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Parents’ Corner

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This is a most pertinent topic to all of us parents of children of different ages! Under 24 months ⏹ From a young age, children are bombarded with technology all around them. ⏹ Parents are almost pressurised into thinking that many apps, especially interactive ones, are of educational potential. Remember though- this is a crucial stage of brain development and nothing is more important than healthy developmental activities and parent-child interaction. NO APP CAN REPLACE THIS. ⏹ The American College of Pediatrics thus recommends avoiding ALL digital media in children younger than 18 months ⏹ The only exception is video chatting with distant relatives/parents when they are travelling. ⏹ For children ages 18 to 24 months of age, if you want to introduce digital media, choose high-quality programming and use media together with your child. Avoid solo media use in this age group. The screen is NOT a babysitter. ⏹…

COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it many uncertainties, isolation, losses, cancellations… all the things that can make children (and us!) down and worried. A recent analysis looking into 80 879 youths worldwide showed that the rate of depression in children during COVID was 25%: DOUBLE the pre-pandemic levels. This is a silent mental health crisis. Possible signs of depression in older children/teens include: – Changes in mood: irritability, feeling hopeless, rage, constant conflict with family and friends. This can be hard to differentiate from normal teenager mood swings, but the persistence of such symptoms is a clue. – Withdrawal from personal relationships – Physical symptoms such as frequent headaches/ stomach-aches – A loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed – A hard time falling or staying asleep, OR excessive sleep – Changes in appetite/ eating pattern/ weight – Problems with memory, concentration or schoolwork – Changes in appearance/ lack of…

Dear Covid A few nights ago you took our buddy away from us, a devoted husband and heroic father to an exuberant 10 year old boy, who will now never be as exuberant again. You took him swiftly, emphatically, petrified and alone in a hospital bed surrounded by machines, not family. The night after his passing, as I sat, double masked, with the widow and son sobbing in my arms, the little boy remarked that the “sandwich” usually formed in bed around him by mum on one side, dad on the other, was broken. Why? Covid, you’ve destroyed enough sandwiches now, on so many levels. You’ve cut up families, sliced human contact, taken the filling out of many people’s economics, squashed education, taken the wrapper off our wholeness. We are tired now. And tearful. And hungry for normality. Please go away now. Dear Government Like so many others, I have…

Marriage is tough and a constant compromise, and rapidly evolves into frankly challenging once children come along! Here is a summary of an article written by Mark Manson (on getpocket.com, accessed 22 November 2020). I will say quite honestly that I absolutely do not get these things right all of the time! But they are all good tips to aspire to… Be Together for the Right Reasons Don’t feel pressured into get married for personal or family reasons; don’t get married for “image” or to soothe your own emotional issues; and don’t get married too soon after falling hopelessly in love/lust. Take some time to ascertain that you simply love being around that person, even when the excitement and glamour fall away. Have realistic expectations about relationships and romance The “being gaga about each other” stage will last for a few years at the most, then it will be down…