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Can you share the next few parts to this video series?? was interesting ...

On a typical day, how many times do you say NO to your child? How often have you felt the urge to say NO, but ended up saying YES just because you didn't want to upset your child? Read on to find out how and when to say NO without the guilt or stress.

'Wake up', 'Eat fast', 'Put away your toys'.. the list of commands you give your child each day is endless. But, does your child listen? Here are some tricks to get your child to listen and cooperate.

Your young child insists on watching his favourite cartoons on your mobile while eating; he refuses to go to sleep without watching more cartoons on TV.You wonder if you should just completely ban the use of TV and other devices in the house. Lets face it - in todays world, technology is all around us. We cannot stop our children. But we can help them balance their screen time and use of digital devices with other activities.

As your child grows you would naturally want your daughter to give up this habit. You have probably tried to do so in many ways, and none of them have worked. Many infants get into the habit of sucking the thumb or fingers because of the natural sucking reflex, which they also find very comforting. Some babies cling on to an object such as a soft toy, or baby blanket. Yes, it is difficult to break the habit, threats only make the child feel insecure and bribes dont work. Usually, the habit wears off gradually. As children become more engaged in activities, play and learning at school, the habit tends to diminish and finally disappear at school. The same applies at home too. They will suck the thumb or fingers only when they are tired, hungry, upset or feeling alone. Connect with your child at these times with a warm hug and try to engage her with fun conversation. As long as the frequency of the habit is reducing, give your child time to gradually give up the habit on her own. Avoid making comments, instead pay attention to her stories, her play and activities.

Dear parent
It seems you have your hands full with your 4 year old! Homeschooling your child is a great idea, and something that a lot of Indian parents are opting for these days. You have to start by choosing a curriculum that best suits your child's learning style. For more information and guidance, you can follow any number of Indian parent blogs to learn how to start homeschooling your child. Some examples are: https://afathersheartbeat.com/start-homeschooling-india/ and https://thatindianmom.com/ These also offer ideas on making studies interesting and fun. You can also refer to books such as 'Give your child the world' by Jamie Martin to access the list of recommended books for all ages.
With regard to her being moody, children this age are moody because they are gradually learning to be independent and yet at the same time are still dependent on their parents. You can help you child feel independent by giving her choices, within limits, for some daily activities. For example, Would you like to paint or play with blocks? Would you like to bathe or brush first?
Not sharing at this age is common. You can enable the siblings to take turns with the toys, and praise them when they play cooperatively with each other. You can say to your daughter, "Its so kind of you to share with your brother" but avoid offering material rewards, such as candy to encourage her.
Its also a good idea to set simple, clear family rules and establish routines for her. Tell her why you're setting the rules and involve her in setting these rules,and deciding the consequences if the rules are not followed. For example, 'Fried and junk food only on weekends, fruits and vegetables the rest of the week for the entire family'. Be friendly, but firm and consistent when enforcing the rules, and remember to follow the rules yourself!
All the best!

It must be difficult and overwhelming when your child is given comfort by other family members. Parents know and do what is best for their children. Your child seeking comfort with other family members could be because he is more comfortable with them or he knows how to get what he wants from them. Its difficult to set rules for your child when other family members do not respect those rules. One way to handle this is to handle him in ways that make you his comfort zone. To do this build a strong bond with your child by connecting with his emotions, his interests so that he builds trust in you and feels safe with you. Then he will be more ready to cooperate with you. Also, pick the few most important things you want him to listen to and let go off the rest. If possible, speak to your family members about the rules you would like to follow for your child. When you give them a reason they may be more cooperative. You will also have to gently but firmly keep reminding your family members and child to follow your rules.

While its normal for children to cry it's not always easy to figure out why they are crying. A child's cry indicates that he needs attention so it's best to respond immediately with a hug to help him calm down and feel comforted. He is then ready to explain why he is crying. Once he calms down and you help him with whatever he needs, you can teach him how to ask for your help.

One of the biggest concerns of parents today is getting their child do homework. Play is always more attractive than homework so use play and fun while getting your child to do his homework. Create a homework space and schedule. Play a fun game with your child before he sits down to do his homework. This will relax him and improve his mood. Use fun comments and playful ways to motivate him as he does his work eg your alphabets are disco dancing, lets make them look like soldiers. Allow your child to take breaks if needed. Do read this article for more tips on how to help your child do his homework https://www.parentcircle.com/article/how-to-get-children-to-do-their-homework/

On most days, getting your child to do homework proves to be an uphill task. Worry no more. Reading this article will help you gather your wits and figure out how to make possible the impossible.

Your child seems to be very active and energetic. Play, conversation, reading and music are good ways to channelize her energy, help you and your child to bond and are best for your childs body and mind to grow. These activities lay the foundation for learning. Some of these activities would need you to spend time with your child, while outdoor play will help her make friends with other children. Group play is important for your childs social and emotional development. Please ensure that your child does not spend more than an hour a day on gadgets. Be with your child during this time and have conversations about what he watches on the screen. Its a great way to help him express his ideas and feelings.

Spitting can be one of the most annoying behaviours children exhibit. Children spit when they dislike what is told to them; or when a friend refuses to share. Sometimes, kids just spit for fun. They may simply spit on the ground because they think it's entertaining. If they get a reaction from anyone, it can make spitting even more fun. Pre-schoolers tend to spit out of anger. When they cant verbalize their feelings of frustration, they spit to show how upset they feel. Spitting can also be a self-defence tactic.??? The way you respond to spitting will play a major role in how likely your child will do it again. So, be firm, show your disapproval and correct your kid every time he spits. If the behaviour continues a reward system can be helpful. Create a behaviour chart that allows your child to earn stickers or points for managing his behaviour appropriately.

It is frustrating, but temper tantrums are common in pre-schoolers, especially when they have a need; or when they insist on having something. Our article on Taming the Tantrums will help you understand why children throw tantrums and gives practical tips on how to recognize and handle a tantrum. Please click on this link to read the article https://www.parentcircle.com/article/taming-the-tantrum/.

Clueless as to how to handle your kids tantrums? Well, heres how to maintain your cool in the midst of the tempest.

Dear Parent,

Thank you for asking this enlightening question. In this ever-changing world, the need to provide your child with a proper education is very much needed. This new age generation needs an education that will provide skills to thrive in the future. We are so far bridging the gap by attending classes to develop certain needed skills. But, it is important that we appreciate the need to promote a learning culture and curriculum that identifies skills that need to be learned at an earlier stage that will enhance the standard and quality of what we do. The next generation educational growing methods might solely focus on childrens learning pattern. The ROTE method that is currently in practice might not work anymore. Because the importance and benefits of experiential learning have started paving ways for childrens success. It is being more and more recognized these days.

Dear Parent,

Thank you for reaching out to us with this important question. Every parent requires lots of emotional strength to deal with the stresses of raising a family. While trying to handle all the responsibilities of parenting, we feel drained and tired. Therefore, it is so important for us to take care of ourselves continuously physically and emotionally. We need to give ourselves me-time to relax and calm ourselves. Otherwise, the stress will build up. You will become impatient, short-tempered and easily frustrated. Your child will also begin to feel stressed. The atmosphere in your home will be tense and it will have a negative effect on all of you. Thats why you must do things together to relax walks, fun outings, play games together, laugh and enjoy family time. The positive feelings will give you strength to cope well with the normal stresses of family life.

Dear Parent,

We can understand how hurt and confused you may feel about your childs comment. Every child has a different relationship with each parent. That relationship is built upon the childs experiences at home. Children tend to prefer a parent who is lenient. Mothers are often seen as the strict parent. Although you are firm in disciplining him, your child will still feel comfortable with you when you have fun with him, talk about his likes and dislikes, play and do things together. Your childs comment shows that he believes his dads presence is his defence against you. Ask your child if he is angry with you or afraid of you. Listen quietly to what he says. Let him know that anger is a normal feeling and that he can talk to you about it instead of depending on his dad to make him feel comfortable. Your child is probably confused about his own big emotions and needs you to comfort him and help him understand those emotions. This will help him build trust in you.

Dear Parent,

It can be mighty disturbing when your child continuously shouts. One of the reasons for your child to shout might be to test out the power of her voice or she probably just wants to get your attention. You might also feel the urge to shout back at least to be heard over all the shouting. But, shouting back at your child is only sending her the wrong message that whoever shouts the loudest gets their way.

Here are some simple tips that you can follow:
Identify the triggers and plan how to minimize them.
- Pick a time and place that is toddler-friendly. For example: Make sure that your toddler is well rested before taking her for shopping.
- Make a fun game out of it. Ask her to shout as loud as she can and join her. Once she is done ask her now to be as quiet as she can be.
- If shes shouting to get your attention, be more alert to her needs and attend to them. Is she feeling overwhelmed by her surroundings or is she hungry?
- On an outing, keep her occupied. Let her bring her favourite toy with her. Ask her to help you identify vegetables and fruits for you. Point out what is going on around you.
- Keep snacks handy. You never know when your toddler will feel hungry and make sure you give it to her before she starts to shout.

Hope you find this helpful.

Dear Parent,

Thank you for reaching out to us. Your little one is growing fast and is probably walking around. His ability to walk allows him to explore and experience the newer things that he is surrounded by. He is learning to speak a few words and can understand simple instructions such as pick up your toy; answer simple questions such as Are you hungry? His ability to understand and relate to people and things is growing each day. Most importantly, he is able to understand your facial expressions and body language. Therefore, a lot will depend on how you communicate with him. Because he is so young, you need to keep him safe. Be firm in your instructions when it is about his safety and if necessary, physically remove him from the unsafe place. Physically he will now be able to run, take the stairs with help, throw a ball, scribble etc. He can socially and emotionally engage in pretend play, laugh in response to others, show affection, throw tantrums when he doesnt get his way. Cognitively (thinking and learning skills) he will now be able to identify and name his favourite toys, name the objects or actions in a picture book, tries to imitate what you do like sweeping, cooking etc. So, next time when your child doesnt understand something that you say. Make sure to keep your command simple and straight. For example: Pick up the toy, Roll the ball to me, Give me a hug, Do you want to eat?, Wheres your nose?, Show me the ball etc., Hope this helps.

Dear Parent,

Its funny how kids insist on staying awake just when we want them to go to bed! If she senses that you are pushing her to sleep, she will find a hundred ways to stay awake. So, dont let her know that you plan to stay awake. This calls for some clear strategy. Lead your child to bed with a fun song. Tuck her into bed, make her feel cozy and comfortable. Lie down with her, tell her a story or let her tell you one, sing her favourite song. Let her feel the comfort and warmth of your relationship. She will drift into a deep sleep, and you can stay awake in peace!

There are several ways to make chores fun for kids. The first thing to do is to make sure that you choose age-appropriate chores for your child. Do go through this article to find a list of age-appropriate chores that ParentCirlce has listed out for you: https://www.parentcircle.com/article/how-to-get-your-child-to-help-with-chores/

Please write back to let us know if you need further assistance.

It is good to see that you want to improve your communication with your child. The first step to communicating the right way is to develop a close and loving bond with your little one. Communication is not just about talking. It is about how you listen keenly to what your little one says and more importantly to understand what else is on her mind.

Follow these tips to improve your communication with your child
Accept your child unconditionally for who she is. Make her feel loved with warm hugs.
Make eye contact when you talk to him.
Teach her basic emotions like joy, fear, anger and sadness. Encourage her to express her feelings. I am angry right now because
Be empathetic by listening to him when he talks to you about his feelings. It builds trust.
Make sure you tune in to your childs body language. You seem very excited/quiet today. Was it something that happened at school?
When she asks for something talk to her to understand what she needs.
Whenever you make a mistake, always apologize to him and explain why. He learns from you.

Appreciate your concern for your child. These pains are often described as 'growing pains', but is not necessarily linked to growth spurts. Your son's just returned to a routine school schedule. It may take him time to get adjusted to the change, especially after a long vacation. Hence the tiredness too. More so if he is an active child on the playground. Since he's used to a natural oil massage, you could resume it. A parent's warm touch is a sure way to connect with and build positive attachment with a child, so there's a double benefit!! Also see that he has a good breakfast and drinks lots of water through the day. If the pain persists for more than 2 weeks, you may consult your family physician or your child's paediatrician.

Thank you for reaching out to us. It would be helpful to know more details such as: Is your son able to understand everything you say? Does he say anything at all? Does he have any vocabulary at all? If he is able to understand everything that the parents say but he is just not talking, then it's a simple speech delay, for which you may consult a speech therapist.

Please visit and consult a doctor at All India institute of speech & hearing,(AIISH) MYSORE.

Thanks for reaching out to us. Since your child has problems with both urination and bowel movement, one could be impacting the other. Therefore it's best to consult your child's paediatrician about his difficulty. Do get back if you need further help.

Hi Vinutha,

The hair dryness and frizziness is an important indicator of two things i.e. a mild nutritional deficiency or improper use of shampoo and conditioner. Improving the childs protein intake through foods like eggs, chicken, paneer and nuts, and including food rich in zinc like pomegranate, berries, dried prunes, apricots and dates will help to ensure adequate nutrition for this condition. Consumption of fresh homemade almond milk is also very nutritious for the childs well-being and hair.

Along with this it is best to use an SLS(Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)-free baby/children's shampoo as it is gentler and prevents the total removal of the sebum from the scalp. Washing of hair twice a week is ideally enough for a child as excess washing can dry the hair further. Using a conditioner or a hydrating spray for removing and de-tangling the knots can also prevent hair loss and hair weakening. Application of a natural hair mask (like a mixture of avocado with honey or banana with honey and curd) and leaving it on the hair for 30 minutes can hydrate the hair and help avoid frizziness. - Dr Batul Patel, Dermatologist & Medical Director, The Bombay Skin Clinic.

Hi Bindu. Yes, its very hard for you to see your little one change from being active to being moody. Since the teacher says she is improving, we may need to turn the focus on how you can help her feel better at home. For a start, take care of her physical needs of hunger and tiredness. Her routine has changed, and she may need more time to settle down with it. Once she has rested, do spend some time playing some fun games with her. You can introduce a game where you draw faces depicting emotions such as happy, sad, angry, excited, afraid etc. Then ask her talk about who and what makes her feel happy. Repeat this with the other emotions as well. Listen with interest, and do not make any comments about what she says. Kids are usually very expressive and freely share their inner thoughts through this activity. You could get some clues as to what is bothering her about school. Do let us know if this has been helpful, and do get in touch should you need further guidance.

thanks a lot. will do as you said and observe the changes in her. hoping she'll be back to normal soon.

Hi Jyothi. I can quite understand your distress, because writing is an important skill,
especially in academics. Rather than force your child to write, understand that there is something
about writing that does not make him feel comfortable. Do check whether his grip of the pencil is
strong. It requires fine motor coordination skills. Pre-writing activities can help his finger
coordination improve. Also try playing a fun game with him before getting him to do his writing
work. This will place him in a better frame of mind to approach the writing task. Encourage every
effort he makes at each step. It would be helpful to break up the writing task into smaller chunks
with small breaks in-between. Please follow these links for more reading on fine motor skills
development: https://www.parentcircle.com/article/10-pre-writing-activities-for-your-toddler/
https://www.parentcircle.com/article/7-reasons-why-playing-in-the-sand-is-good-for-kids/