7 Reasons why parents should tell stories to Kids during bedtime

Bedtime storytelling is a cherished tradition in many families, creating a special bond between parents and children. It’s a magical time when imagination takes flight, and the world of words opens up endless possibilities. Beyond the enchantment of tales, bedtime storytelling offers numerous benefits that nurture a child’s development. This article explores how bedtime storytelling nurtures kids, using simple language and relatable examples.

 1. Fostering Imagination and Creativity
When parents read stories like "Alice in Wonderland" or "Peter Pan," children imagine themselves in fantastical worlds, meeting peculiar characters and embarking on exciting adventures. These imaginative experiences enhance a child's creativity, helping them to think outside the box and come up with innovative ideas in their everyday life.

 2. Improving Language Skills
Listening to stories introduces children to new vocabulary and sentence structures. Stories like "The Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss use playful language and rhymes that make learning fun. This exposure to language helps children develop better communication skills, making them more articulate and confident in expressing themselves.

 3. Building Emotional Intelligence
Stories often feature characters facing various emotions and challenges. In "Winnie the Pooh," children learn about friendship, empathy, and problem-solving through the adventures of Pooh and his friends. By identifying with the characters, children learn to understand and manage their own emotions and develop empathy for others.

 4. Enhancing Listening Skills
As children listen to their parents narrate stories, they learn to pay attention and follow the storyline. Stories like "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" capture their interest and keep them engaged. These listening skills are crucial for effective communication and learning in school and other social settings.

 5. Strengthening Parent-Child Bond
The routine of bedtime storytelling creates a sense of security and comfort. Snuggling up with a favorite storybook like "Goodnight Moon" fosters a loving and close relationship between parents and children.This bonding time helps build trust and a strong emotional connection, making children feel valued and loved.

 6. Promoting a Love for Reading
Children who enjoy bedtime stories often develop a lifelong love for reading. Classics like "Charlotte's Web" or "Harry Potter" can spark an interest in books and literature. A love for reading enhances a child's knowledge, comprehension, and academic performance, opening doors to endless learning opportunities.

 7. Introducing Moral Values
Many stories convey important life lessons and moral values. Tales like "The Tortoise and the Hare" teach children about patience, perseverance, and humility. These stories help children understand right from wrong and instill values that guide their behavior and decision-making.

Bedtime storytelling is a powerful tool that nurtures a child's development in multifaceted ways. It fosters imagination, enhances language and listening skills, builds emotional intelligence, and strengthens the parent-child bond. Moreover, it promotes a love for reading and imparts valuable life lessons. By incorporating bedtime storytelling into the nightly routine, parents can provide their children with a strong foundation for growth, learning, and emotional well-being.

Having acidity or heart burn sensation during sleep after having food , here are few home remedies

Acidity and heartburn are common issues that many people experience, especially after dinner. These conditions can cause discomfort and disrupt sleep. Understanding the causes and exploring simple Indian home remedies can help manage and alleviate these symptoms.

 What Causes Acidity and Heartburn?

• Dietary Choices: Consuming spicy, fatty, or acidic foods can trigger acidity and heartburn. Common culprits include fried foods, citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, and caffeinated beverages.
• Eating Habits: Eating large meals or lying down immediately after eating can cause stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus, leading to heartburn.
• Lifestyle Factors: Smoking, alcohol consumption, and stress can exacerbate acidity and heartburn.
• Medical Conditions: Conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia, and pregnancy can increase the likelihood of experiencing heartburn.

 Symptoms of Acidity and Heartburn

• A burning sensation in the chest or throat
• Sour or bitter taste in the mouth
• Difficulty swallowing
• Regurgitation of food or liquid
• Chronic cough or sore throat

 Simple Indian Home Remedies

• Ajwain (Carom Seeds): Ajwain is known for its digestive properties. Chewing a teaspoon of ajwain seeds with a pinch of black salt can help alleviate acidity.
• Jeera (Cumin Seeds): Boil a teaspoon of cumin seeds in water, strain, and drink the water after meals. Cumin seeds stimulate digestive enzymes and reduce gas production.
• Saunf (Fennel Seeds): Chewing fennel seeds or drinking fennel tea can help soothe the stomach and reduce acidity.
• Tulsi (Basil Leaves): Chewing a few basil leaves or brewing them into a tea can provide relief from acidity due to their carminative properties.
• Cold Milk: Drinking a glass of cold milk can help neutralize stomach acid and provide immediate relief from heartburn.
• Ginger: Consuming ginger in the form of tea or adding it to meals can help reduce acidity due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
• Bananas: Eating a ripe banana can help neutralize stomach acid and provide relief from heartburn.
• Aloe Vera Juice: Drinking aloe vera juice before meals can help soothe the stomach lining and reduce acid production.
• Buttermilk: Drinking a glass of buttermilk with a pinch of black pepper can help alleviate acidity.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Mixing a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and drinking it before meals can help balance stomach acid levels.

 Preventive Measures

• Eat Smaller Meals: Instead of large meals, opt for smaller, more frequent meals to avoid overloading the stomach.
• Avoid Trigger Foods: Identify and avoid foods that trigger your acidity and heartburn.
• Stay Upright After Eating: Avoid lying down immediately after meals. Wait at least 2-3 hours before going to bed.
• Elevate Your Head While Sleeping: Use an extra pillow or elevate the head of your bed to prevent acid reflux during sleep.
• Maintain a Healthy Weight: Excess weight can put pressure on the stomach, leading to acid reflux.
• Avoid Smoking and Alcohol: Both smoking and alcohol can weaken the lower esophageal sphincter, increasing the risk of heartburn.

By incorporating these strategies and remedies, you can effectively manage acidity and heartburn, ensuring a more comfortable and restful night's sleep.

Reasons why toddlers refuse food sometimes and how parents can handle them

Feeding toddlers can often be a challenging task for parents and caregivers. Understanding the reasons behind their adamant behavior towards food and learning effective strategies to overcome these challenges can make mealtimes more enjoyable for both toddlers and adults.

 Why Toddlers Refuse Food

1. Developmental Stage: Toddlers are at a stage where they are learning to assert their independence. Refusing food is one way they can exert control over their environment.
2. Fear of New Foods: Known as neophobia, toddlers may be wary of trying new foods. This is a natural survival mechanism to avoid potentially harmful substances.
3. Appetite Fluctuations: Toddlers' appetites can vary greatly from day to day. They may eat a lot one day and very little the next.
4. Sensory Sensitivities: Some toddlers are sensitive to the texture, taste, or smell of certain foods, which can lead to food refusal.
5. Emotional State: Factors such as tiredness, illness, or emotional distress can affect a toddler's willingness to eat.
6. Parental Pressure: Pressuring a toddler to eat can backfire, leading to increased resistance and negative associations with mealtime.

 Strategies to Overcome Food Refusal

1. Create a Positive Mealtime Environment:
   - Routine: Establish regular meal and snack times to create a sense of predictability.
   - Atmosphere: Keep mealtimes calm and pleasant. Avoid distractions like TV or toys.

2. Offer a Variety of Foods:
   - Small Portions: Serve small portions of new foods alongside familiar favorites to encourage tasting without overwhelming the child.
   - Repeated Exposure: It can take multiple exposures (10-15 times) for a toddler to accept a new food.

3. Involve Toddlers in Food Choices:
   - Choices: Offer limited choices to give toddlers a sense of control, such as choosing between two vegetables.
   - Participation: Involve them in meal preparation to increase their interest in the food.

4. Model Healthy Eating:
   - Lead by Example: Eat a variety of healthy foods yourself. Toddlers are more likely to try foods they see their parents enjoying.

5. Avoid Pressure and Coercion:
   - Respect Appetite: Trust that toddlers will eat when they are hungry. Avoid forcing them to eat or using food as a reward or punishment.
   - Positive Reinforcement: Praise toddlers for trying new foods, even if they don't eat much.

6. Make Food Fun:
   - Presentation: Use colorful plates and arrange food in fun shapes to make it more appealing.
   - Interactive Meals: Create meals that toddlers can assemble themselves, like tacos or mini pizzas.

 Key Takeaways for Parents and Caregivers

- Patience is Key: Understand that food refusal is a normal part of toddler development. Patience and persistence are essential.
- Focus on the Big Picture: Look at your toddler's overall diet rather than individual meals. Ensure they are getting a balanced diet over time.
- Stay Calm and Positive: Maintain a positive attitude towards mealtime. Avoid turning it into a battleground.
- Seek Professional Advice if Needed: If food refusal persists or you have concerns about your child's growth and development, consult a pediatrician or a nutritionist.

By understanding the reasons behind food refusal and implementing these strategies, parents and caregivers can help toddlers develop healthy eating habits and make mealtimes a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

COVID care cost estimate in multi-specialty hospital , Bangalore

Are you searching for how much expense it may incur for a COVID care center  hospitalization in a multi specialty private hospital in Bangalore. Here is one such information post which may help you -

 

The hospital cost breakup usually consists of below categories

• Admission charges - for initial paper work and registration charges.
  
• Medical supplies and consumables charges - for all the medical supplies , consumables like mask , gloves , disposable tool kits , injections etc
  
• Doctors consultation charges - for visiting doctors everyday.
  
• Lab charges - for reports such as Blood tests , RTPCR , CT scan etc
  
• Room and Nursing charges - Room rent and general nursing charges.
  
• Pharmacy - towards tablets and medicines post delivery

Cost Estimate

• For a 3 patient room share for 5 days as below -
• Room rent - Rs 10,000
• Procedure fee , doctor - Rs.9000
• IPD Fee , doctor - Rs. 10,000
• Nursing charges - Rs 11,500
• Medicines , consumables - Rs  22,500
• Laboratory investigations - Rs 10,500
• Radiology - Rs 8,000
• OT , Equipment , Surgical items (if needed) - Rs 23,000
• Other hospital charges - Rs 20,000

So from above its approx Rs 1,00,000 for a 5 day COVID care package at multi specialty hospital in Bangalore.

Dear Readers  - have you incurred similar expense during COVID care hospitalization , do share your experience in the comments section below.

Baby delivery charges in multi-specialty private hospital , Bangalore

Are you searching for how much expense it may incur for a new baby delivery and hospitalization in a multi specialty private hospital in Bangalore. Here is one such information post which may help you -

 

The hospital cost breakup usually consists of below categories

• Admission charges - for initial paper work and registration charges.
  
• Procedure charges - involves charges towards operating doctors , surgeons , operation theaters etc
  
• Anesthesia charges - if anesthesia is provided
  
• Medical supplies and consumables charges - for all the medical supplies , consumables like mask , gloves , disposable tool kits , injections etc
  
• Doctors consultation charges - for visiting doctors everyday.
  
• Lab charges - for reports such as Ultrasound scan , ECG , Blood test reports etc
  
• Room and Nursing charges - Room rent and general nursing charges.
  
• NICU charges if applicable - if delivered baby is observed for detailed tests
  
• Pharmacy - towards tablets and medicines post delivery

 

Cost Estimate 

As above category charges vary from one hospital to the other , usually hospital admission staff share a cost estimate which includes all above charges for a specific stay period. One such cost estimate of a multi specialty private hospital in 2021 is shared below -   

• For Normal Delivery without anesthesia - for a 2 days stay at hospital
• Ultra deluxe room - Rs. 75,000
  
• Single room - Rs. 65,000
  
• Twin bed share - Rs. 60,000
  
• 4 bed share  - Rs. 55,000

• For Normal Delivery with anesthesia - for a 2 days stay at hospital
• Ultra deluxe room - Rs. 83,000
  
• Single room - Rs. 73,000
  
• Twin bed share - Rs. 68,000
  
• 4 bed share  - Rs. 63,000

• For C-Section Delivery  - for a 3 days stay at hospital
• Ultra deluxe room - Rs. 1,25,000
  
• Single room - Rs. 1,10,000
  
• Twin bed share - Rs. 95,000
  
• 4 bed share  - Rs. 85,000

If post delivery , baby gets admitted to any NICU for extensive care then for each day it may cost approximately Rs.15,000/-

Above are only estimates and actual may be marginally less or more than the values mentioned.  Hope this info will help to make a good choice suiting requirement.

Dear Readers  - have you incurred similar expense during delivery hospitalization , do share your experience in the comments section below.