Akhila Das Blah
Akhila Das Blah is Chief Storyteller and Head of Content at Indigrow Kids (www.indigrowkids.com), an organisation that creates delightful books and games that help little ones learn about India in a fun, modern way. An educational consultant with over 15 years of experience in teaching, curriculum development, teacher training and designing creative learning experiences, she combines her technical expertise of managing children in a classroom with the empathetic understanding of raising children in today’s world. Wearing a combination of her teacher or parent hat, sometimes both, she shares her knowledge and expertise of children in a practical, fuss-free and implementable manner.
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More From Akhila Das Blah
Parenthesis: Parenting in the time of coronaSubscriber Only
March 27, 2020 13:47 IST
Unfortunately, this is the 'new normal'. We don't have a choice but to accept our situation and do the best we can.
Fri, Mar 27, 2020
Parenthesis: Does your child think you’re perfect?Subscriber Only
March 13, 2020 11:37 IST
Perfection as a concept does not exist. The problem with perfection is that it is inherently linked to a fear of failure.
Fri, Mar 13, 2020
Parenthesis: Why you should cook with your childSubscriber Only
February 28, 2020 11:46 IST
Cooking introduces kids practical scientific concepts. It encourages them to experiment, observe and reach conclusions based on their observations.
Fri, Feb 28, 2020
Parenthesis: Teach kids to end the blame game and be accountableSubscriber Only
February 14, 2020 15:00 IST
Children need to be encouraged to clean up their own messes. Make it a normal part of your daily life.
Fri, Feb 14, 2020
Parenthesis: Teach your child proper etiquette in public placesSubscriber Only
January 31, 2020 12:33 IST
As with all things parenting, start young. It's much harder to teach a teenager manners as compared to teaching a two-year-old.
Fri, Jan 31, 2020
Parenthesis: How to navigate peer influence around your childSubscriber Only
January 17, 2020 14:08 IST
Peer influence is real and occurs at all ages. You don't need to wait for your child to become a teenager to realise how susceptible your child is to peer influence.
Fri, Jan 17, 2020
Parenthesis: Take stock and set parenting goals for 2020Subscriber Only
January 03, 2020 12:56 IST
Think of the year to come. Think of how old your child is turning. What will he be able to do this year? What might his challenges be? Will he be going to a new class or a new school?
Fri, Jan 03, 2020
Parenthesis: Hear your child before rushing in to fix the problemSubscriber Only
December 20, 2019 09:30 IST
Accept children's emotions, without passing any judgment or need to fix it. Ask them what they think would make them feel better or less scared.
Fri, Dec 20, 2019
Parenthesis: Create an early foundation for financial planningSubscriber Only
December 06, 2019 11:03 IST
Don't hesitate to have balanced, honest conversations about money with your children. They must learn to manage and respect money.
Fri, Dec 06, 2019
Parenthesis: Leave your phone behind and take a walk with your childSubscriber Only
November 22, 2019 08:37 IST
Going for a stroll or a walk around the neighbourhood forces you to slow down. It encourages you to take time out of your busy schedule and actually tune in to your child. It's essential that you leave your phones and gadgets at home.
Fri, Nov 22, 2019
Parenthesis: Lessons I learnt when my child was being bulliedSubscriber Only
November 08, 2019 12:17 IST
Whatever you do, don’t expect your child to sort it out for himself. They need your support. Reassure them that they are not alone and that you are there to help
Fri, Nov 08, 2019
Parenthesis: Start early with anger management for your childSubscriber Only
October 25, 2019 17:53 IST
If you want them to talk to you respectfully, you need to do the same. Our children are constantly watching us. They need to see us express anger in healthy, appropriate ways.
Fri, Oct 25, 2019
Parenthesis: Playing outdoors is messy, fun and vital for kidsSubscriber Only
October 11, 2019 08:47 IST
So, we learnt to put up with the whiny child or the child who always had to have his own way, or the child who never wanted to be the ‘den’ and we learnt to negotiate our way through the playing. We learnt important life skills while playing outside.
Fri, Oct 11, 2019
Parenthesis: Raising introverts and extroverts, togetherSubscriber Only
September 13, 2019 08:29 IST
A boisterous child at home may suddenly be quieter in school. You discover that your child's personality may be more introverted than you realised. Or your quiet child may suddenly thrive in a school environment and come home with a million stories about her friends and life at school.
Fri, Sep 13, 2019
Parenthesis: Apologise to your kids freely and oftenSubscriber Only
August 30, 2019 12:17 IST
Sometimes, an apology is not about if you're feeling bad or not. It's about the other person and how they're feeling. Even if you may not consider something a big deal, you need to acknowledge that it was important for the other person.
Fri, Aug 30, 2019
Parenthesis: Here are 3 non-negotiable rules of parentingSubscriber Only
August 16, 2019 08:32 IST
And the best part is, most of what you would want your child to do falls under these three rules. It's simple and easy for both your child and you to follow through on.
Fri, Aug 16, 2019
Parenthesis: What kind of parent are you during vacations?Subscriber Only
August 02, 2019 08:17 IST
The next time you plan a vacation, think about the hidden message for your child. Is it in sync with how you intend to raise him, the attributes and values that you would like him to imbue? Whatever you choose, keep in mind that your choices have a larger impact than you might have imagined.
Fri, Aug 02, 2019
Parenthesis: Do your kids seem destructive? They probably just want to playSubscriber Only
July 19, 2019 09:55 IST
When your toddler wants to play peek-a-boo all the time, he is just satisfying his urge or need to play in a specific way. Researchers believe that these patterns of play help your child develop as they explore the world trying to find out how things work.
Fri, Jul 19, 2019
Parenthesis: Birthday parties made me a wreck till my twins rescued meSubscriber Only
July 05, 2019 07:00 IST
A bouncy castle at a birthday party seemed like the most natural thing in the world. Loud blaring music and equally loud party hosts competed with each other. I returned from each party with a splitting headache.
Wed, Jul 10, 2019
Parenthesis: How to deal with toddler tantrumsSubscriber Only
June 21, 2019 13:55 IST
Assess why your child is upset. If he’s tired or hungry, he may need a nap or a snack. At other times, he may just need to be distracted to the next activity. If the tantrum is because he isn’t being allowed to do something, explain once and then move on.
Fri, Jun 21, 2019
Parenthesis: The ability to do nothing is an important life skillSubscriber Only
June 07, 2019 10:42 IST
By providing endless playdates, use of screens or enrolling them in activities, we are not allowing them to listen to their inner voice. Their inner voice that tells them to make a fort, or write a story or draw a picture.
Fri, Jun 07, 2019
Parenthesis: Does your parenting style differ from your partner’s?Subscriber Only
May 24, 2019 07:00 IST
In an ideal world, research has shown that staying as close to an authoritative approach is best. Being aware of how you are handling a particular situation will help facilitate conversation between your spouse and you.
Fri, May 24, 2019
Parenthesis: Are you ready to have a second child? Here’s a checklistSubscriber Only
May 10, 2019 09:00 IST
Should you have a second child or not? Will you be depriving your child of a sibling and family for when you are no longer around? Or will you be forcing a sibling on him and depriving him of your undivided attention? If you were to have a second child, what should be the ideal age gap?
Fri, May 10, 2019
Parenthesis: Is boarding school right for your child? Here are points to considerSubscriber Only
April 26, 2019 09:45 IST
Take a long-term approach and don't make hasty decisions. Discuss all pros and cons, do your research thoroughly and then take a decision in the best interests of the child and your family. It's important to remember that no decision is lasting.
Fri, Apr 26, 2019
Parenthesis: Why you should stop comparing your child to othersSubscriber Only
April 12, 2019 11:19 IST
The problem arises when instead of observing our child’s individual growth and progress and seeking help if needed, we compare our child to either his siblings or other children and judge him for being different.
Fri, Apr 12, 2019a better experience