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Old 3rd July 2012, 11:55   #631
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Re: Save our Kids!

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Originally Posted by esteem_lover View Post
Welcome to INDIA, where were you living the last few years ? US or Europe, right ? How come you forgot INDIA ? Or maybe you are a new father, right?
That's extremely harsh. A lot of us living in India, parents or otherwise, do think like balechaparka. Wanting to keep our children safe is a perfectly valid aspiration.

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Do you seriously think that these are the death traps for our children ? No way. Please check the schools, teachers, us parents and our lifestyles and our expectations on our children before coming into a mundane event (yes, that is very insensitive of me).
Of course these are death traps for OUR children. In Mumbai every monsoon manholes are left open and some poor kid gets swept away. I don't mean slum kids or beggar kids- these could be normal schoolgoing kids with parents like you and me. EVEN if it is a poor street kid, I as a citizen have every right to demand that the authorities take action to prevent such needless waste of life. What's your point?

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Only hope to save your own children is educating them yourselves on every safety parameter and once they get the drift, they are too smart not to venture out on anything stupid like the incidents you have quoted. Our kids are much much more smarter in this than the western kids.
That's a random generalisation that serves no purpose. "Our kids are smarter than Western kids", really?
Adaptation to adverse circumstances is a human skill. But just because we have grown used to and worked our way around sub-optimal living conditions does NOT mean we should accept them.
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Old 3rd July 2012, 13:09   #632
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Re: Parenthood: Sharing the joy, precious moments, learnings and experiences

There was an incident (I think in Chinchwad, a suburb of Pune) last month where a kid drowned in a pond in his school area. He had gone there to pee as his school did not have a toilet. Is that not horrendous?

Later that week, a couple of workers had opened the water tank lid (metal one) and loitering around. There were a few kids (5 to 10 age group) playing nearby. Anyone responsible for barricading that area? I must be kidding right?!
And it doesnt matter whether I lived in Europe or Canada or Timbuktu, but I went downstairs and ensured the barricades were put up till the lid was closed. Regardless of this, I had to wait around to ensure the kids didnt run into something that they are not aware of. They can obviously be too occupied with their playtime to expect something of this sort. They need time to grow all suspicious like us.

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Originally Posted by esteem_lover View Post
Our kids are much much more smarter in this than the western kids.
Why would anyone want to test kids' smartness in this manner? There are other ways to test that without risking their lives.
It is only logical to demand safety for all residents, regardless of class, age or gender. Is it really that difficult to consider safety aspects?
The problem as with most other things is to either abstain from taking ownership or go and hide behind the facade that this is India, we are like this only.
Why can we not expect basic safety for our own people and why this needs comparison with any other country is beyond my comprehension.
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Old 3rd July 2012, 13:17   #633
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Re: Save our Kids!

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Originally Posted by noopster View Post
That's extremely harsh. A lot of us living in India, parents or otherwise, do think like balechaparka. Wanting to keep our children safe is a perfectly valid aspiration.
I too have 2 small children and I know what I am talking about. Do you think I do not care about the safety of my children? Reality IS harsh.

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Originally Posted by noopster View Post
Of course these are death traps for OUR children. In Mumbai every monsoon manholes are left open and some poor kid gets swept away. I don't mean slum kids or beggar kids- these could be normal schoolgoing kids with parents like you and me. EVEN if it is a poor street kid, I as a citizen have every right to demand that the authorities take action to prevent such needless waste of life. What's your point?
There are live wires fallen on the roads, there are trees that are about to fall on the road, there are maniac drivers who run people over on the pavements, there are open drains all over the country breeding all kinds of mosquitoes and other disease causing/spreading insects, there are half built flyovers with no signage or barriers, the list is endless.

You can go shouting from the rooftops (it is your fundamental right, so is voting), sometimes they work, most times they don't.

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Originally Posted by noopster View Post
That's a random generalisation that serves no purpose. "Our kids are smarter than Western kids", really?
Adaptation to adverse circumstances is a human skill. But just because we have grown used to and worked our way around sub-optimal living conditions does NOT mean we should accept them.
Some in my family have worked with toddlers to kids in and outside this country for many years and I was merely voicing the opinions expressed by these experts. Yes, the average Indian toddler is also much smarter than the average western toddler. I am not talking about adaptations or surviving skills, I am talking about basic intellect.

@selfdrive.... please take the time to read entire posts and in relevance, do not quote me out of context.

Last edited by esteem_lover : 3rd July 2012 at 13:19.
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Old 3rd July 2012, 14:01   #634
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Re: Save our Kids!

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Originally Posted by esteem_lover View Post
@selfdrive.... please take the time to read entire posts and in relevance, do not quote me out of context.
So why would you want to say our kids are smarter? just because they survive despite such everyday risks that even you are ware of?

That sentence itself can be termed as a generalisation. I would still like to know why you intend to continue accepting things as they are and then saying that kids here are smarter or not. Such things are risks to anybody and everybody. All people notice it. Some move on and some people take action for their own benefit and of that of people around them. To the extent that they have influence on. In my example, I have enough authority to make some changes in my society and neighbourhood. So I do that. If I had more authority and time, my scope would be bigger. But it is a start to even notice such risks in your immediate neighbourhood and get them redressed. People in authority too help out if you report such things in an assertive manner. When I have reported risks to the municipality (open drains, caved in pavements, protruding barriers) they were taken care of, and no one asked me if I lived in Europe or elsewhere.

As for this forum, I will only quote the part that I have a question on. Not your entire post. It is forum etiquette. That does not imply I have not read your post entirely. So please consider that before assuming things.

Edit: the point is not to shout from the rooftops. It is to make your voice heard to the relevant people so that the root issue is addressed.

Last edited by selfdrive : 3rd July 2012 at 14:04.
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Old 4th July 2012, 05:50   #635
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Re: Parenthood: Sharing the joy, precious moments, learnings and experiences

Friends,

Our little one is now 2 months old and its time for her first international flight from India to Australia. Do share your experiences and things to take care on-board and on arrival. The weather change will also be significant given its peak winter in Aus. Your inputs will be helpful. Thanks.
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Old 4th July 2012, 10:26   #636
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Re: Parenthood: Sharing the joy, precious moments, learnings and experiences

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Originally Posted by quadra View Post
I am looking for a feeding chair for an year old kid. The ones at KFC and Mcd's are i think good. Can anyone suggest some tried and tested options here
We purchased a high-chair a couple of years ago. Brand: Bajaj, price: Rs. 1000. The chair comes with a front attachment where we can keep the plate/ dish to feed the toddler.
Now-a-days, we don't use the front attachment, but the kid still sits on the chair:
1. while watching movies
2. at the dining table with us for dinner

The front attachment prevents the kid from getting down the chair (along with the 'seat-belts'. Sometimes the little ones don't like to be held back/ tied down to something, but if we persist for some time, then maybe that behaviour may change.

It is a very convenient chair, and worth the Rs. 1000 we spent on it.
Note: Such things are available cheaper in the market area, rather than at malls.



Quote:
Originally Posted by vivekiny2k View Post
I initially thought western countries were paranoid about keeping the kids in sight all the time, But now it sounds like a necessary evil.
I think we all need to be paranoid about kids. There is an element of risk all around us (in various forms).

In other news, there are now multiple options for children to play at Inorbit mall in Pune. The swings/ slides/ climbing frames on the front side of the mall and the kid zone/ play area on the top floor are both good. The kid zone is a paid service just like the one at Forum Mall in Bangalore.

I have also got a good collection of Peppa Pig and Caillou now, though Doremon is still more interesting for my son.
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Old 4th July 2012, 10:42   #637
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Re: Save our Kids!

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Originally Posted by esteem_lover View Post
I too have 2 small children and I know what I am talking about. Do you think I do not care about the safety of my children? Reality IS harsh.
When did I say you don't care about the safety of your children? I was just protesting the fact that you took on another member who asked who is responsible for open manholes etc. and how they can be held accountable. Resigned cynicism is not the solution to any problem.

Quote:
There are live wires fallen on the roads, there are trees that are about to fall on the road, there are maniac drivers who run people over on the pavements, there are open drains all over the country breeding all kinds of mosquitoes and other disease causing/spreading insects, there are half built flyovers with no signage or barriers, the list is endless.

You can go shouting from the rooftops (it is your fundamental right, so is voting), sometimes they work, most times they don't.
I never advocated "shouting from the rooftops" as a solution. In fact it seems the only thing that will achieve is convincing your neighbour that you're a raving loonie
There are other ways to stir the authorities into action: write to the newspapers, meet your corporator, start a local protest movement. Some TV channels have started "Citizen reporter" shows now- use one of those to get your point across. I don't have all the solutions but surely throwing our hands up and saying "Things will never change. Our kids have to be taught to survive in this muck" is not one of them. Perhaps they WILL in order to survive But why assume it is going to be so?
Despite all the naysayers, things on average are a LOT better for most citizens than they were 20 years ago, or even 10 years ago. It's not an easy transformation for a country that stifled its own growth for decades in the pursuit of some unrealistic socialist dream but we will get there. It is our duty as citizens to participate in this transformation rather than stand on the sidelines bemoaning our fate.
Quote:
Some in my family have worked with toddlers to kids in and outside this country for many years and I was merely voicing the opinions expressed by these experts. Yes, the average Indian toddler is also much smarter than the average western toddler. I am not talking about adaptations or surviving skills, I am talking about basic intellect.
I don't even know how to respond to that. Suffice to say the highest IQ will not probably save a kid who falls into a well while playing.
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Old 4th July 2012, 11:47   #638
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Re: Save our Kids!

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Originally Posted by noopster View Post
"Our kids are smarter than Western kids", really?
Quote:
Originally Posted by selfdrive View Post
So why would you want to say our kids are smarter? just because they survive despite such everyday risks that even you are ware of?
Hence, I said

Quote:
Originally Posted by esteem_lover View Post
I am not talking about adaptations or surviving skills, I am talking about basic intellect.
Not to suggest a high IQ will stop him from falling. A smarter kid learns fast is my opinion.

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Originally Posted by selfdrive View Post
As for this forum, I will only quote the part that I have a question on. Not your entire post. It is forum etiquette. That does not imply I have not read your post entirely. So please consider that before assuming things.
Thanks very much for educating me about the forum etiquette with your own example. If you do read again what I posted, you will see that I said "Do not quote me out of context." Hope you can understand that.

Quote:
There are other ways to stir the authorities into action: write to the newspapers, meet your corporator, start a local protest movement.
Would be interesting to watch all your actions in stirring the authorities. I am happy if these few posts would have stirred at least a few into action and out of their keyboards.

I do not believe in talking for the sake of talking, rather talk only about what I am doing. Peace.
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Old 4th July 2012, 12:51   #639
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Re: Parenthood: Sharing the joy, precious moments, learnings and experiences

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Originally Posted by C300 View Post
Our little one is now 2 months old and its time for her first international flight from India to Australia. Do share your experiences and things to take care on-board and on arrival. The weather change will also be significant given its peak winter in Aus. Your inputs will be helpful. Thanks.
Well, for starters please check with the paediatrician on any specifics for your child as he/ she would know best. If there are any prescribed medicines/ soothers, please carry them with relevant prescriptions and dosage in hand baggage.

Also include in your hand baggage, soft blanket and enough liquids and changes of clothes + diapers. I am sure you will be all set about this part already.

In our case, my son had his first flight when he was a year and a bit so he had some lollipop to prevent his ears from getting blocked up. Perhaps a two month baby can have a feeding bottle or a pacifier during take/off landing. Again, please check with your paediatrician for specific recommendations.
Please also return to us with your experiences and learnings, we are all learning here everyday!

Quote:
Originally Posted by S_U_N View Post
It is a very convenient chair, and worth the Rs. 1000 we spent on it.
Note: Such things are available cheaper in the market area, rather than at malls.
Thanks for this recommendation. I need to check this out.

Quote:
Originally Posted by esteem_lover View Post
Not to suggest a high IQ will stop him from falling. A smarter kid learns fast is my opinion.
Yes, I agree a smarter kid learns fast. Thats simple logic and a general statement. In my opinion, this smartness can be put to better use than survival through obstacle courses every day at such a young age. Even the kids would be happier to learn something new with their smartness (maybe ride a unicycle or rollerskating) than use it all in trying to stay out of harms way.
If we can eliminate these risks, we should work at it. As adults, its only an opportunity for us to help, regardless of whose kids they are.

Last edited by selfdrive : 4th July 2012 at 12:54.
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Old 4th July 2012, 14:02   #640
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Re: Parenthood: Sharing the joy, precious moments, learnings and experiences

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I have also got a good collection of Peppa Pig and Caillou now, though Doremon is still more interesting for my son.
Glad to hear that. You should also include Noddy: very good English, infact British English.

My son learned a lot of English from these shows. Yesterday he complimented the dentist treating him by saying "I think he is an expert doctor" (to his mom, infront of the doctor).
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Old 4th July 2012, 14:32   #641
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Re: Parenthood: Sharing the joy, precious moments, learnings and experiences

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Originally Posted by selfdrive View Post
Thanks for this recommendation. I need to check this out.
Hey, I may still have the baby chair from when my son was younger. I will rummage the house for it, let me know if you want it. I presume from your location you are in Pune.
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Old 4th July 2012, 15:01   #642
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Re: Parenthood: Sharing the joy, precious moments, learnings and experiences

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Hey, I may still have the baby chair from when my son was younger. I will rummage the house for it, let me know if you want it. I presume from your location you are in Pune.
I will take up that offer. For some reason I am unable to PM you.
Yes, I live in Pune. what gave that away?!

You can take your time, I will only need it later this year. If you have an issue to keep it, I can pick it up earlier.
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Old 4th July 2012, 15:04   #643
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Re: Parenthood: Sharing the joy, precious moments, learnings and experiences

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Originally Posted by selfdrive View Post
I will take up that offer. For some reason I am unable to PM you.
Yes, I live in Pune. what gave that away?!

You can take your time, I will only need it later this year. If you have an issue to keep it, I can pick it up earlier.
LOL, your location is updated as Pune baba, or then maybe you are just being sarcastic :o)
Cool, let me know when you will need it, will clean it & wrap it up this weekend. You can call\message me at 9860912711 when u need it.

Last edited by mb_jg : 4th July 2012 at 15:06.
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Old 4th July 2012, 15:18   #644
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Re: Save our Kids!

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Yes, the average Indian toddler is also much smarter than the average western toddler. I am not talking about adaptations or surviving skills, I am talking about basic intellect.
I've heard this superiority comment from many Indians who went abroad for projects, etc and came back. The most common comment is westerners read the instruction manual word by word before operating even a simple appliance.
Is it a sign of poor intellect or an organized way of doing things which most Indians lack, which is interpreted as poor intellect?
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Old 4th July 2012, 18:38   #645
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Re: Parenthood: Sharing the joy, precious moments, learnings and experiences

Quote:
Originally Posted by selfdrive View Post
Well, for starters please check with the paediatrician on any specifics for your child as he/ she would know best. If there are any prescribed medicines/ soothers, please carry them with relevant prescriptions and dosage in hand baggage.

Also include in your hand baggage, soft blanket and enough liquids and changes of clothes + diapers. I am sure you will be all set about this part already.

In our case, my son had his first flight when he was a year and a bit so he had some lollipop to prevent his ears from getting blocked up. Perhaps a two month baby can have a feeding bottle or a pacifier during take/off landing. Again, please check with your paediatrician for specific recommendations.
Please also return to us with your experiences and learnings, we are all learning here everyday!
Thanks Selfdrive!
Yes, the appointment is booked with the local paediatrician and most of things are packed.
Did you carry any stroller/pram at the airport? I checked with the airline and it seems they allow a stroller through security to boarding gate. They specifically mentioned a 'small stroller only'. Any experience with this?
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