Develop Early Number Sense in Children

 Developing number sense in children can help them excel in Maths

 Why Maths is Important for Children?
How do you respond when your child asks you why he needs to learn maths.Do you have a positive way to explain or is your approach negative?
Just like reading skills,developing early math skills in children is equally important.Maths can help children solve real-life problems.

• Reasoning and Logic-Maths teaches children reasoning and connecting ideas logically.
• Maths in everyday life-While shopping we check the weight and size of food packets.This is where we apply maths.We use maths in our kitchen by the amount of ingredients we need to make a recipe.

What is Number Sense?
Number sense is the ability of a person to understand numbers, their operation and also the ability to use this understanding in various flexible ways.It is as important to maths learning as phonemic awareness has been to reading.Young children develop number sense by visualizing and exploring the basic counting technique.This gradually helps them understand number size operation and place value.

 Maths and Number Sense Relation
It is often said that number sense is universal but it may take years to learn maths ability.Number sense takes root at an early age.Some preschoolers may seem to have well-developed understanding of counting techniques acquired through  informal interactions with parents or family members
Researchers have tried to link the two and find out if developing number sense in children can actually improve their maths ability later in life.

Advantages

• Children with good number sense have the ability to develop their own procedures for numerical operations.
• Can easily recognize number patterns.
• Have a good sense of numerical magnitude.

I would like to give you a simple example of  how two children of the same age group(one having a good number sense and the other without developed number sense) figure out biggest number between two given numbers(say,3 and 7)
Child with not so advanced number sense knows that 7 is bigger than three,but the other child knows that 7 is 4 bigger than 3.
This is where maths and number sense both are used automatically.

Games to Develop Number Sense in Children

•  Number Guessing-Put a few crayons in a box and ask your child to quickly guess the number of crayons.
• Counting-Ask your child to count the objects on the table,number of toys in a basket and so on.
• Sorting-Teach him fractions by giving him a bread,cut it into half and spread jam on one half.Then say one of two pieces that is 1/2 piece has jam.

How Pretend Play affects your Child's Brain

Pretend Play - An effective tool for cognitive development
Let me first tell you what cognitive development in early childhood means and how it is associated with pretend play in children.
Cognitive Development:It is the changing process of perception,thought and learning that starts from infancy to adulthood and thee abilities are associated with reasoning,problem-solving and memory.
Young children discover new things by manipulating toys and various objects while playing and while doing so they are developing  mathematical thinking, language and social skills.

Pretend Play and Child's Magical World of Imagination
Parents know that play is a vital component for optimal development of children but most of them are unaware of the power of pretend play.Pretend play is the cornerstone of a child's world where he is free to explore numerous possible combinations of emotions and ideas.Science has confirmed that such type of play has important positive effects on child's learning abilities.Since it involves role taking and improvisation it helps in cognitive development in the child's early years.Child's language and social skills too are built through such play.Some studies have also associated pretend play with certain cognitive strategies like problem solving,self-regulation and understanding rules.

What Children Learn

• Builds Courage
• Promotes Social Skills
• Teaches Language and Communication Skills
• Develops Problem solving abilities
• Helps Emotional Development
• Boosts Confidence and Self-Esteem
• Develops Abstract Thinking
• Helps visualize things through imagination
• Builds Leadership Qualities

How Parents Can Encourage

• Choose a Theme-Give him a theme.You can talk to your child about his super-hero ,imaginary character or anything that excites him and play some games with him.You can also give your child a situation and ask him how he would like to react if his super-hero wanted your child's help.
• Inspire- Your job is to convey the child a sense of involvement, but remember to step back once the play is underway.Let your child imagine and play in his own direction.
• Time and Space-Choose a play space for your child where he can play as long as he wants to without you asking him to pick up and organize toys.Let him create a little mess so that his imagination can run wild.
• Give some Props-Provide your child with various toys,blocks ,empty boxes and costumes of super heroes.He can also play with his favorite hat o sunglasses.
• Do Not Interrupt-This is very important.Resist all urges to interrupt your child's play and never try to clear up the space or try to fix things while he is playing.

There is enough evidence to support the various connections of pretend play and cognitive development.Children who do not get the opportunity to experience such play might show delayed progress in certain academic areas like mathematics, science and literature.These children may also show diminished multidimensional skills.Hence,parents must encourage and provide a rich environment to stimulate the brain of young children.

Good Dental Hygiene Tips for Children

Teach Children Good Dental Hygiene
Parents often have a tough time deciding how best they can encourage kids to maintain good dental hygiene.It is vitally important that parents assist children in understanding the importance of their teeth and gums health.Parents sometimes find it hard to judge when they should schedule their child's first trip to the dentist.We all know about plaque and cavities but don't know what is the best way to prevent it.A routine teeth-cleaning habit from an early age will help them develop a good dental hygiene.

When to Start?
For New born and  Infants-

• A child has only 20 primary teeth at birth but we cannot see them.Dental care should start even before the child's first tooth appears.Wipe your baby's gums with a soft and sterile cloth at least twice a day after feeding.This will prevent the build up of bacteria.
• At 6 months,you would notice teeth break the gum.Use a soft-bristled brush to clean your child's teeth.Brush with little water twice a day
• You may consider visiting your dentist when the child's first tooth appears.Schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist as he/she has additional training in addressing kid's dental health needs.

Important Tip

1. Do no let your child sleep with a bottle filled with milk or any other sweetened liquid.Instead, you can fill the baby bottle with water. 
2. Do not coat your child's pacifier with honey or any sweet and sugary substance.

For Toddlers and preschoolers-

• Children can be taught to brush their own teeth.A child size toothbrush and a pea-sized toothpaste should be used.Children can start using fluoride toothpaste.Your supervision is a must as children tend to swallow most of the tooth paste.The excess of toothpaste should be spit and rinsed with water.Too mush fluorine can cause permanent stain on your child's teeth.
• Visiting the dentist after the child's first birthday is also a good time to learn about new preventive techniques in dental research.

Important Tip

1. If your child is experiencing pain during teething,let him chew a clean and cold wet cloth or a cold spoon
2. Children must brush immediately having medicines as the sugar in some medicines can damage teeth enamel.

For Big Kids -

• When permanent teeth start appearing parents should be even more vigilant.The routine can be a little unpleasant for both of you but you must explain why brushing twice a day and flossing will help them keep a healthy mouth.
• Follow-ups with the dentist can help you identify early dental problems and it will also familiarize the child with the dental procedures.

Important Tip-

1. Encourage children to eat nutritious diet rich in vegetables and fruits.
2. Children must drink plenty of water and restrict drinking sweetened drinks.
3. Avoid having food that has high sugar content.
4. Flossing at least once a day is a must. 

How to Brush your Child's Teeth

• Follow a routine,it means brushing your child's teeth at the same time everyday.
• Thoroughly brush the child's teeth and follow the same brushing pattern.
• Allow your child to spit excess toothpaste by taking small breaks.
• Choose a clean and safe place to brush to avoid any injury to your child's mouth.

Prevent Dental Injury in Children

• Always use car seats and belts that are approved and safe for infants.
• When your child is learning to walk be extra cautious and child proof your home.
• Encourage your child to wear a mouth guard while playing sports such as hockey,soccer and baseball.Mouth guards protect teeth from severe injury.

 Important Dental Vocabulary children should know

1. Decay(Cavities)-Tooth structure destroyed by bacteria .
2. Enamel-A hard material that protects the outer portion of the teeth.
3. Bacteria - Germs or tooth bugs.
4. Flossing-A thread like material used to clean contact areas between teeth.
5. Fluoride-A mineral that strengthens teeth enamel and prevents decay.
6. Filling-A metal or porcelain material  used to restore lost tooth structure.
7. Dentin-Inner layer of tooth structure.
8. Dentist-A person who is trained to diagnose and treat overall oral health acre needs.
9. Jawbone-A hard bone structure that anchors the teeth and supports the face.
10. Molars-Three back teeth used for grinding food.
11.  Plaque-A sticky colorless film which usually  is undigested food particles mixed with saliva and bacteria forming a constant layer on teeth.
12. Sealant-A thin and clear substance which is applied to the biting surface of teeth to prevent decay.

  A great smile comes from routine teeth cleaning habits and proper diet.Work with your children and practice these simple yet effective activities and make it a habit for them.Keep your children healthy and smiling!

Please share this article so that more and more people are made aware of the basic dental hygiene tips in order to have healthy gums and teeth.:))

 

Sleep Tricks for Children

Help your child have a Good and Sound sleep
Sleep is the power source of our body.It recharges our brain and keeps our mind alert.Young children need to have enough sleep.It is  important for their growth and brain development.Good sleep restores energy in their little bodies and it also helps parents get some free time.With long working hours for  parents and packed schedules for school and other activities regular sleeping habit in children is pushed back.We often think that children missing naps and late bed times is no big deal but the consequences can greatly affect their psychological wellbeing.
Children and Sleep
Sound and good sleep is very important for growth and  development of children.There are a few things which are essential for healthy sleep.

•  Quality of sleep-This means uninterrupted sleep.It is essential for the development of child's nervous system.
• Length of sleep-Sufficient amount of sleep is important.This varies with the age of the child.
• Naps-Naps are different from sleep.Children should have a regular nap time.Yes,timing plays an important role here.A good nap helps your child to be more alert.

 Sleep Disturbances in Children
At any stage if your child has problems with sleep then the consequences can have a negative effect on him.Sleep deprived children will find it difficult to concentrate in classrooms and will also have problems in their social relationships.

Signs of Sleep Disturbance  

-Your child is drowsy or finds it difficult to stay awake through the day .                                      

-Snores or breathes with pauses in night.                                                 

-Frequently wakes up or does not sleep well though the night         

Consequences of Disturbed Sleep
-Lack of concentration.
-Learning problems due to poor memory.
-Mood and behavioral problems.
-Poor performance and delay in learning
-Injuries and accidents


Action Plan for Parents
Here is an age by age guide mentioning the hours of sleep required by children and how parents can help them sleep through the night.
Newborns
-Put the child to sleep when he is sleepy and not asleep.
-Do not cover your kids with blankets and bedsheets.It might cause SID(Sudden Infant Deaths)
-Let your child sleep on his back.This is again to avoid SID.
-Encourage your child to sleep in the night.
Infants
-Infants usually require 9-12 hours of sleep during might
-3 to 4 naps of 1 to 2 hours duration is common.
-Be consistent with the day time naps and bed time schedules.
-Sooth the baby by making the room sleep friendly.
Toddlers 
-Toddlers require 12-14 hours of sleep.
-Nap times also reduce to 1 nap in the day for about 2-3 hours.
-Consistent sleep-routine is important .
-Encourage your child to sleep independently.He can pick his favorite stuffed toy or pillow and sleep with it.
Preschoolers
-Most preschoolers need 11-13 hours of sleep during night.
-Some preschoolers even stop taking day time naps.
-Make the room a dark and quiet place for your child.
-Do not keep gadgets like computers in the bed room.
-Don't forget that sticking to the bedtime schedule is important.
School going Children
-Make bedtime sleep quiet and enjoyable by letting  children pick a story book for bedtime story,taking a warm bath before going to bed,brushing teeth and putting on their night pajama.
-Remember to stay on track and explain to your child the importance of regular bedtime routine.

It is the responsibility of every parent to instill good and proper sleeping habits in children.Infusing this habit will help us raise healthy,happy and more sociable children.

Delicious Indian Chutneys(Dips)

In one of my recent posts i had mentioned about Green Cilantro Dip(Green Dhania chutney).Today, I will share some more tasty Indian chutney recipes with you.You can have then with Idlis,Dosas or with your favorite tikkis.These chutneys are easy to make and you will need very few ingredients to make them.

Coconut Chutney:
You will Need
Scraped coconut-1/2 cup
Roasted chana dal-3 tablespoons
Green chilli-1
Salt- to taste
For Tempering
Refined oil-2 teaspoons
Red chilli-2
Curry leaves-4-5
Mustard seeds-1/2 teaspoon
Urad dal-1/2 teaspoon
  
Method
Put the scraped coconut,green chilli,roasted chana dal and salt in a blender and blend to make a fine paste.Take it out in a bowl.
In a small pan add 2 teaspoons of oil and as the pan gets heated add the mustard seeds,curry leaves,urad dal and red chillies.Turn off the flame and pour the tempering on the chutney.

***If you do not have roasted chana dal, you can dry roast the chana dal in a pan for 3-4 minutes and use it in the chutney.***
Tastes Best-when served with idli ,dosa,uttapum.

Yogurt and Mint Chutney
You will Need
Fresh mint leaves-1 bunch
Fresh yogurt-1/4 cup
Green chilli-1
Lime juice-1teaspoon
Water- 2-3 teaspoons
Salt-to taste

Method
We will first make the mint chutney.Put the washed mint leaves,chillies,salt in a blender and add 2-3 tsp of water and blend to make a nice paste.Pour it into a serving bowl and add the lime juice and mix it properly.Now beat the curd well with a spoon and slowly add it to the mint chutney mixing it occasionally.
Tastes Best -with tikkis and pakoras.


Tangy Groundnut Chutney
You will Need
scraped coconut- 1/4 cup
Tamarind Pulp- 4teaspoons
Sesame seeds-3 teaspoons
Garlic flakes-3-4
Salt-to taste
Water-3-4 teaspoons

Method
Put all the above ingredients in a blender and make a fine paste.
Tastes Best-with roti/chapattis or rice.

Tomato and Yogurt Chutney
You will Need
Ripe tomatoes-2
Curd-1 cup
Salt
Green Chilly-1
oil-1 teaspoon

For Tempering
Oil-2.5 teaspoon
curry leaves-4-5
Mustard seeds-1/4 teaspoon
Sesame seeds-1/4 teaspoon
Asofitida-1/2 teaspoon

Method
To make Tomato chutney-Wash the tomatoes and cut them into small pieces.Cut the gree chillies too.
In a blender add the chopped chillies and tomatoes along with salt to make a smooth paste.
In the mean time add a pinch of salt to the curd and beat it properly.
Heat a pan and add 1 teaspoon of oil and add the tomato chutney.Cook it for 4-5 minutes till the paste is properly cooked and has become a little dry.
Cool the cooked tomato chutney.
Take another pan,heat it and add 2.5 teaspoons of oil,add curry leaves ,asefitida,mustard seeds and sesame seeds and let it splutter.Then turn the gas flame off and add beaten curd into the pan.Mix it properly.
Add the tomato chutney to the tempered curd.Mix again properly.
Tastes Best-with upma,rice and even idly.

Music Can Improve Kid's Brain Development

Music Lessons for Brain Development in Young Children

Music is loved by people from all cultures and young children naturally love music.When my son was 14 months old he used to hum to the beat of the songs i played on my laptop.I'm not saying that all children who love music will grow up to be prodigies but as parents there is a lot we can do to stimulate different areas of the child's brain through music.

Research says
There is evidence that a child can respond to sound and music inside a mother's womb.Trillions of nerve cells are sprouting every day in an unborn child's brain.After birth,the child's brain is still not completely developed.The early years in a child's life are a period of incredible development.
It has been discovered that music training can significantly improve brain development in young children.Several studies and research have also established the fact that music lessons can also help young children improve memory.
Researchers have used brain-scanning technology and found that young children who took music training over a period of one year have shown different brain development as compared to children who did not get any music training.After a year children with music training performed better in memory tests that is correlated with maths,intelligence and literacy.
These changes were observed in musically trained children in the age group of four to six years.

Memory,Intelligence and Music
Music enhances two specific types of reasoning skills in young children.

• language Analytical Reasoning- It is required while solving equations,and seeking quantitative results.

• Spatial Temporal Reasoning-It is used specifically in activities like playing chess.This type of reasoning is used while visualizing and transforming objects in time and space.Required while solving calculus and algebra.

Music for children with developmental issues
Researchers have also found that music can be used as an effective strategy in children with developmental issues like dyslexia and autism.There is enough evidence that children with autism can benefit immensely by musical therapy.Music can help these children cope better in stress,better self-regulation and also improved improve communication and interpersonal skills.

Parents Role
From birth to age six is a period of rapid development in children and music for them is a way of knowing..Introduce your child to the magical world of music through songs,rhymes and hand clapping activities.
Parents must provide a rich learning environment for children to nurture their musical abilities.If your child is not ready for music lessons you can still sing different songs and rhymes with him and dance.Put on some good music with energetic beats and dance with him and ask him to imitate your movements.
Casually introduce your child to musical instruments.Help him make his own musical instrument.Use rice,beans,rubber bands and old shoe boxes to make a guitar or drum.
Sing a song with your child when your stuck in a traffic jam or simply play songs while you are in the car.
Edewcate  is a great website that has some of the best collections of rhymes and songs for little children.It's my personal favorite and my son simply loves it.
 
Some Interesting Facts
-Musically trained children score higher in SATs.
-Piano lessons in preschoolers helped them score 34% higher in Spatial Temporal testing.
-Children who learn by rhythms are usually good at learning fractions.
-Students who are band members are good at maths and language.

Healthy Summer Coolers for Kids

 Simple and Quick Summer Coolers
It's summer time and the temperatures are considerably above normal.Summer is also the time for some refreshing and chilling coolers.How do you beat the scorching heat?Do you prefer aerated cold drinks or make fresh and healthy coolers at home?
Come and explore some refreshing and healthy coolers that are all natural-yes,without any preservatives.

Healthy Ragi Drink:
You  will need-
Ragi flour-2 tablespoons
Water-1.5 cups
Buttermilk-3Cups(See recipe below)
Salt-1.5 teaspoons
Green chilli-1finely chopped(optional)
Onion-1/2 finely chopped

Method-

• In a pan dry roast the ragi flour stirring it constantly for 2 minutes.
• Take another boil 1.5 cups of water and add salt and turn the flame off and add ragi flour.It is very important that you keep stirring the ragi flour after mixing it with water.Make sure there are no lumps formed.Cool it.
• Mix the buttermilk and add chopped green chillies and onion.
• Slowly pour the ragi mix into the buttermilk stirring it constantly.Do nor pour all the ragi mix at one time.Do it little by little.
• Serve chilled.

 Refreshing Thirst Quenching Nimboo Paani(Fresh lime juice):
This cooler can be made either with salt or sugar.
You  will need-
Fresh Lime-2Nos
Salt-2 teaspoon/Sugar-3 teaspoon
Water-3cups

Method-

• Wash and cut the lime and squeeze the juice out with a squeezer or with hand into a glass.If you are doing it without a squeezer then make sure you take out all the seeds from the lime.
• Add salt/sugar according to your taste.
• Stir it properly till the salt/sugar dissolves.
• Serve it chilled or just have it right away! 

Taste of Simple Homemade Buttermilk (Chhachh):
You  will need-
Low-fat curd-3cups
Salt-1.5 teaspoons
Ginger-very small piece finely chopped-1/4 teaspoon
White Pepper-a pinch(optional)
Finely chopped coriander leaves

Method-

• Blend  the curd along with salt and ginger.Pour into a glass and add a pinch of white pepper on top.
• Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.
• Serve chilled.

Carrot Surprise:
You  will need-
Carrots- 2-3 medium size
Sugar-2-3 tablespoons
Almonds-3
Milk-2.5 cups

Method-

• Wash the carrots properly and peel the skin out.
• Grate the carrots with a grater.
• Soak the almonds in water for 20 min.
• Boil the milk and cool it.
• In a pan saute the grated carrots for 10-15 minutes stirring it constantly till the raw smell of carrots disappears.Let it cool.
• In a blender add the grated carrots,sugar,almonds and milk and blend to make a fine smoothie.
• Pour it into a bowl and refrigerate it for 1 hour
• Serve chilled.

Watermelon Ice Pops:

You  will need-
De-seeded watermelon-1
Honey-2-3 tablespoons
Lime juice-2teaspoon
Milk-4-5 tablespoon
Ice pop mold

Method-

• Cut the De-seeded watermelon and put in a blender along with lime juice and milk-blend to make a fine smooth puree.
• Pour the puree into a bowl -add honey and  mix properly.
• Pour this into the ice pop molds and deep freeze it for 6-7 hours.