Child Care and Intervention

18/09/2025

Screen Time vs. Play Time: Why Balance Matters for Your Child’s Brain

We live in a digital world where children are surrounded by screens. While technology has its benefits, too much screen time can interfere with the way a child’s brain and body develop. As an Occupational Therapist, I often see the contrast between children who get more active play versus those who rely heavily on screens.

What Screens Do to the Brain

Reward system overload → Screens give quick dopamine “hits,” which makes the brain crave fast stimulation. Over time, this can reduce patience and focus.

Prefrontal cortex underuse → This part of the brain controls planning, decision-making, and self-control. Excessive passive screen use doesn’t challenge it.

Sleep disruption → Blue light delays melatonin release, affecting memory consolidation and emotional regulation.

Reduced sensory input → Screen use is mostly visual and auditory, meaning the brain misses out on movement, touch, balance, and other sensory experiences needed for development.

What Play Does to the Brain

Strengthens connections → Play activates multiple brain regions at once (motor, sensory, emotional, cognitive), building strong neural pathways.

Boosts executive functions → Games, puzzles, role play, and building activities improve planning, memory, and flexible thinking.

Supports self-regulation → Rough-and-tumble play, swinging, climbing, and running help the brain learn how to manage emotions and stress.

Encourages social brain growth → Cooperative play teaches empathy, problem-solving, and communication—skills that screens cannot replace.

A Balanced Approach

This is not about “no screens.” Technology is part of our lives. But balance is the key. A good guideline is the 2:1 rule → for every 1 hour of screen time, give at least 2 hours of play (outdoors if possible).

Simple swaps can help:
✔️ Replace passive cartoons with interactive story reading.
✔️ Trade 30 minutes of mobile games for outdoor cycling.
✔️ Swap evening TV for family board games.

Why it matters:
Childhood is when the brain is most “plastic”—meaning it grows, adapts, and wires itself for the future. Play is the natural fuel for this growth. When children play, they don’t just have fun—they build the foundations of attention, resilience, creativity, and emotional strength.

“Screens can entertain, but play builds brains. Let’s give our children what they truly need—the freedom to explore, imagine, and grow.”

15/09/2025

Strength-Based Learning: Focusing on What’s Strong, Not What’s Wrong

Traditional education often emphasizes fixing weaknesses—improving marks in poor subjects, correcting behavior, or highlighting areas of struggle. While guidance is important, this “deficit lens” can sometimes overshadow a child’s potential and leave them feeling discouraged.

Strength-Based Learning shifts the focus. Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with this child?” we ask, “What strengths does this child have, and how can we use them to support growth?”

Why Strength-Based Learning Matters

Builds Confidence: When children see their abilities recognized, they develop self-esteem and motivation to learn.

Encourages Engagement: A child interested in art, music, or movement can use those strengths as gateways to learning other skills.

Promotes Resilience: Recognizing strengths teaches children to face challenges without feeling “less than.”

Fosters Holistic Growth: Academic, social, emotional, and creative strengths all contribute to shaping well-rounded individuals.

Examples in Practice

A child who struggles with writing but loves storytelling can record their ideas verbally first, then translate them into written work.

A student with high energy may thrive in learning through role-play, movement, or group activities rather than worksheets.

A child who is empathetic and caring can be encouraged to take leadership roles in peer activities, boosting confidence and responsibility.

Role of Teachers, Parents, and Therapists

Teachers can design flexible learning opportunities that allow children to demonstrate knowledge in multiple ways.

Parents can notice and celebrate everyday strengths—curiosity, kindness, creativity—rather than focusing only on grades.

Therapists can use strengths as starting points in intervention, making therapy sessions motivating and enjoyable.

A Shift in Mindset

Strength-based learning does not ignore challenges. It simply balances them with hope, focusing on potential rather than limitations. Instead of “You can’t do this,” the message becomes, “Let’s use what you are good at to help with this area.”

This approach creates empowered learners—children who know that while they may have struggles, they are defined by their abilities, not their deficits.

Conclusion

When we celebrate children’s strengths, we do more than help them succeed in school. We give them the courage to believe in themselves. And that belief—nurtured by teachers, parents, and therapists—is the strongest foundation for lifelong learning and growth.

11/09/2025

Child Development and a Holistic Approach

Child development is not limited to academic success—it is the growth of the whole child. A holistic approach recognizes that children’s physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and spiritual needs are interconnected, and each plays a vital role in shaping who they become.

In a holistic model, education is not just about reading, writing, or math. It is about nurturing curiosity, building resilience, fostering relationships, and encouraging creativity. A child who feels safe, valued, and understood learns more effectively than one who is only measured by grades.

Teachers, parents, and therapists all have a shared role in this journey. By focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses, and by addressing challenges through early care and intervention, we can ensure that no child is left behind. Play, movement, expression, and social interaction become as important as structured lessons.

The goal of a holistic approach is not simply to prepare children for exams, but to prepare them for life—to become confident, compassionate, and capable individuals who contribute meaningfully to the world.

10/09/2025

Teaching & Therapy Beyond Rules – Building Connection

"The best classroom management strategy is to like your students. It’s not a feeling. It’s a choice. Choose to see the best in them. No one wants to disappoint someone who genuinely cares about them." – Amy Fast, Ed.D

This thought speaks volumes.
In our classrooms and therapy sessions, children don’t grow because of rules, charts, or strict management—they grow because someone believed in them.

Every child comes with their own strengths, challenges, and stories. Some may test our patience, others may surprise us with their hidden potential. But when we choose to like them, to respect them, and to genuinely see the best in them, we give them the courage to shine.

Children don’t just learn from books or therapy activities—they learn from how we make them feel. When they sense that someone truly cares, they naturally try harder, behave better, and reach higher—not because they fear disappointment, but because they don’t want to let down someone who believes in them.

👉 As educators, therapists, and caregivers, our most powerful tool is not discipline—it’s connection.
👉 When we choose compassion over criticism, encouragement over punishment, and belief over doubt, we change not just behavior, but the very mindset of a child.

Imagine a world where every child felt genuinely cared for, understood, and valued.
That’s not just classroom management—that’s life management. That’s how we raise confident, kind, and capable human beings.

Let’s all choose, every single day, to see the best in our children. Because sometimes, that one choice can change their entire future. ❤️

07/09/2025

Marks may make a career, but emotional intelligence makes a life.

A report card shows grades, but life tests emotional intelligence every single day.

Success is not just about scoring high marks — it’s about raising children who know how to care, connect, and stand strong in challenges.

A child who learns empathy will know how to support others.
A child who learns curiosity will never stop growing.
A child who learns connection will always find a way to lead with kindness.

This is the real foundation of lifelong success.

As parents, teachers, and caregivers, let’s remember — we’re not just preparing children for exams; we’re preparing them for life. When we nurture both the mind and the heart, we raise leaders who can inspire, create, and shape a better tomorrow.

27/08/2025

🌼🪔 On this auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, Child Care & Intervention sends warm wishes to you and your loved ones. May Lord Ganesha remove all obstacles and bring joy & prosperity. 🙏✨

20/08/2025

Managing Screen-Time Tantrums: An OT’s Perspective

In today’s digital age, children are spending more time on screens than ever before. While technology can be engaging and educational, it can also lead to frustration, meltdowns, and difficulty transitioning away from devices. As an Occupational Therapist, I’ve seen how structured strategies can make a huge difference in helping children develop healthy screen-time habits.

The 8 strategies shared here are simple, practical, and family-friendly — from giving countdown warnings to pairing screen-off moments with positive tasks, modeling balanced tech use, and even creating a screen-time contract. Consistency is key. When children know what to expect, they feel more secure, and screen-time battles reduce significantly.

Let’s help our children enjoy technology mindfully, while also giving them the space to explore, play, and grow beyond the screen.

Child Care and Intervention
Dr. Karuna Narang

16/08/2025

15/08/2025

🇮🇳✨ Celebrating the spirit of freedom on India’s 79th Independence Day!
Let’s honor the sacrifices, cherish our unity, and keep working towards a brighter future for our children and our nation.

Child Care & Intervention wishes everyone a very Happy Independence Day! 🌟💚🧡

14/08/2025

ऑटिज़्म वाले बच्चों के लिए ऑक्यूपेशनल थेरेपी क्यों है ज़रूरी? इस 45 सेकंड की वीडियो में जानिए कैसे यह थेरेपी आपके बच्चे की रोज़मर्रा की ज़िंदगी को बेहतर बनाती है। छोटे-छोटे स्टेप्स में सुधार, मोटर स्किल्स और सामाजिक कौशलों को बढ़ावा देना ऑक्यूपेशनल थेरेपी का मुख्य उद्देश्य है। अगर आप अपने बच्चे के विकास में सही मदद चाहते हैं, तो यह वीडियो आपके लिए है! इसे देखें, लाइक करें और अपने दोस्तों के साथ शेयर करें ताकि और माता-पिता भी इसके फायदों को जान सकें।

13/08/2025

🌱 A child’s potential is like a seed — it needs the right care to bloom.

Last week, I visited a school where a teacher shared her concern:
"He’s bright, but he just can’t sit still… he gets frustrated so easily."

When I met this little boy, I saw more than restlessness. I saw a child struggling with sensory regulation and attention — challenges that could easily be mistaken for “misbehavior.”

The truth is, many children in our schools face hidden hurdles:

Difficulty copying from the board

Trouble holding a pencil

Struggling to focus in a noisy classroom

Delays in speech or social interaction

These aren’t just “phases” — they’re signals that a little support can go a long way.

💡 That’s why bringing developmental and therapeutic services into schools is so powerful:

Teachers get expert guidance right when they notice a concern

Parents understand how to help at home

Children get early, targeted support that changes their learning journey

At Child Care and Intervention, we work with schools, for children — ensuring no student is left behind because their challenges were unnoticed or misunderstood.

Let’s reimagine schools as places where every child, regardless of their starting point, has the tools to thrive.

📩 If you’re a school leader or educator, I’d love to connect and share how we can make this vision a reality — together.

12/08/2025

Pediatric OT is not just therapy—it’s a bridge to your child’s best potential.