“Do you want to raise an independent child?” Most of the parents will say yes! Everyone wants to see the independent child but no one wants to leave the control!!!

Yes you heard me right. You want your child to do her homework by herself, you want your child to get ready by herself, you want your child to eat and sleep by herself and truly speaking all these are just few characteristics of an independent child. The true independence comes with the confidence and confidence comes with the freedom, freedom to choose their clothes by themselves; freedom to choose their toys by themselves; freedom to choose their friends by themselves and freedom to choose their hobby by themselves.

What if your kid will wear her favorite dress in all the parties? Does it really matter? We say “Best attire in the world is smile” and when it comes to our kid we forget that. What is the meaning of an unhappy kid in the best dress? She may look beautiful but not satisfied and that’s what you are stealing from her, her confidence, her rights and most importantly her decision power.

 10 steps to raise an independent child:

1. Count on Age: Nothing can be achieved before time. If your kid is ready to attempt self-feed by the age of 1, she is independent. If your kid can choose her dress or toy by herself by the age of 2, she is independent. If your kid can change her clothes by herself at the age of 3, she is independent. If your kid can help you to set up the dinner table by the age of 4, she is independent. If your kid can ask her favorite dish for the dinner by the age of 5, she is independent. Before you expect think twice “is this the correct age?” We can’t cut the fruit before it ripens same way handling over the control before the age will not help you or her in anyways. Your kid will take over the control gradually and you should wait for that time. Rushing for the things will simply get you couple of failures which can snatch their self-confidence. Wait for the right age and embrace each attempt.
2. Share the Responsibility: Being a parent we just want to leave our responsibilities for our comfort. We want them to do few things by themselves and we call that a step towards independence but the truth is we just want to reduce our responsibilities without sharing it. Kids are not master, they are learning so don’t run away from your responsibilities. For the start share the responsibility and slowly hand over the control. Initially guide them the way, explain in simple tasks and offer your help if needed. Make it fun by small challenges. For example, If you want to teach them to choose their toy ask “I count 5 and you come up with your favorite toy”. This may sounds silly to you but very effective technique to improve decision power.
3. Don’t jump in to Help: Kids are slower than us so don’t lose your patience and jump into unnecessary help. They may need double time to finish the task so have patience and enjoy the beauty of their hard work.
4. Respect their Decision: Don’t give your expert tips for everything. Let them take their own decision. It is okay if they choose to wear slipper instead of shoes; it is perfectly fine if their blue clips doesn’t go with their pink skirt, it is okay if their new toy arrangement don’t look amazing; important thing is they took the decision and they worked on that. Encourage every attempt by your words and gestures.
5. Give choice when you need to Restrict: Respect every decision doesn’t mean you should give them junk food to eat just because they made a choice or let them go out in sun without sun scream. Justify your every NO in kids’ friendly way; offer 3 choices whenever possible and show your love even if they made a wrong decision.
6. Encourage Attempts: Let your kids make mistakes (if not harmful) and learn from it. Let them learn what will happen if they don’t take water bottle with them. Instead of scolding support them in their failure and help them to take right decision in future. Failure loosens their self-confidence but your love lengthens the hope. So show your kids you are with them in all the right and wrong decisions to make them independent decision maker.
7. Go with the Mood: Kids are moody, sometimes they get ready by themselves and sometimes they can’t take even a glass of water. This has nothing to do with their independence. I remember my mother feeding me Halawa(an Indian sweet) with her hand even when I was 20!!! And trust me that never stopped me to become an independent woman. Simply go with the flow and love the way they are.
8. Welcome their Help: Kids are curious for the things they don’t know. If they offer their help, find at least one thing in your task and let them help you. This help may be very small and uncountable but it will add count on their confidence.
9. Do not Force: Is it true that if we don’t force them to do the things now, they will always seek for our support? Does this mean we should not pamper them or we should hand over responsibilities at young age? Questions are many but answer is only one. NO. Never force your kids for anything as forcing them for the thing means giving support in one way or another. Secondly there is no meaning of forcing a kid to do anything before age. Third forcing them for the things they don’t know is totally ridiculous. For example, if they don’t know the answer of 2+2 no matter how hard you try, they won’t be able to answer. And forth forcing them too much can cause couple of failures which may steal their confidence.
10. Accept the Nature: Few kids are ready to learn and few are slow; few are open to all and few are shy; few can take their decision even after many failures and few just give up on one mistake. Know your kid and accept the way she is. Show your love and support and help them to cope up with their limitations.

“Kids never lie” said my grandparents but is it really true? Kids really don’t lie ever? Then why my kids lie to me?

I remember when she was 2 years old she said “I washed my hands even when she did not.”

When she was 4 years old she said “papa today I rescued mummy from lizard” but the truth was she didn’t see the lizard at all. I saw the lizard in the gallery and I told her to keep the door closed for the time so lizard can’t come inside.

When she was 5 she said “mom my teacher asked me to bring sketch pens at school.” But while questioning I came to know that her teacher didn’t ask sketch pens. She wanted to pack sketch pens for the school.

If “kids never lie” then what are these? Was she really lying all these times or I misunderstood her? Shall I punish her for lying or just ignore it? Many questions were in my mind and I am sure these questions must have challenged your parenting at one place or another.

Well the truth is “kids never lie”. Amuse? Me either when I first time came to know this. When I researched I came to understand that whatever your kid says are not fully lie or better to say those are not the things we consider as a lie.

Here is the other side of those lie:

When my 2 years old daughter told me that she washed her hands without washing her hands, she was afraid of not getting a star. She didn’t understand whether its lie or truth. She knew only one thing that if she will say she didn’t wash her hands then she will not get a star. So technically she wasn’t lying. She was using her brain to simplify the task to get the star!!!

This is the example of kids’ growing brain and as per the experts you should not stop it. Then what?  Shall we ignore it and encourage our kids to lie? Of course not, the only thing I should tell her at that time is “it seems you didn’t wash your hands. Mama is not happy with that.”

Focus on the thing your kid didn’t finish as lying concept is far to teach at the age of 2 to 4. Make them understand that if mummy is telling you something you are supposed to do that no matter what and that’s called trust.

When at the age of 4 she told her father “papa today I rescued mummy from lizard” she wasn’t lying either. Yes she didn’t rescue me but she was fantasizing to rescue me. 4 to 6 years kids don’t understand the difference between reality and pretend play. When I told her about the lizard she thought to rescue me and result she said that to her father!!! This means her brain has started thinking about the solutions which is really a great part. This is the way they get self-confidence to accept the risk.

Then what to do for this age? Shall we ignore and focus on the thing only like we did it before? But here we don’t have anything.

Here I should tell her that that’s really good that you wanted me to rescue from the lizard. It was a brave of you. But you thought to do that you didn’t do that so you should say “I thought to rescue mummy but by the time lizard was gone”. When we say we did something without doing it called lying and that’s really bad thing. I am sure you don’t want to do bad thing. So next time say “you wanted to do that but couldn’t”.

Do not scold them to lie as I said it’s not a lie, it is just a pretend assumption.

When at the age of 6 she said “mummy my teacher asked me to bring sketch pens at school” she was lying. She knew that that is a lie so I can say she was lying but at the same time the truth is her mind has started reasoning for the things as well. She thought 1. If she will ask sketch pens for school I will not give her as in schools outside things are not allowed 2. Whenever her teacher asks for the things, I send it. 3. If she will ask the things by the name of her teacher, I may give her.  And all these she thought by herself!!! Well whatever she thought wasn’t right but she thought that’s good.

At the age of 6 to 8 we have to go through questioning to get the truth as they know what is lie but not fully. If I could have simply given her sketch pens, I couldn’t have discovered the truth. While questioning I came to know that she wanted to make a card with her friends in break time and that can’t be possible if anyone of them won’t get sketch pens from home. Actually her aim wasn’t wrong, just a way she found for the same was not right. So show them the right way and tell them to stick to the truth. This is the perfect age to teach them the importance of truth (of course without punishment). Punishment and scolding for lying comes for later age.

By the age of 8, kids perfectly understand “what is lie” and “what is truth”. Teach your kid before the age of 10 that “lying is not good thing” and they should not lie to anyone otherwise later it will become habit.

How to teach your kid lying is bad:

1. Consider your child’s age: First of all it is very important for you to know what is lie. If your kid says she was locked in the room for 100 minutes that’s not a lie, they don’t have the real concept of time. Combining fairy tales with the real life is not a lie as well as not using the right word is not a lie. For example “once my daughter told me her teacher likes to call her “budhiya” (means an old lady) but the truth was her teacher likes to call her “gudiya” (means a doll)!!! Many times kids can’t find the proper words to describe the things or their feelings so don’t judge them without knowing the full truth.
2. Motivate them with the story: Stories and books are easiest way to teach a kid. You can read them the story of “shepherd girl and a lion” or tell them the story of your own.  Teach them lying can get the trouble for them. Show them that if they will lie, no one will trust them.
3. Get the confidence: Make connection with your kid the way that they can share their heart with you. Give less chance to lie and even if they do, show them the right way and your love too. For example when they lie for grades, they don’t want to disappoint you so technically it is not lie. Support them for that and show them that you love them always no matter what are their grades. Get your kids’ confidence so they can share every right and wrong thing with you.
4. Walk your talk: As I always say kids are cute copy cats, don’t forget to watch your steps. Do the things you say and when you cannot, act the way that they don’t get the chance of misconception. For example, once I promised my 5 years old daughter to give her a chocolate on Friday but she got sick on Thursday. Now it was clear that I cannot give her chocolate on Friday but at the same time for her, it was a promise and not keeping my promise means I was lying. There was no way she could understand the reason of not giving her chocolate on Friday. So I gave her a chocolate on Friday and said “as I promised, here is your chocolate but you know we don’t eat chocolates when we are sick. So why don’t you keep it with you for three days and have it on Monday. If you are okay I can keep it for you” and as a result she returned me the chocolate for 3 more days!!! But if I would have not given her the chocolate, she must have fought with me to get the chocolate as for her it was a promise.
5. Share your mistakes: Let your kids know everyone makes mistakes and you did too. Share your age appropriate mistakes and lie with them and show them what you have learned from those experiences. Explain them that people make mistakes but that doesn’t mean they should make one more mistake by hiding it or lying about it.

Foster Feel

Guests are on their way to your home and here at your end vessels are in the sink as well as on tables, clothes are on sofa, toys are scattered everywhere and you are still in your night gown with uncombed hair. Big question is how to clean all the things in this much sort time and that too with kids?

Well with kids this is predictable but that doesn’t mean you should exhibit your kids’ items to reveal that you are a parent!!! No need to turn yourself in really mummy look!!! Without these also you will look like a mummy and people will count your hard work behind this.

Things can be easy with kids too. Of course you are busy (busier than any other) but there should be a way to present your house in the way you are. After all that shows your personality.

Here we are sharing 5 steps to keep your home tidy with kids:

1. Start with kids’ room: Play with your kids in their room only. The idea behind this is to tell your kids that if they want to play they should be in their room. Best thing is they will follow this without a single instruction on that! Result is their scattered toys may cover their room but not rest of your house.
2. Decorate with toys: When kids are at home, you have to take away your fragile decorative items and it is not always possible to put the things back every time your kids get home so why not to use the toys to decorate your home. Use cars, dolls, soft toys or train to give new look to your home.
3. Food at food zone only: Fix the place to eat (big meal or small) for you as well as your kids. It will prevent your home from big foodie mess.
4. Teach your kids to keep the surroundings clean: Teach your kids necessary cleanliness concept like they should use the dustbin, they should put their plates in sink or they should throw wash clothes in laundry. These are small things but will decrease your work in half.
5. Have a quick clean up round in an hour: Throw a quick glance to your home after every hour (whenever you are home) to clean up the mess. You may feel who will have the time for this but trust me this will take just a couple of minutes and if you will do this it will save more than 40 minutes at the end of the day. The best thing about this is even your kids will happily help you in cleanup as it takes only few minutes.

Few days back when I was sitting in the garden, I saw a 3 years old kid hit another kid during play. The little boy hit once, then twice and when he hit the other boy for the third time, the other boy simply stopped playing with the little boy.  As he was elder he got the new friends and started playing with them. They did not include this little boy and as a result the little boy stated whining and his mother simply said “these boys I don’t understand why they don’t behave well to little kids!!!”

Now what to say? And to whom? To the one who started hitting or to his mother who didn’t even realize the real reason?

“Hitting is bad and you should never hit anyone” that’s what we want our children to understand but what if they hit? We should ignore that and wait for them to realize it later by themselves?

Have you ever thought that your kid will learn to walk, speak, eat or play by themselves by the time? Haven’t you ever tried to teach them those things?  Then how can you say they will learn “Hitting is bad” by the time by themselves? It is not about time it is more about how to deal with the new power and that you have to teach them. What if suddenly you will get super power, do you think you will not misuse it? you will surely test it either to satisfy your curiosity or for the fun. Exactly that’s what happens with the kids. Up to 2 years they don’t have the power to hit and now they got it; they saw the reflection of it; they know people react on this action and so they hit.

But it is parents’ responsibility to teach them what is right and what is not. How to handle the power and why it is not good option to test all the limits?

Why or when kids hit:

• To Test The Power: As I already mentioned it above the first few times kids hit is not because of any particular intention. They hit to test their power just like when they learn to walk they explore it by walking all the times. For kids it is a way to test their power and its limits.
• To Get The Attention: Few actions direct get attention and hitting is one of them. When parents are not able to spend quality time with kids, kids hit to seek their attention.
• When Their Parents Hit: Sad but true. Kids are cute copycats; they may not understand your words but they will surely understand your actions. If you think it is a reason for you, stop it right here.

From where your kids learn:

• Family: If you or your family members hit the kid or anyone, they will surely learn it so choose your action carefully.
• Television: Loud action shows left its affect on kids mind. Kids cannot understand the real super hero concept, for them super heroes are strong and so they try to copy them.
• Surrounding environment: Kids are very good in observation. They try to copy the things they see. If your surrounding environment is not good they too will learn it slowly and behave the same way.
• Toys: Pretend play plays very strong role in your kids development. With the figure toys kids play good guy bad guy games (fighting games)  and slowly that controls them.

How to teach your kid “hitting is bad”:

• Stop hitting: Kids are cute copy cats. If you want them to behave nicely, you too behave the same way. If you think you hit them even once in a while stop it right here and see the difference. You may think hitting once in a while is required to teach them a lesson but truly speaking there is nothing which you can’t teach them without hitting.  Read When do you get angry on your kids
• Spend enough time: The second most important reason why kids hit is “to get the attention”. Kids are attention seeker and when they don’t get it enough, they try all the ways. Screaming, shouting, throwing and hitting are their preferable ways which always fulfill their intention. Spend quality time with your kids, show your love and see the improvement.
• Explain in good mood: Bed time is always good time to talk. Talk in best mood of your kid and try to explain the things. You can take advantage of books and/or even your own stories to teach them a lesson.
• Introduce punishment: When you think nothing works, you have become little bit strict to show the limits. Introduce small punishment like time out or take away techniques. You have to teach them few things are not at all acceptable and hitting is one of those.

Saying No is always difficult especially to the kids, for whom we wish to give the whole world at their feet. But at the same time it’s important too.

Recently when I asked to a kid “Tell me the best thing you like about your parents” and her reply was “They buy whatever I ask for” and added I don’t see any other good thing in my parents.

From this example you can see the parents who buy everything for their kids are also not hero for them. If you wish to satisfy your kids’ need with the things, you will never get success as there is no such thing available other than love.

This is not the only reason to say No to the kids. See the list:

• To teach them the lesson of satisfaction: If you will give them all the things they want, they will never be happy with the things they have. They will always expect more and nothing will make it up to their satisfaction. And at the end s/he will be the one holding whole world in her/his fingertips without knowing the happiness of those things. I am sure you choose to say yes to make them happy but if they are not happy what is the meaning of your yes or even No.
• To make them independent: If they ask for 3 things and you buy all those that’s okay if you are fine with that but what if they ask for 10 things? No offence if you want to buy all of those but have you ever tried to ask your kid to choose 5 from those 10 things or 1 from those 3 things? Try it not because you don’t want to buy that but it’s important to see how nicely they can take the decision. These small decisions will lead them to take big decisions wisely and easily.
• To teach them the value of the things: It is very important to be happy with the things we have and that they can’t learn if you will give everything to them. Show them how lucky they are to have these things; how lucky they are to have you and your love and to show them you need to show them how lucky you are to have them and the things you have.
• To teach them importance of money: Nothing is free in the world and it will never be. Today you are for them tomorrow can be different. So teach them the importance of money; of course not before the age 6 but yes at age 3 you can introduce the earning concept that will slowly turned to money concept. You need to give a star or a smiley for each good deed or good behavior and when they collect 10 stars or smileys they earn a chocolate or a coin. It’s simple and will satisfy your motive too.
• To teach them how to wait for the things patiently: To get 10 stars or 10 smileys is not a one day task and for that they have to wait and that’s how they will learn to have patience. They know they will get it later and they know they earned it so happiness will be doubled and your aim will be achieved. Later they can easily wait for a toy or a dress or whatever you wish for.

And for all these you have to say NO. Of course I never can agree to simply saying “No you can’t get it”.  That’s perfectly wrong but yes you can say No wisely. You can say No even without using the word No and that’s the best way.

Key factors to say NO wisely:

• If you can say No Without using the word NO that’s cool: The word No is very powerful. Once you speak it rest becomes meaningless, even your reasoning. At the same time when you mean NO without using the world No it leaves more effect. For example, you can say “sweetie we can’t buy the things we have” or “we have to choose one, we can’t buy all”.
• Don’t say No for everything: Teaching them to deal with No doesn’t mean to say No for everything. To teach them the real meaning of No, you should avoid saying NO unless and until it is important. If you will say No every time they will consider it as your habit only.
• No means No: Once you said No do not change the decision because 1. They will get confuse with your decision making problem. 2. It will give them hope to change your decision. 3. If you won’t change your decision later it will hurt them badly because of your unpredictable mood.
• Give age appropriate justification of your No: Don’t go in detail description rather choose age appropriate reasoning. At the same time don’t just simply say No because you choose that. Who are you? You can’t simply control them.
• Give little freedom to over go your NO, make mistake and learn from it: If you have said do not pull the table cloth and if they did it and made everything messy, take it easy. Let them help you in clean up and let them understand why did you say that. This way they will learn to deal with their mistakes as well as they will have faith in you and your No. Making mistake is not bad not learning from that is bad and that’s what you need to learn and teach too.
• Give your presence more than your present: When you will say “we can’t buy that doll today” and if you are expecting in return “okay dad love you” then of course you are dreaming. They will feel bad and they may show some tantrum in initial phase or they may tell you the above phrase (if they are in good mood) but for that you have to spend some quality time to know your kid. Talk to them often and show them how much important they are. Best thing you can give your kid is TIME. Things you brought for them may give the happiness for a moment but the time you spend with them will cherish them throughout the life.

The key to deal with No is your Love. “Love your kids enough to say no” when I read this line I truly flattered by the author’s thinking. True, nothing can replace the No other than Love. If you will love your kid enough then s/he won’t mind for couple of NO and truly accept it with understanding.

Love Lough And Live

One year walking and two years talking – Most common phrase we use for kids milestone. But what comes after two???

At two kids start learning words and by three they become master in day to day words. Three is the year when they learn to use sentences (of course the known one only) and the cutest thing is at three they will start repeating you and all.

Don’t get surprise if they throw back your own sentences and thus think twice before you speak. I still remember my daughter calling me megha, meggie, janu and many more just because my husband liked to call those names!!! So Beware and choose your words carefully.

At 4 kids learn more words and they try to use each and every word they came across at its max. Funniest thing is they use same word in every second sentence throughout the week!!!  That’s the way they get command on words. How can I forget the fondness of “either me” (my daughter loved it).

And at 5 they become master in talking. Of course they make grammatical mistakes but they can make an understandable conversation.

  

Well the good thing is they are learning, they are communicating and they are becoming social by their talk. Then what is the issue?

Well at 3 when they repeated or copied your sentences they looked cute; at 4 when they repeated same words everywhere they looked funny but now at 5 when they show their talking power now and then, sometimes only sometimes you will feel helpless. You want peace for few minutes and thus you want them to shut their mouth at least for a minute but the truth is they can’t!!!

They are master in talking and so they will keep talking all the times. That may bother you sometimes and you really want them to be quite at least for few minutes (or only for few minutes as they can’t be quite more than 3-5 minutes). And that’s why we call them chatter box or in better words master in talking.

If their nonstop talk doesn’t bother you, I must say you are the best but still you need to focus on what are they talking about. Are they talking on relevant topic or they are adding something just because they want to speak. For them they are getting best in talking and that’s why they need guidance, guidance to understand when to speak; guidance to understand what to speak and guidance to understand when to be quite. Of course the last one is tricky.

What is chatter box?

we consider a kid as a chatterbox when 1. S/he speaks nonstop 2. S/he speaks just because s/he wants to speak 3. S/he doesn’t allow others to speak 4. s/he is not ready to wait for others to finish.

Talking to kids is always fun but at the same time we should make sure that they speaks relevant thing. If you have asked “how your school was” and you are getting in return “today Ishita didn’t come” that’s okay but if they reply you with “they like pink doll” that’s irrelevant and you must work on that. If they speak nonstop to answer you is fine until its relevant to the topic but its not good if they start adding their own sentences just to pull the conversation.

• Don’t let them pull the conversation just because they want to talk. Rather you can tell them it seems talking about school is finish then we can talk on some different thing if you want.
• Answer of question should be straight, if not explain them the best way to answer by repeating their answer in better words.
• If you and your partner (or friend) are in conversation and they talk in-between, let them know that they too can wait. And saying “excuse me” is wiser.
• If they speak all the home things out and put you in embarrassing situation, introduce the concept of top secret (fun for them but always work for us). Explain what we can share with everyone and what with parents only.

How to teach your chatter box to take a pause:

Of course we don’t want them to stop talking forever but yes we want them to take a break from that. There is nothing bad in that in fact it is good to teach them to listen as well. After all it is easier to teach a child than it is to fix a broken adult.

• Introduce quite time for all: In your routine add 3-5 minutes quite time for all. For example every day after dinner every one should seat together without saying a word for 5 minutes. If you think this is impossible then let me remind you when we all were kid we too played the game of “who is the parrot here”. If you will take it as a fun they too will take it as a fun and result they will learn it even faster.
• Time for observation: During a day time ask them to be quite till the timer rings and observe the surrounding things. At the end tell them to state 5 sentences about their observation. Take a turn and make it fun.
• Game to listen: Try and listen the surrounding sounds which you can hear if you are quite only. Take turns and count who can recognize more sounds. For example, sounds of fan, water tap, Air-conditioner,wall clock or even washing m/c beep.
• Go for nature: Take them to garden or near by walking trails. Ask them to listen different sounds and guess from where the sound is coming from and what can it be. For example, sound of waterfall, rustling sound of leaves, chirp of birds, wind howls, Fluttering sound of butterflies or even their own tapping sound. Early morning or evening is best for these.
• Sooth with music: At the time of bed play some classical music or lullabies. It will sooth their mind and makes them calm.
• Listen and make them listen: don’t interrupt them if they are telling you something, let them finish first even if their topic is not important. Let them complete, respond to their talk and then start your topic.
• Teach with symbol: Decorate their room with the symbol of quietness, poster with keep silence phrases or handmade drawing. This will help them to understand the importance of quietness.
• Limit Television: Limit Television especially the noisy programs. Limit television after late evening so they can get time to soothe their mind before going to bed.
• Yoga or meditation: Introduce kids’ yoga or meditation and do it together every morning or in weekends. It helps to ease their body and mind.
• Don’t forget to admire: Give appraisal for their each and every try even if they don’t succeed. Give time, make fun and learn to be quiet together.

“Listening more and result speaking less” suits perfectly here. We can’t tell them talking too much is bad but we can teach them listening is also interesting. Once they will start listening they will surely take a pause from their nonstop chattering.

All The Best 

Image Source : Google

Singing loud enough to tell everyone…..Summer’s just begun…….

What a lovely song and of course what a lovely summer!!!  Summer means vacation time, time for fun; time to explore; time for awaiting trips and tours and many more. Exciting and with kids even more adventurous.

When we plan vacation with kids we focus on many things from packing to medication, from food to shoes, from comfort to entertainments and these concerns won’t get over until we head back. While on vacation we focus more on kids but sometimes we forget to focus on daily fluid intake of kids without knowing that that can turn out to the big mistake.

Recently I was on vacation with my 5 years old daughter. The place where we have been is quite hot compare to the place we stay. As that is our native place I didn’t think of heat and all and treated my daughter the same way I treat her at our home. Of course I focused on her food, her routine but I forgot to focus on her fluid intake. My daughter is like she won’t ask for water until you offer her and I gave her the way I usually give her at our home. But here the place was different; we visited it after a quite long so we roamed here and there too. Actually she needed more fluid than normal because of extra walking, extra physical exercise, bit change in routine and the heat but I offered her even little bit lesser than I used to. Result she got sick really sick.

Foster Feel

First few days she enjoyed there a lot and then slowly she got tired (the way she never use to be). As she is always energetic we all noticed that and tried to focus on her health by offering her more settled routine and nutritious food but the idea of water didn’t strike to me even at that time and that made it even worse. She got really sick by the time I understood and result she had to pass through all the painful medical processes like blood tests urine tests etc. and that too twice in less than 24 hrs.

Well As we are from doctor family it wasn’t that tough but still to see your kid in pain is always difficult. My most energetic all the times full on mischief girl was down, really down she couldn’t even able to seat for a minute and that made every one worried.

Well I believe when end is good all is good and so I am glad to say she is perfectly fine now and here I am writing this post to share few mistakes which I made because I feel parents should know that to avoid this kind of situation, after all learning from someone’s mistake is better than suffering especially when it’s about your kid.

• I focused on her routine; I focused on her food but didn’t focus on her fluid intake. I knew she was not taking enough fluid but I ignored I thought it is okay I will cover it up once I will be back home.
• When first time I saw her little bit low I thought it is because of change in food style, extra walk (than routine) or change in sleep pattern as normally at home I put her on bed before 8 and there she used to sleep by 10 (even though I made sure she gets her full 12 hrs sleep). I tried to fix those things and didn’t think about water intake even for a second.
• I encouraged her to explore the nature the way we enjoyed as kids rather to limit it. I allowed her to eat fruits and vegetables directly from the farm, I allowed her to drink water from well and I allowed her to play in pond either. I forgot that we were doing those because we were doing those every day and for these kids it’s all new. They are raised in different climate with different life style and so sudden change may affect them.
• When first time she complained about head ache, I thought she must be tired and she should take rest, I didn’t realize that head ache is not common in kids!!! And within just 1 hr her health got worst.

We don’t know really what had happened to her? Was it heat stroke or was it some sort of infection or dehydration (as not fully dehydrated). But we knew one thing that it’s all because of 1. She couldn’t tolerate the heat 2. Lack of fluid

With the prescribed medicine doctor suggested us to offer her lots of liquids and to put her in AC all the times with 27 to 28 degree temperature set. And that really worked just in 1 day!!!

Do you want to measure fluid intake of your kid while on vacation? Here are tips to help you :

• Keep the water bottle handy all the times.
• Offer water after every half an hour. It is okay if they take just few sips.
• Offer a small glass of juice or buttermilk with meal.
• Add juicy fruits like grapes, oranges, watermelon etc. in menu.
• Don’t forget to give water before going to bed and once they get up from the bed.
• Normal water or cold water is better than chilled one.
• If you think your kids are still not having enough fluids offer them ice or even jelly (not nutritious but it’s okay to give junk food some times).

Do you measure fluid intake of your kid while on vacation? if yes that’s really great and if no better to start now as there is never late to start a good thing.

Have A Happy Summer Have A Happy Vacation