As parents, we sometimes don’t quite get why we have to repeat certain things to kids a hundred times and they still don’t understand it. We think it is “disobedience” or they are being stubborn. Understanding children’s brain development can help parents to understand the underlying reason behind their behaviors, which will help us to support them and be more empathetic towards them. Approximately 90% of a child’s brain size is developed by age 5. But do you know when a person’s brain becomes fully developed? 25! The brain develops in a back to the front pattern, and the prefrontal cortex which is located in the frontal lobe of the brain is the last one to develop. Recent studies show that an adult thinks with the prefrontal cortex whereas teenagers think with the amygdala. WHAT DOES THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX DO FOR KIDS? The prefrontal cortex, which is situated in the…

Boys don’t cry. It is a common phrase we hear often. But are really boys wired not to cry? Is there something wrong with boys crying? It’s interesting to note that biologically, women are wired to cry more than men. Ad Vingerhoets, Professor of Clinical Psychology (Emotions and Wellbeing), Tilburg University, The Netherlands, is noted for his research on crying. He has spent 20 years studying the topic. According to him, the hormone testosterone plays a role in regulating emotional tears. Testosterone is said to inhibit tears while prolactin, a hormone found in women is said to promote crying. But another study shows that however, in babies and young children no gender differences in crying frequency are found. Frey (1985) has postulated that boys and girls start to diverge in crying with the onset of menses in girls. But according to the study it has less to do with menstruation…

Don’t we all crave for a tight hug sometimes to melt away our sorrows? Or to share the excitement we feel in our body? Hugs are magical. The simple act of hugging has been scientifically proven to have lots of benefits. It’s for the same reason numerous studies suggest the benefits of skin-to-skin touch due to which mothers are recommended to have the skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth. If you do not have the habit of hugging your kids every day, here is why we should hug our kids more. 6 REASONS WHY HUGGING YOUR CHILD IS IMPORTANT 1. HUGGING RELEASES OXYTOCIN Oxytocin, a hormone released by the pituitary gland, is often called the ‘cuddle hormone” or ‘love hormone’ for a reason. This hormone is released in our body when we hug, snuggle, or bond in any way. Oxytocin helps us feel loved and connected. Have you felt a surging…

We know how finding quality time is essential to maintain a strong connection in all relationships. I believe in intentional parenting and I want to fill my children’s life with as many happy memories as possible. If you are reading this post, I know you would like to build a stronger connection by doing fun-filled activities with your family. WHAT ARE FAMILY RITUALS? WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT? Family rituals are activities that you do repeatedly on a consistent basis. Family rituals need not be anything complicated and not always involve money. For example, you might be having a ritual of morning snuggles every day or a special handshake or gestures that you do with your family that no one else knows. If you have a movie night every week, it’s another family ritual. The benefits of creating family rituals are: Stronger bond between family members: By engaging in activities of common interest,…