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Most times, how comfortable your baby is depends entirely on the state of his diaper. So choose carefully. The best thing to do is to use a combination of store-bought diapers and soft, cotton homemade ones. Disposable diapers are made of synthetic material and used over a long period may give your baby diaper rash, so use when you’re out or at night to ensure that your baby gets his full night’s undisturbed sleep. During the day, use the light, cotton homemade diapers that let his skin breathe.

Who would have thought that while we are still warming up to the idea of buying organic, even baby-food would take a fancy to the big O. Nature’s Basket from the Godrej fold (in collaboration with the US-based brand Earth’s Best) has just launched a range of foods (for toddlers) that claims to be organic, with no genetically engineered ingredients, artificial colors and flavors, preservatives, added salt or sugar. It’s also vegan (doesn’t have any animal products), and is wheat free, therefore safer in case your baby is allergic to wheat. This “curious” new addition to the baby-food shelf includes pureed veggies and fruits packaged in neat little jars, and comes with an USDA (organic) certification.

We all know that childhood obesity is an emerging global health epidemic. Now metros in India have caught up with their western counterparts with scary statistics: In Delhi alone, more that 20 percent of school children aged 10 to 16 are either overweight or clinically obese. Obesity is on the rise among children in states as diverse as Kerala and Punjab. Rapid urbanization, unhealthy food choices and a decrease in physical activity are to blame. Television viewing and eating fried foods was directly linked to obesity in children. Hence it is advisable for the parents to encourage their children to lead a physically active lifestyle and cut back on high-calorie foods such as fried snacks, soft drinks and sweets.

You may decide to have your child tested for ADHD once you notice certain symptoms and changes in your child: if your child has consistently poor academic performance despite studying. If he’s irritable and moody at most times, if he does not seem to listen to you despite admonishments. If these behavioral traits disrupt his day to day life, get him tested. Your child’s doctor will test him for ADHD essentially via a clinical assessment, aided by tools such as rating questionnaires. He‘ll also ask you open ended and focused questions and use ADHD symptom checklists or ADHD rating scales. The tests are administered worldwide, and are fairly accurate in making a diagnosis.

Plan for a craft party for children in the 6 to10 age groups. Give them the option of making dolls out of various materials. Some may like to make a doll out of corn, while others may prefer to bring a doll along and dress it up.

Plan for a craft party for children in the 6 to10 age groups. Give them the option of making dolls out of various materials. Some may like to make a doll out of corn, while others may prefer to bring a doll along and dress it up.

1. Teach your child attention enhancing tasks, such as beading, coloring, cutting and stitching.
2. Increase his finger motor coordination, with plasticine or clay modeling, cutting using scissors, making finger puppets and hoping and skipping games.
3. Redirect his extra energy into physically challenging sports such as swimming or football.

A good way to encourage your child to read is by showing her a movie of a book adapted for screenplay. If she enjoys the film, she may like to discover the book as well. Films such as To Kill a Mockingbird or Gone with the Wind, besides being great reads are also critically acclaimed films. You could show her different cinematic adaptations of a book – pride and prejudice, for instance, and initiate a discussion with her on how there are so many interesting anecdotes in the original book that the films may have left out. Other books and films combination that you may try are Little Women with its sequels Little Men and Jo’s Boys and Shakespeare’s plays (include films such as Maqbool and omkara). And if she finds the original too heavy, get her abridged versions.