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What is Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)?

Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are noninvasive tests that measure how well the lungs are functioning. The tests measure lung volume, capacity, rates of flow, and exchange of gas. This data can help your primary care physician analyze and choose the treatment for certain lung issues.

There are 2 kinds of disorders that cause issues with air moving all throughout the lungs:

Obstructive: This is when air experiences difficulty flowing out of the lungs because of airway resistance. This causes a diminished flow of air.

Restrictive: This is the point at which the lung tissue and additionally chest muscles can’t expand enough. This makes issues with airflow, for the most part, because of lower lung volumes.

Why are these tests done?

Your primary care physician will arrange these tests to evaluate how well your lungs are functioning. In the event that you as of now have a condition that is affecting your lungs, your primary care physician may arrange this test to check whether the condition is advancing or how it’s reacting to treatment.

PFTs can help diagnose:

Chronic bronchitis

Respiratory infections

Asthma

Allergies

Lung fibrosis

A condition that involves the stretching and widening of the lungs-bronchiectasis

Emphysema or COPD

Lung cancer

Sarcoidosis- if your lungs, lymph nodes, liver, eyes, skin and other tissues are inflamed

A weakness of the muscles of the chest wall.

Pulmonary tumour

Asbestosis- long term exposure to asbestos causes this condition.

Scleroderma: A diseases of the connective tissues

How to prepare for the pulmonary function tests?

In case you’re taking medicines that open your airways, for example, those utilized for asthma or interminable bronchitis, your primary care physician may request that you quit taking them before the examination. In the event that it isn’t certain whether you should take your drug, try to ask your primary care physician. Pain prescriptions may likewise influence the consequences of the test.

You should inform your primary care physician regarding any over-the-counter and prescription pain medications you’re taking. It’s significant that you don’t eat a huge meal before testing. A full stomach can keep your lungs from breathing in completely.

You ought to likewise keep away from food and beverages that contain caffeine, for example, chocolate, espresso, and tea, before your test. Caffeine can make your airways be progressively open which could influence the aftereffects of your test. You ought to likewise abstain from smoking in any event an hour prior to the test, and not perform any strenuous exercise before the test. Make certain to wear baggy garments to the test. Tighter garments may limit your breathing.

You ought to likewise abstain from wearing jewellery that may influence your breathing. In the event that you wear dentures, wear them to the test to guarantee that your mouth can fit firmly around the mouthpiece utilized for the test. On the off chance that you have had a recent eye, chest, or stomach surgery or a recent heart attack, you will probably need to defer the test until you have completely recuperated.

What happens during the test:

Your doctor will choose the test contingent on which condition or disease they need to diagnose as each test works differently.

1. Spirometry:

Your PFTs may incorporate spirometry, which quantifies the measure of air you take in and out. During this test, you’ll sit before a machine and will be asked to wear a mouthpiece. It’s significant that the mouthpiece fits cosily with the goal that all the air you inhale goes into the machine. You’ll additionally wear a nose clasp to shield you from breathing air through your nose.

The respiratory technologist will disclose how to breathe for the test. You may then inhale ordinarily. Your PCP will request that you breathe in and out as deeply or as fast as you can for a few seconds. They may likewise request that you take in medicine that opens your airways. You’ll then inhale into the machine again to check whether the prescription influenced your lung work.

The test measures two aspects:

The most air you can exhale after breathing in deeply. The outcomes will inform you as to whether you have a diminished capacity to breathe normally.

How much air you can exhale in 1 second. The score tells your primary care physician how serious your breathing issue is.

2. Body Plethysmography:

You’ll inhale deeply for body plethysmography, which quantifies how much air is in your lungs when you breathe in deeply. It additionally measures how much air stays in your lungs after you exhale as much as you can.

Plethysmography is utilized for a few reasons:

Your PCP may arrange this test to perceive how an infection, for example, COPD or asthma influences your lungs. The test may show that your treatment needs to change.

It can help affirm whether you have a lung malady that decreases the amount of space in your lungs. Your primary care physician may call this a restrictive infection.

It can determine if your airways have narrowed. Assuming this is the case, the test may enable your primary care physician to choose whether lung drugs called bronchodilators could support you. Bronchodilators open your airways.

It can enable your primary care physician to make sense of how well you’d do on the off chance that you require surgery.

The test is easy and takes around 15 minutes. During the test, you sit in a clear plastic box. You wear a nose clip and inhale through your mouth into a special mouthpiece.

You can also Read: Why You Should Regularly Go For Blood Tests

3. Lung Diffusion Capacity test:

A lung diffusion capacity test gauges how well oxygen moves from your lungs into your blood. This test is like spirometry. You inhale into a tube joined to a machine. The test can help analyze an infection of the veins and arteries between your heart and lungs and show the measure of harm done by illness, for example, emphysema, an ailment wherein your air sacs are steadily decimated.

4. Bronchial Provocation Test:

On the off chance that you have asthma, you are aware that triggers, for example, exercise, smoke, and dust can out of nowhere make breathing troublesome. A bronchial provocation test can help analyze asthma. Your primary care physician can likewise utilize it to help measure how extreme your asthma is. During the test, you breathe in medicine that causes your airways to narrow. At that point, you take a spirometry test. You do this multiple times. Your primary care physician will utilize the readings to figure out how much your airways narrow during an asthma attack.

5. Cardiopulmonary Excercise Stress test:

This test measures the strength of your lungs and heart. It’s typically given to individuals who may have a coronary illness or lung issues. Sometimes these conditions appear just during exercise. During the test, you walk on a treadmill or a ride a stationary bike. The specialist watches out for your pulse as your heart thumps quicker and quicker. You’ll inhale into a cylinder that quantifies your lungs as they work harder.

6. Pulse Oximetry Test:

This easy test quantifies how much oxygen is in your blood. The specialist clips a probe to your finger, your ear cartilage, or another piece of your skin. The gadget utilizes light to gauge the degree of oxygen in your red blood cells.

7. Arterial Blood Gas Test:

This test gauges the degrees of gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide in blood taken from one of your arteries. You’ll commonly go to an emergency clinic or your primary care physician’s office for an arterial blood gas test. A medical caretaker or professional will utilize a needle to take the blood, most likely from your wrist. It may hurt, and you could bleed a little where the needle went in.

8. Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide Test:

At the point when you have specific sorts of asthma, you may have significant levels of a gas called nitric oxide in your body. The partially breathed out nitric oxide test quantifies its amount in the air after you exhale. For this test, you exhale gradually and consistently into a tube that is associated with a portable gadget.

What are the Risks of PFTS?

Pulmonary Function Tests are typically safe for the vast majority. In any case, in light of the fact that the test may expect you to breathe in and out rapidly, you may feel dizzy and there’s a hazard that you may blackout. On the off chance that you feel dizzy, tell your primary care physician. In the event that you have asthma, the test may make you have an asthma attack. In uncommon cases, PFTs may cause a collapsed lung.

In the event that you’ve seen that you’re short of breath, request your doctor to get a lung function test soon. Lung function tests are significant, regardless of whether you’ve just been determined to have a breathing issue or you figure you may have one. They can be the initial move toward breathing easier

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Ways To Boost Your Baby’s Brain Power

All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. We’ve all grown up learning this ever-popular expression so often used in storybooks. But why only Jack? The truth of the matter is, all work and no play indeed make every child dull. Our human brain has two sides – left and right – and what’s particularly important as a parent is for you to nourish and nurture both sides of your baby’s brain equally.

Why? Because scientific research proves that up to 6 years of age, a child has immense potential to absorb all that’s fed into its little brain. Here we bring you some simple yet fun activities that can greatly help boost your baby’s brainpower right from birth through 6 years.

How to Increase Brain Power of Child?

It may sound complicated at the onset, but let’s assure you – it’s easy, fun for both your child and you, and extremely helpful in their formative years. Note that paying a little keen attention to working on the right brain of your child can have significant lasting effects on their overall personality in the adult years.

This is why the activities listed below primarily focus on visual and graphical stimulation so as to encourage your child’s little mind to work on cause-and-effect relationships. It’s very important to inspire tiny tots to determine and narrate experiences from visual memory. It could be in the form of pictures or graphics they see in storybooks and movies/cartoons or live before them in the way of puppet shows or games.

Baby Brain Development Activities to Try Out

Let’s look at some ways on how to develop child brain effectively:

Baby brain games:

Talk more to your baby:

Just read to your baby

Child and play go hand in hand, so why not tap the immense potential of this entertaining activity to make your child smarter?Pick toys that stimulate your child’s brain to work. Light and sound toys or movement toys that trigger cause and effect would help keep your little one engaged for long.Take immense joy in stacking building blocks and making creative designs and shapes with them to please their parent(s). Puppet shows involving the use of hand are also great at capturing kids’ attention; so are small games like peek-a-boo, hopscotch, or piggy in the middle.

More important than the game itself is for your child to know and feel that you are actively involved in and find equal joy and interest in their little games. Research proves that this triggers faster brain development in children while also lending them emotional security

This should ideally start even when they’re just cooing and expressing through sounds. Don’t wait for your baby to begin speaking to make the first move then. The more you talk, the more sounds, facial expressions, gestures, and hand movements you make before your baby in response to their cooing would encourage them to pick up ways of communication faster.Music and books play a significant role too – More than making your child listen to music on the TV, radio, phone, or laptop, try and sing to your baby as much as possible. It could be anything – even the simple nursery rhymes you still remember from your childhood – but it’d help create an inexplicable emotional bond with your child

Read with them. The effort should be directed away from making your baby a passive recipient of information and more on triggering activity in the brain to absorb as well as express information gathered.

Some of these simple child brain development activities can take your child a long way into better adulthood. This is why Tickle Right works on fostering the right brain of your tiny tot. The weekly-once, the after-school program is designed to impart holistic kids brain development from 1.5-6 years of age so that your child turns into a brilliantly creative human being.

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Brain Food for Child’s Growth

Brain Food for Child’s Growth

Did you know that a child’s brain is two times more active than an adult’s? No wonder then that these little brains always have questions at the tip of their tongue. And some of them particularly intelligent must say! To which we adults often fall short of answers. How do they manage to be so knowledgeable at such a tender age, we wonder.

Well, it’s all thanks to their rapid brain development right from the time of birth through the formative years of their lives. And we as adults have an essential responsibility to partake here as well; to nourish their brain with the right food.

We are what we eat, and this holds for children as well. It’s wrong to assume that it’d be okay to feed your child anything as long as it fills them and keep them from getting cranky for some time. Now that we know that your child is undergoing active brain development every minute of its life, the most crucial phase of its growth cycle, let’s take a look at what food would best contribute to their sufficient brain growth.

Best Food for Children’s Growth

Here are some of the top brain foods according to scientific research often recommended by pediatricians across the world:

Eggs:

Green Vegetables :

Fish:

Nuts:

Topping the list are the good ol’ eggs, known as the best child brain development food for ages. Remember our mothers always insisting on an egg a day in our growing up years (whether we liked it or not)? Well, now the mystery unfolds. Eggs are full of protein and vital nutrients, all of which help improve concentration in kids. You can give them in any form as per your kid’s preference – scrambled eggs, egg salad, egg sandwiches, or the all-time favourite deviled eggs.

Greens are never a child’s first choice, but for you, they should be because they’re the best brain food for kids. They are complete with folate (the best agent for brain development) and vitamins. Kale is one of the best greens laden with antioxidants assisting in new brain cell growth. Kale, along with spinach, is known to reduce the chances of developing dementia in old age, Maybe a challenge to get your child to take them through, but with a bit of innovation, you can gradually get there. If a salad doesn’t work, try whipping up a spinach or kale smoothie, add them to omelettes or lasagna, and make kale chips for snack time.

Another world-renowned healthy food for kids, fish is an excellent source of vitamin D and Omega-3. They protect the brain against the degeneration of mental ability, resulting in loss of memory in later life. Some of the best fish varieties which are rich in Omega 3s include salmon, tuna and sardines. Fish is an excellent choice for your kids, and you can serve it with a dip of their choice. Besides, fish can be put into tacos for a filling and healthy meal. Tuna sandwiches are a particular favourite among kids.

They’re full of protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Nuts and seeds are high mood elevators too and help keep a check on the nervous system. Butter is the best way to serve this essential brain development food to your child. You can also try spreading it on wholegrain crackers or bread as a healthy mid-meal snack. Kids love pesto sauce over pasta at restaurants. Why not try making a more robust and hygienic version at home? Add some nuts of your choice to olive oil and dark leafy green vegetables and pour this tasty sauce over whole-grain pasta of your kid’s choice.

Do try these yummy and healthy brain foods for your child and help them get brainier and stay mentally active lifelong. Please share with us more such tasty and nutritious recipes below for kids

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Help Your Child Get More Organised

It seems to be a universal fact that the words ‘ children ‘ and ‘ messy ‘ are synonymous. However, one also cannot deny that the ability to organize is a valuable life skill that guarantees success even outside of school. The following organization tips will work wonders when you’re teaching your little one how to get organized :

1. Checklists :

Getting into the simple habit of maintaining a ‘ to-do list ‘ will help your child keep track of his assignments, household chores, other classroom requirements, and much more. He can write his responsibilities in a small notebook or pad. He’ll feel a sense of accomplishment when he crosses something off the list. This will motivate him to finish the other tasks on his list.

2. Organize Homework :

Before beginning homework, please encourage your child to number the assignments in the order they’re supposed to be done. He should start with something short and uncomplicated. At the same time, he shouldn’t leave the toughest assignment till the end. If he has a lengthy assignment that isn’t due right away, teach him how to divide it into manageable chunks. This way, he’ll have completed the task before the deadline.

3. Assign A Study Space :

To help your kids get organized, you should allocate a fixed study space to them. This is where your children should study every evening. It should be quiet and free of distractions. Additionally, their study material and school supplies should be easily accessible. If you’re nearby, you will be able to monitor their progress and encourage good study habits.

4. Fixed Study Time :

Your child should know that certain hours of the day are reserved for studying and homework. Selecting a time right after school isn’t ideal as your tiny tot also needs a few hours to unwind. It’s preferable to include your child in the decision-making process. On days he doesn’t have homework, he should utilize this time productively to review his lessons, read for leisure, or work on an upcoming project.

5. Keep Organized Notebooks :

Your child can effectively organize his classwork by using binders or separate notebooks. In this manner, he can quickly review his study material while preparing for tests and quizzes. He should separate his notes by using dividers or colour-coded notebooks. Keeping ‘ to-do ‘ and ‘ done ‘ folders will help him organize his worksheets. A healthy habit like this will ensure he doesn’t lose essential notes due to carelessness.

6. Conduct Regular Clean-Ups :

One of the most common child organization tips is cleaning school bags and notebooks every week. Old tests and papers should be kept in a separate file at home. Used stationery supplies should be replaced. Papers, wrappers and other junk should be disposed of. Doing so teaches your child the importance of cleanliness.

7. Create A Household Schedule :

You should establish and stick to a regular dinnertime and bedtime. If your child gets sufficient sleep daily, he’ll go to school well-rested. It would help if you also tried to limit screentime to specific periods during the day.

8. Keep A Calendar :

Another helpful organization tip is maintaining a calendar that lists the family’s commitments, timetables for co-curricular activities, holidays, family events, birthdays, exam dates, and project submissions. This will assist family members in keeping track of each other’s actions, and scheduling conflicts can be avoided.

Also Read: How To Improve Concentration In Kids

9. Prepare For The Next Day :

Before your child goes to bed, he should pack his books and school supplies, layout the next day’s clothes and accessories, and charge his devices. This will prevent confusion the following day, and he can head to school rejuvenated.

10. Be Supportive :

Learning a new skill can be overwhelming for a child. As a parent, you should support your child as he navigates uncharted waters. Gently remind him to fill details in the calendar or organize his study material. The most important thing is setting an example. You should tape your to-do lists to the refrigerator, use the calendar, and layout your own clothes for the following morning.

With your constant love and encouragement, your young one will learn how to get organized in no time at all!

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Technology Troubles: The Harmful Effects Of Excessive Use Of Mobile Phones On Children.

Your phone buzzes. It’s another notification. Tickle Right has uploaded a new blog – The Harmful Effects Of Excessive use of Mobile Phones On Children.

Isn’t it ironic that you read a blog about the repercussions of technology on a screen itself? Our world today is full of tech-savvy individuals. The utility of our modern devices cannot be debated. Centuries-old knowledge is available to us at the drop of a hat. Phone calls, text messages, and e-mails have introduced us to a new form of interaction i.e. virtual communication. However, children of this generation are growing up in a radio-frequency environment that never existed before. Continued exposure to the radiation emitted by mobile phones can adversely affect children. Some of the ill-effects of excessive use of mobile phones are :

• Health Hazards –

In recent years, extensive research has been conducted to understand the impact of cell phone radiation on children. As a child’s body is undergoing changes and growth, the effects of mobile phone radiation could vary in comparison to adults. The possible health hazards posed by mobile phones are :

– Non-malignant tumours :

Children who keep mobile phones close to their ears for extended periods of time are vulnerable to the development of non-malignant tumours, especially in the regions of the brain and ears. The bones, tissues, and protective membranes for organs are still very thin in young kids. Therefore, these organs end up absorbing beyond 60% cell phone radiation. This radiation strangely affects the human body. It could also directly affect the nervous system. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified mobile phone radiation as a ‘possible carcinogen’.

– Disturbed Brain Activity :

The human body uses electrical impulses to communicate via the neural network. Mobile phones also primarily function on electromagnetic waves for all forms of communication. These mobile phone waves can easily penetrate into the interior parts of a child’s brain as he/she hasn’t developed a strong shield yet. Research reveals that a mere 2-minute conversation on the phone can alter the electrical activity inside a child’s brain. This erratic activity can result in changes in mood patterns and behavioural tendencies. It could also impair the child’s ability to learn and focus.

• Academic Performance –

For security purposes, several schools now allow children to carry their mobile phones to class. Many students take undue advantage of this rule to chat incessantly or play games during lectures. Due to this, they fail to pay attention and miss out on important lessons. This ultimately affects their academic performance negatively.

• Academic Malpractice –

Mobile phones are not only a distraction but could also be used by students to engage in academic malpractice. In order to score well, children would resort to cheating. They could use the in-built calculator, store images, information, and even share answers via text. Such behavior has been widely observed across schools and colleges. Such malpractices affect your child’s grade and also reflect poorly on his personality.

• Inappropriate Content –

Like any other gadget, a mobile phone could be misused to access harmful information. Inappropriate messages and images could be shared by friends or even strangers online! Your children could be introduced to pornography at a very tender age. This would change their perceptions and thought process. Even a moment of irresponsibility or recklessness could leave an indelible mark. ( E.g. Carelessly exchanging their own images). Remember: Once something is on the Internet, it stays there forever.

• Sleep Disruption –

Texting friends, playing video games, and mindlessly scrolling through social media are some activities that disrupt your child’s sleep at night. An unhealthy pattern like this will eventually lead to fatigue and restlessness. Sleep deprivation would unfavourably influence his academic performance. Lack of sleep = Lack of concentration = Lower grades.

• Medical Issues –

Today’s kids are constantly glued to their phones. Outdoor activities and physical exercise do not pique their interest. This lethargy poses multiple health risks. Your child could become obese and later develop other debilitating diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

• Mental Health Issues –

Social media and online games are today’s virtual playground, and that is where most cyberbullying takes place. Many are harassed on these platforms. By the time children inform adults of their experience, trauma has already been inflicted and the damage is done. It is unfortunate that countless children have been driven to suicide by cyberbullies. In addition, social media may induce depression and anxiety when children do not receive the online attention they expect.

Here are some helpful mobile safety tips :

• Avoid giving mobile phones to children under 16 years of age. • When your child talks on the phone, make him used a wired headset instead of placing the phone against his ear. • Avoid giving cell phones to children while travelling. The metallic body of the vehicle blocks signals which causes the phone to increase its radiation to catch them. • As a parent, you should set an example by restricting your own mobile phone usage. • It is advisable to take extra care if a mobile phone tower is nearby since your child would be exposed to higher amounts of radiation. • You should safely keep your phones out of your child’s sight at night.

A mobile phone is a learning tool whose technological prowess is undeniable. However, just like any other gadget, it is a double-edged sword that must be used with caution. To ensure your child’s well-being, you, as a parent, must regulate content and moderately restrict excessive use of mobile phones. In the end, one must remember that your mobile phone should be a friend, not a manipulative master.

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#8 Tips On How To Improve Concentration In Kids

#8 Tips On How To Improve Concentration In Kids

( a + b) ^ 2 = a^2 + 2ab… B… Bees… Honey… Mmm sweet… Hungry…I should get a snack… Break time!

Does the above example remind you of your child? Does your child’s attention waver easily when he tries to focus on the task at hand? Is concentrating a challenge? Well, every parent has experienced this at one point or another. It seems impossible to get the little ones to finish their homework without getting distracted! Children are naturally energetic and vivacious. It would be unrealistic to expect that they do not get distracted at all. However, it is possible to improve their concentration skills over a period of time. Before we dive into various concentration exercises and concentration techniques, we must understand what concentration means. Concentration refers to the mental effort we direct towards whatever we’re working on or learning at the moment. There are several factors that affect our ability to concentrate. For e.g. – age, sleep, or stress . Apart from common distractions, underlying physical or mental conditions may also contribute to lack of concentration. Some of them are :

• ADHD ( Attention-deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder). • Developmental delays or disabilities. • Brain injuries. • Anxiety. • Depression. • Concussions or head injuries. • Far-sightedness ( Often accompanied by headaches ).

Here are some tips which teach you how to improve concentration skills :

1] Focus Games & Exercises :

It is an established fact that children learn more by playing. When children are bored, they’re easily distracted. Therefore, as parents, we should incorporate fun games and exercises that improve attention and concentration. Let your child play with regular toys instead of iPads. Scientific evidence suggests that gadgets reduce the attention span and memory power of children. It is wise to use these devices sparingly. Instead of gadgets, your child can be entertained by several concentration exercises such as :

– Thinking games: Games that require thinking, planning and the use of memory will strengthen your child’s focus and concentration. Sudoku, crosswords, puzzles, word searches, card games, and activities like colouring improve your child’s attention for words, numbers, and pictures.

– Sequencing : Sequencing is one of the concentration techniques that greatly benefits children. Tasks such as setting the table, following a recipe, or arranging things in alphabetical order help children improve their focus.

– Sit / Statue / No Blinking! :

These effortless games also help your child concentrate on the task he’s performing. A simple activity like asking him to sit without fidgeting for as long as possible will ultimately work wonders. You can switch things up with an interesting game of Statue or a game where you blink as little as possible during a given period of time. E.g. 3 minutes.

2] A Conducive Environment :

An atmosphere that is calm and soothing might assist your child in concentrating. – Soft instrumental music ( such as baroque classical music) and soft lighting set the mood for studying. – To minimize distractions, all gadgets should be out of sight. If you can’t see them, you won’t think about them. – All the materials required by your child should be kept nearby so he doesn’t need to get up for anything. This sharpens their focus and attention.

In addition to the artificial environment that you create at home, a green, natural environment would also boost concentration tremendously. The benefits of nature have been emphasized since time immemorial. Simply strolling in a park for 15-20 minutes would refresh your mind and increase productivity.

3] A Healthy Diet :

The food your children consume affects their concentration powers. Junk food and foods that are high in sugar make your child sluggish and lethargic. On the other hand, food items such as almonds, eggs, fatty fish, lean meat, blueberries, and spinach raise awareness and simultaneously improve concentration. Greens and fruits contain potent antioxidants that enhance brain functioning.

4] Sleep Well :

Sleep deprivation easily disrupts concentration as well as other cognitive functions, such as memory and attention. The average adult should aim for 7-8 hours of sleep during the night. Most children are also able to concentrate well after a good night’s rest. The power of a 20-minute nap should not be underestimated. When children are well-rested, they’re keen and energetic. This affects their focus and attention positively and helps them study better.

5] Divide Big Tasks Into Smaller Ones :

Performing big tasks in a go can daunt your little one. They may never come around to doing it. When you divide a large task into several smaller ones, your child will feel a sense of accomplishment every time he completes a small task. This will motivate him to do more. It will also be easier for him to focus on a small task rather than a large one. For e.g. Instead of asking your child to finish studying an entire chapter, ask them to finish a few pages or a few paragraphs.

6] Understand How Your Child Learns ( Visual, Auditory, Kinaesthetic) :

Every child learns information in his own, unique way. Some children process information easily when they see it, some when they hear it, and some when they have practical knowledge and can touch it. As a parent, you should understand your child’s method of learning. When you use the method that suits him best, his learning will be better and long-term.

– Visual learners understand information better when they see it. In this case, your child’s concentration will improve when he reads and writes down the learning matter. Repeatedly using flashcards will help your little one understand concepts faster. You could also ask your child to draw what he has been studying. This helps him visualize the matter.

– Auditory learners prefer hearing the information. Such children learn better when they read things out aloud or when they listen to somebody else reading. As a parent, you could use audiobooks more than paperbacks in this scenario. Listening to soft music while studying might also improve their concentration.

– Kinaesthetic learners are tactile learners. They need to touch and feel the subject matter in order to process and understand it. Here, practical applications are more useful while trying to increase the ability to concentrate.

7] Prepare Your Child For The Next Task :

When your child is busy, let him know what he has to do next a few minutes in advance. This especially helps when your child is doing something he enjoys. Undoubtedly, he would be reluctant to stop the activity and start something new. A small heads up prepare your child for whatever is next in his schedule. E.g. Let your child know playtime ends in 5 minutes. Then, he has to finish his homework.

8] Meditate :

One of the multiple benefits of meditation is improved concentration. Meditation doesn’t only involve chanting mantras with closed eyes. Yoga, deep breathing, and other activities help you practice meditation and mindfulness. Simple relaxation techniques coupled with positive imagery help the brain learn new things. Ask your child to close his eyes and imagine he’s paying attention in class. You can ask the following questions :

– Which subject is being taught? – Which chapter are you studying? – Who / What is distracting you? – How will you deal with this distraction?

The above tips on how to develop concentration may work for some and may not work for others. You should consider giving a range of approaches a try. This will help you understand what works best for your child. Even if these tips don’t work, they won’t reduce concentration or cause harm. Consistent efforts have usually paid off. An added bonus is the special time you get to spend with your child.

If nothing works, you should consult a doctor. We shouldn’t overlook the possibility of a serious condition such as brain injuries.

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The Importance Of Reading

Once upon a time in a faraway land, little Snow White stumbled into a tiny cottage owned by dwarves. Having nothing to do, she pulled out a chair and flipped open a book. A great beam of light radiated from the pages. Its glow intensified and minutes later, Snow was sucked in. She had been teleported to another dimension. Clad in rubies and emeralds, she found herself dancing with the crown Prince at his birthday gala. When the clock struck 12, that very beam of light devoured her again. This time, she found herself running away from a wolf dressed in grandma’s clothes. She ran and ran until she arrived at a gingerbread house adorned with candies and treats. As she was about to enter, she was awoken by the echoes of 7 knocks. The dwarves were finally home.

As you skimmed through the above passage, we’re certain that just like Snow White, you were transported to another world. That’s the power of reading. It feeds your imagination and enhances your creativity. Without possessing the ability to read, you wouldn’t have been able to comprehend these sentences. Letters would be gibberish and words would be meaningless rubbish. You wouldn’t be able to read driving signs or follow a recipe or even accept a wedding invite!

Reading is a fundamental skill that must be inculcated from an early age. Getting a headstart allows your child to reap the infinite benefits of reading before others. Here are some of them :

• Neurological Benefits

Children learn at a faster pace during their formative years, especially during the first six years. Their brains absorb information like sponges when they’re young. Vital connections in the brain are made very early in life. At birth, a healthy baby is born with approximately 200 billion active brain cells or neurons. Given the right kind of stimulation, each neuron is capable of sprouting up to 20,000 different dendrites and synapses. When parents perform brain activities like talking, singing, and reading to their child, they’re providing the necessary stimulation to not only strengthen existing links between brain cells but also form new links. By cultivating a love for reading from an early age, you’re also instilling a lifelong love of learning and knowledge.

• Educational Benefits

Reading unlocks the door to your child’s academic success. Research suggests that early readers achieve higher grades in not only Literature but every subject. Children who read have greater general knowledge, a richer lexicon, and are better able to articulate their thoughts. Improved attention spans, better concentration, supreme oral skills, and fluency are additional benefits of reading. They also gain proficiency in their writing skills as they understand grammar and sentence structure. Advanced comprehension skills enable them to think critically. This makes them excellent researchers as well. Therefore, it’s no surprise that reading will give your child the necessary impetus to excel scholastically.

• Psychological Benefits

A loving environment is conducive to growth. A child who learns to read in such a joyful environment will grow in self-confidence and independence.

Reading sparks curiosity about people, places, and things and it also quenches this thirst for knowledge by providing relevant explanations. Other benefits of reading include enhanced creativity and imagination. Reading also proves to be a phenomenal activity if one is looking to spend some quality time with their children.

Early readers will also have an upper hand over their peers. As they’ve learned to read at a leisurely pace, they view reading as an exciting adventure and not a tiresome chore. In a crowded classroom, they won’t have to compete for the teacher’s personal attention. Undoubtedly, their self-esteem is bound to soar when their reading competence helps them progress faster. Such a child will also become a natural and self-confident leader.

• Linguistic Benefits

Reading results in improved linguistic skills in the form of an abundant vocabulary, correct grammar, improved writing, better spelling, and oral eloquence. Research emphasizes that children with a wider vocabulary fare better academically during their early years. Reading also contributes to effective communication skills.

• Safety

Early reading allows children to comprehend important warnings and labels such as ‘ poison ‘, ‘ danger’, ‘ beware’, ‘ stop ‘, etc.

• Relaxation

When you read, you relax your mind and focus on whatever it is that you are reading. Doing so slows down your brain and keeps you calm and tranquil. It is a form of escape that soothes you to the core. Reading is also a fulfilling and productive activity that makes you feel accomplished.

• Discipline

Reading requires concentration and focus. This teaches your child self-discipline. A longer attention span and better memory retention are additional benefits of reading.

• Empathy

While reading, your child will put himself in the character’s shoes. This teaches him empathy which allows him to relate to the character on an emotional level.

You can do the following to inspire your child to read more :

• Make books accessible

Children who become readers often have books and other reading materials available at their homes. Thus, as a parent, you should ensure that there are plenty of books at home. Place the books in an easily accessible corner so that your little one can read as per his convenience.

• Be a role model

Children often emulate their parents’ behavior. When you pick a book up for some leisure reading, your little one will probably do the same. If your child notices your profound love of reading, he will be more inclined to develop the same adoration for books.

• Visit the library frequently

Along with extracurricular activities, you should also encourage reading. You can do so by visiting the library together. The opportunity to choose books of his choice will make your child more enthusiastic about reading. Such library visits can be your very own tradition that your child will fondly remember when he grows older.

• Make reading fun

When you read, make sure you do justice to the narrative. Act out stories, modulate your voice, use your hands, and read with excitement! Remember, a monotonous tone can make the most exciting of stories dreary and boring.

So go ahead, grab a book and spin a magical world just for you and your tiny tot.

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How To Develop Critical Thinking Skills In Toddlers

Children tend to be curious by nature. Therefore, as a parent, you should take advantage of their curiosity to instill habits that hone their critical thinking skills. Critical thinking is an umbrella term that involves scientific, economic, mathematical, historical, and philosophical thought. Such thinking is a frequent response, and habits must be taught from a tender age.

Every ‘ why ‘ is an opportunity for you to get their little brains racing. Please encourage them to observe their surroundings and analyze, interpret, and evaluate the information they have gathered. When they share an opinion with you, ask them why they believe so. This allows them to compartmentalize their knowledge to give you a relevant answer. Such simple activities are fundamental for developing critical thinking.

Once your child masters these skills, he’ll be capable of making the right decisions as he’ll understand the consequences of his actions. This life skill prepares him for challenges that are far more complicated than the multiple-choice questions in his examination. In the real world, often, there is no direct right or wrong answer. In such a situation, your child will be compelled to employ these essential skills to solve problems and make intelligent decisions. When your child thinks critically, the outcome is productive and constructive. In addition, his enhanced creativity will prove to be a vital asset in the future.

This spark of creativity ignited during his childhood will burn passionately for a lifetime. Critical thinking also gives birth to intuitive problem solvers. Rationalizing, planning, organizing, and evaluating ensure a foolproof solution. Ultimately, acquiring this honourable skill set during his childhood will empower him to reason and think independently while tackling obstacles. Today, critical thinking is promising and desirable.

However, it will be a necessity for tomorrow. As such thinking equips your little one with competence, his career prospects will soar. Well-established research has also emphasized the significance of thinking critically time and again. This type of thinking will bless your child with the powers of efficiency, superior communication, logic, reasoning, problem-solving, leadership, persuasion, and productivity.

Parents here are the steps on How to Develop Critical Thinking Skills In Toddlers :

• Encourage discourse –

When your child is allowed to agree or disagree about something, it enables him to think critically. However, disagreeing alone isn’t enough. He should disagree correctly, i.e., and his opinions should be backed by reason and logic. You should always encourage your little one to justify his thinking with examples.

• Ask ‘ why ‘ –

To test whether your child’s knowledge is superficial or not, ask ‘ why.’ For example, Your child tells you that global warming poses a threat to humanity. Instead of automatically agreeing with him, address his opinion with a simple question – Why?

This way, you understand his reasons, beliefs, and perspective while gaining a more in-depth insight into his thinking process.

• Be patient –

After asking your child a question, pause, and allow him to think for a while. When you don’t intervene, he can systematically organize his response and deliver it in a refined manner. This would be better than a haphazard gut reaction. While your toddler is busy framing his answer, you may count upto 60 in your mind.

• Avoid intervening –

You should observe your children’s behaviour before swooping in to complete the task for them. Giving them time is of utmost importance. When you ask them a question that requires thinking critically, provide sufficient information so that they aren’t frustrated, but you must also ensure that you aren’t solving the problem for them.

• Develop hypotheses –

When you and your children are engaging in extracurricular activities, you can spare a moment to form suitable hypotheses with them. For example: During abacus, you can ask, ” What will happen if I add this bead and subtract the other? Let us think together. ” This is a primary exercise on how to develop critical thinking skills in toddlers

• Encourage unique solutions –

Critical thinkers are known to be creative problem solvers. As a parent, you can ask your child how a problem could be solved in various ways. Guide and direct him lovingly during the process. You should also motivate him to think outside the box.

• Co-curricular Activities –

Extracurricular activities like chess, golf, cooking, debating, coding, and robotics are enjoyable for teaching your children how to think critically. They learn to follow sequential orders, improve their communication skills, develop integrity, and master their strategy skills. In this process, they also become team players.

Your children can also indulge in brain activities to develop critical thinking skills. Experimenting with riddles, brainteasers, ethical dilemmas, etc. will strengthen their skills as these activities require creative thinking.

• Talk About Implications –

Thinking critically requires one to think about things thoroughly. Therefore, children must learn about the consequences. Ask – ” What would happen if you did this? Why? ”

You should also ask for clarifications, elaborations, and examples. This will sharpen their thinking skills from an early age.

• Encourage Good Listening –

An ideal critical thinker not only listens but also attempts to understand the other individual’s worldview while giving them the necessary space to think and talk.

• Be Their Role Model –

Children emulate their parents’ behavior. If you think critically, they’ll learn to do the same. When you’re solving a problem, verbalize the process taking place inside your mind. Your toddler will observe you and gradually inherit your phenomenal skills

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Internet Safety For Kids

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Online Safety Tools

As a parent, your child’s safety is always your #1 priority. The first aid kit is stocked to the brim at all times. However, are you equipped to protect your child from the terrors that lurk behind a screen? A survey done by Uninor in schools across seven states in India indicates that 30 percent of Indian children accessing the Internet have experienced some kind of cyber harm. This includes cyberbullying, cyberstalking, hacking and defamation.

The younger your child, the more susceptible he is to the dangers of the Internet. A cyber predator could be right around the corner and you would have no idea if you haven’t paid attention to your child’s online activities. The most common dangers children face online are :

1. Cyberbullying Social media and online games are today’s virtual playground, and that is where most cyberbullying takes place. E.g. – receiving/posting hurtful comments on social media posts. While you do your best to protect your child from cyberbullying, you must ensure your child doesn’t engage in the same.

2. Cyber Predators

Sexual and other predators can stalk children online, exploit their innocence, abuse their trust, and in unfortunate cases, lure them to very dangerous personal encounters.

3. Posting Private Information

Since children are at a very tender age, they do not fully grasp the concept of social boundaries. They can foolishly post personal details online, right from social security numbers to home addresses. They do not realize that even a seemingly harmless location tag can be heavily misused by online miscreants.

4. Phishing

Phishing refers to the use of emails that try to trick people into clicking on malicious links or attachments. The cybercriminals who devise these emails observe sites that are popular with children and gather information such as email addresses and friends’ names to use in their scams. ( E.g. – It may offer your child a ‘ prize ‘ in exchange for your credit card details). Therefore, you must teach your children to be wary of emails from strangers from a young age.

5. Undesirable Posts

While children are at risk of being exposed to gruesome content ( both violent and sexual ) , they could also be haunted by their own posts. Anything you put on the Internet stays there forever. What they believe is amusing today could be embarrassing tomorrow. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

These virtual hazards are just as powerful as real ones. Countless teens have been driven to suicide by cyberbullies. The surviving victims of these dangers must’ve experienced unimaginable physical, psychological, and financial trauma.

As a concerned parent, you can follow these steps and learning techniques for keeping your kids safe online:

1. Communicate Openly

As soon as your child is old enough to access the Internet, talk to him about what type of content he’s consuming, who he’s talking to – and continue this conversation as he grows older. Healthy discourse is vital for keeping your kids safe online. At all times, let them know it’s okay to make mistakes and that you’ll be there for them no matter what. Your child must trust you for him to tell you about any unsavoury online experiences. If your child is being bullied online, you might detect changes in his behaviour in real life. Please pay heed to these signals before the damage becomes irreparable. It’s also critical to teach them about their online reputation and how they must be careful about how they behave, interact with people and represent themselves in such a public forum. They must always remember that the internet isn’t private.

2. Screens And Devices Where You Can See Them

The computer should preferably be placed in a central location in your home so you can keep an eye on your children when they use it. For mobile devices, you can set them to forget Wi-Fi passcodes. This way, you’ll know they’re going online when they ask you for the password. You may also enforce a ‘ no devices in the bedroom’ policy. For younger children, you might want to check their browser histories so you’re aware of the content they’re viewing. 3. Parental Controls

Several browsers, applications, devices, and Internet Service Providers offer parental controls. For example, the SafeSearch Filters feature on Google will block sites with explicit sexual material. Although not 100 percent accurate, parental controls can help prevent your child from seeing and accessing the most violent or sexual material. While most parental controls are offered for free, paid security options are also available.

4. Know Your Children’s Online Friends

Children and young people can be alarming naïve about who they are chatting with if they are not taught to be cyber wise from an early age. Thus, you should monitor who your child is talking to. If it’s a school friend or a neighbour, it’s probably alright. If it’s a stranger who insists on meeting them? Red flag!

5. Privacy

Encourage your children to keep their accounts private. Enlighten them about the threats posed by revealing personal details, locations, intimate photos online. Before they post something, they should ask themselves if they would share those details with a stranger. If the answer is no, they probably shouldn’t post it.

6. Lead By Example

Be an ideal role model by being mindful of your own online activities. Consequently, your children will emulate the positive behaviour.

Ultimately, your unflinching desire to protect your little ones from masked predators online shouldn’t hamper their experience. They must explore the social, educational, and entertaining sides of the Internet on their own. After teaching them the basics ( i.e. reporting inappropriate behavior, blocking someone, and keeping information private) , you have to trust them to be careful and respectable netizens.

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Importance Of Early Childhood Education

” Why does my baby have a fever? ” ” How many oranges can kids eat in one day? ” ” Best extracurriculars for children. ” ” Hair lice remedies. ” ” Parenting tips for dummies. ”

This is probably what every parent’s search history would reveal. No matter how old your child is, you, as a parent, will worry about one thing or the other. Thus, you have equipped yourself with the knowledge to deal with every potential problem. Right from health to education, you want to be prepared for it all. In this process, one mustn’t sideline the importance of early childhood education.

While browsing for the best preschools for your little one, you should know why doing so is crucial. Early childhood education refers to the period from birth up to the age of 8 years. It is more than preparation for primary school. It aims at the holistic development of a child’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs in order to build a sound foundation for lifelong learning and well-being.

Well-established research constantly emphasizes the importance of early childhood education as an essential building block for a child’s future success. During your fledgling’s younger years, his remarkable brain is capable of absorbing information like a sponge. At this stage, his potential for learning things is at its peak. Attending an early childhood education programme will not only improve your child’s language and motor skills but also develop the necessary cognitive skills to advance to primary school.

At this juncture, enrolling your little one in a right brain education programme would be an excellent choice. Right brain development activities have innumerable benefits. When the right hemisphere of the brain is unlocked, your child is introduced to a plethora of learning opportunities. Attending a quality early childhood education programme is known to improve your child’s health as well. The quality care provided in these programmes influences his learning and development. Additionally, his socio-emotional development is less likely to be adversely affected. In fact, his social skills would flourish in such an environment.

The benefits of early childhood education include :• Socialization :

Socialization with individuals apart from the child’s family in a safe environment is of vital importance. Parents must support their children’s transition into their friendship groups. The earlier you accomplish this, the better. Why? This helps your little one overcome shyness and gain confidence.

• Co-operation :

At an early childhood education programme, children learn how to share, co-operate, and remain patient. In this process, they’re guided by thoughtful professionals who have their best interests at heart. This is especially important for an only child who is unaccustomed to sharing at home. This is a crucial lesson that must be taught at the earliest.

• Effective Learning :

Lessons must be taught in a fun, interactive, and exciting manner to spark a thirst for lifelong learning. Your child will thus, be equipped to embrace life’s challenges with enthusiasm, eagerness, and determination.

• Teamwork :

Several preschool activities revolve around teamwork to teach your toddler the importance of respecting other opinions, listening and co-operating. Instilling this value at a tender age ultimately makes your child socially attuned and more employable.

• Resilience :

By establishing a consistent, secure, and just social environment, teachers can foster resilience in children. Clearly defined expectations and predictable consequences help children manage their emotions optimally. This builds the foundation for their coping strategies to deal with life’s challenges in the future.

• Patience :

As adults, we encounter situations that test our patience on a daily basis. An early childhood education programme provides an abundance of social experiences where your child can explore and practice patience. At this tender age, the important virtue of patience is imparted. E.g. – your child learns to share the teacher’s attention, waits in line for his turn at the swing, etc.

• Confidence and self-esteem :

Positive interactions with teachers and other children in the classroom will promote a secure and healthy image of your child in his mind. This enables him to embrace life’s problems and obstacles confidently.

An after school programme that focuses on right brain development activities will teach your child the above life skills and values while tapping the unadulterated potential of the right brain. In a left-brain dominant world, a right-brain child will undoubtedly thrive as he’ll have an upper hand due to his holistic brain development.

He’ll be capable of logically assessing a situation and coming up with creative solutions. Right brain training consists of activities that can be conducted at home. For example – using flashcards, pretend play, music, dramatic story-telling, mandala, imaging, etc. Along with lighting up the right hemisphere of the brain, these activities necessitate parental involvement. This strengthens the parent-child bond.

By taking an active role in the early childhood education process, parents can help ensure that their child has all the support they need to develop to their full potential. Parental involvement creates a positive experience for children and helps them excel academically. Such involvement extends teaching outside the classroom. An active and engaged parent will also know where his little one is competent and where he requires more attention.

Therefore, the parent can focus his attention on those areas. This will ultimately improve the child’s confidence in his abilities. Time and again, the significance of parental involvement in a child’s early years has been emphasized. What better way exists to engage as a parent than by involving yourself in right brain development activities with your toddler? The activities at home, in addition to the after school programme, will bless your child with an arsenal of lifelong values and skills. However, the only weapon your child will need to overcome life’s hurdles is your constant love and encouragement

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Holistic Brain Development

Comprehending the development of a child is an indispensable obligation of a parent. Early childhood development sets the foundation for everlasting learning, behaviour, and health. A child’s primitive experiences shape his brain and his capacity to learn. Holistic brain development is implicitly vital in the process of a child’s proliferation. It builds the mechanisms that allow him to battle daily stresses and challenges. At birth, newborns begin with exceedingly similar brains and brain structures.

There are ‘sensitive periods’ during a child’s development when the wiring of the brain for specific abilities is established. Holistic brain development assists in the wiring of the brain connections through the provision of responsive, nurturing and stimulative experiences. Children who are well supported and nurtured physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually will develop multitudinous neural connections that will serve them well throughout their life course. It establishes a child’s social competence, cognitive skills, emotional welfare, linguistic abilities, literary adroitness, physical capabilities and is a market for academic well-being and life resilience. There are innumerable factors that influence a child’s overall healthy brain development.

Education, health, social status, access to stimulating and conducive early learning environments, adequate nutrition, clean water and a secured and nurturing parent-child relationship contribute immensely to a child’s overall brain development. Holistic brain development creates a  quintessential blend of play and fun along with an ensured healthy social, physical and emotional development in children. Play contributes to all aspects of children’s health and development constituting mental and physical well being, educational development, brain development, language development opportunities, spatial mathematical learning, creativity and the formation of one’s individual identity.

The key is to strike a sensible balance between these two factors as they result in significant brain development. Providing opportunities to play freely and actively is a phenomenal way of promoting brain development. Holistic brain development seeks to simultaneously address the physical, emotional, rational, intellectual and spiritual aspects of a child ’s life.  It is attained through keen parental observation. There are many proven techniques used in observing children.

A child’s APGAR ( Activity, Pulse, Grimace, Appearance, and Respiration)  test scores must be considered. This test is conducted right after a child’s birth. Over a period of 9 months, a toddler’s gross motor skills and fine motor skills will develop. It includes rooting, sucking and swallowing reflex ,grasp reflex, walking reflex, pupils reacting to light, opening of eyes when held upright, blinking or opening of eyes widely to sudden sound, startle reaction to sudden sound, closing eyes to sudden bright light, flexing of upper and lower limbs, turning of head to perceive objects, establishment of firm eye contact and visual senses.

The first two years of a child’s life, the sensorimotor stage, is when babies’ and toddlers’  knowledge and understanding are chiefly drawn from the physical activity and their senses – sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. Toys play an enormous role in developing a child’s brain in a holistic manner. Parents should actively participate in playing games with their toddlers for their holistic enrichment. His intrinsic abilities and academic brilliance ultimately rely on the conducive atmosphere provided and parental efforts undertaken for holistic brain development.

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