Social media interaction , online sexual abuse, child porn, blackmailing, and the release of nude photos, are a common occurrence these days. You can no longer be silent. It is the time that you talk to your child about what a good touch is, what a bad touch is, how to identify wrong people, how to avoid them and report them to elders, how to be safe on social media etc. When to educate your child Most parents are under the notion that kids will not understand what abuse is, even if it is explained to them. But the truth is that kids become aware of gender, and their own gender identity, from the time they are in preschool. So the best time to educate kids is when they move into primary school, as they are both highly vulnerable during this time, as well as receptive to new information regarding gender, sex, abuse, etc. Though they would not understand the terms that we use, we can certainly make them understand what abuse is. Do I need to educate only my daughter or do I have to educate my son too? Another misconception is that only girl children are prone to abuse.

Neglecting your kids is a terrible thing. But the other extreme, paranoid parenting, can be equally harmful to your children. Which is why it must be avoided. But before we get to the part where we tell you how to go that however, let us learn exactly what paranoid parenting is. What is paranoid parenting? Consider this situation. You are walking along the road to a nearby grocery store with your kid, and you are so scared that someone might kidnap your kid. You react by tightly gripping your kid’s arm, and just refusing to let go for a moment. If this is you, then you might be practising paranoid parenting. We don’t mean to say that your fears are irrational but the way you react to these concerns is disproportionate. Where does this paranoid parenting come from? Paranoid parenting stems from a collection of thought processes that fed by fears, insecurities, failures, and disappointments – blended with the overprotective and micromanaging attitude of the parents. To better understand this, consider the following example – A first-time mother who has grown up in a hostile environment where kids bullied her in school, or grown-ups mistreated her, and who is routined, through social media and other sources, exposed to stories about children being kidnapped, trafficked, etc.

Shopping with your children can a challenging experience. Sometimes it becomes a nightmare for parents to stop their kids from picking up toys. Fearing their kid’s tantrums, most parents succumb to pressure and end up getting those toys. Toys as such are not all that great for your kids. They can never be a substitute for the open air play that develops the child’s social skills. There are also a number of other disadvantages of toys, such as the possibility of children getting over-attached to them. And of course, it’s never a great idea for your kids to believe that you will cave into every tantrum of theirs and get them any toy they want! You might now be wondering how to handle this. Well, wonder no more. Read on to learn about a few practical tips on how to leave a store without buying a toy: Conditioning your kids beforehand Kids are generally teachable, especially when they are taught early. So before you start from your home, tell your kid clearly what you are going to the store for. If it is purchasing few essentials or a birthday present for your cousin’s kid, tell your kid clearly that you are there only for this purpose – nothing more or nothing less.

“Talk to my kids about puberty? Are you kidding?” If you’re a parent, then chances are that you’ve spoken those words. Welcome to the world of teenage parenting – one of the most challenging periods in the life of a parent. The reason why it is so challenging is apparent. Your child starts undergoing physiological, emotional, cognitive and physical changes during this period. Sometimes it’s gradual. But most of the times it’s so abrupt, that both the child and the parent end up being intensely stressed out. Why do we need to understand teens after all? The teenage years are the transition phase between childhood and adulthood. Both girls and boys undergo tremendous changes. This is what happens for boys: Their hormone pattern changes. There is a spurt in testosterone levels. The production of sperms begin. They are bothered by wet dreams or nocturnal emissions. Secondary sexual characters develop, such as physique, voice, male pattern of body hair, beard, and mustache. They start seeking a purpose or meaning in their existence. And this is what happens for girls: They begin their monthly cycles of menstrual flow. Estrogen and progesterone takes control. They become more emotional. Development of secondary sexual characters like breasts, female pattern of body hair occurs.

Divorce has become very common these days for many reasons. Psychologists and psychiatrists would argue that it is better to separate than to stay together and fight every day. While divorce might be a way for a couple to get a better life for themselves, it is still a sad experience – and one through which the children suffer the most. Divorce affects every child in different ways; and it has been observed that in many cases, the effects of divorce on a child’s psychology are largely adverse. In various surveys across the globe, children have admitted that their life would have been different if their parents were not divorced. Many of them wonder whether they could have a healthy marriage in the future, unlike that of their parents. There are many more psychological dilemmas that these children of divorced couples face. It is the parents’ duty to handle their legal separation in such a way that it doesn’t leave a psychological and emotional scar on their child. For parents who are in the midst of a divorce, here are some tips to handle your divorce such that it doesn’t hurt your child in any way- Love your child: There is no doubt that you love your child.