Safety on the field

 The benefits of sports are many and undeniable but then, one can sustain injuries while practising a sport. Injuries can be serious and even fatal at times. So, just follow these basic rules to safeguard your child from these risks.

Get a check-up done:
Before your kid starts to play games, get a thorough check-up done. Make sure that your child does not suffer from any ailment like asthma or osteoporosis. And if he/she does, then it should be controlled and only then should they be sent to the field.

Sports gear:
Getting the right equipment is essential. It is important that you get proper sports kits and safety gears. Pads and shoes should be of the exact size. Regularly check the sports gear for any wear and tear, and if there is any, replace or mend it. If your child is a swimmer or plays a sport that exposes them to sunlight, then a sunblock or a sunscreen should be applied to protect them from sunburns.

Keep Them hydrated:
Sports make children susceptible to heatstrokes and dehydration. So, it is necessary that kids consume an adequate amount of water. They can also have energy drinks and juices.

The right place to play:
Check whether the place where your kids are going to play is appropriate for that sport or not. The field should be devoid of any potholes and should also be hygienic.

Supervision:
Check whether there is a coach to supervise the kids or not. Better still if the person knows a little about first aid and CPR.

Birds of feather:
Your kids should play with children in their own age group. This will help decrease accidents and also keep them safe from getting bullied by seniors.

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Turn a hobby into serious business

Vacations aren't always boring. Your hobbies could make you money while you're at it finds Shruti Bhiwandiwala

With no more schools or colleges to attend, youngsters befuddled about all the free time they have. However, youngsters everywhere have finally found a way to share their talent with the rest and still enjoying themselves while keeping busy.

Over the years, there is a fresh crop of entrepreneurs converting their hobbies into small scale businesses. No specific marketing strategy to follow: spread the word throug friends and family or even put up a page on Facebook and you're set. From papier maché pen-stands to coming up with sumptuous concoctions, the youth of today has found a way to make a profit out of their interests.

Chocolates and cakes
A hobby that usually stems from attending a workshop or two, there has been a noticeable boom in chocolate connoisseurs and cake makers. Pooja Devpuria (22) of Kesar's, has been selling customised cakes everyday for the last five years. After attending a baking workshop, Pooja developed the hobby, which eventually turned into a business. The same goes for Esha Arya (18), who runs Mellow Dew Chocolates from the comfort of her home. Esha, who began Mellow Dew in 2009, has been successful in selling gourmet chocolates all over the city, while still keeping up with her college. She has experimented with countless queer flavours, and it is only through the process of trial and error that Esha succeeds in making something different, which actually tastes amazing. "We've sold some unique flavours like honey-chilli, ginger and gulkand. Ginger's been a constant favourite while gulkand usually only sells during Diwali."

"We try to price the chocolates in such a way that anyone from students to seasoned professionals can purchase them easily," she adds.

Jewellery making
Handmade jewellery from precious stones and metal is a fastbooming business, and with a few required skills it is easy to be good at. Wire jewellery, thread necklaces, intricate and heavy jewellery, beaded pieces, eccentric handmade brooches and exclusive rings are sported by many a fans. Keeping in mind details such as vivid colours, varying bead shapes, intricacy and finishing, young designers are looking to their peer groups and family, experimenting, while finally defining their style along the way. Sweli Shah (20), who specialises in diamond jewellery and works with her father, started out with a background in designing.

She says, "I was interested in the whole process of jewellery-making and was fascinated with the final results. Today my work sells for anything between Rs 10,000 to 1 lakh". With readymade jewellery on sale in stores, there is no available option of customising it to your preference, which is not the case with handmade jewellery. Like all order-based businesses, the customer gets to choose her style, fitting in with her personality.

Accessory painting
Those with a flair for art and a steady hand are coming up with designs to splash across canvas shoes and sneakers. Brother-sister duo Zainali (24) and Azra Jetha (20) of Alpha Cube, are shoe artists working on custom orders. What started as a simple way to brighten their old tennis shoes in 2008 is now a prosperous business. Talking of how they began, Zainali says, "We've always been inclined towards painting and arts.

When we redid our shoes, our friends took notice and the word spread. Our shoes grew popular and eventually orders started coming in."

Customers tend to ask for cartoons designs, tribal prints or even graffiti on their shoes or bags. Personalised shoes and bags by this duo begin at Rs 2,500. "We ask the clients for a reference of what they want and personalise it for them. We have designedshoes for kids of all age groups." There are endless possibilities when it comes to shoe art and with a long list of clientele come an even longer list of demands. T-shirts with graffiti and/ or interesting caricatures sell like hotcakes; the brighter the better.

Stationery making
Stationery producers are growing in number as well. Merchandise stores stock up on expensive stationery but these self-made sellers ask for less while giving a whole lot more. Damini Kulkarni (18) specialises in a decorative technique known as 'quilling', which uses rolls of thin and tiny paper to create shapes and designs. "I remember watching my friend. The fascination led me to eventually learn quilling", says Damini, who has been selling handmade paper artifacts since 2009. She adds her unique touch to bookmarks, greeting cards wall hangings and envelopes for as less as Rs 15 to Rs 100.

Final word
These are just a few examples of the kind of hobbies that are helping make money for growing entrepreneurs. It's not that hard to convert an interest into a business; all it takes is a few final touches and quality products.

What better way to earn your way through something you actually enjoy?

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The young spenders!

Teens live like mini adults as credit cards and ample allowances power their expenses on eating out,

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Violent TV, video games bad for teens

A new research has shown that watching violent films, TV programmes or video games desensitises

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Irregular work schedules bad for parents

A study by Michigan State University researchers has found that irregular work schedules appear harmful to the well-being of cohabiting parents.

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How to handle tantrum-throwing kids

Not sure what to do when your tantrum-throwing child embarrasses you at the department store? Well, an

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Babies don't suffer when moms return to work

Are you planning to return to work after delivery? Then there is some 'good news' for you. A ground-

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Time to rock the summer

One of the best things about being a kid is the long summer break. While vacations must be used to travel and

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Guide for parents desperate to raise teens without tears

TEENAGE girls lie, manipulate and swerve from the truth to get what they want but parents need

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Kids learn from bruised elbows, knees

In a bid to get rid of Britain's ''cotton wool culture'' and encourage youngsters to play outdoors, new Health and Safety regulations have recommended that children should be encouraged to climb trees and graze knees.

In a move, which has been hailed as a victory of common sense, new guidelines say children should be allowed to take risks while councils have been warned not to pander to over-anxious parents.

A report issued by the Health and Safety Executive and Play England says organisations designing play areas should allow for a "few grazed knees or bruised elbows" if children gain from the experience, for example learning how to ride a bike on rough ground or use a climbing frame.
Mick Conway, of Play England said 17,000 guides have already been ordered by local authorities and schools hoping to build modern play areas.

He emphasised that the guide still insisted the play area is as "safe as reasonably possible" and protects against major injuries.

But if children can benefit from challenges like climbing, running or trying new stills then it allows for minor injuries.

"We do assess risk and hazard but we look at the benefits to children too and take a balanced approach," the Telegraph quoted Conway as saying.

"There has been too much of a cotton wool culture. People accept that children need more challenges while staying safe and that a few bumps and scrapes are all part of growing up," added Conway.

The guide warns that if playgrounds fail to stimulate children then the more risk-taking youngsters will seek challenges in more dangerous settings.

The report said health and safety was ''no longer about creating a risk-free society.''

Andy Wright, Countryside Manager at Box Hill where the National Trust is building a new adventure playground, said children cannot experience the countryside without taking risks.

The new natural play area will use natural materials like logs and trees for children to climb, balance on or clamber over.

Wright said children may slip on a wet log or graze themselves on a branch, but they are learning to be confident in the outdoors.

"These days kids are so closetted compared to 30 years ago. This is a controlled way of allowing them a bit of bravery, a bit of risk taking and perhaps picking up a minor injury," he said.

Barry Baker, Principal Inspector at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), endorsed the new approach.

"The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recognises the importance of play in children's lives and for their opportunities to learn about risk.

"Its application of risk-benefit assessments is a sensible approach to the health and safety management of play provision," he said.

David Cameron, the Prime Minister, has pledged to bring about wider reform of the health and safety rules governing teachers, nurses and police to enable them to make "common sense" decisions.

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Talking to your kids about sex?

Though every parent's nightmare, it's none-the-less that one ultra important conversation that every parent just has to have with their children. What? The talk about sex, puberty and sexually related nitty-gritties. Ask any child expert and they will not be able to emphasise enough on how important it is for parents to talk to their children about sex, and at an early age itself. Why? So that the misconceptions they develop about the subject, especially from peer group conversations and information gained from the Internet and television, can indeed lead to wrong notions about sex and sexuality. Children are naturally curious about their own bodies and this curiosity is healthy and normal.
Unfortunately, talking to your tiny tots about sex is never an easy task. Moreover, it's not comfortable for any of the parties involved — parents are afraid of it and children, mortified by it. That's probably the reason why this talk is often delayed, swept under the carpet or totally ignored with many parents who instead depend on teachers to do the needful. Children are an inquisitive lot and when it comes to sex, the curiosity levels zooms up quite a few notches. Hence, one cannot turn a blind eye and hope someone else does the 'dirty work'. Parents need to be proactive in talking to their children about sex. However, if done wrongly, it can either scare your child completely or just increase their curiosity even more.

"When you're talking to your child about sex, it has to be a very clinical talk, very matter of fact. Don't use any words or phrases that may indicate that it is something dirty or a taboo act. Also, don't talk about a gender bias. Avoid sentences like 'women always do this...' or 'men always do...'," says child psychologist Bela Raja.
According to her, the kind of sex talk parents have with their children depends on the age group of the child as at each different age, different things are to be said to a child.

For a child between the age group of seven to 10 years, the sex talk should emphasise on the commitment and bonding angle. "Since this is his/her first exposure to sex, talk to your child about how sex is a natural process and a part of the body. Tell them about the beauty of relationships but don't bring up the violence or rape angle," Bela advices.

If your child is aged between 10 years to 13 years, it is the right age to describe the biological facts and of course, the emotional angle. "Link your sex talk to the biological changes that they are experiencing in their body," Bela says.

For a 15 year old, however, she says, the emphasis must be on explaining the actual act of intercourse. "More importantly, explain that sex is not something to be used for any kind of gain or as a sign of power," Bela adds.
"The most important thing when talking to your child about sex is to not make it sound like a bad thing or a taboo," says child expert, Dr Nirmala Rao. According to her, most parents feel shy about talking to their children about sex thus leading to wrong concepts. "One must remember, children are very imaginative. If the concept itself is wrong, they will either get scared about sex or extra imaginative about it. Hence, be normal and casual when talking about sex. Explain, as naturally as possible, about anatomy and the related changes," she explains.

As kids grow, so does their curiosity, especially about sex. "So when your talking to your six or seven year old about his or her private parts, don't say things like 'chee, it's dirty', 'don't touch it, it's a sin'. Instead, tell them about the functions of these parts and teach them how to keep it clean just as you would tell them to wash their hands of feet," she says.

According to her, young girls need to be told about puberty and the changes it will bring in the body. "Teach them how to differentiate between a good touch and a bad touch. But don't petrify them that every man is just out to get them. For boys, meanwhile, fathers should talk to them about sexual organs, their growth and things like night emissions. When it first happens, the child may get scared or start feeling guilty. Explain to them that it is a natural growth process," she explains.

Make the talk easier
Start early: You'll find it less awkward if you introduce the topic when your child is very young. More importantly, answer questions simply and naturally, don't beat around the bush and use complicated or cliched metaphors.

Use everyday situations to start conversations: TV programmes are often a good opportunity to initiate the talk about sex. You can also talk when you're doing an activity together like washing up, laundry, a jigsaw puzzle, etc. This makes your child feel that sex is a normal part of family life and not a taboo subject.

Use books or leaflets: Finding it too difficult to get into nitty-gritties? Get help. Book stores have plenty of material that tells you how. That apart, there are also books that you can get your child to read or that you can go through together.

Be prepared: There will be those difficult moments when your child will, in the oddest of places, demand for an explanation about something they see. Don't fumble. Instead, say something like 'That's a good question, but let's talk about it when we get home'. Also, make sure you do, don't lose out of a good opportunity.

Be truthful: Forget those old grandmother ways of talking about 'bees and birds', storks, etc. Stories like these will just confuse children.

Ask your child's opinion: Talk to your children and ask them what they think about certain sex related issues, especially if it's in the news. More than anything else, this tells give you a fair idea of how much they know and understand.

Don't shun the issue: Don't ignore it if your child asks you a sex related question. Moreover, don't get angry with them. This will give them an impression that it is not a topic to be spoken about.

Don't beat around the bush: If you don't know the answer, say so and tell them you'll find out and let them know. This is a far better option to bluffing them, they are bound to find out the truth sooner or later.

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Success can keep kids away from drugs

Children who did better at school were also less likely to use drugs and alcohol or steal or break into fights than their non-performing peers.


"High performance cut the rate of drug use and delinquency in schools kids by as much as 25 per cent," said Amy Tobler, research assistant professor of health outcomes at University of Florida College of Medicine. 


"The schools in question had high population of ethnic minorities and underprivileged children - factors often linked to lower achievement in schools," said Tobler, reports the journal Prevention Sciences. 


"It could be good teaching, better administration, whatever these schools are doing, if we can replicate it, it will lead to not only academic achievement but improvement in healthy behaviors as well," said Tobler, according to a Florida statement. 


"Some schools can break that strong link between socio-demographic disadvantage and drug use and delinquency," said Tobler, who led the study. 


The researchers collected data in the schools from 2002 and 2005, following students in their sixth, seventh and eighth grade years. 


"Of the 61 schools, seven performed better than expected academically, a link that seemed to help keep kids in class and off drugs and alcohol," Tobler said. 


"It is not surprising in a way. If you can get low-income kids to identify with a school, you get better kids at the end," said David Berliner, professor emeritus of education at Arizona State University.

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Mum's happiness more important to children

A new UK study has found that a mother's happiness in her partnership is more important to the child than the father's.

The findings are based on a sample of 6,441 women, 5,384 men and 1,268 young people.

The Understanding Society research examined the relationships between married or cohabiting partners, and relationships between parents and their children.

Overall, 60 per cent of young people said they were ''completely satisfied'' with their family situation but in families where the child's mother is unhappy in her partnership, only 55 per cent of young people said they were ''completely happy'' with their family situation – compared with 73 per cent of young people whose mothers are ''perfectly happy'' in their relationships.

Prof John Ermisch, Maria Iacovou, and Alexandra Skew from the Institute for Social and Economic Research found that the happiest children are those living with two parents – either biological or step – with no younger siblings, who do not quarrel with their parents regularly, who eat at least three evening meals per week with their family and whose mother is happy in her own relationship.

"At a time when there is widespread political concern about ''Broken Britain'', these findings show that family relationships and the happiness of parents are key to the happiness of young people," said Iacovou.

"Contrary to the popular belief that children only want to spend time playing videogames or watching TV we found that they were most happy when interacting with their parents or siblings," she added.

The research also found that having older siblings was not related to children's happiness with their family, but having younger siblings in the household is associated with lower levels of satisfaction.

But relationships with parents are even more important than relationships with siblings.

Only 28 per cent of children who quarrel more than once a week with their parents, and don't discuss important matters with their parents are completely happy with their families.

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