Panchatantra Stories Are Assets to Teach Moral Values to Kids

My kids always wait for the end of the day when they can crawl to their beds and listen to the stories that I read from books till they fall asleep. This is the time that we all share together and this is how I have introduced daily reading in my children’s life.  Nowadays, we all have hectic schedules and bedtime stories are diminishing ad so are their benefits that kids receive from them. Research has stated that nearly a third of parents never read a story to their kids at night and about 4% young kids do not have a single book with them.

Bedtime stories not only offer educational benefits, but the stories are perfectly crafted with emotional life lessons that can be subconsciously instilled into them. Panchatantra stories for kids are a great compilation of interwoven tales in prose or poetry and most of them are animal fables. Compiled in Sanskrit and Pali, it is attributed to Pandit Vishnu Sharma, who was considered a famous scholar around 3^rd BCE. But these stories have been adapted and translated by various regions and languages later on. Most of the stories represent an ancient lifestyle that illustrates the basic Hindu principles of Niti- the wise conduct of life.

Panchatantra story for kids are divided into 5 different parts and each of them revolve around a fame story that contains embedded stories, sometimes three or four levels deep. These stories are famous all over the world because of the witty moral values and elegant representation that it shares. It is a unique representation of Ancient India to the entire world that was equally cherished by the young and the old, rich and poor, high and low. The collection of fables revealed the basic knowledge of wisdom that helped to teach little kids the ways to make one’s life happier, fuller and richer.

All the stories of Panchatantra share a moral value that is presented in a simple manner and one popular moral is how to treat people correctly. The stories are excellent means to bring a specific situation of life before the child and create a great chance to ask whether what someone is doing is correct or not, thereby building up their understanding of appropriate moral judgement.

Bedtime stories are great means to expand the vocabulary of the child’s growing mind and help to communicate. Panchatantra stories for kids are also great ways to see their understanding of moral values. Stories like the Brahmin and the Crooks, the Monkey and the Wedges, the Cobra and the Crows etc. all are wonderful stories of moral lessons.

 

Namkeen Dalia: Savory Vegetable Porridge That Is Easy To Cook

Broken wheat or Dalia is something that is used to prepare a number of recipes in India and it is also very popular for its nutritious value. Dalia is made by using a special type of wheat that has high nutritional values and is made by milling the whole wheat grain coarsely. This specific type of wheat is at first cleaned and husked and then broken according to the desired size. This cracked wheat is used to make different recipes like grain pulaos, pancakes, multi grain breads, sweet dishes, kheer and many other festive delicacies. It can be prepared by roasting it and then cooking it till it turns soft. It has a warm and hearty aroma and is slightly chewy and nutty.

Dalia or broken wheat is available in different sizes. Large sized has a firm texture and can be used as a cereal or used in stuffing or salads. The medium sized dalia is usually used to prepare namkeen dalia recipes or preparations like upma. The finer ones have a firm and fine texture and is used to prepare wheat kheer or lapsi with milk. Preparing a healthy and nutritious breakfast may at times become a difficult task as kids always look for a tasty dish. Namkeen dalia recipe is easy to prepare and offers a wonderful taste to the dish. So, if you are interested to know how to prepare namkeen dalia, then continue reading.

Namkeen dalia is a great recipe that can be prepared in the breakfast with some vegetables and seasoning.  This fiber rich food, is very simple to prepare and can be served hot as a breakfast menu.

• Take a pan and dry roast a cup of dalia for about 3 to 4 minutes. A nice aroma will be released and the grains will also turn light brown in color. Keep it aside.
• Now peel and chop onions, green capsicum, carrot and tomatoes and keep them aside. Take a cooker and heat 2 tablespoon of oil and when it is hot add half teaspoon of mustard seeds to it. When the seeds start to splutter, add onions and fry for a minute till they become transparent.
• Now add carrot, tomatoes, green capsicum and peas and saute for 2 minutes till they become tender.
• Now add haldi powder, coriander powder, red chilli powder and salt and stir properly. Fry for a few seconds and add the dalia and mix properly with the vegetables and spices.
• Now add two and half cups of water. Remember that the quantity of water should just be enough to cover the dalia.
• To check this, you can dip your clean finger in the water and the level should be up to your first finger line.
• Cook the namkeen dalia for 3 to 4 whistles or until it becomes soft. Allow the pressure cooker to cool down completely and the dalia should be dry and look like a perfect cake.
• Take out some mixture using a spoon to check if the grain is soft. Serve it hot and garnish it with fresh coriander leaves.

Methods of Child Discipline That Really Work

You must have noticed the behavior of your child at school and at home. He behaves in a different manner at school, but is often very naughty at home and doesn’t listen to anyone. Don’t worry about this as even my children also behave in the same manner. This is also a common question from parents about how to make their child disciplined. The word discipline comes from the Latin word discipline, which means learning or teaching. This is the key to correct the behavior of kids and make them learn the right choice next time. Since no one likes to be ordered or punished, it is important to start training little ones with positive methods of child discipline. Here, I will share with you some important tips that will help them to learn better behavior.

Find the cause of the behavior:  The most important thing that parents should realize is that whatever a child does, there is a reason behind it. Understanding the root of the behavior can easily remove the cause of the emotion and the child will not behave in a similar manner in the future. A lot of things that we expect from children may also be unreasonable, so it is important for us to correct those initially.

Be clear about rules:  As a parent, make it very clear about what is expected of your child and what isn’t. Kids usually follow them when they have a proper structure and know their limitations. Don’t go for hundreds of rules; instead focus on what’s most important for the family. When someone breaks the rules, make sure that they understand the consequences ahead and that the desired child discipline is related to the ill manner.

Provide guidance and explain: While guiding your kids always be direct and give clear reasons and explanations of the rules. Make sure that the directions and requests state what they should do. Help the child to understand what is right and what is wrong and help him to practice the behavior.

Set time out: This is another positive child discipline method that is very effective. If your child has behaved give him one warning. If it happens again then send him to the time out spot right away and tell him what he did wrong in just a few words. If in case he does not go to the spot on his own, pick him and carry him there and hold him firmly. Give him the reason for holding and do not respond to any requests or outbursts. A couple of time outs will help him learn discipline.

The above child discipline methods will surely help him learn the right choice without spanking. So, be firm and devote attention and let him know the rules clearly.

Malpua Recipe: A Dessert That Is Simply Irresistible

Sweets form a major part of Indian cuisine and particularly the eastern part of our country is renowned for its wide variety of sweet dishes that ranges from Nolen Gur Sandesh to creamy rice pudding and many more. The rich, mouth-watering desserts are very tempting and of course a sumptuous meal is incomplete without them. So, whether it is summer time or chilly winters, Indian desserts are too difficult to resist. If you are not too calorie conscious, and want to prepare a sweet dish for your guests at home, then I can help you with the recipe of malpua.

Malpua is a traditional sweet dish from Bengal and it is prepared during the festival of Poush Sankranti. It is also a recipe that is served to Lord Jagannath in Orissa and during Krishna Janmashtami. I often make this dish at home as my kids simply love to eat them. But I prepare the rich variation with a topping of creamy rabri, which makes it simply impossible to stop eating. So, continue reading to know how to make malpua with rabri.

Take 4 cups of milk and boil it in a broad vessel. Add sugar and reduce the flame to medium or low and keep boiling till the milk becomes dense. Scrap the sides and the layer that forms on the top every 5 minutes. Repeat the process till the milk reduces and thickens. Now add chopped pistachios in it and let it cool.

Take a bowl and add ½ cup all-purpose flour, sugar, cardamom powder, saffron and khoya with milk to form a thick batter. There should be no lumps in the batter and it should be of thick consistency. Heat ghee in a pan and add a big spoon full of batter in hot oil and cook the malpuas over medium flame. Pour some hot oil over the malpuas as it gets fried. Flip gently and fry till golden brown. Fry more malpuas in batches and once they are ready, dip them in sugar syrup. Now take them out and layer them on a plate and spoon some rabri on top and garnish it with chopped almonds and pistachios.

Since Holi celebration is round the corner, you can try making this at home and serve it to the guests visiting your family. I am sure they will love to eat them and look for some more in the kitchen.

 

Aaram Karo Hindi Poem: A Humorous Poetry on the Virtues of Resting

Poetry holds a special place in our life and throughout history it is seen that great poets have used language to express their feelings, thoughts, perspectives and ideas. They have helped little children, students and adults to understand various aspects of life as well as nature and even complex social issues. Hindi poems too have a great contribution in helping us gain immense knowledge.

Today, as I flipped through a Hindi poem book, I suddenly found a poem written by Gopal Prasad Vyas. He was an Indian poet popular for his humorous poems that have been compiled into several books like Ras Rasamrit, Baat Baat Mein Baat and etc. He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his immense contribution to the field of literature. One of his Hindi poems Aaram karo is a funny write up that extols the virtues of resting.  His profound insight has helped us to see and understand things and situations in a particular way.

The Hindi poem Aaram karo expresses his feelings for resting and he has presented it in such a way that is of great delight to the readers. His imagination and humorous nature have helped to present words in such a manner that helps us to understand the reality of life. Hindi poems written by famous poets are great means to present universal facts and they represent things and arouse our admiration to enjoy this literary form of art.

Hindi poems have always helped young kids and middle high school students to increase literacy and linguistic awareness and expand their oral and written vocabularies. Since such poems use a variety of techniques, they help students to develop their critical and analytic skills. Aaram Karo Hindi poem has layers of meaning and the readers must thoroughly analyze it for clear understanding.

Hindi poems are also great sources of enthusiasm and creativity. When the poems are read in the classroom, it helps to connect their own lives together and this encourages the students to express themselves creatively. Though many students may not be motivated to write poetry themselves, but such literary pieces definitely help to play freely with rhythms, ideas and words. Students are able to understand the language and encourage them to think about the various meanings that the poem interprets.

So, if you are interested to read some good poems of popular writers, browse the websites and find sites that share such literary pieces to enhance your knowledge on various aspects of life.

 

Chunnu Munnu The Do Bhai Poem: Teach Your Child the Value of Sharing

Even before a young child begins to talk, parents start to introduce simple poems to them so that they get familiar with sounds by themselves and as precursors to later enjoyment of the poems. Most Hindi rhymes have the built in drive that allows little kids to imitate the sound and pick the language fast specially through the rhythms. They learn various new words effortlessly while playing and it is also an easy task for the adults to introduce the language to the kids.

Short Hindi poems help children to find out how a language works and the relationship between the letters and formation of words. But there are poems that depend less on the liveliness of the language and focus more on the meaning that evokes imagination, feelings and discovery of new ideas that are beyond the child’s own environment. Such poems are natural progressions from rhymes and are great toys or equipment to teach young children values in life.

One such poem is chunnu munnu the do bhai, a popular poem for young kids that teaches them the value of sharing. Since little children find it very difficult to communicate, such Hindi poems written in simple language and easy to understand words help them to understand various aspects of life through playful language. The poem also describes a common environment as it states the quarrel between two brothers over a rasgulla, which is then divided by the mother equally who also teaches them the basic principles of sharing. Chunnu munnu the do bhai help the children to think, make decisions and form judgements and values.

Hindi poems that teach the concept of sharing are great means to introduce valuable lessons and they can also capture a feeling and present a situation that children are already aware of. Such poetry helps to introduce the qualities that a child strives for – honesty, integrity, patience, sharing, courage and etc. So, if you want to help your child share, then make sharing fun by introducing poems like chunnu munnu the do bhai and help them feel good to give and understand that it is fun to share with friends and siblings.

You can easily find such Hindi poems for your kids on the net. All you have to do is to search some websites that share them and read it aloud to your kids and explain the meaning. You will also find videos of the poetry that your child can view and enjoy.

 

Unique Baby Shower Gift Ideas for Girls

Few days back, I had to attend a baby shower ceremony of one of my close relatives, and I was wondering what gift item I could choose that would really be appreciated by the mother. Since you need to make your decision based on the usefulness of the gift and choose something that is practical, it become a difficult task to choose the item.

Baby showers are celebrations to welcome the unborn baby and also bless the would-be mother. Again, it is also a perfect excuse for friends to load the mum-to-be with various gifts that she would simply love. Earlier, people used to choose from the same old collection of blankets, baby cots, baby clothes etc. But today, the trend has changed and people try to offer something that is unique.

Here are some baby shower gift ideas for girls that are interesting:

Make your own gift basket: This is an interesting idea and allows you to collect various items both for the mother and the baby girl. You can collect some body lotion, shampoo, powder, soap both for the baby and the mother. But before you choose to create the basket, make sure about the items that the mother uses, else it will only be a waste.

Baby room products: Another great baby shower gift ideas for girls is to include some baby room products. This may include beautiful wall pictures, nursery lamp, bouncy seat, picture frame, stuffed animals and toys that are non-toxic. You can also look for interesting toys and rattles for the new born baby.

A gift of time: Another unique baby shower gift for girls can be to create a book of gift certificates that can be used by the parents to buy items according to their needs. This often helps them to purchase those items suitable for the new born baby and is always a great utilization of money.

Unique dress items: Customization is of course a smart idea. You can give an individual touch to the baby dresses by creating beautiful monograms on them. If you are really creative, then you can knit a baby tiny booties or cap and can embroider the family’s last name or even the child’s name if it is already decided.

Mother’s bag: This is another lovely option to help the mother to be when she is out with the baby. While purchasing the bag, make sure that it has different areas to carry milk bottles, baby clothes, diapers and etc. to make it convenient while travelling.

 

Baby Shower Food Ideas That Are Sure To Delight Guests

Recently few of our very close friends decided to throw a baby shower party for one of our friends staying at Noida. We all wanted the baby shower occasion to be memorable and enjoyable and so everything had to be very perfect. I was the one in charge of the baby shower food ideas and the menu for the party. Though this is of course a difficult task as you have to keep in mind the taste of your guests and at the same time also take care of the health of the would be mother. But I managed everything smoothly and today in this blog, I will share what we picked for the baby shower menus that were enjoyed by all.

Appetizers:

For the appetizers we picked popular menu items including street food, but presented them in a creative style.

Cocktail green peas samosas: Green peas samosas are really tasty treats for everyone. These crispy samosas are filled with spicy green peas and this is a recipe that is the favorite of my friend for whom we arranged the baby shower.

Bombay chicken wings: For all those meat lovers in the party, we had this non veg recipe that offers a light curry flavor and makes a nice snack item. Served hot, it is a delight for all.

Vegetable fritters: Battered and fried vegetables are a delicious way to eat different types of vegetables and are a great snack. These are simply wonderful when dipped in yogurt.

Lunch menu:

Before we finalized the lunch menu, we discussed with others about different baby shower food ideas so that everything was perfect. And this is what we finalized.

Chickpea Pulav: This dish is a wonderful combination of rice, chickpeas with some vegetables and spices. It is a great and healthy meal for everyone.

Paneer butter masala: This popular gravy is a great treat for vegetarians and paneer lovers and it is also a good source of proteins.

Stuffed vegetables: We decided to offer stuffed tomatoes, stuffed mushrooms and stuffed capsicum and this was a great idea to introduce some vegetables in the meal.

Chicken curry: For those chicken lovers, we had chicken curry that is rich in flavor and is cooked in tomato gravy with cream until the meat becomes soft and succulent.

Drinks and desserts:

Lassi: We had kept the dessert recipes simple with Indian style yogurt lassi that is refreshing, tangy and subtly spiced with cumin and cilantro.

Shahi tukda: This is a popular Indian dessert that uses up bread and milk and the saffron adds a wonderful flavor to it.

So these are the baby shower food ideas that we used to make our party memorable. Now it’s your turn to decide on the menu.

 

 

 

 

 

How Jataka Tales for Kids Can Influence Their Life

Storytelling is a great means to bond with little kids and it helps them to improve their language skills and at the same time instills a love of reading. Good stories help children stir their imagination and also learn valuable lessons of life. As a little girl, I often used to sleep with my grandmother and she used to tell me various stories about kings and fairies that I still miss today.

In fact storytelling was a great means to pass on knowledge and increase one’s wisdom. One major group of tales that she used to read out to me was the Jataka tales. Originated in India, these stories are all about the reincarnation of Buddha, the founder of Buddhism and a spiritual teacher.

The Jataka tales for kids are stories that tell about the previous lives of Buddha in both animal and human form. The future Buddha may appear as a king, a god, an elephant or even an outcast, but whatever the form is, the stories tell of the deeds and misdeed of Buddha on his long journey towards enlightenment. With more than 547 tales in number, the stories are made in or near Benares, a holy city in north central India.

The benefits of Jataka tales for kids:

Presented in a simple narrative, the tales have a magical and timeless beauty. The stories are simply ideal for reading out to children as they tell of dramatic adventures that are resolved by compassionate and non-violent means. The challenging circumstances of life bring forth courage and the power of love thereby opening paths to solve any impossible odds.

The stories show how Bodhisatta overcame many hardships for the benefit of others by taking the form of a bird or a hare or a monkey, a prince, an ascetic. In each case he uses virtue, patience, generosity, wisdom and compassion to solve the problems. Young children often love to read as well as listen to the tales as they can easily correlate the situation and can imagine it themselves. The simple and clear language makes the stories entertaining, absorbing, uplifting and at times amusing for kids.

Jataka tales for kids can help them to think for themselves, teach them all about compassion and empathy, which is much needed during this modern time. The stories can help them to shift towards a less violent and healthy culture and help them understand our culture. Not only this, reading out Jataka tales to your little children often helps to improve human interaction and make them understand the principles of duty and obligations.

The books are great tools of learning and hold great importance in life as the stories equip the kids with some basic skills that are needed to find happiness in life.