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.
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.
Children’s data may have been used to track and profile them, potentially presenting them with harmful or inappropriate content, he added…reports Asian Lite News
Britain’s data watchdog said on Tuesday it had fined TikTok 12.7 million pounds ($15.9 million) for breaching data protection law including by using the personal data of children aged under 13 without parental consent.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) estimated that TikTok allowed as many as 1.4 million UK children under 13 to use its platform in 2020, even though it sets 13 as the minimum age to create an account.
The ICO said the data breaches occurred between May 2018 and July 2020, with the Chinese-owned video app not having done enough to check who was using the platform and remove the underage children who were.
“There are laws in place to make sure our children are as safe in the digital world as they are in the physical world. TikTok did not abide by those laws,” UK Information Commissioner John Edwards said.
Children’s data may have been used to track and profile them, potentially presenting them with harmful or inappropriate content, he added.
A TikTok spokesperson said the company disagreed with the ICO’s decision but was pleased the fine had been reduced from the possible 27 million pounds set out by the ICO last year.
“We invest heavily to help keep under 13s off the platform and our 40,000 strong safety team works around the clock to help keep the platform safe for our community,” the spokesperson said.
“We will continue to review the decision and are considering next steps.”
The ICO’s fine follows moves by Western governments and institutions in recent weeks, including Britain, to bar usage of TikTok on official devices over security concerns.
Australia to ban TikTok
Meanwhile, Australia’s federal government will ban video-sharing application TikTok on government devices over fears that the application’s security could be compromised and the platform could be used for foreign interference by China, ABC News reported.
Australia becomes the last nation in the “five eyes” intelligence alliance to block the app after similar decisions were taken by the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has announced that the ban will come into effect “as soon as practicable.” He further stated that exemptions will be made on a case-by-case basis, as per the ABC News report.
In a statement, Mark Dreyfus said, “After receiving advice from intelligence and security agencies, today I authorised the secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department to issue a mandatory direction under the Protective Security Policy Framework to prohibit the TikTok app on devices issued by Commonwealth departments and agencies.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the Victorian and ACT governments stated that they expected an imminent ban, as per the news report. A spokesperson for Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said they will follow the Commonwealth’s guidance with regard to cybersecurity and they will now work on implementing these changes “across the public service as soon as possible.”
Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said it would consider the complaint carefully…reports Asian Lite News
Britain’s information regulator said on Wednesday it would look into an official complaint accusing Alphabet Inc’s YouTube of illegally collecting data from millions of children.
The complaint lodged by father-of-three Duncan McCann, who is leading the campaign and supported by his employer the advocacy group 5Rights, said the video-streaming platform had broken the newly implemented law by gathering “the location, viewing habits and preferences” of up to 5 million children.
Countries have been wrestling to strike the right balance with legislation that protects social media users, particularly children, from harmful content without damaging free speech.
McCann said in a statement that YouTube should change the design of its platform and delete data it had been gathering.
“It is a massive, unlicensed, social experiment on our children with uncertain consequences,” McCann said.
A spokesperson for YouTube said it had taken steps to bolster child privacy with more protective default settings, and made investments to protect children and families by launching a dedicated kids app and introducing new data practices.
“We remain committed to continuing our engagement with the ICO on this priority work, and with other key stakeholders including children, parents and child protection experts,” the YouTube spokesperson said in a statement.
Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said it would consider the complaint carefully.
“The Children’s code makes clear that children are not like adults online, and their data needs meaningful protections,” the ICO’s Deputy Commissioner, Regulatory Supervision, Stephen Bonner said in a statement.
Britain’s Children’s code requires providers to meet 15 design and privacy standards to protect children, including limiting collection of their location and other personal data.
In 2019, YouTube was fined $170 million by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to settle allegations that it broke federal law by collecting personal information about children.
I think the biggest inspiration is being a mother myself and I am a firm believer of using ingredients from the kitchen; and also using Indian recipes and not using anything which is chemically infused…Priyanka Raina speaks with Olivia Sarkar
Cricketer Suresh Raina and his wife Priyanka’s consciously designed a 360 degree range of premium baby wellness features products like coconut oil, baby powder, kids foaming face wash, and diaper rash cream.
‘Maate’ is an ode to a Mother as she commences a beautiful journey, it is also a salutation to Mother Earth from whom we all draw life and nourishment. With a belief that what you put on your baby’s body should be as pure and authentic as what you put within his or her body. Maate offers an all-natural range created with love and care, incorporating the benefits of both timeless tradition and science.
Emphasising on the stringent research which has gone into formulating the products Suresh Raina, also the Co-Founder of maate expressed, “These products have been carefully selected and developed to meet the highest quality and safety standards. And we assure you, this is just the beginning. We are constantly working to bring new and innovative products to our line so that mothers can know that they are providing the best for their young ones.”
Suresh and Priyanka Raina focus on mothers and young ones(ianslife)
Inspired by ancient Ayurveda, the indigenous Babycare brand is adapted to modern-day environment. The products are consciously formulated using the best ingredients nature has to offer to bring to you high-quality and chemical-free products to nurture your baby. The products are researched and designed for holistic Baby wellness and is a by-product of Priyanka Raina’s unique perspective on parenthood. The line of baby products not only stresses upon the healing properties of Ayurved.
Priyanka Raina, Co-Founder of maate, said, “At maate, we understand the importance of providing only the best for our little ones. That’s why we are dedicated to bringing mothers premium wellness products that they can trust. We strive to be a one-stop shop for a baby’s essential needs, ensuring that mothers don’t have to look elsewhere. As we enter the new year, we are thrilled to announce the addition of four new products to our line: a gentle and effective kids’ face wash, a nourishing coconut oil, a soothing baby powder, and a diaper rash cream that provides fast relief.” Priyanka Raina poured her emotions attached to the brand.
What’s your inspiration behind the launch?
Priyanka: I think the biggest inspiration is being a mother myself and I am a firm believer of using ingredients from the kitchen; and also using Indian recipes and not using anything which is chemically infused. So, I wanted to launch ‘maate’ and I was very clear it should be 100 percent natural and effective and not just a product package which looks nice or smells nice. I wanted something which actually works. It’s all about bringing Indian recipes to forefront, the rich ingredients we have, the rich Ayurveda.
What’s the motive behind the brand ‘maate’?
Priyanka: ‘maate’ means Mother, to embody all the values of a mother-nurturing, resilient, ambitious, protective, genuine and accessible. We are true to motherhood by setting out to nourish, protect, cleanse and comfort. As a brand started by a mother, and being a mother I want to give the best noruishment to my child so it wall aligned well. The moment you here the word maate, you know it’s all about the motherly feeling and that’ what we wanted to bring in on these products.
What is basis of the products?
Priyanka: It is about exclusivity and our pledge to every mother is to give their baby exclusive and genuine experiences. We are taking care of the most delicate stages of human life and we have a great responsibility to be completely safe, clean, pure and effective. We strive to meet these high standards and never compromise. What you have mainly focused on while the manufacturing these products, was it the traditional way of baby care or the new-modern tech way?
Priyanka: We adventure deep, to distil the most precious oils and herbs with an intent to preserve nature in its purest forms. This is the inheritance from our ancestors, from our ancient ayurvedic wisdom combined with modern science comes together in every product. What was your experience while doing the research and the blends of herbs and oils?
Priyanka: I wanted each product to be very effective and result oriented, we also did those tests in the labs where we saw what’s the effect of the products. We found that hair oil really works and it also helps in thickening of hair, we actually have proven results. Of course, I do not come from that background so it was a whole new journey for me to take but thankfully I had a very strong team behind me. I have all the motherly emotions attached to it and I could tell as a mother what I want and then the team which is technically experienced and strong in this field created the products. So, working as a team made it a stronger project and we could come up with something great. I was really satisfied with and I had my own challenges, my own learnings but the final outcome was fantastic.
In September 2022 maate expanded its footprint to be available at various chain pharmacies, trade chemists, exclusive maternity hospitals, premium baby and grocery stores to strengthen its offline presence in Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Manesar, Noida, and Ghaziabad. Since its inception, the completely natural, toxin-free, vegan, and cruelty-free maate products have been loved by thousands of families in India and have been an essential part of the daily wellness routine for their kids and this community is growing with every new order, regardless if it’s online or offline.
The symptoms of glaucoma depend on the type and stage of the individual’s condition. Glaucoma can affect one eye or both…reports Asian Lite News
Due to the lack of symptoms and the fact that once eyesight is lost, it cannot be recovered, glaucoma is often known as the “silent thief of sight.” It is one of the main factors causing permanent blindness. The buildup of fluid in the eye, known as aqueous humour, which raises intraocular pressure, is what causes glaucoma (IOP). Loss of eyesight results from optic nerve injury brought on by high IOP. Let’s investigate the causes and prevention of glaucoma in greater detail this Glaucoma Awareness Month so that everyone can have healthy vision.
Glaucoma can affect newborns and children, despite being more frequent in adults. Infantile glaucoma develops during the first three years of life, whereas congenital glaucoma manifests at birth. Children may be affected by juvenile glaucoma, a different type of glaucoma. The signs and symptoms of glaucoma in infants and children are often different from those in adults.
Several cases of pediatric glaucoma have no specific identifiable cause and are considered primary glaucoma. The most common cause of childhood glaucoma is inadvertent use of steroidal eye drops for various allergic diseases of the eye. These eye drops can cause blinding glaucoma. Thus, it is vital to consult an eye specialist even for the slightest ailment of the eye as a child’s eyes are very sensitive. When glaucoma is caused by or associated with a specific condition or disease, it is called secondary glaucoma. Examples of conditions which can be associated with childhood glaucoma include Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome, Aniridia, Sturge-Weber Syndrome, neurofibromatosis, chronic steroid use, trauma, or previous eye surgery such as childhood cataract removal. Not all patients with these conditions will develop glaucoma, but their incidence of glaucoma is much higher than average, and they should be monitored regularly.
Symptoms of Glaucoma in Children
The symptoms of glaucoma depend on the type and stage of the individual’s condition. Glaucoma can affect one eye or both.
The most common symptoms of congenital/infantile glaucoma are excessive watering of eyes, light sensitivity, and a large cloudy cornea which can cause the iris to appear dull. On the other hand, juvenile glaucoma tends to develop without any obvious symptoms, like adult glaucoma. Patients with juvenile glaucoma often tend to have a family history. On exam, the eye pressure will typically be elevated and there may be signs of optic nerve cupping. If the eye pressure increases rapidly, there may be pain and discomfort.
Some people may have non-specific symptoms like headache, watering eyes, or seeing a colored halo, which resemble other eye problems or medical conditions. Parents and caregivers should look for these symptoms and get an early consultation with an ophthalmologist.
Risk Factors and Prevention
There are ways to prevent vision loss and blindness from glaucoma. Here’s how:
The best way to protect one’s sight from glaucoma is to get regular comprehensive eye examinations. Many forms of glaucoma have no warning signs. If a child is at risk for glaucoma, it is critical to go for regular eye exams every year that include measuring intraocular pressure. This will help in early detection. It is equally important to take your glaucoma medications as prescribed by your doctor.
A healthy diet plays a role in staving off a host of chronic diseases, and glaucoma is no exception.
Eye injuries can lead to glaucoma. It is recommended to wear protective eyewear while participating in sports or as and when required.
Intense exercise that raises the heart rate can also raise the ocular pressure. But regular walking and exercising at a moderate pace can lower eye pressure and improve overall health.
If you have glaucoma or are at high risk of the disease, don’t place your head below your heart for long periods of time. Head-down positions can significantly raise the ocular pressure. It is also important to sleep in the right position. Avoid sleeping with your eye against the pillow or on your arm.
Treatments for Glaucoma
Glaucoma treatment options include medication, surgery, or both. For infants and young children, surgery is often the first treatment to avoid long-term vision issues. The goal of surgery is to repair the drainage issue so fluid drains normally from the eye. There are different types of surgical options available. The ophthalmologist decides the best surgery suitable for the patient based on several factors including the underlying nature of the disease. Various surgical options are available nowadays including trabeculotomy and goniotomy with the highest success rates. Other procedures are trabeculectomy, combined trabeculotomy, and trabeculectomy and glaucoma drainage devices to name a few. Earlier the surgery is performed, better is the outcome.
5 ways to take care of eye health. (Photo: Pixabay)
Cyclophotocoagulation is the last resort for a blind, painful eye that is unresponsive to other treatments. This type of surgery is performed in severe cases of childhood glaucoma.
Specific treatment for glaucoma will be determined by the ophthalmologist based on the child’s age, overall health, and medical history, the extent of the disease, tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies, and other factors. Children diagnosed with pediatric glaucoma have a higher risk of developing other eye issues as they get older. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment, combined with careful monitoring, are crucial for long-term eye health. The good news is that early detection can prevent severe damage and save eyesight. New advancements in glaucoma care continue to bring researchers closer to mitigating the disease.
(Inputs contributed by Dr. Suneeta Dubey, Head of Glaucoma Services, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, and Dr. Vidya Chelerkar, Head of Glaucoma Department, PBMA’s HV Desai Eye Hospital Orbis Partner Hospitals)
Each bite is jam-packed with beta-glucan to lower cholesterol and contains no fillers thanks to ingredients like chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, chocolate, Himalayan pink salt, and raw sugar. Nothing becomes more delicious and full…reports Asian Lite News
This chocolate cake mix is produced with a combination of supergrains and actual chocolate, making it different from other chocolate cakes. It is entirely vegetarian and doesn’t contain any maida, refined sugar, emulsifiers, stabilisers, preservatives, or artificial flavours or colours. Jowar, which is high in protein, oats, which are high in fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, are all present in it, but above all the other nutrients, Amaranth, which is a fantastic source of vitamin C, is also there. Serving your children cake is a great way to encourage them to consume healthy food! Happy Tummys Almond Date Snack Bars :
Want a chocolate treat that stands out from the crowd? The ideal method to encourage your kids to eat healthily even during snack time is with these Happy Tummies almond date snack bars! Almond, date, oat, rice bran oil, and other real food ingredients can be found in these snack bars. It combines nutrition and taste.
Yoga Bar’s Dark chocolate oats :
A deliciously nutritious combination of nuts, seeds, and quality golden rolled oats, with the goodness of chocolate added wholesome, filling, and chocolaty. Each bite is jam-packed with beta-glucan to lower cholesterol and contains no fillers thanks to ingredients like chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, chocolate, Himalayan pink salt, and raw sugar. Nothing becomes more delicious and full.
4 healthy yet exciting food options for your kids.(photo:IANSLIFE)
Little Millet Noodles :
Noodles, what are you thinking? What about kid-friendly food that’s healthy? The millet noodles sold by Slurpp Farm are high in phosphorus. Additionally, rather than being fried, they are sun-dried! They don’t contain maida, refined sugar, preservatives, stabilisers, emulsifiers, artificial colours, or flavours; they are created entirely of natural spices. Additionally, it is entirely vegetarian, so if that isn’t enough to get you to buy it, guess what? They are prepared in five minutes! Never before has feeding kids healthy foods been so easy.
Generate curiosity among children.(photo:IANSLIFE)
Computer code just got dangerous in this action-packed spy adventure series Asha Joshi has the perfect excuse not to finish her homework. She’s just been recruited to join the top-secret Children’s Spy Agency…reports Asian Lite News
British Council, in collaboration with Reading Agency, is organising the ‘Reading Challenge’ for children aged 5 to 12 years to help them grow as confident and engaged readers. In this programme, children are challenged to read a range of 6 books specially selected by the British Council.
Using the principle of encouragement and motivation, the Challenge inspires children to read for pleasure. Thus, leading to the improvement of their English language skills, development of their reading skills, and building of their confidence. Children will also attend multiple expert-curated workshops to enhance their writing and inferring skills along with boosting their creativity as well as critical thinking.
This year’s theme for the programme, ‘Gadgeteers’, is created in partnership with Science Museum Group and is brought to life by top children’s writer and illustrator Julian Beresford. Under this challenge, kids must read a minimum of 6 books in 6 weeks from the collection of new, hand-picked books. The books will help the young Gadgeteers to discover the amazing science and innovation in the world around them.
If you want to instil a love for reading among your children, look no further! Enrol them in this challenge and let them be free in the world of science, outer space, or coding, with books like:
Ada and the Galaxies by Alan Lightman
In collaboration with Olga Pastuchiv and Susanna Chapman, Alan Lightman brings galaxies close in a stunning picture-book tribute to the interconnectedness of the natural world. The story zooms in on one child’s experiences: Ada knows that the best place for star-gazing is on the island in Maine where she vacations with her grandparents. Will the fog this year foil her plans, or will her grandfather find a way to shine a spotlight on the vast puzzle of the universe…until the weather turns?
Agent Asha: Mission Shark Bytes by Sophie Deen
Computer code just got dangerous in this action-packed spy adventure series Asha Joshi has the perfect excuse not to finish her homework. She’s just been recruited to join the top-secret Children’s Spy Agency. Her first mission: SAVE THE WORLD. Asha’s a coder so she should be able to hack into the biggest tech company in the world, fight deadly sharks and figure out why the Internet has stopped working. All before bedtime. Can she do it? AL’s Awesome Science: Splash Down by Jane Clarke
Al’s experiments have the most unexpected and messy consequences. Al is experimenting to find out what kind of covering his time machine will need to survive its SPLASH DOWN! back to Earth. Water experiments have a habit of making things very wet and messy. Can they finish their experiments before mum finds out? Bears Make the Best Science Buddies by Carmen Oliver
It’s time for the first science lab, and nobody can agree on an experiment. But why pick just one when Bear is around? Bears make the best science buddies, and Bear proves it by helping each group use the scientific method for its special experiment.
Kids (Photo:IANSLIFE)
The City of Rust by Gemma Fowler
Railey dreams of winning the drone races with her bio-robotic gecko friend, Atti. But when a bounty hunter crashes their biggest race yet, the pair are forced to flee to the feared Junker clans who mine the rubbish orbiting the Earth. Rescued by a couple of Junker kids, they discover a danger bigger than anything they’d imagined – but can three kids, a gecko and an ancient computer save the world against the huge trash bomb (and its power-crazed creator) threatening to destroy the world?
Deep: Dive Into Hidden Worlds by Jess McGeachin
Have you ever wondered what lies beyond the edge of our solar system? Or what lives in the cold depths of the ocean, where even sunlight can’t reach? Come on a journey to the deepest parts of our universe–but be warned, things can get a little strange here. Temperatures are extreme, pressure is intense, and darkness is everywhere.
These incidents specifically involved the mention of a child or the listing aged under 18, the report added…reports Asian Lite News
British forces have paid compensation for the deaths of 64 children in Afghanistan, a much higher death toll than previously acknowledged by the country, according to a new report by a United Kingdom-based charity.
Between 2006-14, there were 64 confirmed child victims in Afghanistan, where the British military paid compensation, although the number of children killed could be as high as 135, according to data exclusively obtained by Action on Armed Violence (AAOV).
According to AAOV, an analysis of these compensation payments shows that, between April 2007 and December 2012, there were 38 incidents involving 64 confirmed child fatalities where the relatives of the children were paid compensation following UK military engagements.
These incidents specifically involved the mention of a child or the listing aged under 18, the report added.
The London-based group said the average age of a child killed during British military operations, where an age was given, was six years old. An age was given in some 27 recorded and compensated deaths.
“In September of the same year, an 18-month-old girl was also killed in Nad-e Ali, a district in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Both were killed alongside their mother or ‘father’s wife’; just over 3,000 pi was paid for their deaths,” the group said.
The total pay-out for the incidents involving confirmed child fatalities was £144,593, although this total includes other adults killed.
Iain Overton, Executive Director of Action on Armed Violence, said of the findings: “The number of children killed following British military action in Helmand should give pause for thought. War invariably leads to death and modern war will always bring civilian casualties, but not reporting on such deaths – however much it might be a source of regret and horror to the soldiers involved in the killings and however accidental such deaths were – would be an omission of responsibility and an erosion of truth.”
“This report hopes to give some details to the often-forgotten children killed in war and, in some way, to send a warning to future Westminster politicians who might consider sending troops into battle,” Overton added.
Six Fun Ways To Celebrate Diwali Safely With Your Kids This Year!.(photo:IANSLIFE)
Step into the kitchen with your children and share the joy of cooking with them. Sit and mould ladoos in perfect and not-so-perfect ways but create memories in the process…writes Mansi Zaveri
This is the season of celebration and there’s joy, light and happiness everywhere around us. As we look to take a break from school and work to spend time to indulge in the festivities, the idea is to have a good time, together, with family and friends while devouring our favourite treats and reminiscing our childhood memories!
Celebrate the Diwali break with your kids in a way that is relaxing, engaging, entertaining and safe. Go ahead and bookmark these points. Choose Comfort Over Style
Yes, Diwali is all about those designer lehengas, sherwanis, sarees and dhotis. Go ahead, pamper yourself and the family and opt for a sustainable designer wear brand and get the photo-ops done and out of the way. But after it is done, choose clothing that is comfortable. Especially when bursting fire crackers say yes to comfort and safety and no to over flowy dresses.
Join Hands With Your Li’l Masterchef
Step into the kitchen with your children and share the joy of cooking with them. Sit and mould ladoos in perfect and not-so-perfect ways but create memories in the process!
Bond Over Rangoli
Another safe and fun way to engage kids is to bond over colours- another beautiful custom we have in Indian culture. There’s some serious focus and dedication kids learn when they design colourful Rangoli or the simpler alternative- Kolam in South India. Hand them over a pack of colours, and some Rangoli stencils and give them a dedicated space. If they are too young, a corner of their room would do. For the older ones, trust them with the space near the entrance of your house. They will feel happy! P.S- remember not to deck them with the prettiest or newest clothes when doing Rangoli!
Book Your Time For Movie Nights
After a tiring schedule of celebration, parties and endless selfies, wind the day with the best activity with your kids. Bookmark a list of the best family-friendly movies you can watch with the kids on OTT. There’s nothing better than cosy cuddles with your kids and a bowl of makhanas or popcorn- try it!
Create Best From Waste
From discarded pista or groundnut shells to old leaves and flowers to pencil sharpenings, there is just so much we can do to decorate the house and the child’s room, to proudly display our attempts! Try it, it is a lot of fun!!
Answer Their Whys
Kids need answers. All the time. Every time. When they see you making those laddoos, or the Laxmi Pooja or lighting so many lamps- they are going to be asking you all the questions about why we do what we do. Why not answer it in a language they understand? Tune into kids podcasts or watch exclusive kids videos on YouTube with a puppet show on Ramayan to answer their questions. Read books on Diwali, listen to podcasts on stories that answer the whys and hows. Search for the I Am Not Bored podcast that answers all of your child’s questions and addresses that curiosity.
