Interesting things you can do together with your toddler

There can come times when you are clueless about what exactly to do with your toddlers. I have encountered this a numerous times when i have a lot of spare time with Dhruv; here are some small things which I have don't it with him and surprisingly have seen huge brain development in him.

1. Dhruv loves to scribble; he learnt to hold a pencil even before he was 2 years old(Well, I am a web Designer by profession and his maternal grandfather was a DGM in the design and research team in HAL; so you see its in his genes too!!! :)). The day I say him holding the pen quite well i bought color pencils and started off by drawing stars, lizards, bugs etc. He simply loved it. today he is two years two months old, you just draw a lizard and hand him the pencil and ask him to draw the eyes he will perfectly place two dots on either sides!!!

2. Suprise him by taking him out on the weekdays in the evening! Weekend outings are a normal trend, something which now a days every working parent does with their kids, but a surprise weekday evening visit even to a local market is a huge hit! I just took Dhruv to a local roll shop last evening and he was terribly over-whelmed and excited with the entire process  of egg roll making! Yes he did want a couple of bites from it which i offered it to him(once in a blue moon street food is 100% fine).

3.Travel...take him out for an occasional break its refreshing for both of you.

4.Reading and story-telling; this is something which Sourav specializes(he is damn good in explaining things interestingly). A few days back i casually took out a colorful encyclopedia and place it in front of Dhruv and opened up the space section where there were planets and sun. Dhruv as usual started off with his usual question series of - "Eita ki?"(What is this?). I kept telling him the names of the planet; this is when Sourav stepped him and creatively explained the "Big bang Theory" to him. And to this date every time he sees sun or hears of the sun his first reaction to it is relating the big bang theory

5. THis is someting which we havnt tried it yet but we are planning to during the Durga puja holidays - start off a hobby which both you and you kid will enjoy. building and maintaining an auqarium will be a huge stress busted for you and enjoyable affair for the kid even.

Whats more important - fat or fit?

A post after a long time, well I was stuck in numerous personal issues. Now that the storms have reduced I have crept back again with a blog post. This post is loosely my previous post of fussy eating, weight gain and body fat.

Dhruv was born 2.65kgs and from that very day till date i have constantly heard ppl tell me that he is too thin. Like any other toddler he is fussy with food but loves maggie, chips, ice-cream, buttery corn, baked sausage. He loves any kind of physical activity and drawing(Yes, he holds a pencil perfectly and can scribble on paper). The fact that no one used to consider these points; rather focus more on he being "THIN".

Whats more important - fat or fit?
I would say fit, a thin child is not necessarily an unhealthy child. Yes, fat provide a good source of calories, they should not be dependant upon to increase weight. Its best to inculcate healthy eating habits by introducing variety of healthy food like almonds in his cereal, mashed baked potatoes and boiled corn, just plain and simple buttered baked corn, tangy upma etc

Its also important to keep in mind that at a certain period a toddler may not seem to be growing as rapidly as expected. This does not mean that the toddler is not growing well.For as long as the toddler is disease-free and able to exhibit intellectual, emotional and psychological advantages, you can be worry-free.

Is fast food recommended for toddlers?
Most of the fast food contain trans-fatty acids or trans fats which are a result of the hydrogenation process, which transforms vegetable oils into margarine.The trans fatty acids may also interfere with the ability of the
cells of the body to metabolize good fats, thus may be damaging to the structures of the brain.

Some fast food fares like side salads, shakes, and mango/apple pies can be good sources of micronutrients. For as long as they are taken in moderation or are not abused, or provided in amounts that will not be detrimental to the proper intake of the other nutritious foods, they can be allowed.

However, foods and drinks which are high in sugar should be totally avoided. These type of foods can be addictive and habit-forming.

What are fit-to-eat food?
Meals should also feature a good selection of foods that supply the right balance of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals, not to mention water. Water is essential for bringing nutrients to all the cells
in the body. Without proper nourishment, cells cannot carry out their functions well. Water also helps the body get rid of toxins and wastes. Of particular importance for a FIT and healthy body are those nutrients
like protein and a group of nutrients known as "antioxidants". They play an essential role in promoting strong immunity in growing children when their immune system is more prone to infections and diseases.

Protein helps to build immune cells and antioxidants protect the body's cells (including the immune cells) from damage by free radicals. Immune cells, which are damaged by free radicals, can no longer function
effectively, lessening children's overall resistance to infections and making for a longer recovery from illness.

Image courtesy :  http://www.dumex.com.sg/young_children/health_and_nutrition/article/choosing_fit_not_fat_foods

Father's Day

Sourav, my best friend and biggest critic wanted to be the center of the new post am currently typing so I decided to write a post on – “Father’s role in a child’s life”. Luckily its also Father’s Day on the 17^th of June so just in time to write something about a father.

 In today life it’s mandatory that both partners earn to support themselves and dependants. In such a situation when a child comes in, apart from a mother’s requirement to nourish the child the father too needs to take part in various activities that the child goes in the initial years. Father’s are no longer just the breadwinner and provider of the basic necessities of life, they play a pivotal role in a child’s mental and psychological development as well.

Some activities that Sourav involves himself in parenting Dhruv


1.     He bathes Dhruv every Sunday, he makes Sunday bathing fun by giving bubble baths, shampooing and constantly telling Dhruv that its so much fun bathing on Sundays. This builds up the bond of affection.


2.     Most of the evening when I return home Dhruv is in action with his plastic football and dad motivating him to kick harder and follow the ball thus helping him develop motor skill and ability. This strengthens a father-child association.


3.     Many a times Dhruv find it more fun playing around me when am trying to feed him, timely words of discipline from Sourav makes him sit down and eat his food quietly. In this way a child learns to respect and sees his father as his role model. A father should never take recourse to needless resentment or hostility as this may instill a sense of fear in the child’s mind.


A father is a role model, the strongest pillar which will never break. A mother does know everything about her child but a father is the friend, guide, role model and much more to a child. It is true that a child find it more fun to be with a father than with a mother.

A Tough and Interesting Life: Fussy eating toddler

A Tough and Interesting Life: Fussy eating toddler: Is your toddler a fussy eater? Dont be worried, every 8 out of 10 toddlers are fussy eater. Dhruv is a very fussy eater, its not that he r...

Fussy eating toddler

Is your toddler a fussy eater? Dont be worried, every 8 out of 10 toddlers are fussy eater. Dhruv is a very fussy eater, its not that he refuses food, he just finds it more fun when he is allowed to watch cartoon and eat or eating while scribbling on the walls. MAny will say that its not the right habit to put toddlers into, but toddlers physchology is different, I feel that I should allow him to enjoy what he is doing rather that making him  sit with family and eat. I mean he will anyways do that as he grows older why put him into strict habits so soon.

I have noted down some points which will ease the pain of feeding a fussy toddler -

1. Dont hyer-ventilate if your toddler is refusing to eat; he is probably full - he might be hungry again at the next meal or at snack time.

2. Serve him healthy wholesome food for breakfast-corn flakes, milk, nuts and a fruit

3. Never be worried that your toddler isnt getting enought food.

4. If he wants to eat something from your food dont discourage him, give him a small bite it will not harm his stomach

5. Introduce new foods one at a time and in small quatity. Make sure you include at least one thing you know your toddler likes at each meal.

6. Look for ways to boost the nutritional value of the dishes your toddler enjoys. You can use olive oil, add nut in the breakfast cereal, add a dash of lime in the usual upma.

7. Encourage your toddler to touch or smell any new food. If you are worried that his hands are dirty i would suggest that let him touch or smell it and then try to gently wipe away his hands with baby wipes.

8. Toddlers appetites are affected by their growth rates. You will find that for 3-4 months he is having a growth spurt and  is being a very nice kid while eating and the next 6 months you will find that he is more interested in other activities apart from eating.

The good news is that the tendency to reject new foods fades as children get older. Remind yourself that one day your child is likely to eat and enjoy a whole range of foods, even if it’s very frustrating now!

A long and interesting journey begins...

My sole purpose of this blog is to share my experience raising my 17-day-far-from-2-years old son MOKSH whom I lovingly call DHRUV