Parenting coaches need

Your cover story on the rising popularity of parenting coaches (PW February) was interesting. A few years ago, parents consulting professionals to improve their relationship with children was unheard of. It was believed that parenting is instinctive and no additional training is needed to become a good parent.

But after reading your cover story I’ve got thinking that seeking professional advice to improve parenting skills and family life is a good idea. Especially nowadays when both parents are working and children are overexposed to a flood of age-inappropriate information on the internet and social media. Parenting workshops and expert guidance are very useful in equipping parents with the knowledge and skills to manage children in the Google age.

Thank you for this cover story which is positive and informative, and sure to encourage parents to seek professional advice.

Disha Thomas

Trivandrum

Include physical exercises for children

I enjoy reading your Health & Nutrition section. It provides excellent information on fitness exercises. For the past few years I have been practising yoga on and off. But I’ve never tried pull-up exercises, the benefits of which have been explained so well by gymnastics coach Monojit Ghosh (PW February). It was great to read that pull-ups benefit children too.

I am hoping in the next issue Mr. Ghosh will write about fitness exercises safe for children. With children having missed out sports and fitness activities for almost two years because of school closures, they really need to get back to playing sports and following a physical exercise regimen.

I also liked the special essay ‘10 parenting strategies to reduce children’s pandemic stress’. Many parents are worried about the possible long-term effects of pandemic-related disruptions on children’s mental health and well-being.

Nupur Banerjee

Delhi

Don’t ignore body-shaming complaints

Thank you to parenting coach Dr. Pallavi Rao Chaturvedi for empathetically answering parenting queries in her ‘Ask your counselor’ column.

In her most recent column she has given useful advice to enable children to cope with body-shaming by peers. Persistent body-shaming can destroy children’s self-confidence leading them to depression and even suicide. Parents need to be educated to not take complaints of poor body image of teenage children lightly in particular. It’s the duty of parents to provide an emotionally safe and secure home environments and fully support and encourage children to become the best version of themselves.

I would love Dr. Chaturvedi to offer some suggestions to wean children off digital games addiction. The past two years of online schooling have made children over-dependent on digital devices and many are finding it hard to give them up.

Tina Saxena

Mumbai

Best road trips shortlist

With the pandemic hopefully having ended, our family is making plans to travel during the summer holidays, and Bhutan seems to be the most inviting (Leisure and Travel ‘Untouched charm of Bhutan’ PW March) destination.

Its rich spiritual Buddhist culture, peaceful monasteries and warm and friendly people make Bhutan an enjoyable as well as educative holiday experience for children.

As a family, we love travelling on the road and have taken several road trips. Please do write about best road trip destinations in India.

Shiny Rishi

Bangalore

More info please

The world of education and jobs has become intensely competitive. Yet there are thousands of careers and alternative study choices to pursue.

I hope you will continue to highlight them, and help parents with information on ways to canalise their children’s talents. I saw your section on careers but I think we need more information in this area, as parents are unaware about how to approach unconventional career options.

Pinky Malhotra

Gurugram