MOTHER’S PRIDE ANNUAL DAY CELEBRATION

Toddlers are so adorable on their own and their performance on stage added on to their cute charms. Yes and that’s what happened at Mother’s Pride annual day event where tiny tots performed on 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th of February at Siri Fort auditorium. The event was a success and liked by many. Several eminent personalities voted their presence including - Jagdish Mukhi, Member of Legislative Assembly, Mr. Amol Palekar, Renowned Actor & Director, Vinod Kambli, Former Indian Cricketer and Mrs Arti Mehra, Former Mayor, Delhi. The event was dedicated in support of our NGO, Sparsh working towards the welfare of the underprivileged.

Around 10,000 tiny tots participated and gave thrilling performances.  Their endearing presentations left audience speechless and enthralled. This year’s Annual Day theme was ‘Wonders of Curiosity’ celebrating the inborn curiosity of children. Around 20,000 parents and grandparents witnessed the spectacular performances of the little children.

The mega event began with invocation of Lord Ganesha, which was followed by a song tribute to grandparents under the theme ‘The Second Childhood’. The major highlight was ‘Fashion Fiesta 2012’, where our terrific toddlers set the ramp on fire with their costumes and catwalk, making it the most happening fashion show.

Another phenomenal performance was based on ‘Indian Folk Flavours’, where toddlers danced showcasing our culture and heritage through varied dance forms. Depicting little ones love for the country, a patriotic performance ‘The Pride of India’ was choreographed which brought tears into the eyes of many nation lovers sitting in the audience. Children also twisted in the couple-dance performance on the Justin Bibber’s song. The sequential mesmerizing performances gave an overwhelming feeling to the parents and grandparents, filling auditorium with colors of joy.

The performance by special children of Savera Special School was a beautiful amalgamation of our stand to raise the humanity and conveyed that this annual day was not just about celebration but a dedication towards humanity. A cheque of Rs 51lacs was presented for the noble cause to Sparsh on behalf of the entire Mother’s Pride family. Mrs. Sudha Gupta, renowned Parenting expert and Chairperson of Presidium expressed her excitement by saying, “We have all gathered here to celebrate Mother’s Pride Annual day, a very important day for each member of Mother’s Pride family. This is a platform where we see tiny toddlers nurtured into budding performers. I request each one of you to encourage the talents and achievements of your child with utmost love and confidence as every child is unique and special.”

Concluding the event was the prize distribution ceremony, where Little Miss Prideens and Mr Prideens were rewarded. The entire four days were perfect assemblage of shows that brought out emotions of happiness, tears of joy and laughter amongst parents, children and grandparents.

Skin Care Tips for Toddlers

Toddlers have a very sensitive and soft skin. It is less resistant to bacteria and harmful substances in the atmosphere. Mothers need to be very careful when dealing with toddlers skin care. Effort should be made to keep their skin moisturized, in order to maintain smoothness of the skin. Care should be taken to prevent skin damage due to usage of harsh products that are available in the market.

Take a look at some of the skin care tips for toddlers-

• It is always advisable to massage the skin of the baby with oil before giving bath.  Oiling is important to keep the skin moisturized as soaps tend to make the skin dry and can also lead to skin rashes. While choosing soap, be sure to pick one which has natural oils. Such soaps don’t dry the skin and maintain skin care too. While applying soap, avoid contact with the eyes and mouth.

• A quick coat of after-bath cream is vital. Dry skin can make your baby feel itchy and uncomfortable and can also lead to inflamed skin that may become prone to infections. 

• Maintain hygiene and take proper care. Wash baby’s towel on everyday basis and keep it clean. 

• Apply required amount of powder near the diaper lines to avoid rashes due to diapers.

• In cases of bruises on toddler skin, first wash the area with a clean cotton cloth, and then apply ointment over it.  Cover with a band aid to prevent the toddler from touching it.

• Prefer dressing the baby with cotton clothes as they are skin friendly and absorbs sweat. Wash them in hot water to maintain the hygiene.

• Provide child right amount of exposure in sun as it can supply vitamin D but excessive exposure can tan the skin tone.

• Majorly toddlers face diaper rash it occurs due to skin irritation that develops in the diaper-covered region.  The best treatment is simple cleansing with water and soft cloths as it tends to lessen irritation to the injured skin. Frequent application of one of the many diaper-area ointments containing either petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or zinc oxide (Desitin) also helps. 

• In case of eczema in toddlers, which is a very common skin trouble in babies and small children, you can apply source moisturizers that are rich in lanolin or contain aloe vera. It helps in reducing swelling, inflammation and hydrating the affected area. Also, make sure that baby is bathed in lukewarm water and well moisturized after the bath.

Patriotic Fervor in High Gear in Mother’s Pride

It was a festive mood in all the branches of Mother’s Pride school on 25th January. No points for guessing the occasion; the patriotic spirit was high on account of Republic Day. As the day began in Mother’s Pride school, one could see little freedom fighters, soldiers, Gandhijis & Sarojini Naidus stepping into the school premises.  Yes, these were none another than, little buds of Mother’s Pride garden, adorned in costumes for the occasion.

As the toddlers got settled in their classrooms, after a while, celebrations began. Kids with the help of their teachers made the queue and headed towards the performance area. It was indeed a sight a watch assemblage of little tiny tots in the colorful attires- all at one place.

The celebrations began with Ganesh Vandana. Standing in the semicircles, children followed step by step instructions of their teachers and performed wholeheartedly on the devotional song. The act indeed looked pious with little ones praying and singing to the divinity.

Following was the dance performance by children in the vibrant Punjabi costumes on the song ‘Kitna sona desh hai mera’.  It was a couple performance and children skillfully showed Bhangara moves on the song.  Also, there was dance performance on songs - Jai Ho and goal which audience thoroughly enjoyed. There was also patriotic singing by children and they beautifully sang the popular number ‘sare jahan se acha hindustan hamara’. Even the audience sang along with the participants.  Altogether, the whole school came alive with the patriotic spirit!

Tips to teach toddlers alphabets

Familiarizing kids with alphabets is a herculean task for many parents and teachers. The initial introduction of the child to his first letters A..B…C could be simplified if creative methods are used. It requires lot of patience and persistence to teach kids alphabets. The whole learning process can be made lot of fun by infusing excitement through games and activities.

Here are few quick tips for making learning fun for kids:

Teaching alphabets through games

Games are the best means of teaching alphabets like blocks, puzzles, bingo etc. They can be very helpful in the teaching process. For instance, teaching using alphabet blocks could be exciting. Children can construct new words, assemble alphabets or arrange the consonants and vowels. Also, in case of puzzles, child can identify a picture or find the alphabet relating to it or fix up the puzzle from the mixed up pieces.

Use alphabets decor

One can adorn the walls with wall arts consisting of diverse sizes and shapes of alphabets and colorful alphabets also add charm to the room.  Also, you can try out putting child's name on the door followed by labeling his drawers and contents. You can even decorate by showcasing alphabets for pictures and frames. Choosing child's play area or bedroom for the purpose is important.

Creating alphabet book

Making your own alphabet book by pasting selected pictures cut out from old coloring book or magazine relating to the alphabets is good idea. You can ask your child to fill the book by making a page with each letter.

Humming songs that include alphabets

Kids are fond of humming songs and what could be better than singing alphabet songs to them. Singing or hearing songs increases the chance of children to remember alphabets longer. Include songs in the daily routine for toddlers as songs provide opportunity to little ones to learn new things more easily and also it increases their activity level and self-confidence. Above, everything else it is a fun way of learning for the child. Sing songs as often as possible. Make ABC song part of daily lesson plan. This is one of the easiest songs for children to learn and it soon becomes their favorite.

Play and experiment with themes to make alphabet learning really fun and interesting for your kid and if you do so it won't look like herculean task anymore. So, gear up and put on your thinking cap to make your child pally with alphabet buddies!!

Baby-proofing your house

When baby begins to crawl, then it is time for parents to take some household precautions in order to safeguard the little one. The safer you will make the home environment, the less you will need to worry about his safety. The zone in the house that you need to child proof extends to the point high above your child’s reach.  Babies are very eager and enthusiastic to explore the world around them. They want to see, play and touch everything that comes in front of them. Parents need to survey the house carefully and make changes accordingly to ensure total safety of the child.

One must remember that babies get into trouble fast than you can imagine. If there is any dangerous spot in the house, make sure your baby stays away from it. You can even install some helpful safety devices within your home to protect your baby. Along with that to prevent accidents, parents need to follow simple household safety measures. But parents need to keep in mind that no amount of childproofing can replace them. No matter what they always need to keep eye on their baby at this stage.

Ways to child –proof your house:

• First, of all, crawl through the house and get a baby's-eye view, and remove anything that is dangerous to your baby.

• Remove all breakables that may harm the child such as vases, picture frames, ashtrays and ornaments from tables.

• Mainly hide and cover all electrical cords and keep them above the child’s reach.

• Pad the corners and sharp edges of the furniture, beds, coffee tables and glass-topped tables.

• Keep tiny objects out of your baby’s reach as he may swallow it. Don’t keep coins, marbles, beads, paper clips and other small objects on the floor or on the low tables.

• Garbage pails should have lids so that baby cannot remove it.

• Cover electrical outlets with special plates or plastic inserts

• Do not keep unsafe indoor plants inside the house.

• Choose toys carefully when shopping for your child.  Look for toys that are well made and appropriate for your child’s age. Watch out for toys that have sharp edges, small parts or sharp points.

Keep out of reach

• Keep alcohol, cigarettes , poisons ,detergents and other chemicals above shoulder level and out of baby’s reach.

• Keep matches and lighters always on a high shelf in the cupboard.

• Keep guns and other firearms out of the house. If guns are in the house, unload them, put them in a locked place.

Cuteness overload: Little Prideens Santa look adorable

“Ho Ho Ho !! Merry Christmas!!  I am Santa today”, greeted a cute little child, as I entered into the premises of Mother’s Pride School.  Christmas is just around the corner and I could already feel the pulsating excitement in the best Pre-school. I could see little Santas and fairies everywhere in the jubilant mood. There was joyfulness and merriment in the Mother’s Pride air. Later, I was told that there is Christmas celebration today.What apt an occasion could be for kids to have fun, other than Christmas? Yes, Christmas by default is a festival that comprises of all the ingredients of a child’s happiness with Santa

Claus and his gifts, Christmas tree, good food, candies and cakes; all together, making it memorable for children.During Christmas every school makes special preparations for the Christmas celebrations and creates joyous ambience and educates children about Jesus, his birth and related stories of Christmas. Various activities are held in the schools like carol singing, fancy dress, crafts, dancing, drama, group play etc. Christmas is a time for jingle bells and celebrations that surely brings good cheer on every child’s face.

Mother’s Pride pre-school is not far behind in gifting toddlers’ best memories on Christmas. The school is tastefully decorated with dazzling lights and Christmas tree.  The entrance is stunningly decked up with huge Santa Claus riding on his open sleigh along with his reindeer. Also, there are lots of gifts surrounding Santa. The whole creation is successful in being eye candy for parents and kids in the school. Parents along with their kids clicked pictures near it. Even I didn’t mind clicking a pic or two with the charming Santa. The whole day was planned as a celebration for tiny tots. One could hear resounding noise of the famous Christmas carol “Jingle bells” in cute little voices in the entire school.  The enthusiasm and the Christmas spirit were high amongst kids. Each class had its own Christmas tree decorated with stars and bells. There was fancy dress show, where each child in his own way felt proud of being the best Santa. There was distribution of gifts and candies to the toddlers. Kids were also treated with delectable cakes and pastries on the occasion. All together, it was wonderful and exciting day for little toddlers.

How to choose Appropriate Day Care Centre for your Child?

Choosing appropriate child care for your little one may seem like a staggering job for parents. Of course, it is your job to ensure that your child is safe and happy in the child care.  The daycare should be such that reflects your style of parenting as well as provide good child care development. Having someone else look after your child is always a complicated choice to make. But nonetheless, it has to be done. To make the right choice you have to mull over many factors.

Here are some tips for making such an important decision.

• Begin searching six months before you need child care facility for your child as best centers fill up fast.  It is always better to do a research of all day care centers available in the nearby location.

• Prefer child care which is close to your home, in order to save your time commuting. 

• Environment of day care should be welcoming and friendly. It should be a nurturing environment, where child learns and responds to things around him. 

• It is best to get recommendations from other parents. Ask centre to provide you with names and numbers of their current clients. Take their opinion about day care. 

• Choose day care that lets you pick up and drop off your child at different times. It should be flexible so that it gets convenient for you. 

• Day care should have good ambience; suitable for the child. It should be colorful, bright, spacious and clean.  

• The food provided at day care should be nutritious. Fresh fruit and vegetables, milk and milk products, lean and healthy protein, whole grain in the proper portions are a must. You child requires healthy food to grow.

• Your child should be exposed to different activities throughout the day. Various kinds of toys and equipments present at the day care are important to keep the child engaged. As child spends very long day at the day care away from his parents. There must be crafts, construction toys, books and other important learning tools available for the children. 

• Infant areas should be separate and quiet.

• Avoid centers that don't allow you to visit and that don't have security cameras. The outdoor areas of the day acre should be properly fenced.

• Always inspect the kitchen area of the day care and make sure it is clean and neat.

• Mainly important thing is to make sure your child receives quality, specialized care in an environment that is fun, enlightening and nurturing.