HEALTHY HABITS

HEALTHY HABITS

STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS
Like other kids of his age, my son, Ranveer, too is glued to screens for various reasons. He likes watching videos and playing games. To break his habit of constantly playing on the tab, we have enrolled him for football. Since there are no playgrounds where we live we have to take him out to the indoor play-zones situated at malls in the neighbourhood. But if we find a playground, we take him there. He has also started showing a keen interest in reading and likes attending storytelling workshops arranged frequently in Pune. To get him acquainted with fruits, vegetables and flowers we make it a point to take him to the local market instead of showing it to him on our mobile devices. Ranveer enjoys art for which we have got him an art board where we let him show his creativity with paints and colours. He has also started liking Phonics and started practising them solely because of interactive sessions that are held for children. Though we cannot always control him and tell him not to use digital devices, we make sure to utilise the interest he shows in mobile and television by only showing him stuff which will help his development.
— Vrishali Shinde, Working professional, Pune

COOKERY AND SINGING CLASSES
Avieshka loves spending time on the mobile phone and iPad, and watching television. But we also encourage her  to play outdoors. Her grandfather takes her to the playground everyday where she spends all her energy. At the park, she enjoys running and jumping. We have also signed her up for singing classes as she enjoys singing. Her diction has also improved because of attending storytelling and reading workshops. Avieshka is a foodie and she loves going for cookery classes which are held especially for children where she learns not only about food but also the various colours and textures. She loves going to exhibitions and fun fairs that are held for children because of all the lights, vibrant colours and the interactive sessions that take place there. She loves meeting people and talking to them. We are encouraging her to cultivate and develop interests apart from digital devices, which has been working well with her.
— Manasee Dograa, Hair stylist, Pune

SPORTS IS A MUST
My son, Arhan, is eight and a half. When he was two, Arhan was crazy about cars, identifying their make, collecting information about them, buying toy cars, etc. To divert his attention from cars, I got him to collect sharpeners, erasers, currency notes. He has a sizeable collection by now. 

He is allowed access to mobile phone only during his vacation. Arhan is fond of Justin Bieber’s music, so he downloads the songs on my mobile phone and listens to them. He also goes for drawing and karate classes and has earned a brown belt in karate. 

My friends and I send our kids to play sports during vacation. So last year he learnt to play basketball. We also send the children to Marathi Vachak Varg, so that they speak their mother tongue as fluently as English. 
— Vishakha Khobare, Entrepreneur, Panvel

LIMITED ACCESS TO ONLINE ACTIVITY
My daughter Anvi and her younger brother, Rishit were allowed access to internet and mobile phone. They mostly played games. But that weakened their eyesight and now both wear spectacles. They don’t have access to mobile phone and internet anymore and they also have limited access to television; about an hour or so. And, that too only Cartoon Network.

Both the kids love dancing, and that’s a good activity to do in Delhi winter. It keeps them warm and sort of utilises their energy. Skating is another thing that they like. The kids also like drawing. And, they attend drawing classes once a week. 

Anvi, who is 11, also likes to cook. She makes sandwiches, chocolates, etc. She hasn’t started cooking classes yet. But if she evinces interest in it, then why not?
— Darshana Choudhary, Homemaker, Delhi

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