Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
Are we aware of what our kids are exposed to when they watch television? The author emphasizes the need of parental intervention when it comes to TV shows and movies that children watch.
As I was commuting to office today, one of the radio stations was discussing the kind of media content we are exposing our kids to especially on television and in movies. Today, with the advent of technology and free media space, our kids are watching, reading, texting, posting, tweeting and trolling but television and movies play very important role in our kid’s entertainment. In India, every third person watching television, is a child below 14 years of age and this viewership is growing everyday. What are kids really watching? If they are watching only children’s programs are we sure that they are safe and healthy(read right for our kids). Are these shows and movies giving the right ideas and values to our kids? Asking this question is very important as these kids are not just going to watch but they are going to replicate and relate to it in the real world.
I have brimmed with pride when nieces and nephews attempted to enact a scene of a movie or a show but to think about it now, did they really understand the meaning of what they were saying? If yes, then its a bigger problem because it was usually a funny scene from a movie and today most filmy humor is based on body shaming, degrading women, putting down someone- to name a few.
There have been scenes in movies where a girl rejects a nerd while admiring the so called ‘cool’ good for nothing ‘hero’. So, are we putting ideas into the mind of a 5 year old who is watching the movie, on what is cool and that being a nerd is a bad thing? Is a stick thin, fair, make up donned girl wearing western clothes, better than a dark skinned girl? While there is nothing wrong in wearing western clothes or being thin or using make up but are we giving our kids unhealthy body expectations both for themselves and others. Often ‘heroes’ are shown retorting back harshly or not regarding their parents or elders with respect. Is it not sending a wrong message to our kids that this kind of behaviour is not just acceptable but even ‘heroic’?
So what do we do? One of my cousins has a stipulated television time for kids and they allow their kids to watch only those programs that the parents approve. People may argue saying that “I never had restricted TV time and I turned out OK” but, we should also consider how movies and shows have evolved over the years (if you can call that evolved). Restricted TV time is not the only solution, but parents should start by being aware of what their kids are exposed to and also monitor it to a certain extent. And then most importantly, talk to them about what they watched , what it means to them and how they relate to it.
Image Source: Pexels
read more...
This post has published with none or minimal editorial intervention. Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Children should be taught to aspire to be successful, but success doesn't have to mean an IIT admission only!
Imagine studying for 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 whole years for the JEE exam only to find out that there’s only a very, very slim chance of getting into an IIT. It is a fact widely acknowledged that the IIT-JEE is one of the toughest exams not just in India but in the whole world. Apart from IITs, the NITs and IIITs of India also accept the JEE scores for admission. There are said to be a total of 23 IITs, 31 NITs and 25 IIITs across the country.
Now, let’s first get a few facts about the IITs right. First, according to the NIRF rankings of 2023, only 17 IITs rank in the top 50 engineering colleges of India and only a few (around 5) IITs are in the list of the world’s top 100 engineering colleges. Second, the dropout rate of IIT-qualifying students stands at least at 20%, with reasons being cited ranging from academic pressure and unmanageable workload to caste discrimination and high levels of competition within the IIT.
So, it’s quite clear that the journey of making it through IIT is as challenging as the journey of getting into an IIT. Third and most important of all, the acceptance rate or the odds of getting into an IIT are below 3% which is a lot lower than the acceptance rate of highly and very highly ranked US universities. Four, getting into an IIT of one’s choice doesn’t mean one will also get into a branch of one’s preference at that IIT.
Dr Nalini Parthasarathi, 79, based in Puducherry has dedicated 30 years of her life caring for people suffering from hemophilia.
It is amazing when a person turns personal adversity into a calling, and extends empathy to make a significant impact in the lives of other people. This has been the life’s journey of Dr Nalini Parthasarathi.
April 17 is World Hemophilia Day. Dr Nalini Parthasarathi, 79, based in Puducherry has dedicated 30 years of her life caring for people suffering from hemophilia. She was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.
Hemophilia is a condition where one or more clotting factor is absent leading to bleeding. Severe cases can be life-threatening.
Please enter your email address