Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • Headlines
  • Coronavirus-News
  • Get-Hooked
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Parasports
  • Ask Bhavna
  • NHBrandView
  • Independent Living
  • Lifestyle
  • NH Videos
×
Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability Logo
  • Stories
  • Videos
  • Inclusive
  • NH Voice
  • Login
COVID-19 Notification by Government in Accessible Format

Accessibility Tools

Text Size:

Contrast Scheme:

  • C
  • C

Reset

  • Home
  • Get-hooked
  • Lockdown versus Liberation? Take your pick! – Payal Jethra on parenting techniques during COVID-19

Lockdown versus Liberation? Take your pick! – Payal Jethra on parenting techniques during COVID-19

Payal Jethra smiling to the camera
Get-hooked May 25, 2020
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Our guest columnist this week is Payal Jethra. As a visually impaired mom to a teenage son, she has plenty to say about how to keep your children occupied during the lockdown.

“Don’t you think you’re being pretty unreasonable? What will the poor child do during all these days?”

His voice was stern and admonishing over the landline. Pinky listened and let the words fall off. Everyone is entitled to his opinion and when she chooses to share and talk to friends, she’s got to be ready to take suggestions as well. Well, you can’t expect to be hearing only what you want to hear, can you? The two friends had been discussing how children will spend time at home for weeks to come. While the mother of a 12-year-old believes that she needs to put on her thinking cap to come up with ideas to keep herself and her son positively engaged in study assignments and fun activities, the father of a 11-year-old is of the opinion that once children are allowed screen time, they sit quietly for hours on end. Pinky disagrees…. she would much rather leverage upon the togetherness time bonding with the child.

The entire nation is under lockdown. Pinky’s going to perhaps being working from home. Nishu’s school has informed that all students from classes 1 to 7 will be promoted based on their average scores. The two friends were discussing how their children would spend time at home. Pinky wants to put in time with her son getting involved in studies/activities together, while Prakash thinks differently.

Pinky has always been firm about restricting screen time. She is determined to give parenting her best shot. There are and will always be several people ready to shower children with gifts, screen time, etc but planting seeds of values, morality, emotional stability, an optimistic outlook of life are primarily the parent’s job.

Didn’t we grow up accompanying our parents to Apna Bazar, returning home with bags bigger than us and lengthy grocery bills? Why can’t children today be given such duties? Why can’t they be involved in budgeting, oor spend time with elders?

So Pinky decides to make the most of her days with her son. Let’s step into the life of this Mom son duo to share their times together. Here’s a list of ideas they’ve had so far, – the ta line being #minimisescreenmaximizelife

Parenting tips that help during lockdown

Welcome home!

  • Reading books together – I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic by Lauren Tarshis. Mom and son had a sort of a book discussion –
    What do you think about this? Do you think the Titanic should be brought to the surface or left in peace? They sit side by side as he gives her a hug, “Mom, I want it to be left down where it is like a sea monument. Why fiddle with those precious thousands of artefacts?”
  • Listening to FM, tweeting and interacting with RJs – hey have RJ Nights right from 10 PM to 1 AM. The 12-year-old is filled with awe! Man! We’re up until nearly morning the next day. He’s found a cassette and practices recording remixes while switching radio stations.
  • Housekeeping – Sweeping, sobbing, loading and unloading the washing machine.
  • What’s cooking today? – The young man experiments with cooking and discovers a love for it. He’s discovering himself, foods and flavors.
  • Playing Hangman together – Hangman is all about beginning to guess the words. Proper nouns and slang words are not allowed. Mom picks up the category of animals while the young man takes his pick with day-to-day items.
  • Listening to folk tales together.
  • Housie via WhatsApp.

So, while Pinky does somewhat agree with Prakash that screen time cannot be totally eliminated during these times, there is certainly a way to keep children focused on positive life skills and be as participative in learning or fun times with them. Are you cuddling, cooing, partying and letting your hair down in every moment spent with your child these days?

Let’s remember- all our little ones want is their Mommy’s, just the way they are- no frills attached!

Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today

We need your continued support to enable us work towards Changing Attitudes towards Disability. Help us in our attempt to share the voices of people with disabilities that enable them to participate in the society on an equal footing!

Contribute to Newz Hook

NH Videos

Healing pain through art - Dr. Anubha Mahajan, Founder Chronic Pain India

Contribue to Newz Hook |Disability news. Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today.

Newsletter

 Subscribe to our Newsletter

Want to feature disability stories or share disability news with the disabled community? Write to:

editor@newzhook.com

Newz Hook - Accessible News

Download App Now!

Videos

View More

Get-hooked

Understanding Childhood Depression

Get-hooked

Understanding Essential Oils for Autism, ADHD

Get-hooked

Understanding Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Get-hooked

Disability can't stop me, says Indian origin cook Shalini Devi Ganesan with a dedicated YouTube channel

Newz Hook Logo

About Newz Hook

Newz Hook | Disability News - media site focusing on Disability Stories and Changing Attitudes towards Disability globally. We highlight disability news, offer inclusive solutions and create accessible collaborations. Our focus is to have Inclusion Champions from across the globe who will share disability stories and news.
Lets come together to change attitudes towards disability!

Newz Hook is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Follow us on:

Related Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Partner with Newz Hook
  • Embed Newz Hook Timeline
  • Affiliate disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contribute to Newz Hook

Our Awards

Zero Project Award Winner 2018
Back To Top
© 2019 All Right Reserved. Inclusive News India Private Limited.

Ask Bhavna

All fields are mandatory unless specified as optional.