Tag: KIDS

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Lite Blogs Parenting

Literary Journeys in the Digital Age

In today’s digital age, it’s crucial to rekindle the magic of screen-free storytelling for kids. Think of it as ‘edu-tainment’ – education meets entertainment. Authors like Ruskin Bond, Sudha Murthy, R.K. Narayan, and more have brought their timeless tales to Audible, making it easier than ever to set on literary journeys. Here’s a list of some brilliant titles that will transport your children to exciting adventures, teaching them valuable life lessons, and kindling their love for words in the most entertaining way possible!

The Great Train Journey
Written by: Ruskin Bond; Narrated by: Ranvijay Pratap Singh

‘The Great Train Journey’ by Ruskin Bond is a fantastic audiobook for kids. It’s all about the magic of train adventures, from dragons emerging from tunnels to meeting interesting people on the journey. Join one of India’s greatest storytellers as he takes you on a fun ride through small-town India and its Great Train Journey!

Great Stories for Children

Written by: Ruskin Bond; Narrated by: Adnan Kapadia

With its diverse tales of adventure, humour, and the supernatural, this audiobook makes for a perfect choice to spark a child’s imagination and entertain them through engaging storytelling. It is a potpourri of short stories that effectively transports young listeners to the fascinating world of its characters – including Tutu the monkey; a pet python who makes sudden appearances at the most unusual places; Himalayan bears who feast on pumpkins, plums and apricots; a crafty thief who has a change of heart; and Ruskin Bond himself, who meets a ghost at a resort in the middle of the night.

How the Sea Became Salty

Written by: Sudha Murty; Narrated by: Neha Faraz, Sumit Kritarth

‘How the Sea Became Salty,’ by India’s beloved storyteller Sudha Murthy, is a delightful children’s audiobook. Her tales often carry a moral lesson, encouraging young minds to reflect on the values and principles that guide human behaviour. This audiobook offers an opportunity for young readers to learn important life lessons in an engaging manner. Through Sudha Murthy’s wit and simplicity, the timeless tale comes alive, making it the perfect introduction for children to her magical world of stories in an immersive audio format.

Grandparents’ Bag of Stories

Written by: Sudha Murty; Narrated by: Poonam Srivastav

Set against the backdrop of the 2020 lockdown, the story revolves around the experiences of children as they stay with their loving grandparents, Ajja and Ajji, in Shiggaon. It is a beautifully crafted audiobook that provides a perfect escape for children during challenging times. It combines the magic of storytelling with the wisdom of generations. This one is an un-put-down-able audiobook that is a must-have for every child’s audio library.

Maalgudi Ki Kahaniyan [Stories of Malgudi]

Written by: R.K. Narayan; Narrated by: Toshi Sinha

In this audiobook, the narrator takes the audience on a journey through the picturesque and culturally rich village of Malgudi, providing an immersive experience filled with the sights and sounds of rural South India. It is a fantastic choice for children and even adults interested in the world of Indian literature, with a collection of short stories. These tales transport listeners to a bygone era, offering a glimpse into the diverse lives and experiences of the village’s inhabitants, including astrologers, postmen, doctors, beggars, and priests.

The Vedas and Upanishads for Children

Written by: Roopa Pai; Narrated by: Sharanya Gopinath

It takes young readers on a journey back 3000 years to the depths of Indian forests, where brilliant philosopher-scientists pondered questions about the universe and human existence. This audiobook introduces kids to the age-old questions about the universe, perception, and identity, as explored by the great philosopher-scientists of ancient India. It’s an engaging and thought-provoking guide to the Vedas and Upanishads, making these timeless teachings accessible and enjoyable for young minds.

A Children’s History of India

Written by: Subhadra Sen Gupta; Narrated by: Manisha Sethi

From the ancient cities of Harappa to the Mughal era, the British rule, and India’s independence, this book provides a comprehensive look at the nation’s history. It is an engaging and informative exploration of India’s rich past, taking readers on a captivating journey through time.

ALSO READ-‘We Speak Books’

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-Top News UAE News

UAE to Treat Palestinian Kids and Families

President Shiekh Mohmed and King Abdullah II of Jordan addressed efforts to respond to the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip…reports Asian Lite News

The President has announced the medical treatment for 1,000 Palestinian children accompanied by their families from the Gaza Strip at UAE hospitals.

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has directed the provision of medical treatment at UAE hospitals for 1,000 Palestinian children accompanied by their families from the Gaza Strip. This comes as part of the UAE’s enduring efforts to extend assistance to those in need around the world.

The announcement came in a phone call yesterday between H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The initiative to host children from the Gaza Strip and provide them with medical treatment prior to their safe return home is an extension of the UAE’s continued efforts to offer relief assistance to the Palestinian people, particularly children, in response to the grave humanitarian conditions they are facing.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Spoljaric also discussed the importance of enabling the safe, unimpeded, and sustained delivery of relief and medical aid to civilians in Gaza, as well as the need to intensify regional and international efforts to strengthen the humanitarian response to address the needs of those affected by the current crisis.

MBZ, Jordan King discuss Gaza

President Shiekh Mohmed and King Abdullah II of Jordan addressed efforts to respond to the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. In this regard, they emphasised the need for urgent international action to stop the dire escalation and provide full protection for civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law. They also underscored the importance of ensuring the delivery of aid by enabling international humanitarian organisations to perform their duty and opening safe and sustainable humanitarian corridors.

The two leaders stressed the need to spare the region the consequences of a new spiral of violence and work towards establishing a clear political horizon for a just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace that ensures stability and security for all. They expressed their strong commitment to intensifying collaboration to bring about peace in the region, drawing from both countries’ longstanding efforts to promote harmonious coexistence and regional collaboration for the benefit of all communities.

Additionally, he underscored the critical importance of lifting the blockade on the Gaza Strip, highlighting the urgent need to address deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza. His Majesty commended the UAE’s efforts in this regard, noting its proactive role in the UN Security Council to bring an end to the conflict in Gaza.

ALSO READ-UAE, Jordan Expand Investment Ties

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Social Media Tech Lite

Report claims YouTube advertisers harvesting data from kids

According to an Adalytics report, dozens of major ad tech and data broker companies are receiving data from viewers of “made for kids” YouTube videos who clicked on an ad…reports Asian Lite News

Google-owned YouTube is serving ads from many “adult” Fortune 500 advertisers and major media agencies on YouTube channels that are labeled as “made for kids,” a new report from ad quality transparency platform Adalytics has alleged.

These include major brands such as Mars, Procter & Gamble, Ford, Colgate-Palmolive, Samsung, and many others, the report claimed.

“The viewers of ‘made for kids’ YouTube videos appear to be clicking on ads, and brands’ websites “are harvesting and sharing meta-data on those viewers with dozens of data brokers upon click through”.

This raises the possibility that brands have “data poisoned” their first party datasets with data derived from thousands of viewers of “made for kids” videos, the report claimed.

The report further said that some companies appear to be scraping or exfiltrating Google-generated user identifiers from viewers of “made for kids” videos who had clicked an ad.

This could hypothetically prevent Google from being able to fully respond to “right to know” or “right to delete” requests under privacy laws such as the GDPR or CCPA.

It is unclear if Google is aware of this situation, or if it is a form of “data leak,” the report mentioned.

In response to the report,  Dan Taylor, Vice President, Global Ads at Google, said that Google works tirelessly to provide a safer experience for kids and teens online.

“Adalytics released a deeply flawed and uninformed report about how we manage advertising on made for kids content on YouTube, and our privacy policies for people under the age of 18 across our platforms,” Taylor added.

In September 2019, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the People of the State of New York (NY) alleged that YouTube “collected kid’s personal information without parental consent”, in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). YouTube’s owner (Google) agreed to pay $170 million to settle the allegations.

Google said that the new report failed to substantiate claims that “we are in violation of government regulations, such as COPPA, or our own policies around ads personalisation”.

“We have strict ads privacy protections in place on made for kids content, regardless of a user’s age,” the company added.

“This report falsely claims that the presence of cookies indicates a privacy breakdown. The opposite is true, and the report fails to show otherwise,” it added.

According to an Adalytics report, dozens of major ad tech and data broker companies are receiving data from viewers of “made for kids” YouTube videos who clicked on an ad.

“These include several companies who paid penalties for COPPA related enforcements, such as Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, and OpenX. Foreign-owned companies such as TikTok are also receiving meta-data from viewers of “made for kids” content from advertisers’ websites,” the report alleged.

Google said that it does not link “cookies to the viewing of made for kids content for advertising purposes, and a viewer’s activity on made for kids content can’t be used for ads personalisation”.

“The cookies identified in this report are encrypted and not usable by another tech company, advertiser, publisher or a data broker. These cookies do not enable brand advertisers to identify who a user is or what video they viewed. We limit age-sensitive ads from appearing next to kids’ content,” Google stressed.

ALSO READ-Researchers ‘hypnotise’ ChatGPT into hacking

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Books Lite Blogs Parenting

Picture books to spark your child’s imagination

A visually captivating story that takes readers on a journey of a day from sunny to stormy and then rainy – unfolding over pages of compelling and bold sketches that will surely grip the young reader’s imagination and heart…reports Asian Lite News

Young children are often very creative and hence constantly seeking new ways to engage their boundless imagination. Picture books play a vital role in this process, taking them on a journey that is both visually and emotionally captivating – transporting them to extraordinary places, igniting unforgettable memories, and imparting valuable lessons with engaging artwork that complements a child’s active curiosity and imagination. Encouraging the ever-curious child to explore the world of words and pictures, these books can be essential tools in encouraging your young ones to express themselves freely and creatively, be it through sketches, stories, or both!

The Parag Honour List, an initiative by Tata Trusts offers a curated collection of engaging picture books for young readers. From whimsical tales of animals in the woods to shared experiences of going to school, these must-read picture books are emotive and explorative – unlocking for young readers a world of new ideas, emotions, and possibilities through the power of visual storytelling.

An engaging wordless picture book that beautifully captures countless stories surrounding a momentous event in every young child’s life: their first day of school. With delightful and immersive illustrations, this enchanting book vividly portrays the experience of stepping into the unknown on that memorable day. Being wordless, it is accessible to several kinds of readers, particularly younger ones, who can experience the essence of school life through these moving illustrations.

This is Where We Live

A visually captivating story that takes readers on a journey of a day from sunny to stormy and then rainy – unfolding over pages of compelling and bold sketches that will surely grip the young reader’s imagination and heart. Instantly relatable, the book evokes memories of any child’s days in the sun, storm, and rain – encouraging them to connect with their experiences through art. Buzzed with beauty and creativity, this picture book might even compel young readers to embrace their inner artist, pick up a pencil and create their own sketches as they explore the wonders of the natural world with this book.

Zakir and His TablaDhaDhin Na

Author: Sandhya Rao, Illustrator: Proiti Roy | Publisher: JugnooPrakashan

A moving portrayal of valuable virtues like solidarity, love, and compassion, this bilingual picture book serves as a gentle guide for young readers, teaching them about the profound interconnectedness of all life. Using captivating imagery and powerful metaphors, this book presents a nuanced understanding of the world as a web of life where everyone needs to support each other –  sparking their imagination around abstract philosophical concepts like the significance of harmony and unity in the world.

Animal Alphabet

Author: Manjula Padmanabhan, Illustrator: Manjula Padmanabhan | Publisher: Tulika Publishers

A thoroughly delightful introduction to the English alphabet, there is more than meets the eye with this enjoyable picture book that brings alive on paper the many lesser-known animals of India in their natural habitats. Placing content in context, the book effortlessly opens up children’s minds to the rich lives of diverse fauna that is thriving across our country through its memorable rhymes, vivid illustrations, and appealing color palette.

Tiger, Tiger, where are you?

A captivating hunt for a tiger lost in the woods, let your child’s imagination run wild (quite literally!) as they imagine the great outdoors with a lost tiger roaming the jungle. The watercolor illustration is gentle, soft, and warm – taking young readers on a picturesque visual journey through the woods. A gripping mystery riddled with clues, this book engages the young reader’s curiosity on where the tiger could be while also giving them a glimpse of pragmatic life skills on how to track wild fauna.

ALSO READ-‘The Magical Mission to Mars’

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Fashion Lite Blogs

Benetton unveils a newborn apparel collection in India

All Fabrics used are 100% cotton. Fabrics used in the collection have been well processed and tested to keep in mind the baby’s safety…reports Asian Lite News

In celebration of the unique journey shared between parents and their newborns, Benetton unveils a newborn apparel collection in India to embrace the little ones, with their carefully curated newborn collection catering to babies aged 0-18 months.

The collection thoughtfully meets all the essential needs of babies, offering a range of short sleeve t-shirts, half and full-bodysuits, track pants, and shorts.

The color palette is a combination of soft pastel hues with vibrant splashes of bright colors and luminous whites. This harmonious blend creates a calming and visually pleasing symphony. The embroideries, fabric appliques, and prints are mindfully designed, prioritizing the baby’s comfort above all else.

All Fabrics used are 100% cotton. Fabrics used in the collection have been well processed and tested to keep in mind the baby’s safety. All fabrics have a peached finish which gives the garments an extra softness. Fabrics are used with neutral PH values. Nickel-free snap buttons are used to avoid rust. 

The collection also features a new icon developed especially for Benetton’s newborn capsule – an adorable bunny. The character artwork instantly captivates and entertains babies, adding an extra touch of appeal.

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-Top News UK News

UK govt to crackdown on vape marketing targeting kids, teens

Under the new measures, there will also be a review into the rules around the sale of “nicotine-free” products to children under 18 years of age…reports Asian Lite News

The UK government will launch a crackdown on vape marketing targeting children and teenagers, according to media reports.

Announcing the new set of measures aimed at limiting underage vaping, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was “deeply concerned” about an increase in children vaping and was “shocked by reports of illicit vapes containing lead getting into the hands of schoolchildren”, the BBC reported.

“The marketing and the illegal sales of vapes to children is completely unacceptable and I will do everything in my power to end this practice for good,” he said.

A recent BBC probe found that illegal vapes confiscated from school pupils contained far higher levels of lead, nickel and chromium than deemed safe.

Under the new measures, there will also be a review into the rules around the sale of “nicotine-free” products to children under 18 years of age.

By tightening the law, the government said it would be easier for local trading standards officials to issue on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices to shops who sell vapes to underage people.

While selling vapes to under 18s is illegal, nicotine-free products can be sold.

A YouGov survey in March and April for Action on Smoking and Health revealed an increase in experimental vaping among 11- to 17-year-olds — from 7.7 per cent in 2021 to 11.6 per cent in 2022.

The plans have been welcomed by the UK Vaping Industry Association, which said it had been calling for a clampdown for over a year.

Its director general John Dunne said: “Unless unscrupulous traders know that selling vapes to children is an endeavour which would be financially ruinous to them, then they will continue to do so.”

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Lite Blogs Parenting

How to skip kids’ over screen time during vacation

More than 90 per cent of parents surveyed believe kids become less active when spending more time on screen devices. Majority felt that ideal screen time should be less than 2 hours however, 69 per cent confirmed that their kids are spending more than 3 hours with screens every day…reports Asian Lite News

Summer vacations mean a break from school, travelling, and extra play-time for kids. With plenty of spare time in hand during holidays, 85 per cent surveyed parents are worried about kids spending excessive screen time during the break.

According to a survey commissioned by Kantar for Amazon in March 2023 among over 750 parents with young kids (3 – 8 years) across 10 metro and non-metro cities of India, almost 96 per cent of parents are searching for screen-free ideas to keep their kids engaged with learning and fun activities.

The survey indicates that 82 per cent of parents are worried about keeping their kids engaged this summer. Some of the top concerns of parents include ‘help kids learn while having fun (41 per cent)’, ‘keep pace with their curiosity to learn new things (37 per cent)’, and ‘manage boredom amongst kids in creative ways (30 per cent)’.

Kids spending excessive screen time during summer vacations?(ianslife)

More than 90 per cent of parents surveyed believe kids become less active when spending more time on screen devices. Majority felt that ideal screen time should be less than 2 hours however, 69 per cent confirmed that their kids are spending more than 3 hours with screens every day.

“Kids are curious to learn new things and want to have fun in the process. With more free time at hand during summer vacations, parents have a big task ahead of themselves to keep their kids engaged”, says Deepender Rana, Executive Managing Director, Insights Division, Kantar. “Our survey indicates that parents are keen to limit screen time of kids with screen-free activities that can help them learn new skills and have fun at the same time.”

To help kids make the most of their summer vacation, parents want them to pick up skills such as English speaking (50 per cent); good morals and social manners (45 per cent); performing arts like dancing, singing, and playing musical instruments (36 per cent); arts and crafts (32 per cent); and physical and outdoor activities (32 per cent).

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Lite Blogs Parenting

Give some summer party vibes to kids

The one-party theme never goes out of style. Pizza parties are a timeless and popular choice. For a pizza-making party in your backyard, invite the kids and their parents over…reports Asian Lite News

Weekends are here and it’s time to throw a party! Have a memorable summer party with your kids and their friends to welcome the season of heat and fun. Having a summer party allows you to be more creative with the theme, food, and activities while also giving the kids a chance to run around and enjoy. Take a look at the ideas you can try.
Pool Bash

For a beach party, you’ll need plenty of sunscreens, beach balls, and sand buckets. And baby pools filled with water.

Outdoor Movie time

Use a projector and a bed sheet as a screen to set up a movie under the stars. As the party begins after dark, provide lots of movie-themed refreshments like popcorn and chocolates. Moreover, give out glow sticks as party favours.

Summer camp

Get ready to sing songs around the campfire with your kids. A summer camp-themed party is a great option to prepare cuisine that both children and adults will like and to participate in some of your favourite games and activities from your youth.

Tie Dye activity

Try these new and trendy ideas which help to encourage kids’ concertation and creativity. During this cool party, kids may tie-dye everything they want, including shirts, shoes, socks, and scrunchies. Get some tie-dye materials for the set up. Also gives tips to children on how to care for their newly tie-dyed things. Have a clothesline and plenty of clothespins ready to hang all of their tie-dye masterpieces to dry.

Build your own Pizzas

The one-party theme never goes out of style. Pizza parties are a timeless and popular choice. For a pizza-making party in your backyard, invite the kids and their parents over. Toppings include mozzarella, pepperoni, peppers, onions, rotisserie chicken, and fresh basil on a buffet along with personal-sized pre-rolled pizza dough for guests to choose from.
Enjoy the weekend and summer party with your kids. (ANI)

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-Top News Asia News Parenting

Japan: Half of unmarried people don’t want kids

49.4 per cent respondents aged between 18 to 29 years said they are not interested in having children.

Nearly half of unmarried people under 30 in Japan said they do not want children in a recent survey by a pharmaceutical firm, citing reasons including economic concerns and the burden of childbirth and parenting.

Of the 400 respondents between 18 to 29 years old, 49.4 per cent said they are not interested in having children, the highest percentage in any of the last three annual pregnancy white paper surveys conducted by Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

By gender, 53.0 per cent of men and 45.6 per cent of women have no interest in becoming parents, according to the online survey.

It’s baby season in Bollywood.(photo:IANSLIFE)

The government’s data showed the number of babies born in Japan in 2022 slipped to a record low of under 800,000 for the first time since records began to be compiled in 1899.

The drop came much earlier than the government expected.

According to a 2017 government forecast, births in Japan would fall below 800,000 for the first time in 2033.

ALSO READ: Japan breaks ranks with US allies, purchases Russian oil

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-Top News India News Tech Lite

Debate rages on kids’ exposure to ChatGPT  

In Australia, almost every state and territory department of education blocked ChatGPT on the school internet networks…reports Asian Lite News

As conversational artificial intelligence (AI) becomes a talking point on social media, representatives from Indian schools and experts on Tuesday expressed divisive concerns over children’s exposure to the AI chatbot in the classrooms.

Schools around the world have already banned ChatGPT, citing concerns that the AI tool which has been helping people write poems, essays and even work papers, can provide inaccurate information and enable cheating.

According to Nikita Tomar Mann, Principal at Indraprastha Global School in Noida, as amazing and fascinatingly incredible as it appears, “ChatGPT is still at a nascent stage” for us to fully comprehend its ramifications.

“Schools must keep it at bay for the time being, till such time we understand its need and utility at the school level,” Mann said.

Children should rather be trained to be doing their own research, assimilate information, and construct their own knowledge out of it.

“After all, it isn’t prudent to give up our unique thought processes as humans, to AI,” she noted.

According to the school authorities, chatGPT is not a reliable source of information.

A growing number of schools at all levels in the US banned ChatGPT, prohibiting students from using it on school servers or even in aid of activities outside of school grounds.

In Australia, almost every state and territory department of education blocked ChatGPT on the school internet networks.

According to educationist Meeta Sengupta, ChatGPT can be a challenge for educators as they have to help kids to learn how to ask good questions.

“It can be used as a tool for asking questions; build up critical thinking skills in children. Though it is not reliable, children should not be denied using it because it is a tech of the future,” said Sengupta, adding that in the coming days, it will become more advanced.

Dr Sibi Shaji, Registrar, Garden City University (GCU) Bengaluru, told that ChatGPT should be allowed as it allows creative thinking and is more of “experiential learning”.

There are other concerns as well with the AI chatbots.

Microsoft-owned OpenAI has now blocked access to its AI chatbot ChatGPT in Italy in response to an order from the local data protection authority to halt processing Italians’ data for the ChatGPT service.

In its order, the Italian regulator Garante said it’s concerned that the ChatGPT maker is breaching the European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), claiming that OpenAI has unlawfully processed the data of Italian citizens.

Several top entrepreneurs and AI researchers, including Tesla and Twitter CEO Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak, Co-founder of Apple, have also written an open letter, asking all AI labs to immediately pause training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4 for at least 6 months.

Arguing that AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity, more than 1,100 global AI researchers and executives signed the open letter to pause “all giant AI experiments”. “This pause should be public and verifiable, and include all key actors. If such a pause cannot be enacted quickly, governments should step in and institute a moratorium,” they wrote.

ALSO READ-Italy bans ChatGPT citing data breach