Parenting Q & A
Author by Dr. Kondoor V. Abraham
I am a mother to two little children. I would like to know what kind of toys I should buy for my children.
There are all kinds of toys on the market. Toys that are of educational and social value are definitely of utmost importance. Toys that can improve eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills, finger dexterity, general knowledge, mental processing, memory, creativity, and interpersonal skills will be beneficial in the long run. What is common about the best surgeon, golf/cricket player, artist, musician and other professions is that they have mastered some of these abilities, especially eye-hand coordination.
Toys and educational materials that are skill building can also explore children’s innate traits in the areas of planning, designing, fixing, assembling, etc. For example, a child who takes interest in building a castle with blocks may be showing his/her interest in designing and planning. I hope these suggestions are helpful to you in making the right choices.
Parenting is a very stressful issue. What suggestions do you have?
The ability to manage stress impacts many aspects of our life. Below are some tips that can be useful at home.
• Simplify your lifestyle.
• Train your mind to cope.
• Reduce the sources of stress (e.g. Avoid over-committing yourself).
• Be economical or try to live within your means.
• Avoid negative social pressure.
• Have a spiritual attitude instead of being materialistic.
I come from a generation that did not encourage play. What are your thoughts about it?
Childhood play is very important for a child’s growth and development. It is instinctive in nature, and we even see that animal babies spend a great deal of time in play. It is through play that children develop social skills. Actually, the interest in play is not limited just to childhood. Even as adults, we continue to look for opportunities to play whether it is by taking vacation trips, breaks during work, etc.
It has been said that the job a person selects is an extension of childhood play. This leads us to think that by analyzing a child’s play, we may be able to gather valuable information regarding his/her vocational traits and long-term interests. Therefore, incorporating play into your child’s daily routine and even using it to teach new skills is the way to go.
Dr. Kondoor V. Abraham, MA., M.A., Psy. D. (Clinical Psychology) has a private practice office in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and he works with children and families. Please email your questions to kvabraham@aol.com. Visit www.kondoorabraham.com for more information or call (954) 242-4633.
