12-year-old Sanjana went on a camping trip, hoping to make new friends and try kayaking. Unfortunately, most of the kids were already in groups, and she couldn’t join them. When she returned home, she said, "I'll never go camping again! Everyone hates me!" What just happened? Sanjana is feeling scared and worried that she won't be able to make friends. She needs to learn how to cope with this experience and try again. She needs to develop resilience. What does resilience mean? Why is it important? Resilience means the ability to recover from difficult life events and take risks again. Wh ..read more

Sixteen-year-old Anshika recently lost her grandfather. Three months in, she experiences a rollercoaster of emotions – happy days and days filled with tears and longing. What just happened? The world feels different after losing a loved one. Even months later, a child might experience a rollercoaster of emotions – happy days followed by tears and intense longing. This is completely normal. Grief has no set schedule, and seemingly random things – places, food, sounds, or smells – can trigger memories of the person they lost. How can we help teenagers navigate grief? Identifying Grief: S ..read more

10-year-old Dhruv refuses to eat his lunch without watching Peppa Pig. If his parents say no, he throws his plate and stares angrily. Many kids today are practically digital natives, comfortable with smartphones from a young age. We hand them these devices to keep them quiet, then get frustrated when they become glued to the screen. So, what's driving this behavior? Most of us are guilty of scrolling through social media mindlessly. Even at the dining table, the phone becomes as essential as the cutlery. Our children see our habits and mimic them, becoming screen-bound themselves. But how ..read more

Misba and Mustafa are playing together with blocks and trucks. Suddenly, Mustafa yells, "You took my truck, I hate you!" Misba, startled, throws back, "You took my blocks, I don't want to play with you anymore!" What just happened? This is a scene many parents witness – a breakdown in communication. Misba and Mustafa are so caught up in their emotions (frustration, anger) that they can't express what they truly need. They need to learn a new way to talk – Nonviolent Communication (NVC)! What is NVC? NVC was developed by Marshall B. Rosenberg on the principles of non-violence by Mahatma Gand ..read more

Rohan is solving a math problem. He keeps getting the answer wrong and cannot understand why. Source: FamilyTutor What could help? Metacognition- Thinking about thinking. Metacognition helps you understand how your mind works, identify the error and then re-evaluate your thinking. Source: Brainscape How will metacognition help? Let's go back to Rohan, he can use metacognition to: Pause and Reflect: Instead of rechecking his answer multiple times, Rohan can take a step back and think: “What is the problem actually asking for?” Are there any keywords that give clues about the approach he s ..read more

Arun is playing with toys. After playing, he leaves them scattered on the ground, neglecting to return them to their place. His caregiver reminds him to tidy up after playtime, Arun agrees but fails to follow through. This pattern of behaviour persists across his other activities. What just happened? Arun is having trouble understanding why it's important to finish his tasks. He also needs to learn to keep his promises and take responsibility for his actions. But, why is being responsible important? Being responsible means you take charge of your tasks and do your part. It's like promisi ..read more

10-year-old Raunak, 7-year-old Ameen, and 8-year-old Abhi were given a blank sheet .They're told to draw anything. Anything at all! The result? two mountains, a house, a lake. Three unique minds, drawing a strangely similar scene. What just happened? Standardization of creativity. Children are often taught what to think, not how to think. This limits their critical thinking and self-expression skills. Why do we standardise creativity? Teaching a standardized lesson to a class of 40 is easy compared to crafting unique lesson plans for every child. Schools and exams often take a standardized ..read more

Hi everyone, Wishing you a kind and happy new year! It's been a long time since I've written here. Here is an update from my side: I started pursuing my Masters in Psychology of Education at the University of Manchester in September 2021. Each day, my course strengthens my belief and vision for introducing social-emotional learning in the education system. My subjects range from understanding a child's brain to understanding the socio-cultural aspect that affects a child's life. Teachers, parents, school systems, and the administration all have a long-term impact on a child's mental health ..read more

Dear Readers, I have always prioritized mental health and taking a break once in a while. Unfortunately, I am not always following my own advice. So, I am (finally) taking a break. Thank you for interacting with me over the past year. Feel free to hit me up with any future article suggestions or random thoughts. See you next month! Gratitude and warmth, Aakanksha ..read more

4-year-old Amisha is having lunch. Her caregiver adds another roti to her plate. Amisha says “I am full. I don’t want” Amisha’s caregiver says, “You have to eat it. I am telling you to eat it.” Amisha sulks and eats the additional roti. What just happened? This is a common example of a power struggle between a caregiver and a child. Amisha’s body signaled her that she was full. She heard it and chose not to eat more. Her caregiver might have felt otherwise and given her an ultimatum instead of listening to her. What can this lead to? When we do this with a child, we indirectly tell them “I d ..read more