Experts In The Fields Of Athletics, Writing, Cricket And Cinema Share Valuable Parenting Tips

Encourage your child to take up sports

Anju Bobby George, Former Athlete

Parents are still trying to figure out whether they should get their kids into sports. They are uncertain about a career in sports. They wonder if it is safe to let children play sports, and worry that injuries might happen. Parents are also concerned about how their children will manage their studies. they have a lot on their mind!

As an athlete, I would say let children participate in sports. They will learn a lot from it. Even if they get a state-level or a national-level certificate, they can easily go abroad and study on a scholarship in the top universities. And if they are talented, they can take up sports as a career.

We are pampering our kids a lot these days. We provide them with everything, and shield them from all difficulties. They are living in a bubble. But in sports, they will learn how to handle pain and sorrow, the value of sweat and the feeling of victory. They will learn how to take quick decisions and handle difficult situations. So, don't hesitate to let your child take up sports.

Anju Bobby George is an athlete who has won many medals and awards, including the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the country's highest sporting honor. She runs a training academy for athletes along with her husband and coach, Bobby. For the complete interview, visit: https://www.parentcircle.com/interview-with-indian-athletics-anju-bobby-george-talks-about-sports-for-children/article

Children have the right to read for pleasure

Arshia Sattar, Writer and Scholar

Parents should spend reading time with their children. Read to them and with them, possibly every night before they go to bed. We should add books to our homes rather than more and more electronic gadgets. And we must remember that children, like us, have the right to read for pleasure and not just for instruction. Children need to be shown that books are fun and reading is an end in itself. So, its not just about the books we buy for our children, its about how we locate books in our own lives. Children will love books and reading if we can show them that we, too, love books and reading.

All my books for young readers have illustrations, and I'm grateful to all the artists who have created the images that light up my words. Illustrations help young readers develop their imagination, especially when we're dealing with magical and mythological beings. Does Hanuman look like the monkeys we see in our real lives? What might a rakshasa look like? Does Ravana carry his ten heads around all the time? Pictures help young readers see worlds that are not theirs, and allow them to enrich the world that they already know.

Arshia Sattar is a writer, translator and scholar. Some of her popular books for kids include Ramayana for Children, Adventures with Hanuman and her latest book, Mahabharata for Children. For the complete interview, visit: https://www.parentcircle.com/interview-with-arshia-sattar-about-how-parents-can-encourage-children-to-read/article

Have a backup career plan

Kiran More, Former Cricketer

From an early age, I was more passionate about cricket than studies. When I started playing at school, my dream was to play for the country. However, there were times when I felt that I should have a backup career plan, in case I suffered a major injury or didn't get into the national team. So, I would advise kids to pursue their dreams wholeheartedly, but at the same time, focus on education too, so that they have more options in life. If you want to be a cricketer or a footballer, you need not play for 13 to 14 hours a day. Play for three to four hours daily and then focus on academics. It's not going to be easy. You must be willing to work hard and be disciplined. Also, if you have money and success but not health, it's not going to benefit you. So, do your best to remain healthy and fit. Take time out to exercise every day.

Parents must not push their kids into multiple things. They should allow their children to live their lives, and just guide and monitor them. I run a cricket academy where many parents come up to me and say they want their son to be the next Sachin Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid. But they should realize that it's not always possible. Parents must focus on creating a happy environment for their children and spend a lot of time with them.

Kiran More is one of the best wicketkeepers that India has produced. For the complete interview, visit: https://www.parentcircle.com/interview-with-kiran-more-cricketer-talks-about-gadgets-impact-on-kids/article

Meet India's first female superhero

Ram Devineni, Documentary Filmmaker

The idea to create Priya (India's first female superhero) came after the horrible Delhi gang rape in 2012. I participated in the protests in Delhi and observed that gender-based violence was a cultural problem. After talking to survivors, I also realized that there was a lack of support in society for the survivors of such crimes. So, I wrote Priya's Shakti, because a female superhero could reach young audiences and address this issue.

With Priya's Mask (the latest book in the series), I wanted to talk about the emotions that children are going through during this pandemic. The nucleus of the story came from my 3-year-old niece, who told her mother that she didn't have anyone to talk to about her feelings. She said this during the height of the lockdown when everything was shut and she had stopped going to school. In the book, Priya talks about conquering one's fears in order to find strength. She shows us why it's important to work together to defeat the virus. You can download the free PDF of Priya's Mask here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/vsd8pqiprna9onu/Priyas_Mask_Comic_English.pdf?dl=0

Ram Devineni is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and publisher. For the complete interview, visit: https://www.parentcircle.com/indias-first-female-superhero-asks-children-to-be-strong-to-fight-covid-19/article