On this episode, Indian classical dancer Revanta Sarabhai talks about growing up with dance all around him, how dance helps children, especially boys, express themselves, and why parents must encourage their kids to take up a dance-form.

Difficult Conversations with Your Kids

34: Why you should encourage your kids to take up dance, with Revanta Sarabhai

How can we use the lockdown to mindfully spend time and bond with our children? On this episode we detail activity ideas for quality time, involving them with chores, whether screen time should be limited and more.

33: How to keep kids engaged during the lockdown

What should I be doing differently to keep my child safe? Should I change their diet? What and how often should I be cleaning? A doctor answers all your questions about parenting during the COVID-19 outbreak.

32: A doctor on keeping children safe during the coronavirus pandemic

For the occasion of World Cancer Day, this episode of our parenting podcast deals with how to talk to children about cancer and other challenging themes. Host Anuradha Varma, who leads Express Parenting, is joined by guests Tanu Shree Singh, psychologist and author of Darkless (https://penguin.co.in/book/uncategorized/darkless/) , and editor Richa Jha, the founder of Pickle Yolk Books (http://pickleyolkbooks.com/) . On this episode our two guests talk about children's books that deal with challenging themes of terminal illness, disability, trans issues and more and why it is important to help children grasp concepts of sadness and loss. Reading List: Gone Grandmother (https://www.tulikabooks.com/general-picture-books/gone-grandmother-english.html) Boo! When my sister died (https://pickleyolkbooks.com/portfolio-item/boo-when-my-sister-died/) Behind The Lie (https://store.prathambooks.org/productDetails?Behind-the-Lie/9789353093099) Who Stole Bhaiya's Smile? (https://store.prathambooks.org/productDetails?/9789353099824) And Tango Makes Three (https://www.amazon.com/Tango-Makes-Three-Classic-Board/dp/1481446959) Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn't Sit Still (https://www.amazon.in/Nadia-Karlin-Gray/dp/0544319605) The Scar (https://www.amazon.in/Scar-Charlotte-Moundlic/dp/0763653411) Missing Mommy (https://www.amazon.com/Missing-Mommy-Book-About-Bereavement/dp/0805095071) Cry, Heart, But Never Break  (https://www.amazon.in/Cry-Heart-But-Never-Break/dp/1592701876)

31: Kids' books on Cancer and other challenging themes

On this episode of the Indian Express' parenting podcast, host Anuradha Varma is joined by none other than acclaimed author Sudha Murty. We sat down with Murty when she was in Delhi for the Penguin Annual lecture series and talked to her about storytelling, mythology and parenting. How relevant is mythology for children nowadays? What values does Murty aim to inculcate through her stories? How can you encourage a culture of reading at home? The author discusses all this and more on this episode. Tune in!

30: The importance of storytelling and mythology, with Sudha Murty

On this episode, we are joined by a very special guest- Dav Pilkey, the acclaimed author and cartoonist who is known best for his award winning children's series Captain Underpants and Dog Man. Dav joins Anuradha Varma, who heads Express Parenting, to talk about his experiences growing up as a child with dyslexia and ADHD, how parents and caregivers can support children with learning and attention disabilities, and how reading can be made more fun for all children. Tune in for a wonderful conversation and make sure to make your kids listen too.

29: Captain Underpants author Dav Pilkey, on growing up with ADHD and dyslexia

Since Children's Day falls in November, we wanted to dedicate a special episode to the pressing issue of child abuse in collaboration with UNICEF. Anuradha Varma, who heads Express Parenting, talks to Rajeshwari Chandrasekar, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF, about the various types of abuse that children can face and how parents can recognise behaviour patterns. Ms. Rajeshwari breaks down the difference between physical, sexual and emotional abuse, myths that surround them, and how neglect is an abusive pattern many parents are not aware of. She details how this abuse impacts children for years to come, who is vulnerable and who are the perpetrators, and warning signs that parents should look out for. Tune in for an insightful conversation.

28: How emotional and physical abuse affects children, with UNICEF

From adding "Mom" or "Dad" in your social media bios, to reading up on the different types of parenting techniques- parenting has become a hot topic in the modern age. On this special episode of the parenting podcast, Express Parenting head Anuradha Varma is in conversation with Dr. Amit Sen, Child and Adolescent psychiatrist and co-founder of Children First. (https://childrenfirstindia.com/) They discuss the challenges faced by parents and children in a world that is becoming increasingly structured, pressure to perform has increased substantially and the idea of a 'community' needs to be rebuilt. Dr. Sen discusses how children and adolescents in the modern age are affected by various external factors as well as their home life, how this shapes their perspectives even as adults, how to be conscious of signs of mental health problems, and how to work towards helping your child become the best version of themselves. Details about Children First's Imagine 2019 event: https://indianexpress.com/article/parenting/delhi-at-iic-this-weekend-event-to-help-reimagine-parenting-6072558/

26: Parenting in the modern age, with Dr. Amit Sen

Terrorist attacks and school shootings have become a such a common feature in the news that your child is likely to be exposed to it. How do you talk about and work through such a complex issue with your child? How do we help them accept this very real fear and deal with it? How can we balance morbid information with more balanced and positive news? Parent and psychologist Tanu Shree Singh helps you unpack this tricky subject on this episode of the parenting podcast.

25: How to discuss terrorism with your kids

Do parents need to worry about the mental health of their kids? What are signs that that the child may be struggling? When it comes to teenagers, how do you differentiate between changes caused by puberty and graver issues? What are common stressors to look out for like exams or peer pressure? On this episode, psychologist Tanu Shree Singh dives into mental health- when should you be worried and what can you do to help your child?

24: How to recognise if your child is dealing with mental health problems

In a world of social media personas and busy schedules, loneliness and social anxiety among kids are on the rise. How do you help your children build their social skills? What are small, first steps to take in your house itself? What habits should you work to inculcate- whether it's dinner together, game nights or vacations? How can you do all this without pressuring them to change their inherent personality? We discuss all this and more on this episode of the parenting podcast with parent and psychologist Tanu Shree Singh.

23: How to make your kids more social

Children are often asked what they want to be when they grow up and, depending on their age, the answers can vary from "superhero" to "travel blogger" to "astronaut". Many children have wild ambitions which may change, but how can you encourage them without being judgemental? How do you help them be practical about careers and money as they get older without forcing them or stifling creative ambitions? On this episode, psychologist Tanu Shree Singh discusses how to expose your children to various career options, being open-minded about alternative fields, and helping them find happiness in whatever they do.

22: How to talk to children about career options

In this digital age, chances are your children will stumble on pornography or be exposed to it through peers very early in their lives. The experience can be very confusing for children, so it is important to be non-judgemental and deal with the issue sensitively. What if you accidentally catch your child watching pornography? Is it ever too early to talk to children about porn? How do you help them understand that what they see is not realistic and often promotes misogyny and unrealistic body image? What do you tell them about chatting with strangers on online chat rooms? Here are some quick tips on how to deal with this tricky topic as a parent.

21: How to talk to your child about pornography

So you're planning to shift cities. How do you prepare your children for it and when should you inform them? Should you involve them in decisions? What should you tell the child about the new school you've shortlisted for them? More importantly, how can you, as a parent, be firm about your decision? Suppose you aren't moving but your child wants to transfer schools for some reason. Do you entertain them? What if you have financial constraints? On this episode of the parenting podcast, host and editor of Express Parenting (https://indianexpress.com/parenting/) Anuradha Verma talks to parent and psychologist Tanu Shree Singh about how you can discuss shifting cities or schools with your children.

20: How to talk to your children about shifting cities or schools

As notions of gender roles evolve, how can parents play their part in helping their children avoid gender stereotypes? What are the knee-jerk patriarchal norms that we should watch out for in ourselves? Each time a child deviates from what is considered a “normal” gendered behaviour, he or she is corrected and sometimes, even scolded. How can we change this reaction and help our children respond to bullying? In a time when boys are being asked to be not too aggressive and not too soft, what does masculinity mean? Anuradha Verma, who heads Express Parenting, talks to parent and psychologist Tanu Shree Singh about easy tips on how to start discussing gender roles with their children. Read a list of children's books that break stereotypes here (https://indianexpress.com/article/parenting/learning/childrens-books-gender-stereotypes-equality-5810663/) .

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Difficult Conversations with Your Kids

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