if its people don’t deem the entire human race as one community. Respect and empathy for each other can never be conditional and it is the right of every human regardless of its race and appearances.
I am an Indian but I call myself a global citizen. I expect to be treated with the same respect no matter where I go. I believe this is the urge of every human on the planet and the wish of every mother for her children.
It hurts because it matters.
I am unsettled looking at the hurt, tears of humans that are mourning over the unmerciful treatment received by another human. Some may pull up facts that I don’t know and I will be made to learn politics. Can someone also help me unlearn the anxiety I feel after this event of cruelty as an analog to racism?
If it’s about a felony that demands action, then law & order should do what it is expected to. No system ever authorizes its delegates to rule and serve justice without hearing the other person’s voice. Ironically, one man who kept voicing in however feeble but audible tone “I can’t breathe” wasn’t even heard.
Today, it’s not one community that mourns the death of George Floyd but every human who has arrived at the fact that we are much more than just a race. We are dreams. There are protests all over the country to get justice for the family of George Floyd – an African American that the world didn’t know before but will never forget now.
Our children deserve a virus-free world.
Children are naïve and one incident is enough to pop their bubble of belief. Many people in the past have experienced racism and many still do but not everyone is brave enough to skin the hurt and make a mightier comeback. How do I empower them if I lose faith in the society we live in? What assurances do I have that my children will not endure discriminatory treatments because of their skin color?
I am brown and my children won’t look any different either but do I want to live my life worrying about their safety? What if their capabilities, their dreams, and their self-respect aren’t safe here? What if they will never be given the best chance to speak if a moment of uncertainty arrives? These thoughts haunt me and make me anxious. I ask myself if I want to be here and give my children the false hope of a brighter future?
Our lives can never be worry-free if perils like racism continue to exist. We can’t give a better world to our next generations if we don’t resolve to take corrective measures today and annihilate self-created problems.
Restrict the growth of “wrong” by expressing what is “right”!
Cavalierly suppressing any community because of its color or any other societal parameters isn’t acceptable. If this pandemic wasn’t enough to teach us the true meaning of disaster then we humans have our virus in the guise of ‘racism’ to take us there. We collectively are ensuring to call upon us the “ Doomsday”. Some by acting unlawfully, some by enduring it and some by ignoring it.
“There comes a time when silence is betrayal” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
One life lost and many more in jeopardy now as we are still amidst a pandemic, I hope all this wasn’t for nothing. I hope to see a change in the system, the mindsets, and justice someday.
It’s important to remind ourselves each day that no effort is too small to have an impact. If this is affecting you, express it because every voice matters.After all, we are all much more than just race and color.
They GROW to let it create differences and self-esteem issues, only by the conversations we NEGLECT to have and the subtle prejudices they see portrayed around them.
The conversation with our children about race and privilege must be one that is on going. Today, I want to take a moment to talk about how we can use books to help start this essential conversation.
The conversation can start as early as 4 but there is no end date to this. I have spoken in depth about the need of parents, brown and others to speak up and teach kids about race. The following ways are most effective.
* Read historical events and understand them with your child. * Talk openly about life choices, worth of each person, the privilege you have. * Acknowledge all people around you. * Amplify voices of those that are talking about these things. Share this. * Celebrate different cultures. * Read books about skin color, different cultures, religions, own voices, brown parents, raising multicultural children. MAKE the EFFORT to DIVERSIFY your library. * Speak UP! Do the right thing when needed.
After I wrote the above article, I had few parents respond asking for a list of books and conversation starters. Here are the books (Ages 4-10) , first.
Aarav asks his mom why do I look different from the kids in my class. His mom helps him build confidence through science and culture. This body positivity and diversity book has been #1 in books against racism and prejudice. Told from a brown child’s POV, it is a great conversation starter about equality and empowerment. For self and others around you. I have included a number of conversation starters for parents in the book itself, specific to the topic at hand.
Something Happened in Our Town follows two families — one White, one Black — as they discuss a police shooting of a Black man in their community. The story aims to answer children’s questions about such traumatic events, and to help children identify and counter racial injustice in their own lives. Includes an extensive Note to Parents and Caregivers with guidelines for discussing race and racism with children, child-friendly definitions, and sample dialogues.
Children from seven countries each have a turn to answer in their own way. Each answer is correct, and yet still not the whole picture. When the youngest takes his turn, he shares a different view, one that has nothing to do with borders on a map. Children love to see the diversity of the world that is beautifully portrayed using real-life street art that is unique to this book.
When Gabe unintentionally hurts his friend Sofia, he has no idea what he did wrong. It turns out he doesn’t know everything about her, and that his actions have unforeseen consequences. Sofia cleverly directs a conversation they have with her dad to lead Gabe toward a new understanding of their relationship and of his role in promoting bias.
Chrissy doesn’t like her tightly coiled hair. She always compares her hair to her mother, sister, teacher, and classmates. Chrissy feels frustrated and becomes upset. It is not until she meets Ms. Wiggins, who shifts Chrissy’s mindset about her hair, and reminds her that she is beautiful and unique, just the way she was created!
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I’m a Pretty Black Girl – Betty K. Bynum
Mia tells of friends of all shades of brown and different hair textures who she celebrates as other pretty little black girls who share “love” and “good manners” with each other — and who are fun and polite, and are destined for a future filled with accomplishments of “brilliance”!!!
Whoever You Are – Mem Fox
Every day all over the world, children are laughing and crying, playing and learning, eating and sleeping. They may not look the same. They may not speak the same language. Their lives may be quite different. But inside, they are all alike. Stirring words and bold paintings weave their way around our earth, across cultures and generations. At a time when, unfortunately, the lessons of tolerance still need to be learned, Whoever You Are urges us to accept our differences, to recognize our similarities, and-most importantly-to rejoice in both.
I Promise – Lebron James
Just a kid from Akron, Ohio, who is dedicated to uplifting youth everywhere, LeBron James knows the key to a better future is to excel in school, do your best, and keep your family close. I Promise is a lively and inspiring picture book that reminds us that tomorrow’s success starts with the promises we make to ourselves and our community today.
I Belong – Laurie Wright
After reading this book your young child will realize that people are more alike than different and that everyone belongs, no matter where they are or what differences they might have. Read it to them now, when they are mini, so they will grow up knowing this mantra to be true: THEY BELONG!
Big Umbrella – Amy June Bates
By the door there is an umbrella. It is big. It is so big that when it starts to rain there is room for everyone underneath. It doesn’t matter if you are tall. Or plaid. Or hairy. It doesn’t matter how many legs you have.
Don’t worry that there won’t be enough room under the umbrella. Because there will always be room.
Meet Yasmin – Saadia Faruqi
Meet Yasmin! Yasmin is a spirited second-grader who’s always on the lookout for those “aha” moments to help her solve life’s little problems. Taking inspiration from her surroundings and her big imagination, she boldly faces any situation, assuming her imagination doesn’t get too big, of course! A creative thinker and curious explorer, Yasmin and her multi-generational Pakistani American family will delight and inspire readers.
Where Do I Belong – Niyati Desai
Neha’s character is a part of many American households. It is the story of a perceptive and sensitive young child caught between two or more cultures, and of parents trying to help her craft an identity that is whole and complete. This book touches on issues not typically addressed in picture books, and fills an important void in children’s literature for this group of children who are particularly vulnerable to feeling marginalized and different.
Conversations You Can Derive From Above Books
What do you think was unique about the child telling the story?
Did you learn anything new from the book?
Would you agree with what this book is trying to say?
Did you see anything interesting about this culture?
How can you relate better to kids from you … (Class/group etc) after this?
Do you know how our culture is different that most?
Have you ever thought about how we are luckier than most in our lives?
What is skin color?
Have you ever thought about how our skin color affects us?
Should everyone be treated equal? How do we do that?
Do you understand that things people say and how we behave affects others?
In what ways can we help those around us feel better about themselves?
Older Kids
Let’s talk about the history of racism (older kids)
Have you heard about … (Holocaust, Slavery, Pre Independence India)
In your class has anyone ever passed any hurtful comments?
Did you hear about the news from friends?
Do you know what is happening in the … (current event)
How do you think this affects us?
Subtle prejudices your own family and friends have expressed.
How to respond to racist comments.
IMO, when a situation happens in the news that you can introduce to your child in simple words (age 8 and above), its a great opportunity to drive home the conversation of race, privilege and how many different ways we can help our fellow beings.
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