PLAY BASED LEARNING

 With the use of play-based learning, students learn while playing. Thus, making the learning process more interesting, causing a positive effect on cognitive development. Plays are combined with traditional classes because the traditional learning process can be monotonous, and play-based learning can improve students' motivation to learn. 

Play-based learning is not just about using games to review and reinforce concepts.  The play include many problem-solving features, adding elements of competition and opportunity. That is, the student player needs to deal with an unknown result, several paths towards an objective, the construction of a problem context and the collaboration with several players.

BENEFITS OF PLAY BASED LEARNING

• Games attract the participation of individuals across many demographic boundaries (for example, age, sex, ethnicity
  and educational status).
• They can help children to set goals by providing feedback, reinforcement and records of behavioral changes.
• The games are fun and stimulating for the participants, it is easier to achieve and maintain a person's attention for long time.
• The plays also allow participants to experience news, curiosity and challenge. This can stimulate learning.
• 
  Better learning experience.
  
• Better learning environment.
• Instant Feedback.
• Promote behavioral changes.
• It can be applied to most learning needs.

ONE YEAR OLD ACHIEVEMENTS

Emotional development allows children to understand and express the emotions they experience as they grow up.

Over time, the child gains confidence and shows deeper qualities, such as sympathy, compassion, resilience, assertiveness and empathy.

13 months old to 18 months old

At this age :

• they develop their self-confidence, explore, try new experiences and take risks when a trusted adult such as a parent, grandparent or educator accompanies and reassures them;
• he likes to look at the pictures in a book and is able to recognize some of them by pointing to them if asked;
• he recognizes himself in a mirror or in a photo and becomes a person in his own right;
• he gives hugs and kisses to his parents, other people around him and pets;
• he likes to monopolize the attention of those around him.

Over the next few months, it will begin to:

• be jealous when other family members receive attention;
• have difficulty waiting when he wants an object;
• manifest large anger;
• be possessive with his toys and the people around him.

19 months old to 24 months old

At this age :

• he begins to show a wider range of emotions because he is building his personality;
  
• he may have mood swings and adopt certain aggressive behaviors such as biting and hitting;
• he cares about others;
• he shows that he is afraid, but he is able to calm down when comforted;
• he is torn between his need for autonomy and his dependence on certain things;
• he challenges people around him (parents, educator, etc.), for example by jumping on his bed even if he knows that this is not allowed;
• he is always wary of adults he does not know, but he can accept to play with a stranger as long as someone close to him is present.

Over the next few months, it will begin to:

• express so-called “social” emotions such as pride, shame and jealousy;
• use certain words profusely, such as "no", because by opposing the child learns to know his limits and those of his environment;
• share, for example by offering pieces of their food to another child;
• recognize the routine and the schedule of the day and will be dissatisfied when a change occurs, because he likes predictable things;
• be comfortable or scared depending on the circumstances. For example, he may be afraid of the dark.

NOTE: Remember that not all children develop at the same rate in all areas. The information given is in general. If you are concerned about your child's development, it is best to see your doctor.

ALL ABOUT NEWBORN

Now that your baby is born, you will slowly get to know each other. Little by little, your newborn baby will also discover the world around him. Even though he depends entirely on you, he has more skills and abilities than you might think.

Discovering his temperament

The best way to get to know your baby is to spend a lot of time with them. You will thus discover his temperament, his degree of sensitivity to touch, noise and the visual environment. Each child is different and has certain preferences about how to be carried, fed, comforted, entertained and calmed. Little by little, you will get to know what your baby likes and what bothers him.

The sleep

Much of your newborn's life consists of sleeping, eating and crying. Some babies wake up mainly to drink, while others spend more awake time from birth. Many newborn babies sleep 18 hours a day, usually in 2-4 hour periods, but approximately 2 hours if they are breastfed. It’s only around 8-10 weeks that your baby will start to distinguish between day and night. He should drink less at night and more during the day.

Drinks

It is recommended to feed your baby "on demand", that is to say when he shows signs of hunger. Do not limit the number of drinks or their duration. Usually, newborns drink more than 8 times in 24 hours.

The cries

Crying is the only way your baby can express hunger, pain, discomfort, fatigue, boredom, etc. It’s also during the first three months of life that babies cry the most and cry most intensely.

Know that your baby never cries to manipulate you. Comforting him every time he cries doesn't risk spoiling him. When you respond quickly and calmly to crying, your baby feels loved and secure, allowing the bond of bond to develop.

Encourage her to discover the world

To help your baby explore the world, give him safety-friendly items that he can see, such as mobiles and pictures. Let her listen to music or hear a rattle and touch soft fabrics or toys. Also teach him to hold a teether, rattle or cup.

Caring for him

At birth, your baby is unable to hold his head alone. You should therefore take it with care and always support its head and neck. Its umbilical cord also requires your attention. Even if the care of your newborn baby can seem numerous and stressful, you will master it in a short time!

6 MONTH TO 12 MONTH OLD ACHIEVEMENTS

6 months old

At this age :

• he expresses more his joy or his frustration, for example by giggling with joy;
• he sometimes reacts to the emotional timbre of his parents' voice;
• he distinguishes between the people around him;
• he smiles when he sees people he knows and expresses his discomfort in front of people he does not know;
• he begins to calm down on his own after being disturbed;
• he clearly shows his preferences for food;
• he may be happy to play alone for a while with a few toys in his bed or playpen.

Over the next few weeks, he will begin to:

• to perceive himself as a person distinct from his parents, because he is able to recreate in his head a universe which leads him to distinguish himself from others;
• be worried or anxious when separated from their parent;
• show his attachment to a toy or a particular object and he will use it to console himself in the absence of a familiar person (for example a blanket which always goes to bed with him).

7 to 9 months old

At this age :

• he knows very well what he wants or doesn't want to do;
• he no longer smiles at any face, because he distinguishes known people from unknown people;
• he follows his parent, wants to stay close to him and experiences anxiety when he is separated, thus showing his attachment to the people who take care of him;
• they show fear in the face of new experiences, and become agitated or cry when their parent's appearance or behavior is different;
• he laughs a lot because he discovers that he can do it as he likes;
• he can have a favorite object (cuddly toy, blanket) that he associates with his parent, whether the latter is absent or not;
• he seems worried and starts when he hears a loud noise, like a bursting balloon or a running vacuum cleaner, or when he takes a big voice.

Over the next few months, it will begin to:

• clearly show love or dislike for certain people, objects or places;
• be more sensitive to other children. For example, he starts to cry when other children cry;
• understand people's moods and intentions.

10 to 12 months old

The months leading up to your baby's 1st birthday are filled with wonderful achievements. See how his development evolves at this age.
.
At this age:

• he gradually comes to seek comfort when he is disturbed, for example he reaches out for us to take him;
• he knows how to be sad, happy, angry, frightened, hurt or uncomfortable and knows how to recognize these emotions in others;
• he recognizes better and better the differences between people and begins to imitate them
• he can communicate his constant need to be seen and heard by an adult;
• he shows affection with hugs, kisses, hugs and smiles;
• he does not show fear in front of a child he does not know.

Over the next few months, it will begin to:

• increasingly oppose, refuse to eat, reject any new food, no longer want to take a nap, etc .;
• be independent and resist adult control;
• show a preference for certain people and certain toys, for example by crying or laughing;
• to know how to communicate his discomfort when he is frightened or stressed, and to start to fear sometimes situations that he lived well before.

NOTE: Remember that not all children develop at the same rate in all areas. The information given is in general. If you are concerned about your child's development, it is best to see your doctor.

NEWBORN TO 5 MONTH OLD ACHIEVEMENTS

NEWBORN

Your baby is born, finally, he's here! What an exciting step! Even though he depends entirely on you, he has more skills and abilities than you might think.

ONE MONTH OLD

Newborns begin to express emotions as soon as they are born. Over the next few months, they show their sadness and joy.
At this age:

• he likes and seeks physical contact and touch;
• he adapts his expressions to situations that provoke emotions. For example, he reacts favorably to comfort and well-being while crying when he feels pain or discomfort. 

Over the next few weeks, he will begin to:

• recognize a familiar voice and calm down when he hears it, because it depends on the people taking care of it, especially in stressful situations communicate moods such as anger or joy by crying in different ways.

TWO MONTHS OLD

At 2 months, your baby expresses himself in different ways, depending on his mood and how he feels. Little by little he will find ways to calm himself down, especially by sucking his thumb.At this age

• he manifests primary emotions such as pain, disgust or pleasure;
• he will be able to communicate his feelings by fits of tears or by making different sounds. For example, he manifests his joy by making small raucous sounds;
• he knows how to express his discomforts. For example, it is agitated by the sound of intense noise;
• he can calm down by himself by sucking his finger or sucking;

Over the next few weeks, he will begin to:

• hug and relax 
• show that he is afraid, that he is happy or that he is angry with facial expressions.

THREE MONTHS OLD

Your baby will make many more sounds now that he uses his voice to express himself. He will be able to better communicate his joy, his sadness or his discomfort. By reacting to what he tells you, you will boost his self-esteem.

At this age :

• he begins to relate to others, among other things by smiling and laughing;
• he speaks to you in his own way by producing a succession of small sounds, for example small high-pitched cries;
• he reacts to the presence of familiar people and may start to cry or stop crying depending on who is holding him, especially when it comes to his mother.

Over the next few weeks, he will begin to:

• get angry when he doesn't have what he wants and he can be sullen.

FOUR MONTHS OLD

At this age :

• he is agitated or crying to attract the attention of adults around him or when he loses their attention or a toy;
• yawning and arching your back or turning your head away when there is enough or too much noise;
• he smiles voluntarily at the people around him and is no longer limited to staring at their faces;
• he recognizes the parent who takes primary care of him
• he is interested in his parent when he changes the rhythm of his voice;
• he manifests his impatience or enthusiasm by breathing heavily;
• he is suspicious (stops chirping and smiling) or frightened (agitated), turns away and then snuggles up against his parent when a new person comes in his direction;
• he stops crying at the sound of his parents' or the babysitter's voice.

Over the next few weeks, he will begin to:

• get angry when he doesn't get what he wants;
• using the body to interact with its environment and the people around it
• staring at a person and continuing to look at the door when that person leaves the room.

FIVE MONTHS OLD

At this age :

• he is aware of the presence of people he does not know and can then be suspicious;
• he clings to his parent when he is in his arms;
• he anticipates events little by little. For example, when his mother approaches him, he guesses that it is drinking time;
• he manifests his emotions more markedly;
• he repels someone who does something he doesn't like like blowing his nose.

Over the next few weeks, he will begin to:

• smile, laugh and make small intentional cries when he is happy and sometimes grumble when he is angry.

NOTE: Remember that not all children develop at the same rate in all areas. The information given is in general. If you are concerned about your child's development, it is best to see your doctor.

INSOMNIA PART 2

HOW TO TREAT INSOMNIA???

"Cognitive behavioral therapy" to improve insomnia by yourself.
Treatment of chronic insomnia, which has become chronic, requires treatment because it cannot be expected to be cured by itself. Although medication may be used for treatment.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a treatment for improving sleep habits. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a method to correct sleep beliefs and obsessions, and find a sleep habit that suits each person. Here are three ways you can do it yourself.

① Do not cling to the bed
People who are suffering from insomnia are obsessed with sleeping and unconsciously think that the bed is a painful place, so they are more and more nervous and unable to sleep. So, you do two things: don't fall asleep until you feel sleepy, don't stay asleep without sleeping, and condition your body that "a bed is a place to sleep".

② Sleep efficiency improvement
Sleep efficiency is the ratio of the time actually slept to the time spent in bed (the time actually spent in bed). People with insomnia tend to spend a lot of time sleeping and not sleeping, and sleep efficiency is low, so we aim to raise it to 85-90% eventually. Sleep diary is useful to know your sleep efficiency.

③ Relax
Perform muscle relaxation techniques that perform simple exercises before going to bed or waking up in the middle of the night. In addition to simply relaxing the muscles, the parasympathetic nerves can relax and slow your pulse, affecting your entire body.

Finding your sleep problems Improve sleep efficiency with a'sleep diary '
One of the methods to resolve sleeplessness is the "sleep diary". In the sleep diary, there are 6 such items as "time of going to bed", "time of actually falling asleep", "time of waking up", "time of getting out of bed", "time of waking up on the way and time of taking a nap". Record one time. If you record for a week or two and tabulate it, you can notice problems with your sleeping habits, such as "it's too early to get to bed." If sleep efficiency is low, you can improve sleep efficiency by staying awake for a short time without changing the wake-up time.

The lower of the two figures above is after treatment. The time to go to bed is delayed a little, and the prescribed sleeping pills are taken so that you can sleep at a certain time every day. If you have enough sleepiness, the time from bed to sleep will be stable.

If you don't feel sleepy for about 10 minutes, get out of bed. When the image of "a place where you can't sleep and it's a painful place" is established in your bed, you can't sleep even more. If you are unable to sleep for a while even when you go to bed, or if you wake up in the middle and find it difficult to sleep again, try leaving your bed.

To improve sleep quality

To improve the quality of your sleep, decide when you wake up in the morning and always get out of bed, even if you are sleepy. It is said that the body clock resets when exposed to sunlight. If you stabilize the body clock by keeping the time of exposure to light constant, the sleep time will also stabilize. However, if you wake up too early, avoid long hours of sunshine from early morning. This is because the awakening in the early morning gets worse. It is enough to stay away from bed at the same time and spend time indoors. Also, take a nap within 30 minutes as it can affect night sleep.

If you keep repeating the two times of going to bed at night and waking up in the morning while repeating this for 3 to 4 weeks, you will find out how much sleep time you really need. If you naturally fall asleep and become confident that you are controlling your sleep, your feelings will gradually ease and your sleep will disappear.

INSOMNIA PART 1

DO I HAVE INSOMNIA??? 

Take The Test Prepare yourself with a pen and pencil. If you are insomniac then know yourself. What type of insomnia you have and what are the cause of it. How can you treat yourself?

Symptoms such as difficulty falling asleep at night, unable to maintain sleep, waking up early in the morning, and feeling not fully asleep due to light sleep, daytime sleepiness, distraction, tiredness and various physical conditions.

It is said that about 1 in 5 people in Japan suffer from such insomnia symptoms. Insomnia, which is rare in childhood and adolescence, begins in the 20s and 30s and increases with age, with a rapid increase in middle age and old age.

TYPES OF INSOMNIA

• Difficulty falling asleep: It is hard to fall asleep on the floor (30 minutes to 1 hour or more).

• Awakening: Even for sleep, I wake up many times at night until I wake up the next morning.

• Early morning: I wake up at the desired time, or more than 2 hours before the usual time, and then I can't sleep.

• Deep sleep disorder: I have a light sleep and cannot get a deep sleep feeling for my sleep time.

MAIN CAUSE OF INSOMNIA

• Environmental factors: Places with time difference, pillow changes, heat, noise, brightness etc.

• Physical factor: Age, gender, frequent urination, pain, itch, etc.

• Factor of mind: Worries and frustration, mental stress from extreme tension, attention to sleep, etc.

• Lifestyle factors: Intake of alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, side effects of drugs, lack of exercise, etc.

TODDLERS ACTIVITIES

In this quarantine time everyone is sharing activities to keep their child busy but for the children under 3 years (known as toddlers) we don't know much activities. So here I want to share some activities which I am doing with my daughter (who is 19 months old) with that I will also share what kind of toys you should buy for toddlers. Follow my instagram page for videos and steps mention for different craft I did, in my highlights under ACTIVITY. 

FINE MOTOR ACTIVITY: It is the coordination of small muscles, in movements, usually involving the synchronization of hands and finger with the eyes. As children manipulate objects with purpose, they gain experience identifying objects based on their shape, size, and weight. By engaging in hands-on play the child learns that some objects are heavy, requiring more force to move them and that some are small, easily slipping through the fingers; and that other objects come apart and can possibly be put back together again. This type of play is essential for the development of child's fine motor skills.


Here I am sharing how to utilize household object for your child under your supervision.

• Give a bowl of beans to your child and ask them to put all the beans in the bowl. The ways to do it, is by putting 1 bean at a time, or a hand full of beans or at once by just lifting your bowl and turning it into the other bowl or using spoon. Here your Instructions counts alot, what you are asking your child to do and what age your child is. a three year old can transfer by using spoon as well but for a year old child he will use his fingers to pick one and put it in the bowl or may be in his mouth. So knowing what your child should do is very important.

• Using Sand. Sand play promotes physical development. Large muscle skills develop as children dig, pour, sift, scoop, and clean up spills with brush and dustpan. So let your child be messy. Give them their sand tools and let them dig and scoop and fill their toys with it. It will be messy but it will enhance your child's motor skills.

• Water and Sponge Activity. This activity was told to me on my instagram post. I searched about it and found it really helpful. You simply has to give a bowl of water, an empty bowl and a sponge. ask them to soak it and squeeze it in the bowl. The activity is very simple but u can teach the dry and wet, empty and full concept. As it's summer already, cut pieces of sponge and put it in the bucket of water and let your child play and throw on you.

• Play dough or clay. If you don't have one make yours. A 3 year old can easily make dough. give them some flour and water and let them knead, they will gradually learn the consistency concept. For younger ones give them fully prepared dough and let them knead, cut molds and roll. Make rotis with them and fry them their handmade rotis. The happiness of their accomplishment will build their self confidence.

• Paintings. Every child loves to colors. there are many different types of activities using paints. finger painting, ice painting, hand painting, chalk painting etc. (Instructions of how to make chalk painting is shared on my insta page and will share ice painting method too)

• Potato Peeling, give your child boiled potatoes and let them peel. for older kids you can give them raw potato and using a peeler let them peel it. Involving your child in household chores will not only help in their development, it gives opportunity to become active participant in the house. Kids begin to see themselves as important contributors to the family.

I hope it will help you guys Alot. Follow my Instagram page and share it with your friends and family. 

HOW I MANAGE BLOGGING WITH A TODDLER

This is one of the most popular question asked by mothers that "HOW DO I MANAGE WRITING BLOGS WITH A TODDLER". Being a wife and a mother is a full time responsibility. I will not use the word job here as job is payed but this duty of motherhood and giving your best to your husband cannot be payed in any form. Do you agree moms? (Comment down below and Share your favorite time with your family)

So starting with the time when I started blogging, I was pregnant. so most of the time I was free. I was studying Psychology (doing my bachelors). Inspired by my psychology teacher, I started writing blogs on psychology as a subject. Then there was time when I was not able to write any blog due to my pregnancy, delivery and busy schedule. Almost after 1 and a half year, I came back to the blogging world again and Trust me I am working so hard to manage my blogs but I could not. (need some motivation) 

This time there was a lot change in my interest and my priorities. I was done with my bachelors and had entered the world of motherhood. These days were amazing, so much to learn and experience. There I thought to share my life with the world, about what I was experiencing and how I learned. It was very difficult for me to handle everything, but living in a joined family helped me a lot. There were nights where my mother in law use to take my daughter with her during midnights so that I could sleep. My husband use to play with her so that I could rest. It was definitely not easy for us, But WE SUCCEEDED ALHAMDOLILLAH.

Right now it is the most difficult of all, Managing with a toddler and taking out time to think about topics for blogging and then writing it. Being with a toddler you asked: "YES IT IS DAMN TIRING" . Running around the house with her, Cleaning her toys and room,  coming up with different activity to make her busy, Reading books with her, Limiting her Screen time (still working on this). and more. And then,  with that writing blogs is not an easy task. But I like taking Challenges. Right now, I am editing this blog which has been written 2 weeks ago. My daughter is sleeping and a man is fixing my curtains in my room. I am lying on a sofa in my drawing room and doing a final checking of the blog on my phone as I left my laptop in my room. 

So this is how I manage writing. Writing itself is not difficult then taking out some "ME" time for myself. This "ME"  time is what sometimes gives me chance to write and most of the time it is just used as cleaning or organizing my cupboard, or putting toys back. 

"Enjoy your best with your child 'cause that is what they will remember and you will miss".

Share Your Experience with me and I will share it with the world. 

Postpartum Depression

You would have heard about hormonal changes during and after pregnancy, nesting, labor, delivery, postpartum care and other painful stuff but were you ever told about POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION commonly known as PPD. It is one of the painful stage after labor pain and Delivery, or I should say worst than that because those are just physical pains but PPD is mental disturbance which affects our emotions. 

SYMPTOMS:

Mothers with postpartum depression experience feelings of utmost sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion which will make it difficult for them to finish daily care activities for themselves or for others. 

• Feeling sad, hopeless, empty, or overwhelmed
• Crying more often than usual or for no apparent reason
• Worrying or feeling overly anxious
• Feeling moody, irritable, or restless
• Oversleeping, or being unable to sleep even when her baby is asleep
• Having trouble concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
• Experiencing anger or rage
• Losing interest in activities that are usually enjoyable
• Suffering from physical aches and pains, including frequent headaches, stomach problems, and muscle pain
• Eating too little or too much
• Withdrawing from or avoiding friends and family
• Having trouble bonding or forming an emotional attachment together with her baby
• Persistently doubting her ability to worry for her baby
• Thinking about harming herself or her baby.

CAUSES:

After childbirth, the amount of hormones (estrogen and progesterone) during a woman’s body quickly drop. This results in chemical changes in her brain which will trigger mood swings. In addition, many mothers are unable to urge the remainder they have to completely get over parturition . Constant sleep deprivation can cause physical discomfort and exhaustion, which may contribute to the symptoms of postpartum depression.

TREATMENT:

There are effective treatments for postpartum depression. A woman’s health care provider can help her choose the simplest treatment, which can include:

Counseling/Talk Therapy: This treatment involves talking one-on-one with a mental health professional (a counselor, therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker). Two sorts of counseling shown to be particularly effective in treating postpartum depression are

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps people recognize and alter their negative thoughts and behaviors.

Interpersonal therapy (IPT), which helps people understand and work through problematic personal relationships.

Medication: Antidepressant medications act on the brain chemicals that are involved in mood regulation. Many antidepressants take a few weeks to be most effective. While these medications are generally considered safe to use during breastfeeding, a lady should ask her health care provider about the risks and benefits to both herself and her baby.

In my next blog I will share my story with you guys. How I came to know about PPD. Who told me about PPD. Stay tuned. Share this blog with others so that new mothers could be aware about it. Share Your Experience with me and I will share it with the world.moattarbhojani@gmail.com

Teaching My Baby Sign Language

My journey of Teaching my daughter Sign language was not so difficult but at the same time not so helpful. I faced few problems in this journey but it taught me few things too.

One of the most fundamental human desires is to be understood, research has shown baby sign language can reduce frustration for babies and parents by providing a means for babies to communicate before their vocal cords have developed for speech.

I started teaching my daughter to sign when she was 6 months. I use to tell her words with action which eventually taught her to sign when I say those words. Like, PLEASE;

 the action for please is to move your hand around your chest in a circular motion.

Unlike other parents, When I heard about sign Language, and its benefits, I studied about it and find it unique. I wanted to give it a try. As she was around 6 months I started talking to her with different signs. Like, more, all done, Thank you, sorry and please. I use to sing poems to her with actions.
At 10 months she was signing different words and poems.
But Eventually There were 2 main problem which I faced. First, my society didn't have knowledge about sign language, so introducing sign language was very difficult and then it was getting harder for me to tell my family members what my daughter is signing. Second, it was delaying her speech. She was saying nothing. Other than mama, tata or baba. This is the link where you can see a year old baby saying few words and signing. (that is what inspired me)

WHEN DID I REALIZED THAT IT WAS DELAYING HER SPEECH?
One day, it was evening, I was sitting with my daughter on my bed and I was singing poem to her, baby baby, yes mama, eating sugar, no mama, telling lies, no mama, open your mouth, and she said HAA HAA HAA!!! and I was amazed, WOW she sang her first poem.
I told my mother in law that today she said the end words of her poem. And she said, "yes I taught her". And I was like, she can say, she can talk and here I am teaching her to sign. Then onwards I stop teaching her signs and Now Alhamdolillah she is 14 months old and can tell sounds of different animals and different words like WOW, NO, dedo (give me), mera hai (it is mine), dada and dadi (Grandfather and Grandmother), Kha, Pho and AAni (aunt). baboo baboo (when she has done poopoo) and many other words, which helps her to communicate with us.

Here is the link of my instagram page where I will share my daughter's video in stories, which will be saved in highlights, where she is signing at 10 months and saying words in 14 months. Follow my page, as I will be posting amazing stuff in the next coming weeks.

So in my opinion I think we as a parent we should teach our child in both the ways. It is the child who picks how he/she wants to be taught. Sign Language is very beneficial for the kids who cannot speak or are late Speakers, this language can help them not to frustrate and express their feeling. What are your opinion on this blog? Don not forget to like and Share.

Share Your Experience with me and I will share it with the world. You can ask anything regarding sign language.

IMPORTANT UPDATE NO.2

Hi Mothers, teachers and Readers....
This blog is for some updates on how much are liking these topics. Comment Frankly.
8 steps to happiness is the 2nd last blog of Week 1 lesson. Do you guys want me to continue with that or try something different. If you guys have any opinion comment down below or email me you are welcome. Up till now Readers have asked me to write on few topics. Below I am writing some topics which I have been asked.

• Postpartum Depression
• Stigma Against Mental Disorder
• Developmental Psychology
• Child Psychology
• How I Manage to write blog with a toddler
• Sharing My Journey of Motherhood
• Sign Language

Other than this, Do you guys want me to add some pictures and Videos to make it attractive?
 Show some love and give me your feedback. On Thursday I will do polling on my Facebook account https://www.facebook.com/moattarfatima.bhojani regarding topics. I am also sharing my Facebook page where I Share all my updates and and Quotes.

8 STEPS TO HAPPINESS

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” 

― Dalai Lama XIV

The relationship of happiness to well being to connected-ness are all fascinating. Professor Anthony Grant has worked with the crew which develop a simple 8 step program which people can apply in their daily life. Here I am sharing some idea about that program.

1. Linking Goals And Values: One of the biggest mistake which people do is they don't connect them to their values, what really resonates for you as an individual. It is important for us to differentiate between what are the things that we value in our life with the things that society or other people say that we should value.
2. Do Things For Other People: The act of kindness is a powerful way to kind a feel a bit more connected to people and world. For Example; you are driving through city traffic and people are cutting in front of you, take a moment and let them get in front of your car. It only counts as an act of kindness if you don't expect a thank-you.
3. Mindfulness Or Mindful Living: When we talk about mindfulness the first thing which comes in our mind is meditation and that is an important part of mindfulness but that doesn't mean sitting at a place and meditate in order to engage mindful living. Mindfulness is about being here and now. For Example; As we go around our daily life instead of having our head all over the place. Think about what we need to do next, bring your attention back to now, focus on your breathing and feel your self settle into your body.  
4. Focusing On Strength And The Solutions: Thinking about how you can get to where you want to go is actually a lot more helpful than listening to the negative self talk and focusing on the problem analysis and things that might go wrong.
5. Engage Gratitude Exercises: Taking time to actually express gratitude, taking time to savor the moment and appreciate what we have, really helps us boost our well being. It allows us to appreciate what really matters in our life.
6. Forgiveness: Take some to write, sit down and write out a letter that you forgive that you can see from their point of view. Now that is very hard to do, you don't have to post the letter. but somehow expressing your forgiveness actually externalizes it again.
7. Notion Social Networks: So if we live in a world where there is limited social networks, I would encourage you to see how you can expand them. It means enriching the connections with the people that you do have.
8. Reflect, Review And Renew: What we really need to do very often is to stop, and reflect and review where we are. What are my values? how have they changed?what am I doing? what is working for me? what is not? This is actually very powerful stuff, through this we can renew ourselves.

These are the simple 8 steps. but always remember it is very rare for somebody to go from extremely depressed to brilliantly happy, or to become from very introvert or reflected person to a huge extroverted person. Change take work and repetition, we need to be satisfied with small steps. It is useful to have a big goal, but focus on the small steps and be satisfied with the small steps, because actually that's the only change we can really make. Take time to review and reflect on what you have done.