Madhuram Musings - Parenting Podcast in Tamil

What started off as a phone call a year ago. talking about the one thing we felt was the most defining aspect of our lives – Parenting, has led to this incredible journey called Madhuram Musings. Standing at 33 episodes. we still feel like a new born child. The learnings and discoveries we have had on parenting has been tremendous. It surely has made us better parents than what we were a year ago. We hope and pray that this learning never stops and that we are able to create that little village around us, like we hoped for. While we have come a long way in the art of podcasting, we know we have a long way to go. We need your support in not just providing feedback for our content, but also in spreading the word if you liked our podcast. We hope to create more valuable content in the coming year. Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 34

The way religion is practiced and introduced to children varies from family to family. There is no right or wrong way to do it. But like a lot of other controversial aspects, the influences of religion is not just restricted to what is introduced at home. We are living in challenging times and we want to make sure we are able to restrict or moderate influences from external entities on our children. In this episode, we discuss how we introduce or “not” introduce God. Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 33

A lot of us living in the US, face a lot of uncertainty due to the visa process. This uncertainty spills over how we plan our future and impacts our parenting decisions to a some extent. And the impact a visa denial or expiry is sometime quite immense, especially on older children. In this episode we talk about the uncertainties we faced personally and those around us, as this something every parent on a visa goes through. From college planning, to second language proficiency, to level of coaching in sports, everything has to be planned with a contingency plan in mind. Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 32

We often notice children estimate a person's worth based on the car their parents' drive in or the cell phone they carry. As the world is getting more and more materialistic, with more avenues to flaunt that material wealth, it creates a lot of inequality and insecurity in a child's mind. As mindful parents, it is critical to ensure that we teach our children not to judge based on someone's material wealth. That should start from us. As long as we refrain from judging or critiquing or admiring someone for what they own rather than who they are, we have started the process of mindful parenting. In this episode, we talk about explaining to children, early on, the difference between need vs. want and adding the layer of priorities. We also show them the importance of material things not defining a person. This is crucial, as if this thought process goes unchecked, it may lead to insecurities in the child's mind as they would start defining themselves based on what they have in comparison with what their friends or other celebrities have. We will also be building a better community and future if we are able to help our children stay off the material pleasures of life and help them enjoy life itself. Please share your comments and feedback on our comments section or feel free to write in to us Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 31

Please join us for a fun conversation on the holiday season and our attempts at making resolutions. While we have not been hugely successful at keeping them, we are sharing a few tips on how to get close to keeping them.. We will follow up this episode with our travel stories during these holidays. Stay tuned.. Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 30

While we at Madhuram, have not encountered bullying when we were school aged children in India, it is an issue which seems to be plaguing our children and many of their friends here in the US. The number of children effected by bullying in the United States is alarming. While the numbers quoted are anywhere between 10% to 90%, most research articles quote 20% as the number of children effected by Bullying. With the changing dynamics of internet and social media and the anonymity it gives, cyberbullying has also become a serious threat for our children. India is ranked the country with highest cases of cyberbullying, with about 37% of children affected due to it. It has short- and long-term effects on the individual who is bullied, the individual who bullies, the individual who is bullied and bullies others, and the bystander present during the bullying event. There is a lot of systemic support available for children who are bullied, but the biggest support system is the family. In this episode we speak about the experiences our kids had on bullying and how we handled it. Please share your experiences and thoughts on bullying in the comments section. Resources: 7 ways to prevent cyberbullying Statistics on Bullying Some more stats Prevention of Bullying Preventing Bullying in school Some fast facts Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 29

When I told some of my friends that I watched the court scenes of Jai Bhim with my son, they doubted my judgement. So we used this episode to talk about the right time to introduce sensitive subjects to children, how did we do it, how did they react, what can be said and where do we draw the line. It would be great to hear from you on what you think about this and join our conversation on how to create social and political awareness in children. Please send us a note or drop in your comments in the comment section. Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 28

Very often we hear about a child who is either disinterested in food or eats too slow. In our Madhuram team, we have 1 kid in each family who is this way. In today's episode, we share our frustrations and challenges with you. We have not shared any extensive tips as we have not found the secret formula ourselves to overcome this issue. Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 27

The way we learn and work has been changing at a rapid pace. Careers are not viewed the way it was viewed 10 years ago. We moved from a single job through a person's life, to many jobs, to people having multiple career paths in their lives. A lot of well paid jobs do not necessarily require a traditional college degree. Acquiring a specific skill or a certification is sufficient to get a well paid job. This is sure to continue and with this trend, traditional education may become impertinent or obsolete. Or is it? In this episode, we discuss our thoughts on this, the optimism and fears we continue to have regarding the kind of educations our children should receive. Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 26

This episode is a collage of 4 interviews of high school/college students, who explain their journey towards college prep. Thanks to Jhanavi, Rohan, Ramya and Shoham for their time and great insight into how they had/have been preparing to get into the college of their choice. Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 25

Planning for college funds is a crucial aspect of College Prep. It starts from understanding how much college education costs in the US. Costs vary based on: Type of College Residency Status Financial assistance is something which we need to explore too. Assistance based on financial status are called Grants. Please check the below link for further details: FAFSA CSS TEACH Assistance based on merit are scholarships. There are many scholarships available and we do not have to only focus on the large ones. Applying to a smaller scholarships can add up to a large enough sum towards college funds. There are also way more scholarships available compared to Grants. However, some scholarships can be restrictive. So be sure to read the complete information about the scholarship before applying to one. Scholarships are also given based on other traits like leadership, sports, music and other extra curricular activities. We have also spoken about the various saving options to save for the children including, 529, Roth IRA, taxable regular brokerage and Real estate options. We also have discussed the types of student loans available. Resources: www.whitecoatinvestor.com www.thefinancebuff.com https://www.savingforcollege.com/questions-answers/ www.MorningStar.com https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/student-loans/understanding-student-loans https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/merit-based https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/fee-waivers Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 24

In this episode we take a deep dive into what all entails in a college application process. GPA calculations is based on the scores / grades you get in your high school. There are many calculators available to help you calculate your GPA. Depending on the stream you choose in your high school, your weighted GPA is calculated. Some of the GPA calculators which help you convert these grades to your composite / weighted GPA are: GPA Calculator Omni Calculator Some of the competitive exams like SAT and ACT. There are multiple paid and free resources available to help you prepare for these exams. Some of the top rated free resources are: Khan Academy Kaplan Princeton Review College Board These tests are conducted 7 times a year, and we recommend taking it at least twice, once in your Junior year and once at the start of your senior year. The fee is between $50 to $90 per test. Based on certain criteria, you can have your SAT/ACT fees waived. For community colleges, you can also take ACCUPLACER. In the episode, we explain the current approach colleges are taking towards these competitive exams. We also talk about the types of colleges you can apply to, apart from the public & private universities, like, community colleges, vocational / technical institutes, Service academies, online colleges and international colleges. We also touch upon other things required for the application like essays, recommendation letters, interviews, college tours etc., The application can be submitted on platforms like Common app, Coalition App, Common Black College Application, apart from the college specific portals. Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 23

High school is when all the real action starts. While, the sooner we start prepping towards college, the better, it is never too late to start. And High school is the best place to start. It offers a plethora of options and resources in the form of electives, clubs, counsellors, college credit courses, volunteer opportunities, scholarships and more.In this episode, we have attempted to give a structure to the process and categorized activities to be done in each of the buckets. We have tried to find the balance between keeping it detailed, but not too specific to certain colleges or careers.We will be following up this episode with a more detailed episode on competitive exams, resume building, and the college application process. Resources: Categorizing Colleges GPA Calculation Dual Enrollment Preparing for Essays Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 22

Some people think it is too early to start thinking about college in Middle school, while some think it is the right time if not a bit late to start prepping for college. We believe, that it completely depends on the child's position. Some children are very clear and determined on what they want to do in college and the career they want to choose. But parents have to ask themselves, have they been exposed to all options possible? Middle school is the perfect place where children can explore and make a more informed decision on what they want to do in their future. It will help them pick a path in high school and college, which will take them closer to their dreams. Let your child explore and experience different things during their middle school years. Let them enjoy the journey and adventure it holds. Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 21

This is a light and breezy episode where we discuss and rant about the anxiety we have about our kid's education. As our kids are entering middle school and high school, we have been researching on the various options available in the US school system. We are sharing our learnings and perspective from other high school and college going kids, in this mini series about College Prep. Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 20

Raising a child is an adventure by itself and raising an autistic child has a flavor of it's own. Patient and mindful parenting is required for raising any child, and when it comes to raising an autistic child, the understanding, patience, empathy required is amplified. Today's guest for our Parenting பேட்டி, is a wonderful dad who shares his experiences and journey so far in parenting his son who is within the Autistic spectrum. We hope you find this episode useful and comforting. Resources: Gemini.org Brain Balance Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 019

It would not be an exaggeration to say we can no longer imagine a world without social media. Tweens and teens spend a lot of time on social media. When we chatted with a few teenage kids the answers that came out were surprising and startling. Kids think of social media as a connection platform, which of course it is. But the line becomes blurry when kids use only social media to connect and define their lives. Social media platform provides a lot of opportunities for being anonymous which encourages bullying and Social media has a many positive impacts too in terms of creating content, boosting self confidence and staying in touch. Here we try to see both sides of the coin of social media. Listen and share your comments !! Resources: Impact of social media on children How social media has changed the way we parent Why I won't let you use Social Media – An open letter Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 018

Books are a window to the world. But the internet has taken that privilege over for most of us, especially the new generation. But can it truly replace a book? How can we help build our child's imagination and curiosity, while keeping screen-time at bay? Reading a book, transports the child into a world they can create themselves, rather than someone else imagining it for them. Parents play a critical role in inculcating a reading habit at the right age. In this episode we talk about how we helped our children build the habit. We also talk about the tips and tricks we used to convert our children who were reluctant readers and how it's never too late to help our children build one. Resources: Encouraging a reading habit – Oxford Learning How to raise a reader – NY Times 10 Ways to Cultivate Reading habit – Moms.com How to develop Reading habit in kids – PlanetSpark.in Encouraging your child to read – ReadingRockets.org Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 017

The greatest legacy we can leave our children is happy memories.” – Og Mandino Travelling over the summer break is one of the most enriching experiences which we can give our kids. It improves their curiosity, feeds their wonder, brings them closer to family, but above all creates memories. Memories, which money cannot buy. Plan an impromptu visit to the park, build sandcastles in a beach, hike in the woods, play a game of cards on a train trip or an RV trip, or maybe wait in a long queue for a rollercoaster ride. This is the time when each and every moment we spend with them, makes a strong impression and creates memories which last a life time. These memories help build their character and perspective of life, well into their adulthood. In this episode, two dads chat about the sweet memories they made, travelling with just one of their children. They share their experiences, challenges in planning this trip and what they took away from it. Listen to this episode and share your comments and feedback. Resources : Earth Trekkers My dirty shoes Rough Rides Family Travel Magazine Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 016

In this episode, we share some resources on all available Summer classes and Camps. Summer Camps: Camp Wonderopolis is one of the most highly regarded digital summer camps on the planet that is entirely free. Parents and children will find a wide variety of fun and engaging summer camp activities to take part in. Camp Supernow is one of the top virtual summer adventure camps for kids ages 4-10. ‍Kids interact live with their magical counselors and peers from around the world during immersive classes in arts & crafts, theater, STEM, movement, music, mindfulness, and beyond. Maker summer camp Makers : Summer Camp focuses on hands-on learning for children. It's a project focused camp where your child builds things based on their interests. With a focus on science, technology, and art, it brings multiple disciplines together. Outschool : Has an array of summer camp options to choose from. You can choose based on the reviews, cost, and the timing of the camps. Language: Alliance France Stories By Gus On The Go Little Pim App : Kids Learn Mandarin App : Learning by Mindsnacks App : Duolingo App : Endless Spanish App : Rosetta Stone Kids Lingo Letter Sounds Coding Elementary School Blockly Code Combat Stencyl Code Monkey Code.Org Studio Kodable Scratch Tynker Middle School App Inventor Code Avengers Code Monster GameBlox Codemoji Lightbot High School Glitch Codecademy Code HS Pluralsight Code Wars Khan Academy – Computer Programming Vidcode Best Coding Website For All Ages CodeWizardsHQ Finding a Tutor Teacheron K12 Teachers Other resources: Khan Academy Tinkerlab Zip School IXL Prodigy Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 015

When it comes to screentime, the million dollar question is – How much is too much? In todays world of busy schedules, multiple devices at home and schools, easy access to entertainment, screentime has become a daily debate for parents. There are many guidelines that have been published on how much screentime is allowed for kids at different ages. But due to innumerable situations, it becomes difficult to do other things that might keep kids away from screens. And that seems to be the real issue. Empowering and educating kids on screentime usage, giving them options to do things non screen related is an ongoing endeavor for us in this digital age. Listen in for an in depth conversation for agewise activities that can replace screen time, guidelines for how much screentime is okay and more in this episode. Resources for screentime: Mayoclinic – screen-time WHO.int – Healthy child Berkshire Montessori – Screentime Debate Kidshealth.org – Screentime Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 014

As a part of the miniseries on Sleep, in this episode we talk about co-sleeping. While co-sleeping is very common in the cultures we were raised in, it is not encouraged in certain other cultures. Our hosts talk about both sides of the coin, on what has worked and what hasn't when it comes to co-sleeping.

As a part of the miniseries on Sleeping, in this episode we talk about the sleep requirements and parenting challenges we face for various age groups of the child. We share our experiences – what worked for us and what did not. Resources: CDC – How much sleep Webmd – How much sleep Podcast Weblink - 012: Mini-Series | Sleep By Age Please use the below timestamps to skip to the portion of the audio which you would want to listen to. 1:30 Infants and Toddlers 10:22 Pre-Schoolers to Middle Schoolers 20:28 Teenagers

In today's busy world, sleeping gets little to no attention in the parenting process. It takes a backseat, because we take it for granted as a natural process which needs no regulation. Somewhere, it got ingrained, that if you stay up late and stay busy, you are considered an achiever. This is unfortunately the case even for school going kids, where we as parents, sometimes, ask our children to stay up late to study, assuming that increases their productivity. In our attempt to capture the basics of this vast topic, we are presenting a 3 part miniseries. In this episode, we discuss the importance of sleep and the overall tips to help our children sleep well. In the next two episodes, we talk about the sleep requirements by age, co-sleeping and the do's & don'ts of sleeping. Please share your comments, the struggles you face in setting a sleep routine for your kids and the tips you use in your family. Educational Play Care - The Importance of Sleep Restonic - Kids Need Sleep Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings

Almost all of us got a taste of helping our kids with virtual learning in this COVID era. But, virtual school and Homeschooling, are very different systems of education. Homeschooling is where children are educated at home by their parents. In this episode, we attempt to understand the vastness of Homeschooling. We are chatting with a mom, on why she chose Homeschooling for her kids, the effort it entails, some of the major syllabus options available, and the benefits & challenges of this education style. Please feel free to add your comments and questions on Homeschooling on our comments section or send us your questions through the contact form and we will respond to your queries. Resources: HSLDA - Home School Legal Defense Association TheHomeSchoolMom - HomeSchooling Styles Famous Homeschoolers Very Well Family - Best Online Homeschool Program Podcast Weblink: https://madhurammusings.com/podcast/010/

Entrepreneurship like any other skill is better when taught early in a child's life. Many entrepreneurs believe they could have learnt this skill when they were young and should be taught this skill in schools.While many parents are already teaching kids these essential life skills, you don't often find these subjects taught in school. Learning these skills starts as early as when your child begins to walk (failing and trying again) and often emphasized through free play. Some important skills that entrepreneurship teaches kids includes, but is not limited to: Self-confidence, resilience, how to sell, problem-solving, creativity, goal setting, empathy. Let's talk about how to teach these skills as part of life to set them for success. Share your ideas on your children's entrepreneurial dream and how you all encourage them… Resources: How to teach entrepreneurship to your kids - Boss Club Lemonade Day Ted Talk - Cameron Herold - Let's raise kids to be entrepreneurs Warrent Buffett's Secret Millionaires Club Podcast Weblink: https://madhurammusings.com/podcast/009/

All of us give our children allowances at one stage or the other, in one way of the other. In this episode we touch upon the multiple ways we give allowance to our children and a high level view of financial literacy for children. It is sprinkled with our personal experiences, including experiences as we grew up. Please share some of your ideas, when it comes to giving allowance to kids, in the comments section. Resources: https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/family-finance/articles/the-pros-and-cons-of-giving-your-kids-an-allowance https://www.policygenius.com/blog/how-to-give-allowance/ https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/family-finance/articles/the-pros-and-cons-of-giving-your-kids-an-allowance https://www.thebalance.com/top-ways-to-teach-kids-about-money-2085626 https://www.thesimpledollar.com/financial-wellness/how-to-teach-kids-about-money-from-toddlers-to-teens/ Podcast Weblink: https://madhurammusings.com/podcast/008/

In the last episode we introduced you to the Habit loop by Charles Duhigg, to help us set good habits and break bad ones. The Habit loop ends with a reward. In this episode, we talk about what a reward could entail, some of the dos and don'ts to keep in mind while rewarding children, what worked for us and what did not, and more. Resources: https://habyts.com/51-reward-ideas-to-motivate-and-inspire-kids/ https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/discipline/the-right-way-to-set-up-a-reward-system-for-kids/ https://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr301.shtml Podcast weblink: https://madhurammusings.com/podcast/007/

Developing and breaking habits is a lesson to be learnt not just by kids, but by adults as well. Habit by definition is “ regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up”. This definition rings true to a lot of things we want our kids to learn in their lives. As adults we realize on an everyday basis how certain childhood habits benefit us and do not serve us emotionally and physically. So it is pivotal to start young with the strong foundational habits we want our kids to form. So let's talk about what habits are to be cultivated and how. We are introducing the Habit loop, a concept made popular by Charles Duhigg, in this episode. We have also shared some examples of how it worked for us, and sometimes did not. Please share your experiences on setting or breaking habits in kids, as that's a continuous struggle for all of us. Resources: https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/teaching-good-habits-and-responsibility-for-kids/ https://www.educationalplaycare.com/blog/encourage-good-habits-in-children/ https://tinyhabitsacademy.com/start-young-10-time-tested-tips-for-teaching-tiny-habits-to-your-toddler/ https://madhurammusings.com/podcast/006/

A key step in raising responsible and independent children is assigning chores, and assigning them young. In this episode we will be sharing quick tips and tricks which we have gathered from our friends and those which we have used on our children. Not all have been a success, but let's remember it's a journey. Please share any of your funny incidents with your kids doing chores, in our comments section. Resources: https://www.froddo.com/10-steps-to-getting-the-kids-to-help-out-with-chores https://www.parents.com/kids/responsibility/teaching/the-chore-challenge-teaching-kids-responsibility/ https://madhurammusings.com/podcast/005/

In the last episode we spoke about how the lockdown due to pandemic, set us up for a new normal in 2020. Amidst this pandemic, each one of us found ways to cope and thrive. But in this episode we discuss what's next. How are children going to transition to the “real world” going forward? What can we expect and what should we be prepared for? How can we plan for the unknown? Let's dive into the episode to ponder and talk…. https://madhurammusings.com/podcast/004/

How do we even start to comprehend what happened in 2020? Everything about our lifestyles changed. The way we live, the way we work, who we socialize we with, how we communicate and to some extent even how we breathe (through the masks). To think that kids could come out of this unscathed is not a realistic expectation. But honestly, kids of all ages did adapt and accommodate. There is no denying that the situation is new, strange and an uncharted territory. But we, being the most adaptable species on earth, have managed to adapt to this new way of life. In this episode we share our experiences on what worked for us and what did not, while coping with the pandemic. Please share what your family did to cope with the pandemic and what worked and what did not in the comments section. We can learn from each other. https://madhurammusings.com/podcast/003/

Parenting is one of the fundamental skills of not just of our species. But we are the one species, who take the longest to nurture and raise our young ones. We spend decades and most of our active lives trying to get it right. In this episode, we introduce the journey we are about to take and speak about the fundamental styles of parenting. We will be covering each of these styles in further detail in future episodes. https://madhurammusings.com/podcast/002/

Raising children is like taking the most adventurous roller coaster ride of our lifetime. It has its thrills, it's ups and sometimes it's downs. At the end of it, it's always rewarding. We all get stumped at one stage or the other as we raise children. But together we can make the path smoother and help each other find solutions. They say it takes a village to raise a child. Madhuram musings is our humble effort to create that village. We are not experts but we are friends who are trying to learn to be better parents than what we were yesterday. We are documenting our learning through this podcast, so that it can help others who wish to learn with us. Our learnings come through our experiences, both failures and successes, researching through the web, listening to experts and feedback from all of you. Click here to let us know about the topics you want us to discuss in future episodes https://madhurammusings.com/podcast/001/