Summer vacation brings back memories of lazy afternoons spent stuffing ourselves with mangoes, playing in our grandparents backyard, a lot of TV and a book or two. Fast forward to 2015, and summer vacations come so action packed, there’s no time to be lost!

Brimming with a sense of purpose, parents like to send off their kids to eco-friendly summer camps, where they not only learn about team work but also stay close to nature and learn about its delicate balance.

So we decided to put together a list of camping spots in South India for you that are child friendly!

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Summer holidays are almost upon us. Kids will be home all day. Now what?! How to keep your bubbly little children occupied, so you don’t hear “Mom, I’m bored!” – Words that every mother has dreaded since times unknown.

Read on to find out 6 summer time activities that you can plan with your kids even in the Indian summer. Yes, this list is totally meant for the harsh summers that we face every year.

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When there’s too much attention on what and how much your child is eating, you are invariably giving “the power of not eating” to your child. While we agree that having a fussy eater on hand is not an easy task by any measure, sometimes all we have to do is take attention away from fuss. Yes! That’s it.

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The January issue of ParentEdge focuses on Child Abuse. Researching this story and talking to people about this issue was deeply disturbing for me. As a writer I should be able to distance myself from what I write about, but as a mother, how can I?

I spoke to people who work with abused children, helping them overcome their trauma and distress, and their stories are chilling and sickening. And the scariest part is that most child abuse begins at home—in places where a child is supposed to be safe and protected, and by people who are in positions of trust and responsibility—caregivers, family members and close friends. If the horror begins at home, to whom does the child turn? [Read more…]

With exam time around the corner, it is time to knuckle down and concentrate for children. And yet, we find that many of them are not able to put their best foot forward when it is actually their time to shine. Studies conducted on 100 school children by Indiaparenting suggest that 76% of them actually under-performed during exam time. Whereas their actual potential ranked much higher than their grades in exams. [Read more…]

The festival of Holi has always been a no-holds-barred event where fun and revelry are a part of the game. For you and your children to be able to celebrate this festival in a safe way, here are a few do’s and don’ts. [Read more…]

Fresh out of labor or a C Section can leave you a complex mix of social, psychological and physical changes. Your hormones are all over the place, and you might not be feeling or living the same life you imagined when the baby was unborn.

However, it helps when you know what to expect those few days when you arrive home with your bundle of joy that will make your life memorable, no matter what you feel now. [Read more…]

Many parents are aware of the dangers of phthalates in cosmetic products. However, phthalates are used in children’s products as well. Did you know that children are exposed to dangerous chemicals found in their backpacks and other school items?

Phthalates are a class of chemicals, such as DEHP, DINP, DBP and DEP. They are used as softeners in PVC, vinyl products to make them soft and more flexible. You will find these chemicals in flexible toys, food packagings, shower curtains, building materials (pipes), and medical devices. Phthalates are dangerous even at low levels of exposure. They are hormone disruptors and are linked to cancer and asthma, AD(H)D, early puberty and birth defects. While phthalates have been restricted or banned in toys in many countries, protection from these dangerous chemicals does not exist for children’s school supplies. I’m deeply concerned that our children are still exposed to these chemicals!

Children are more vulnerable to toxic chemicals than adults. In their developing little bodies a small exposure to toxins translates into a big dose. They put things in their mouths and ingest chemicals from toys, plastic containers, and even dirt and dust on a daily basis.

In 2012, an American study investigated the presence of phthalates in children’s school supplies, such as backpacks, lunch boxes, ring binders and rain wear. They found that the items tested contained levels of phthalates that would be in violation of the ban for toys, if these products were considered toys. They also found that the school supplies contained more than one phthalate, clearly indicating that our children are exposed to multiple phthalates in their school supplies. Additionally, the study found that apart from phthalates, children’s PVC school supplies also contained heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, cadmium and chromium.

Many PVC backpacks and lunchboxes contain levels of phthalates that are 40-50 times higher than the limit set for toys. As school supplies are not classed as toys, companies are able to get away with adding these hazardous, toxic chemicals to their products.

PVC backpacks, ring binders, lunch boxes, raincoats, umbrellas and wellies contain excessively high levels of phthalates and our children are exposed to elevated levels of these toxic substances by using these school supplies.

Follow these easy steps to reduce your children’s exposure to phthalates:

1. Avoid school supplies made with “vinyl” or “PVC”! Unfortunately some products are not properly labeled, making it difficult to determine whether they contain vinyl. Phthalates are used to soften PVC. Try to buy PVC free school supply. To identify vinyl packaging, first look for the universal recycling symbol. If it has the number “3” inside it, or the letters “V” or “PVC” underneath it, you know the product is made out of PVC and is likely to contain these chemicals.
2. Do a “Sniff Test.” That “plastic” smell from plastic toys, backpacks, ring binders, raincoats, umbrellas and other plastic products usually comes from phthalates.
3. Try canvas backpacks, stainless steel lunch boxes, cloth covered binders and PVC-free rain coats and boots.
4. Ditch the PVC altogether if you can!

To download more information on the lab report, visit: http://chej.org/wp-content/uploads/HiddenHazardsReportFINAL.pdf

Re-published with permission from the blog of ParentEdge, a bi-monthly parenting magazine that aims to expose parents to global trends in learning and partner with them in the intellectual enrichment of their children. This blog was written by Aniko Sziraczki is a Kinesiologist with a background in Psychology, and the founder of Raising Toxin Free Children.