The Internet is undeniably useful, but comes with a price specially for kids
I am a 19-year old girl. I have started going to college. I have opted for subjects of my liking and am on the path to achieve my dreams. Yet I am having difficulties making friends. Unlike in school, now I have very few friends.I feel sad and gloomy most of the time and get easily flustered and frustrated. What should I do?
Beginning life at college is both exciting and anxiety-provoking for many reasons including the move from a structured social environment i.e. the school to a more anonymous and vast world of young adults; academic responsibilities, and meeting new people. For some, this apprehension is quickly overcome as they adapt to the new environment, while for others the transition may take a little longer. It would be helpful if you understand that you are not alone and that a lot of your friends are also going through this transition and turmoil. Remember to share your feelings and confusions with a least one or two of your close friends or even family. You would be pleasantly surprised that a peer perspective will give you a lot of reassurance and strength. Indulge in activities that you love be it singing, dancing, eating, art and craft. Do eat healthy and exercise.
We are parents to a 16-year-old girl. With Internet addiction on rise, there is a new aspect of self-harm. Our daughter always seems engrossed in her phone - be it in the washroom, or dining table or under the blanket at night. We recently read about a series of dares being circulated on social media platforms that eventually makes the child commit suicide. We recently overheard our daughter’s conversation with a friend about taking such a challenge. We are worried and in a state of panic. Please help us.
The Internet is undeniably useful. Everyone, from students to professionals, uses it to gain information. However, the benefits come with a price especially with young people who are easily hooked to Internet usage. In the present day scenario, a new face of the Internet is surfacing which influences people - especially young minds - to indulge in self-harm. This has been in form of downloadable games, software and applications and even social media accounts and chat groups. As parents you can look out for the warning signs. It has been found that children who stay by themselves, not interacting with family and/or friends, running away from home, or with observable changes in eating and sleeping patterns are more likely to fall prey to such harmful traps.
As parents, it is important to spend time with children. Spend time together as a family and leave channels of communication open. When your child is sharing something personal, do not hush them but rather hear them out and help them get clarity. Today, children are aware of a lot of things happening around them; however that is due to media frenzy and they may not have an in-depth understanding or awareness of the same. Make sure that your child accesses age-appropriate content on the web that does not promote unethical behaviour or violence. You can explore the online world together and model safe and ethical online behaviour. Most web browsers today come with safety settings which can be modified. Keep yourself updated with recent Internet phenomena. Meanwhile, do spend time together as a family, enjoying yourselves and creating fond memories.
I am a 13-year old boy studying in class VIII. I have been an above average student but now I am finding it very difficult to concentrate and memorise descriptive course material. I perform well in science but score low in other subjects. I do spend a lot of time in studying but can’t figure why I do not get the desired results. Please suggest how can I improve my concentration.
Many a times we find it hard to concentrate and study, however, it is worthwhile remember that we are able to recall study material that we find interesting. Rather than forcing oneself to study, it would be more beneficial to render the material more interesting by livening it with visual imagery, imagination, or anecdotal details which one can tag onto it. Most complaints about attention and concentration tends to increase the time when examinations are approaching.
During this time, one often does not have enough time to spend on making the material interesting, since the focus is now on learning it. Therefore, time spent earlier in the year, raising the interest level of the to-be-learnt material is indeed well invested.
In order for the study content to be remembered clearly, it first needs to be registered properly in your memory. Let it be registered perfectly in the memory store the very first time around.
The second important principal is the art of rehearsal. The study content is shifted into a more permanent long term store only by repeated rehearsals, and once it is there, it is less likely to be lost. Therefore, it is unhealthy to study at the very last moment and allow the matter to linger on for a short duration.
Although studying is important, do give yourself a break every hour or so. Physical movement increases circulation of oxygen to your brain and may help you get back to business. Mix it up, that is, switch between study topics every once in a while to reinvigorate your mind as spending a long time focusing on one subject may be exhausting.