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Pave way for the better

Habits developed in childhood stay for life. Help your child pick up good ones when schools reopen this summer

By Suneeti Ahuja Kohli

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Published: Thu 6 Sep 2012, 12:36 PM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 11:56 AM

Backpack; check. Uniform; check. Shoes; check. Come September and it is school time once again. Students across the country are excited with the coming of a new semester, meeting new mates and teachers, getting new books; they are also exhilarated about stepping onto the next level of the educational ladder, with a wee bit of nervousness, of course. Teachers and parents, on the other hand, gear up to ensure children make the best of the ensuing semesters.

Here are some tips for parents to ensure their kids make the most of this session:

Extra-curricular activities: ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!’ Surely no parents want to see their kids turning dull at this age. Extra-curricular activities in school can be extremely helpful in the overall development of children. Find out which activity interests your kids and encourage them to take up something new this session. An activity will stimulate their mind, challenge their comfort zone, help them make new friends, and, of course, add another feather to their cap. Who knows your kid might be the next Messi or Shakira!

Healthy eating: Habits developed in childhood stay for life… well, almost. So, how about inculcating some healthy eating habits? Instead of relying on the school canteen or frozen ready-to-eat foods for your kids’ lunch, how about taking some time to introduce them to a nutritious home-cooked meal everyday. This way, children will not only get a hygienic and proper dietary meal but they’ll also appreciate the value of home-cooked food.

PE Time: Outdoor activities play a very important role in the physical and mental development of a child. Field games like football, lawn tennis, volleyball, athletics work up the muscles, ensure better eyesight, stimulate cerebral activity and sharpen the senses. Ensure your kids get at least an hour of field activity in school or in a park or open space after school hours.

Funky stationery: Snazzy stationery can kindle a lot of interest in students. Cheer them up with a surprise fancy stationery pack with items like pens, pencils, erasers, cases, etc. featuring their favourite characters or superheroes. Such items are often potent to excite children to the hilt and act as successful bait for them to return to their notebooks.

Use the IT power: Technological gadgets have ushered a new world of infotainment. Gadgets like laptops, tablets and e-book readers can turn the whole learning experience into fun for children. Children at this age can learn new things, read books, paint, sing, dance, play and perform at their own convenience with these gadgets. A personal unit will not just make them comfortable with the technology early in life but also unleash a world of infotainment for them.

Take off the burden: Students occasionally are reduced to beasts of burden with the amount of stuff they have to carry to schools. Carrying heavy backpacks on shoulders can affect their spine and create health problems later in life. While children can’t choose to leave their books at home, buying a school bag with wheels (trolley bags) can effectively take the burden off their shoulders, literally.

Preparing them for life: Lastly, inculcate the importance of a consistent routine in your child’s life. A well-disciplined life plays a major role in a person’s success. The habit of carrying out basic activities like a fixed time for bed, an hour of physical exercise, an hour of reading at fixed time everyday can teach your child the valuable lesson of time management quite early.

Tipping point

Some tips for university students:

Make a routine: Routine doesn’t necessarily mean getting up early and hitting bed early — it’s just doing what you do everyday at a set time. Now, it might sound dull and boring to some, but it surely is the key to good time management. Proper management of time is vital in college life when the student has to invariably juggle between studies, social life and ‘me’ time, and the habits developed or imbibed at this stage set the trajectory for the later course of life.

Keep your creative side alive: College is the last leg before stepping into the work life mode and while you are diligently working to realise your dreams and land a good job for yourself, it is imperative to lighten up. Take up a hobby if you don’t have one yet and keep your creative side alive, for it is going to ease your moments of stress and provide fodder for a happy life.

suneeti@khaleejtimes.com