Burn injuries amongst children

2. CONTENTS
Insight and Inspiration
1A Mother’s Strength
Momina Rezvan, a young
mother of two shares her
very poignant story of
conquering a rare type of
cancer with the readers of
Motherhood.
6
Vision Awareness For
Parents And Guardians
Five important points
Find out the five most
common vision problems and
their solutions in this article
from a parent of a child with
Down syndrome, having an
extensive optical background
11Implementing Islam
Smoking is Haram
The fact of the matter is that
smoking is absolutely haram.
It is prohibited on account of
the harm that it causes to
one’s religion, well-being and
finances.
8Helping Your Child
Be A Better Student
Success in school
Find out how can you
improve your child’s chances
of succeeding in school
4Health Heed
Burn Injuries Amongst
Children
Burn injuries constitute one of
the commonest causes of
childhood afflictions in
developing societies like ours.
Owing to the recognized
limitations of our living
standards, we have a higher
incidence of more serious
burns.

3. 19
14
Travel Tales
Student Sojourn
African Adventures
A hilarious recount of a
fascinating encounter with
the African Bull elephant in
Lake Kariba, a manmade
reservoir situated on the
Zambezi River. The lake
borders Zimbabwe and
Zambia and is considered to
be one of the largest and
deepest reservoirs in the
world.
The Journey Within
A Pakistani student pursuing
Religious Studies in the US
explains what’s it like to live
away from home and family
for realizing one’s ambitions.
17Mission Motherhood
Talk To Me
The art of a conversation
requires that both the
involved participants
exchange a few words.
However, from a psychologi-
cal perspective, merely
exchanging words is not
enough!
Early Childhood
Development
The role parents can play in
fostering early childhood
development
23
21
Name Niche
Windows of Opportunity

4. A mother’s
strength
story of a cancer survivor that puts life
into perspective
1
Life: a gift of Godfilled with health, happiness, family,
friends and joy - until there comes a pause. A pause
that tests your endurance, your patience, your rela-
tives, your friends and pretty much everything you
are a part of. For me this was cancer! People call it a
disease, a killer. For me it’s a challenge or it was, as I
like to believe.
While I write this, I prepare to relive the hardest mo-
ments of my life. I close my eyes and take a deep
breath, I see a vision of a happy family: me, my hus-
band, our two beautiful daughters, my long hair that
I always loved, my mischievous vigor. My spirits lift
instantly. This image has been my pillar of strength
throughout my battle with cancer.
I was just an ordinary 28 year old mother of two; cra-
dlingmy babies in my arms, playing hide and seek
with them, walking with them in the park, lifting them
up when they would fall, holding them in my arms
when they’d put forth both their tiny hands and want
to be carried around. I did all the things that regular
moms do with all the dreams and fantasies of a girl
my age. But life had other surprises for me: just after
my 27th birthdayI was diagnosed with Ostegenic Sar-
coma (a type of bone cancer).
Few months prior to my diagnosis, I had been living
with an ugly lump below my knee, but it didn’t hurt
at all. Since I was otherwise healthy I didn’t pay much
attention to the swelling and assumed that it would
go away on its own. And then, one fine day, a day
I’ll never forget, I bumped my leg while making the
bed. A sharp pain coursed through my leg. I realized
then that this was more than just a bump. And so
started my trips to the hospital. After numerous con-
sultations, tests and scans we were referred to an
oncologist who finally broke the news – I had cancer.
At first, I did not know what to make of this news. I
had many questions: Will I need surgery? Will I lose
my hair to the chemotherapy? What about my leg? Will
I be able to walk again? Who will take care of my kids?
The situation would unravel itself over the course of
*Photo credits for cover story: Fayzan Syed
Momina Rezvan, a
mother of two young
girls, is a warrior who
successfully fought
cancer at the tender
age of 28.
My happy family!
By: Momina Rezvan

5. 2
time but at first I had to come to terms with reality
and stop asking “WHY ME?”.
Soon I had to face chemotherapy. Dealing with the
sickness, lethargy and hair loss required more pa-
tience than I thought I had. If someone could count
my tears at that time, I would reward them with a
million dollars. After my stint at the hospital for the
1st session of chemo, my four year old questioned
with tears in her eyes “Mama, are you going to die?”.
She probably picked this up from the TV, seeing that
if you spend more time at hospital you are meant
to die. I comforted her but my subconscious was in-
triguing me – had my child seen something that was
coming? This was a defining moment in my ordeal. I
promised myself to never cry in front of anyone ex-
cept God.I masked my tears, veiled the sadness that
ripped through my soul and put on a happy face for
the sake of my daughters. Credit goes to my husband
for supporting me and helping keep my sanity intact.A
father, a better mother during that time and the best
friend ever – it was his strength, persona and courage
that made it easy for me to fight this battle.
My treatment was difficult and lengthy. Chemotherapy
treatment lasted 5-6 months and it took more than a
year for my legs to carry my weight again. During this
time I saw 3 people die in front of me because of the
same disease I have been struggling through. I could
not sleep for a month when I saw a lady die next to
my bed. You never know what’s going tohappen the
next moment. You never know whether you’ll take
the next breath or blink your eyes the next microsec-
ond. So, I stopped wasting time asking “why me?”
or mulling over the future. If God closes one door,
He opens many others. I had to have faith in Him, in
myself, and in all those who prayed for me all day, all
night.My mother assured me that nothing was going
to happen and that I would live a healthy life once
again. I believed her. I told myself that one could be-
come lethargic and sick even with a simple flu or viral.
Cancer is no different and chemo is just a medicine
with some brutal side effects that won’t last for long.
My family became the purpose of my existence and I
decided to truly live each moment spent with them.
The “WHY ME?” had turned into a positive “TRY ME!”.
I undertook a series of 9 chemotherapies and 4 major
surgeries; it wasn’t easy for me to leave my 4 and 1
year old at home. I used to stay at the hospital for 7
days for every single chemo, while my husband took
care of our home, our babies, their school and his
work. I still remember the day after my 5thchemo,
when I was at the hospital waiting for the devil drug
to get out of my system. I came to know that my
younger daughter was not well and was missing me.
I had a fight with the doctor to discharge me in any
case when the risk was that I might lose a kidney or it
could result in heart failure. But the mother inside of
me was so determined to be with her child that I took
the risk and went against medical advice. By the Grace
of God nothing happened.
I passed 6 chemotherapies with all the positivity of
the world. I was bent on giving my children as normal
a childhood as possible so after each trip to the hospi-
tal followed excursions to the parks, shopping sprees
and long drives. I used to cover my head 24/7. I never
even let my husband see my baldhead - not because I
looked bad but because I didn’t want to look different.
Being a woman worked out for me at this point as I
could play around with scarves, wigs and makeup.
But after the 6thchemo the big surgery was planned.
The plan was to shrink the tumor with the chemo and
then remove it. As I was told later, during the 9 hours
long surgery they opened my leg from knee to the an-
kle, took my right shin bone out and auto-calved it in
a machine that removed the tumor, and again set my
own bone back and attached it with metal supports. I
stayed in that plaster (don’t know why its referred as
‘of Paris’, when I get better I will go to Paris to find out
who invented it!) for two months. Doctors removed
my tumor a 100%. So the real mission for me after
that was to stand on my feet and walk again without
any support.
I became quite a pro at
wearing scarves so that
my family would find
nothing out of the ordinary
The plaster of Paris
that encased my leg
for two months after
my surgery
My husband never treated me like a sick person. He kept me busy
with activities that I enjoyed

6. Post surgery too was very painful, so much so that I
was on painkillers for 3 months. I was bed ridden for
a while after the surgery and then had to move on
a wheel chair. I went from wheel chair to walker to
crutches to finally a walking stick. I cannot explain the
feeling of helplessness when it took me 20 minutes
to cover a distance that took others only 5 minutes.
But I kept a smile on my face at all times, especially
for my family who were very patient throughout my
treatment.
Before the doctors could remove the plaster, my on-
cologist started the post chemo. My increased de-
pendency due to my inability to walk made these
sessions even worse.But I kept telling myself that this
time too shall pass and finally the day came when I
said good-bye to the oncology ward and the entire
patient nursing staff over there (who suffered through
my tantrums). The sky was new to me that day. I felt
alive. No more chemotherapy meant the world to me.
I could finally stay at home with my husband and
kids.
Today it’s been almost a year since I started my path
to recover. I’m lying in the hospital again but this time
for my knee grafting surgery that will make sure that
I can walk in the future again like a normal person. I
go through each day with renewed vigor to make the
most of this second gift of life. I wanted to share my
story so that one day, if any other woman, God forbid,
has to face this challenge, she can say: “If Momina, a
mother of two can do it, I can do it too!”.
Its not what you see, its about how you think. The way
you think makes your life better. I could have spent
these 11 months crying and making other people sick
of me, but I chose to stay happy. I started driving be-
fore I could walk! Robin Roberts rightly said that “It’s
about focusing on the fight and not the fright.”.
My kids and husband are my strength in life. I am a
survivor and even with all the limping while walking
and scars of pain, I live with pride that I’m a warrior
and I won the battle against cancer. Life is a test; if
you take it head-on you will succeed but if you get
scared even before taking the challenge, you will defi-
nitely fall. So be strong and remember that positivity
fights Cancer!
P.S. Baba and bhaiyas I did not mention you in the
story, as I know you’d start crying half way through.
On the road to recovery
My husband - a better mother to our kids during my treatment
Me trying out a wig after
my chemo session
3

7. Burn injuries constitute one of the commonest caus-
es of childhood afflictions in developing societies like
ours. Owing to the recognized limitations of our living
standards, we have a higher incidence of more serious
burns. Globally speaking, following road traffic acci-
dents, burns are the second most common cause of
accidental deaths in children under 5 years of age and
the commonest cause of accidental deaths at home.
Burns have long-term physical and psychosocial ram-
ifications among the surviving children.
While children should be encouraged to grow to their
full potential, we have to strike a balance between
their liberty and safety. Children are not young adults.
They neither have an understanding of risky environ-
ments nor can they manage to escape from hazardous
situations. Their much thinner skin is burnt quickly
and more severely with a given amount of heat, which
may not harm an adult otherwise. Their natural in-
quisitiveness and tendency to learn about things by
touching or putting them in their mouth makes them
more prone to sustain all kinds of burns. As these
injuries stem largely from avoidable causes, parental
supervision has a crucial role in their prevention.
What are the common types and causes of burn
injuries in children?
Most of the ordinary things at home, ranging from
hot beverages to hot bathwater and electric heaters
constitute the usual sources of childhood burns. The
various types and causes of burn injuries are summa-
rized below:
• Scalds are caused by contact with hot liquids,
steam or grease. These account for up to 80% of
burns in children.
• Flame burns are caused by the flame of fire.
• Electrical burns result from contact with electric
current emanating from electrical outlets, live
cords, wires or other electric equipment.
• Contact burns result from contact with hot heater,
iron etc.
• Acids, alkalis and other hazardous chemicals
Burn InjuriesAmongst Children
Proactive role of parents is crucial for prevention of
burn injuries
-
is an Assistant
Professor at the
Department of Plastic
Surgery and Burns
Centre in Pakistan
Institute of Medical
Sciences (PIMS),
Islamabad. Dr. Saaiq
is a prolific research
er with over 50
publications.
is a Postgraduate
Resident at the
Mother and Child
Health (MCH) Centre
in Pakistan Institute
of Medical Sciences
(PIMS), Islamabad.
Dr. Bushra has been
a part of several
research pursuits on
maternal and child
health.
Keep children away from electric outlets
By: Dr. Muhammad
Saaiq
By: Dr. Bushra Ashraf
(Islamabad)(Islamabad)
4

8. cause chemical burns.
• Less common types of burns include sunburns.
What is meant by the degree of burn injury?
The depth to which burn injury damages the skin and
underlying tissues determines the degree of burn.
Generally there are three degrees of burns:
• First Degree burns: The burn injury has damaged
only the surface layer of skin i.e. epidermis. The
affected skin is red, dry, painful and tender. These
wounds heal spontaneously in a few days with-
out scarring. Sunburns are an example.
• Second Degree burns: Here the burn has dam-
aged not only the epidermis but also the deeper
layer “dermis” to a variable extent. These could
be superficial or deep, depending on the thick-
ness of the dermis affected. The superficial ones
are usually characterized by blisters and heal in
2-3 weeks time without surgery. The deep ones
however follow a variable course and need more
aggressive management. Any wound that fails to
heal within three weeks is best managed surgical-
ly. Scalds are usually second-degree burns. These
are the most painful burns.
• Third Degree burns: Here the burn has damaged
full thickness of skin (i.e. entire epidermis and
dermis). The burnt skin may display a plethora of
colours such as leathery black, white or yellow.
Flame burns are often of this variety. These are
managed surgically with excision and skin graft-
ing.
What precautionary measures help prevent burn
injuries at home?
• The kitchen at home is the most common site
where a child can acquire scalds and contact/
flame burns. It is best to keep the kitchen a no-
kid-zone in the house. If it is inevitable to keep
the child there, then his full time supervision is
imperative. The stove, heater, microwave oven,
hot foods, and boiled liquids should all be kept
at an inaccessible distance from the child. It is
particularly important to avoid placing hot foods
and liquids on table edges or counters as children
often pull down the tablecloth and tend to spill
the hot foods and beverages onto their body. The
tea filled cups and water buckets should be kept
out of reach of the child as younger children tend
to immerse their hands into these and sustain
immersion scalds. One must avoid drinking or
carrying hot beverages while holding a child as it
may result in spillage scalds.
• Bathroom is another potential injury acquiring
zone for the child where constant supervision
is mandatory. Testing the temperature of heated
water before placing the child in the bathtub pre-
vents tap water scalds. Hot water utensils should
also not be left lying around in order to avoid
children from coming in contact with them.
• Children should not be allowed to crawl around
space heaters, hot iron, hot hair dryers, running
machines, generators and other such electronics.
Avoid using exposed extension cords and wires,
as the child tends to put them in the mouth and
chew them. Keep children away from electric out-
lets as they tend to insert fingers or metal objects
such as spoon and fork into it and sustain electri-
cal burns.
• Matches, lighters, cleaner sweeps and acids
should be locked away from children. They should
be taught that these are not toys to play with.
What precautionary measures help prevent burn
injuries when the child is outdoors particularly at
school?
• Educate the child to refrain from playing with
matches, firecrackers or getting near electric
wires, transformers etc.
• Teach the child what to do if his or her clothes
catch fire accidentally. The stop, drop and roll on
ground rule must be taught to every child. Fire
drills are an effective way to train the children for
such accidents.
• Sunscreens are advisable for those children who
tend to develop sunburns while playing in the
sun.
What first aid measures can be instituted at home
in case of accidental burns to children?
• Stop the burning process and limit the damage
by immediately taking the child to a safe place.
Water is the best antidote to burns; cool the burnt
area under running water for 20-30 minutes while
comfortably holding the child. This prevents fur-
ther tissue injury and relieves the pain as well.
Take off all the clothing if not firmly adherent to
the body. Gently remove any jewelry and cover
the burn with a clean wet cloth.
• It is best to consult a doctor or a specialist even
in case of minor burns. If the burns are extensive,
or involve critical areas such as face, hands, feet,
airway or genitals, it is prudent to shift the child
to a hospital immediately. Avoid applying noxious
substances such as mud, oil, ghee, lotions, ice,
iced water or powders to the burn. Also, DO NOT
remove with force any clothing, which is firmly
stuck to the burn.
5

9. As a parent of a child with Down syndrome and an
extensive optical background, I think I took for grant-
ed that everyone knew what I knew about vision
and glasses. However, once I started my company
(Specs4Us) and began exhibiting all around the world,
I noticed that the questions parents kept asking were
all the same. “How can they examine my child’s eye
when they can’t speak?” “How do I get them to wear
glasses?” and many, many more. And the questions
kept repeating themselves.
Many parents do not realize that babies can see right
after birth, although they do not see as clearly as
adults. Vision develops and improves as the brain de-
velops over the first ten years of life. The brain and
eyes work equally in providing vision.Newborns are
examined soon after birth as a screening for infections
and structural problems with the eyes. A second ex-
amination for an infant with special needs is advised
within the first six month. Research states that 75%
- 87% of children with Down syndrome usually need
glasses by preschool.
Most young children or individuals with special needs
do not complain about their eye problems, either be-
cause they do not notice them or because they do not
know how to express them. This is why yearly exam-
ination is advised. As a parent, you best know your
son or daughter and should watch for signs including
squinting, closing one eye shut, unusual tilting of the
head, crossing or wondering of one eye or both as
well assensitivity to light. All children before entering
Vision
Awarenessfor
Parents and GuardiansAmongst Childre
How to address your child’s eyesight problem
Maria Dellapina, mother of four, is the founder of Specs4Us. Her youngest daughter has Downsyndrome. Maria has over 30 years
of experience in the optical field.Maria has been speaking about vision awareness to educate parents about eyewear. She was
awarded the“2010 Winner of the President Award” by the Nation Down syndrome Congress, and has been listed as one of the
Most Influential Women of 2013 by an optical magazine.
By: Maria Dellapina
(Burton)
6

10. school should get a full eye exam, not just a screening
from the pediatrician or school.
The five most common vision problems are:
1. Refractive error (which is an error in the focusing
of light by the eye and a frequent reason for re-
duced visual acuity.)
2. Accommodations (cannot focus correctly)
3. Tear duct abnormalities
4. Astigmatism
5. Strabismus or squinting
Keep in mind that not every optometrist or ophthalmol-
ogist is right for your child. Take the time to find out if
they see many children and if you do have a child with
“special needs”. Also try and get referrals from other par-
ents. Parents love to share any experience they have had
concerning their children, be it good or bad. Don’t be
afraid to ask any questions you may have, there is nev-
er a dumb question. Sometimes your child can have a
visual problem that does not require glasses to correct.
The signs of a vision problem may not be ones you can
detect by seeing; they could entail headaches, may have
problems in getting schoolwork completed or have the
lack of desire to read.
If glasses are prescribed, finding the best pair along with
getting the child to wear them is always a concern for
parents. Choosing the correct frame and type of lens can
make all the difference. Opticians are not always going
to give you all the choices. Once again, ask other parents
what their son/daughter is wearing. As far as lens choices
for children, you should always go with the polycarbonate
ortrivex lenses because they are the most shatter resist-
ant and hold up well against scratching. The fit of the
frame is one of the most important things to watch out
for in picking the correct frame. You should make the
choice of what other “add on” to consider. There are lens-
es with anti-reflective coatings or lenses that change into
sunglasses when you go outside. Both can be nice but are
an extra cost.Try to avoid paying extra for a “warranty”
on glasses, since almost all frame and lens companies
provide defective warranties. Be sure to ask if there is any
coverage against “accidental” breakage.
If your child needs glasses, many parents ask, “How will
I get my child to wear them?”There are many reasons
why your son/daughter will not keep his/her glasses on.
Balance and comfort are a key issue.Just like the pair of
shoes that seem very comfortable in the store but turn
out to be most uncomfortable at home, a pair of glasses
can also feel uncomfortable at home. But unlike the pair
of shoes, glasses cannot be returned. Hence, due consid-
eration should be given while selecting the perfect pair
of glasses. Keep the experience positive for your child,
lettinghim/her in on the decision making, such as picking
out the color.If the child helped pick out the glasses, he
or she will be more willing to wear them.
Eye exams can take a long time. If the child seems too
tired after the exam or is being restless, think about going
back and visiting the optician at another time when the
child will be more cooperative. This will result in a posi-
tive experience for both parent and child. While wearing
the glasses, the child’s eyes should be centered in the
eyewire of the frame. The frame should fit well on either
side of the nose and not hang way down on the cheeks.
Remember the frames will weigh more once the lenses
are in.
Routine will also play a role. Children should be intro-
duced to wearing their glasses as soon as they wake
up in the morning. The eye and brain is refreshed from
sleeping and will adjust easily to the Rx in the glasses
first thing in the morning. Putting a new Rx later on dur-
ing the day will only confuse the brain. Once routine is
established it will be the first thing the child reaches for
as they get up in the morning. Some parents would tell
me that their doctor told them to try and get their child
to at least wear the glasses to school. I respond by asking
the parents what their child does at school that he/she
doesn’t do at home. All activities involve sight and hence,
if the glasses are needed in school they are needed at all
times. However, if the glasses are prescribed for reading
only, then a bifocal lens is more appropriate; that way the
child does not need to take them on and off all day.
In conclusion, review any questions you may have be-
fore you visit the doctor so you don’t forget to ask them.
Watch for signs in your child for possible vision changes
and don’t wait to address them. Remember Helen Keller
said “Never bend your head, hold it high. Look the world
straight in the eye”.
Make sure your child is not restless during the eye exam
7

11. We are given much information and hear conflicting
opinions on child development and how best to raise
a child. Members of a family may disagree about this
quite strongly and parents can become confused about
what to do for the best. In this article, I will outline
some points for consideration, written from my per-
spective as a child development expert, parent and
grandparent.
I am often asked to provide individual support for par-
ents whose child is not failing in school, but is not
reaching expectations. These are often children who ap-
pear bright, and whose parents have no reason to ex-
pect that there will be learning weaknesses. However,
in terms of early classroom success, these pupils can
start to lag behind and begin to lose confidence as their
teachers complain about their organization, handwrit-
HelpingYour
Child be a
Better Student
Mary Mountstephen is a child development specialist in the
field of learning differences and maximizing learning poten-
tial. She is the author of several books and many articles
for journals in the U.K. Mary also gives presentations and
workshops internationally and carries out 1:1 assessments.
She is also a former head teacher and has worked in primary,
special and independent schools.
How Can I Improve My Child’s Chances of Succeeding in
School?
Play games with your child
By: Mary Mountstephen
(London)
8

12. ing, spelling progress and lack of concentration.
I founded KidsCanSucceed to help children, families,
schools and professionals working with children need-
ing extra guidance and support to make the best of
their talents. Currently this is provided in several coun-
tries internationally. There are a number of ways in
which we work. Programmes can be provided which are
used by the parent or other adult in the home. These
focus on fun activities, some of which are detailed be-
low. We also provide support and training for schools so
that they can recognize earlier on when a bright pupil
needs some extra support in order for them to be able
to reach their potential and be a successful student. We
work with many professionals and refer children on to
the appropriate agency when necessary.
In this article I would like to raise some preliminary
points about the ways in which parents’ awareness of
their child’s strengths and weaknesses can be raised.
I will provide some tips and strategies to maximize
learning potential and, in future articles, I will explore
more specific issues such as concentration, focus, per-
sistence and resilience.
Not all children will benefit significantly from the ap-
proaches outlined here, but many have done so.
• Can early experiences affect a child’s ability and
readiness to learn?
• Can I do anything at home to help a child be more
ready to start school?
• What are some common signs of ‘hidden’ learn-
ing differences?
Can early experiences affect a child’s ability and
readiness to learn?
All parents want the best for their child and are rooting
for them to do well. This is particularly important these
days when the competition for good careers is increas-
ing and academic performance is measured by results.
What is not as well recognized is that children need a
dose of physical exercise in addition to academic ex-
ercises. They need to be ready to sit and listen and
concentrate. If they are not ready physically and devel-
opmentally to do this, they are likely to fall behind in
their studies and lose confidence in themselves.
We need to recognize that some children find it difficult
to sit still; they have a constant need to wriggle and
move around. Other children will find it hard to follow
instructions or to concentrate on what they are being
asked to do because their senses are overwhelming
them with too much information.
Research is telling us, that these children are not al-
ways being naughty; they need more physical exercises
Encourage your child to indulge in physical activities
9

13. to get them ready to cope effectively in the classroom.
Sometimes these children seem to be a little slower
than their peers at reaching developmental milestones
such as crawling, walking and talking and there is much
that can be done to help them with these skills.
In many schools, a programme called Move to Learn is
used which supports teachers to provide a daily move-
ment programme for all children in the class. Whereas
parents my wonder how simple, basic floor exercises
can help a child learn better, research is showing that
this can be highly beneficial for many children, even
those whose progress is satisfactory. The programme
can be carried out without any equipment and takes
about 15 minutes maximum a day to complete. The
whole programme can take up to a year to complete,
but improvements begin showing in some children
from early on as they enjoy the fun exercises.
TIPS
Provide lots of physical activities such as climbing,
rolling, crawling and hopping for several short pe-
riods (10 minutes) a day. Use open spaces and be
inventive in providing opportunities to pull, push,
spin and explore.
Can I do anything at home to help a child be
more ready to start school?
In addition to the physical ideas suggested above,
observe the ways in which your children socialize
with other children and how well they pay atten-
tion to instructions and follow directions. Children
need to be able to relate to others, to understand
how other people are feeling and know how to
respond if they are to be successful learners.
TIPS
Play lots of games with your child, taking turns
and being polite. Explain how to behave with oth-
er children and teach them the skill of listening.
Say their name to attract their attention before
you give them instructions. Encourage them to be
independent in skills such as getting dressed and
eating.
Use the checklist below to identify areas where
you can build up better performance through fun
activities, which will then create better classroom
performance. The use of stickers or rewards works
well for some children!
Some Common Signs Which May Indicate Learning De-
lays or Difficulties
NOTE: Do not be alarmed if a young child under the age
of seven seems to have a number of these signs. Some
children can be a little slower than others to reach ex-
pected levels of attainment, just as some can be ahead
of others.
There will however be some children who will benefit
from extra support and who may need a professional
assessment at some stage.
• Inconsistent performance: sometimes cannot re-
member the names of common objects
• Difficulty learning nursery rhymes or songs: easily
confused
• Jumbles up words and phrases: Gets words mud-
dled although often seems very bright verbally
• May have walked early, but did not crawl
• May have had frequent ear infections which have
affected the ability to discriminate sounds accu-
rately
• Difficulty clapping rhythms, motor coordination
skills
• Difficulty following instructions
• Difficulty getting dressed and putting shoes on
correct feet
• Reversal of letters and numbers when copying
These signs are often seen as consistent with a profile
of learning differences; however, through early inter-
vention, much improvement can be made. This I why
I recommend a physical approach to learning initially,
as much good can be done and self-confidence and
success developed as the child lays down firmer foun-
dations for effective classroom functioning and perfor-
mance.
By being a proactive parent and building in the experi-
ences and activities suggested in this article, you begin
to provide a strong and stable platform for successful
learning in the classroom.
Some children find it difficult to follow instructions
and concentrate
10

14. Smoking:
Haram
ForSure
The Truth About The Place of Smoking in Islam
Subhaan Allah we live in a time when good is mixed with
bad, evil is everywhere and temptations surround us day
and night. Knowledge is for the fortunate few and igno-
rance is rampant. At times like these, there is also confu-
sion...confusion about our deen, confusion about what is
right and what is wrong, confusion about halal and haram.
And so it is vital that the correct knowledge be spread so
that confusions are dispelled and the truth becomes clear.
One such issue that needs clarification is the issue of
smoking.So what does our deen say about smoking?You
may hear people telling you that its not so bad or at most
it is ‘makrooh’. But the fact of the matter is that smok-
ing is absolutely haram. It is prohibited on account of the
harm that it causes to one’s religion, well being and fi-
nances. Here are the proofs.
Allah has prohibited all harmful things.
Allah subhaanahu wa Ta’ala has divided things in this
dunya into two types, good or permissible and evil or pro-
hibited, and there is no third type. And out of His Infinite
Mercy, Allah has prohibited anything and everything that
is khabeeth (evil) and causes harm. It is clear and bright
as day, and there is no doubt in any sane person’s mind
that cigarette smoking is bad for you.
Allah says:
“And He makes good things halal for them and bad
things haram.” Surat al-A’raaf (7:157)
And in the Sunnah we see that any kind of harm is com-
pletely prohibited. The Prophet (sal Allahu Alayhi wa sal-
lam) said:
“There is not to be any causing of harm nor is there
to be any reciprocating of harm.” (Ibn Majah--hasan)
You are not allowed to kill yourself.
Allah says:
“And do not kill yourselves. Allah is the Most Merciful
to you.” Surat an- Nisaa (4:29)
There is proof beyond doubt that smoking is a slow killer.
It is one of the major causes of death.
Smoking is committing suicide.
One cigarette will not kill you right then and there but it is
a gradual poison that we put in our body. It is as if you are
committing a slow suicide. According to a research done
by the University of California:
By: Asma bint Shameem (Houston)
11
Asma bint Shameem is a medical
doctor as well as a haafidha of
the Quran. Asma is a freelance
writer and regularly writes arti-
cles about everyday issues from
an Islamic point of view. Her
articles have been published in
various newspapers, magazines,
and are regularly posted on vari-
ous websites and blogs.

15. “Every cigarette a man smokes reduces his life by 11
minutes. Each carton of cigarettes thus represents a
day and a half of lost life. Every year a man smokes a
pack a day, he shortens his life by almost 2 months.”
{University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter,
April 2000}
Subhaan Allah! If that isn’t that suicide, then what is?
Do you know what the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa sal-
lam) said about the one who commits suicide?
“Whoever purposely throws himself from a mountain
and kills himself, will be in Hellfire falling down into it
and abiding therein perpetually forever; and whoever
drinks poison and kills himself with it, he will be car-
rying his poison in his hand and drinking it in the Fire
wherein he will abide eternally forever; and whoever
kills himself with an iron weapon, will be carrying
that weapon in his hand and stabbing his abdomen
with it in the Fire wherein he will abide eternally for-
ever.” (Bukhaari)
Imagine! A person who dies because of smoking, carrying
his cigarette in his hand and smoking it in the Hell fire!Yaa
Allah, protect us!
You body is an ‘Amaanah’.
The Prophet (sal Allahu Alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Your body has a right on you.” (Bukhaari)
This body that we have, this health that we enjoy is an
irreplaceable blessing from Allah. We are supposed to take
care of it and we will be asked by Allah about this ‘amaan-
ah’ that He has bestowed on us, on the Day of Judgment.
The Prophet (sal Allahu Alayhi wa sallam) said:
“A person will not be able to move on the Day of
Judgment until he is asked about ... his body as to
what he engaged it in.” (Tirmidhi--saheeh)
All physicians agree it is extremely harmful.
Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and wreaks
havoc on a person’s overall health. There is no disagree-
ment among the physicians that smoking is one of the
major causes of multiple types of cancer, heart diseases,
strokes, pulmonary diseases, hip fractures, cataracts, pre-
mature births, birth defects, premature deaths and many,
many other diseases. Just search about it and the list of
diseases caused by smoking is pretty long! May Allah pro-
tect us.
If we get sick, we take rest, we take medicine, we go to
the doctor. Then why is it that when it comes to smoking,
some of us totally ignore what the doctors are saying? Why
do we disregard all the evidence and all medical data and
act as if none of the scientific proofs exist?It is so strange
that even intelligent people, educated people, people who
call themselves ‘civilized and smart’, continue to smoke,
even though they know of its irreparable harm and are
aware of the detrimental effects on health, mind and body!
Smoking is addictive.
Smokers are addicts, addicted to smoking and any kind of
addiction is haram. Not only does smoking cause chemical
dependence, it is a reason for psychological dependence
as well. People who smoke are so dependent on their
smoking that they cannot stay away from it, even if they
want to.
During Ramadan, you see these smokers wanting, wishing,
craving their cigarettes and that ‘nicotine rush’ so much
so that it makes them extremely irritable, cranky, jittery
and short tempered. Sometimes, it is so difficult for them
to stay away from their evil habit that they even smoke
while they are ‘fasting’, although it is clearly forbidden!
Some people even smoke while in Ihram during Hajj, the
journey of a lifetime!!
What kind of evil is this that it takes you away even from
fulfilling a farz such as fasting? Or away from Hajj, when
you are the guest of Allah? Just think about it. Disobeying
the Very One Who invited you to His House and honored
you? Surely it is a loss indeed.
It is a tremendous waste of money.
Smoking costs money as well as your health. Statistics
show that at today’s prices, if a person smokes one pack
of cigarettes each day for ten years, he’ll spend over
$58,000 – easily enough to buy a new car! Imagine all that
hard-earned money going up in smoke!
Smoking is also a form of extravagance and wasting mon-
ey. Extravagance in Islammeans spending on something
haram. Allah is clearly telling us NOT to waste money.
“And eat and drink, and do not waste. He does not
love the wasteful.” Surat al-Aaraf (7:31)
In fact, the ones who are extravagant and squander mon-
ey, Allah calls them ‘brothers of Shayaateen’! Subhaan
Allah! Just imagine! What kind of position does such a
person have with Allah?
“… and do not be extravagant wasters. Those who are
extravagant are brothers of the Shayaateen (devils).”
Surat al-Israa (17:26-27)
We will be asked about the money we spent on
smoking.
12

16. We will be asked about the money that we earned and
how we spent it. The Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa sallam)
said:
“The two feet of the son of Adam will not move from
near his Lord on the day of Judgement until he is
asked about five (matters) about his life - how he
spent it; about his youth - how he took care of it;
about his wealth - how he earned it; and where he
spent it and about that which he acted upon from
the knowledge he acquired.” ( Tirmidhi, Saheeh)
How will we be able to answer Allah regarding smoking?
What will we say? How would we be able to justify our-
selves and our actions?
How could you kill your own loved ones?
Those around the smoker inhale what is known as “sec-
ond-hand smoke” - the unfiltered, poisonous waste that
goes in the air around the smoker. Would we want to
harm the ones we love- our very own parents, spouses,
children, friends? Of course not. In act we do everything
we can to protect them. Then why would someone who
smokes expose his little daughter or son, his spouse, his
family to the harms of second-hand smoking?
Studies show that tobacco smoke (that a smoker would
blow out) contains more than 7,000 chemical compounds.
More than 250 of these chemicals are known to be harm-
ful, and at least 69 are known to cause cancer!
Let me ask you this? Would you want to kill the very ones
you love?
How will you answer Allah for the harm you caused them?
Allah says:
“Those who cause harm to believing men and women
without any reason do a great sin.” Surat al-Ahzaab (33:58)
It’s repulsive and nasty to all- humans, angels and even
Allah Himself.
The nasty smell of smoke that permeates the clothes, the
breath, the skin and even the hair of the smoker is ugly
and repulsive. It just becomes part of the smoker. Even if
he tries to wash it away, he cannot. Everywhere he goes,
the stink goes with him and nauseates everyone around
him. And if a smoker goes to the masjid, the overpower-
ing stink sickens everyone and takes away the khushboo’
of many around him. Subhaan Allah! If the Prophet (sal
Allahu alayhi wa sallam) forbade eating garlic and onions
before someone goes to the masjid, what about the strong
overwhelming stink of smoke?!
The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Whoever causes distress to a Muslim has caused me dis-
tress, and whoever causes me distress has caused dis-
tress to Allah.” (Tabaraani, Hasan)
Read that hadeeth again.
Just think about it. Causing distress to the Prophet (sal
Allahu alayhi wa sallam) and distress to Allah?!!
That smell is so bad that even the angels can’t bear it and
depart. How can I say that?
The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“The angels are irritated by whatever the humans are irri-
tated by.” (Bukhaari, Muslim)
Smoking sets a bad example for others.
In the end, if all these proofs aren’t enough, what kind of
an example do you want to set for your kids? Do you want
them to become smokers just like you? Do you want to
see them hurt their health, their Imaan, their families? A
child will usually follow the example of his father or moth-
er. They are his ‘role models’. He looks up to them and
wants to be ‘like them’. The responsibility of upbringing a
child is a HUGE one. It is put upon us by Allah Subhaanahu
wa Ta’ala and He will ask us about it.
The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is re-
sponsible for his flock. The ruler of the people is a
shepherd and is responsible for his flock. A man is
the shepherd of his household and is responsible for
his flock. A woman is the shepherd of her husband’s
house and children and is responsible for her flock.
The slave is the shepherd of his master’s wealth and
is responsible for it. Each of you is a shepherd and
each of you is responsible for his flock.” (Bukhaari,
Muslim)
And he (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“There is no slave to whom Allah has entrusted the care
of people, and he dies neglecting his flock, but Allah will
forbid Paradise to him.” (Bukhaari, Muslim)
May Allah protect us and our families from the evils of
smoking and everything else that is haram. Ameen.
13

17. The
JourneyWithin
The story of a Pakistani
graduate studying Religious
Studies in the US
The author is a Fulbright Scholar
at the Divinity School at the Uni-
versity of Chicago. She is pursu-
ing Masters in Religious Studies
and has an interest in Compara-
tive Religion. She graduated from
LUMS in 2011 and has previously
taught Philosophy at Internation-
al Islamic University, Pakistan.
While sitting in the hall of the third floor of the
University of Chicago, I heard the Dean of the
Divinity School, Margaret Mitchellbegin her
speech “People might ask you, why in the world would
you want to study religion?” I was at the orientation
ceremony at the Divinity School, where I had been ad-
mitted as a Fulbright Scholar for the Master’s program
in Religious Studies. Her comment made me think about
the looks of surprise, amazement, intrigue and interest
when I informed friends in Pakistan about my plans for
graduate study in Religion. Graduating from LUMS with
a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences and a concentra-
tion in Philosophy, my interest towards religious stud-
ies was not unexpected. I had been exposed to several
thinkers like Allama Iqbal, al-Ghazali and ibn-Tufayl and
had studied Islamic history including that of the Otto-
mans and al-Andalus which developed my interest in
Islamic thought and gave me access to an alternative
narrative to which I had not been exposedearlier.
Embarking on a two-year long journey to Chicago, where
I had no friends or family was an exciting prospect for
me. I decided to stay at the International House which
housed around 500 international students from more
than 50 countries from all over the world. It is here that
I would meet friends from diverse religious and cultur-
al backgrounds, have intense discussions over dinner,
watch the U.S. presidential debates, get serenaded by
students playing the piano, and enjoy exotic cuisines. I
settled in quickly and made many friends over the so-
cial hours and cultural programs which were a regular
feature at the International House.
The first couple of weeks were spent in observing the
By: Haniya Yameen
(Chicago)
The University
14

18. subtle cultural differences.
I marveled at every car that
stopped and gave passage to
pedestrians and cyclists; admired
the honesty and integrity of cashiers
when I received back change-down to
the very cent; appreciated the queue cul-
ture; and enjoyed the greetings and smiles
that passersby exchanged with each other. There
was a heightened sense of physical well-being, and la-
dies, men, and elderly would be seen jogging or walk-
ing during mornings and evenings. The work ethic, time
management and discipline of the people were extraor-
dinary.
The gothic architecture of the University of Chicago,
with its pointed arches, high ceilings and demonic gar-
goyles, seemed like a scene out of the Harry Potter
movie. Established in 1890 by philanthropist John D.
Rockefeller, University of Chicago emulated the goth-
ic architecture of University of Oxford, an 11th centu-
ry institution, to evade its fairly recent 19th century
establishment. Its beautiful architecture invites many
tourists from all over the world and many newly mar-
ried couples can be spotted clicking away their wed-
ding photographs in tuxedos and wedding gowns in the
sprawling grounds.
While the campus is in the South Side of Chicago, stu-
dents often head downtown to shop and enjoy activities.
It was also here that parts of the Batman movie were
shot. Chicago’s downtown is a vibrant place, where one
can feel the energy and happiness in the surroundings.
Boasting of many restaurants, top brands, theatres, or-
chestras and cinemas, the city feels cosmopolitan. In
the evening, with the skyscrapers well lit besides the
Michigan Lake, downtown transforms into a magical
place with avid shoppers thronging the markets and
having a good time.
The academic program at the Divinity School has been
one of the most intellectually and emotionally chal-
lenging yet rewarding experiences of my life. With a
youthful camaraderie with the profes-
sors, the students are treated as
friends and future colleagues. The
class atmosphere is vibrant with
questions and comments and
there is no assumption or
belief that cannot be criti-
cally analyzed. It is this
honest and diligent
approach that is
the hallmark of
outstanding scholar-
ship, which gives future
scholars the intellectual liberty
to grow.
Studying with people from different reli-
gious backgrounds including Jews, Christians,
Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and atheists,
broadened my worldview, instilled in me a deeper re-
spect for humanity and gave me the strength to ex-
amine my own belief system in an honest way. With
the emerging debates about relevance of religion in the
world, where religion is seen more as a threat than as
a progressive force, it is important to honestly reflect
on these issues.
While I have been thoroughly engaged in the activities
of the university, memories of home and family were
never far away. Doing homework to Junoon and Vital
Signs songs playing on my laptop,and re-watching Pa-
kistani dramas such as Tanhaiyan and Dhoop Kinaray
on YouTube, I always felt culturally connected. Pictures
of loved ones placed on my side table reminded me
of the loving support back home. Technology played
a significant role in bridging the geographical gap.On
weekends I would skype with my parents updating
them about activities during the week and remained
connected with siblings and friends via whatsapp and
Facebook. Much to the surprise of my family, I learned
how to cook, and once in a while, friends and I would
head to the famous Devon Street and have buffet at
the Usmania restaurant and get a glimpse of Indian and
Pakistani people decked up in desi clothes.
Moving far away from home also gave me a chance to
positively reflect on the life in Pakistan. I realized while
U.S. had its charms and opportunities, every society,
like Pakistan, was struggling with its own problems. I
remember being shocked when I first saw a beggar in
Chicago. Over the next few months, sights of people
begging, drug addicts, and homeless people became a
regular feature, and the extent of the capitalist crunch
became obvious. The crime rate in Chicago is one of
the highest in the U.S., and thefts in the South Side,
where the campus of University of Chicago is located,
With my new friends
Festival of Nations at the International House, University
of Chicago- Photo Credits Andy Cheng
15

19. are not uncommon. Just couple of blocks away from
campus, the area is home to one of the most econom-
ically deprived black community where gang violence
is a frequent occurrence. Thus despite being the su-
per power of the world, the U.S. society is riddled with
many serious problems, a glimpse of which Pakistanis
are not exposed to.
With a few more months left till I finish my degree, my
time in Chicago has been truly enriching. I am keen to
share with my fellow Pakistanis the intellectual and cul-
tural insights that I have gained during my stay.As I will
soon be packing my bags for home, leaving many fond
memories and friends behind, I am reminded of Allama
Iqbal’s verseswhich I thought of when I first stepped
into the Divinity School, and which also aptly summa-
rize my experience in the U.S.:
Snow in Chicago
16

20. My Child,
Let’s TalkOpen communication with your child
is essential for healthy development
of the baby
Anita Saleem has an MS/Mphil
degree in Clinical and Counseling
Psychology. She currently teaches
Psychology to undergraduates at
Forman Christian College and is a
feature writer for Pakistan Today.
The art of a conversation requires that both the in-
volved participants exchange a few words. However,
from a psychological perspective, merely exchanging
words is not enough!
In our entire lifetime we indulge in numerous dis-
cussions, some are an absolute delight while others
are such a waste of time. The most important dis-
cussions, however, remain the one between us and
our loved ones because wrapped within those words
are several underlying emotions. The very first ‘act
of hearing’ begins when a child is still developing
in the mother’s womb. Paul Madaule mentions in
his paper titled ‘When listening comes alive’ that an
unborn child hears a plethora of voices (heartbeat,
respiration and visceral noises of the mother’s body)
but the most important voice remains that of the
mother. The child yearns to hear the mother’s voice
and feels anxious/abandoned in the absence of this
voice. Madaule calls this an unborn child’s ‘quest
for dialogue’ with the mother and he asserts that
this becomes all the more important during the fifth
month of pregnancy when the baby’s inner ear and
its connection to the brain becomes functional. So
even as a child is developing, it needs to hear warm
and comforting voices from the environment (most
importantly from the mother and the father). It is
important to talk to the baby at this stage because
the child needs it.
As the baby is born, communication still remains an
important need. The very popular and controversial
psychologist Sigmund Freud emphasizes the impor-
tance of the first five years of a child’s development.
He holds that the initial years in an individual’s life
form their personality. Even the neo Freudian Erik
Erickson would agree with Freud as far as the im-
portance of childhood is concerned. In fact, Erickson
suggested psychosocial stages of development and
the very first stage (which lasts from infancy to 18
months) is basic trust vs. mistrust. So how can par-
ents develop a sense of trust in the child? Apart from
their actions (i.e. feeding the baby on time, holding
them close, hugging them and attending them as
soon as they cry) there is another thing that will help
establish the child’s trust – communicating with the
child. As the youngchild listens to his/her parents’
voice, he/she feels important, loved and secure.
When the child explicitly hears his/her parents say
‘I love you’, ‘well done my child’ and other positive
remarks, it boasts their self esteem and makes them
feel more confident about themselves.A study con-
ducted by Northwestern University also suggested
that talking to babies as young as 3 months old has
a positive impact on their cognitive development. So
the advantages of talking to you child are not just
limited to emotional advantages, but include giving
them a cognitive advantage as well.
As the child grows older, communication still remains
important. Communicatingopenly with the rowing
child remains an integral part of parenting. An open,
By: Anita Saleem
(Lahore)
The unborn child feels anxious and abandoned in the
absence of his mother’s voice
17

21. disclosive style is preferred over an interrogative and
high monitoring style. This is when the parent needs
to understand the child without judging them. It is
important that the parents give their children the
confidence that no matter what happens, the child
will be accepted as long as he/she is candid about
the whole situation. Trust building again remains ex-
tremely important. At this stage, it is not just talking
to the child that matters, but talking sensibly that
matters the most. Other than threatening the child,
reminding them that you are paying their bill and
telling them to fulfill their obligation is a bad idea.
Rather, softly correcting them, providing advice (but
not pushing them in a direction) is the most impor-
tant. Carl Rogers suggests thatunconditioned positive
regard (where the parents show acceptance towards
the child without putting any demands) coupled with
openness and empathy are the key ingredients to
raising healthy children.
So if you are a parent and wish to raise psycholog-
ically healthy children, talk to them! Do not judge
them or condemn them, rather make the time to
discuss their needs, to hear their viewpoint and see
where they stand. Above all, let them know that they
are loved and valued.
When a child hears his parents’ voice, he feels loved and secure
18

22. African Adventures
An Encounter with a Bull Elephant
As I recall it, it was a tranquil afternoon in the summer
of 1992. My family and I were on a boat cruise in Lake
Kariba, a manmade reservoir situated on the Zambezi
River. The lake borders Zimbabwe and Zambia and is
considered to be one of the largest and deepest reser-
voirs in the world. We were holidaying on the Zimba-
bwean side of the lake, which is part of a Recreational
Park and is home to protected species of wildlife.
This is a place that boasts of outstanding natural
beauty and exudes the true essence of Africa. It is no
wonder that the wildlife resort was thronged by visi-
tors from all over the world, who not only desired to
acquire a glimpse of unspoilt nature, but also consid-
ered the cruise to be no less than an obligatory Zim-
babwean ‘pilgrimage’. Courtesy of the cruise, the visi-
tors had the privilege of observing hippos, elephants,
lions and rhinos in their natural habitat. It is particu-
larly this symbiosis that still tends to fascinate man
and in the flurry of this excitement, one may become
completely oblivious of the consequences of what is
By: Javeriya Hasan
(Karachi)
Javeriya has a Masters degree in
Structural Steel Design and Sustain-
able Development from the Imperial
College London. She has an interest
in Energy Efficiency, Anthropology
and Green tea.
19

23. seemingly a normal act i.e. the taking of photographs.
The fact that elephants get irritated when exposed
to camera flashes is perhaps just short of being well
known. Furthermore, if the elephant in consideration
is a wild African Bull-Elephant, the chance of the irri-
tation subsiding quickly is rather a misnomer as was
in our case. An African Bull-Elephant is a male ele-
phant that can grow as tall as 12 feet (nearly double of
an average man’s height) and can weigh as much as
12,000lbs. During maturity, male African elephants ex-
perience a hormonal overload of testosterone, which
causes them to have a high affinity for aggression;
therefore, they are potentially dangerous when pro-
voked.
The unexpected occurred sometime in the late after-
noon as the boat cruise neared its end. We were una-
ware that the lake banks were thronged by elephants,
who like us had brought their families to cool-off in
the summer heat. My family and I slowly got off the
boat and moved uphill from the banks, all the while
discussing the afternoon’s sights and sounds. A few
over enthusiastic tourists were in awe of elephants
and decided to take advantage of this extraordinary
sight by bombarding them with an onslaught of cam-
era flashes. Upon realising that they had antagonised
them, they made a sprint uphill leaving unsuspecting
tourists like us with a situation that essentially put our
lives in jeopardy. The elephants’ intense disapproval
of such uncouth attention was reflected through their
agitated movements.
Subsequently, there was a strong deafening roar,
which is not quite the type of sounds they typically
make. This was more like the type they make in order
to ward off predators such as lions. Then, it started.
One of the elephants from the herd apparently volun-
teered to intervene and take to task the human beings
who had so stupidly insulted their dignity. And there
it was charging behind us with no intent for mercy- a
wild African Bull-Elephant. In all naivety, we were the
only family left behind to deal with the angry animal
and all we had at our disposal was prayers and God.
To add to our woes, the terrain was not very hospita-
ble for running around either.
My father and my younger sister, who seemed to have
played more sport in their lives raced ahead of my
mom and I, who were still struggling to move uphill.
This was not due to lack of stamina on our part but
was primarily due to the reason that my mom had to
literally tug me to keep me moving as I kept falling
down and slowing her pace. Earlier on, I had rebutted
my parents’ advice to wear sneakers for the day’s
cruise and the stubborn girl I was, had worn fancy
slippers instead. And now of course, I was reeling
with this regrettable decision as I lost my slippers in
the process and was bruised by thorns and rocks on
the way. Nevertheless, this sudden change of events
had put me more in shock than anything as I was still
coming to terms with why the elephant was running
after us in the first place. At one point, the distance
between the elephant and me would have been only
four feet.
My mother and I found it strange that the elephant
stopped charging after us after a while even though
there was adequate space for it to continue moving
on. Finally, we reached higher ground with everyone
applauding our escape from death, which in their an-
ticipation was very likely. (Elephants are very fond of
crushing people by their enormous feet, and statistics
are a testament of this).
I believe the male elephant charged merely to mani-
fest masculinity and to indicate to fellow herd mem-
bers that it can defend them against predators. This is
because, despite irritation to camera flashes, it is not
usual that all elephants react in this way. Another the-
ory concocted by my mother is that since elephants,
like human beings, are emotional creatures, seeing
a child who was crying and running away was not
exactly like their typical predator (if they have any
that is). Therefore, why waste the energy in pursuing
something that is harmless?
20

24. It was interesting to come across this terminology,
while attending a training of a community-based child
development program. It further became clearer while
studyingmy diploma course in Early Childhood Devel-
opment (ECD). Infact, to me, it fits as a concise but
complete explanation to why ECD is so important.
At birth a baby’s brain contains billions of cells called
neurons. Since then, these cells make connections.
Connections are made when a child thinks. Experienc-
es make children think. When a connection is used
repeatedly in the early years, it becomes permanent.
However, a connection that is used rarely, or not at all,
is unlikely to survive.
There is a strong linkage between the development
a child undergoes early in life and the level of suc-
cess that the child will experience later in life. For a
child that does not receive enough brain stimulation
(especially through parental interaction, attention, af-
fection, conversation etc.),the connections eventually
weaken and brain cells remain disconnected.
The hard, permanent wiring for each of the devel-
opment area (motor skills, language skills, social &
emotional well-being and intellectual capacity) can
develop optimally at variousages. Neuroscientists and
brain biologists label these periods as “Windows of
Opportunity”.
WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY
The Role Parents Can Play in Fostering Early Childhood Development
is an Early Childhood
Development prac-
titioner, working for
a school. She is a
trained volunteer for
a community-based
ECD program. Sunny-
ra has an advanced
diploma in human
development, spe-
cializing in ECD and
occasionally write on
ECD’s best practices
for magazines.
By: Sunnyra Ali
Odhwani (Karachi)
Reading is a wonderful way for parents and children to spend quality time together
21

25. Research tells that window of opportunity for motor
development begins before birth and closes around
the age of two. Similarly, the window of opportunity
for emotional and social attachment opens at birth
and closes around age two. The window of opportu-
nity for vocabulary opens around the age of 2 and
closes around age 6. These are,but a few examples
reflecting the significance of the early years of a chil-
dand why parents should utilize this window to boost
the holistic development of a child.
In my first article on ECD, I would like to emphasize the
role parents can play during the early years of a child.
Encourage Interaction
A child’s brain develops based on early experiences at home. The more interactions a child has,
the healthier his/her development will be.
Offer Physical Affection
Physical affection communicates love to young children, which in turn fosters positive emotional
growth.
Provide a Stable Relationship
Children who have a stable relationship with at-least one caregiver learn at a faster pace, feel
better about them-selves and make friends more easily.
Maintain a Safe, Healthy Home
Creating a safe and healthy home environment allows you to maximize your child’s growth with
minimal risk.
Develop Strong Self Esteem
A strong sense of self is the foundation for healthy development in young children.
Engage in Conversation
Communicating with your child not only shows love, but also encourages the development of his/
her speech patterns.
Make Music
Music offers children an outlet for expression and stimulates brain development in specific areas
including language and reasoning.
Make Reading a Priority
Reading with children demonstrates a love for books and learning, and is a wonderful way for
parents and children to spend quality time together.
Promote Play
Playing provides children with an outlet for imagination and creativity and fosters healthy brain
development.
Choose Quality Childcare
Since childcare settings can be a primary learning environment for children, the quality of the
childcare setting is very important.
1
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3
4
5
6
7
8
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The first 3 years of life are the most critical in terms of en-
couraging healthy development. It is important for parents
to start as soon as possible to build the foundation that will
help their children reach their full potential.The good news
is that what every child needs, every parent can give. If we
care for our children and give them what they need early in
life, their future will be full of possibilities. Happyparenting!
Conclusion
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26. It is more than just what people call you or the one word that you write more than any other.
Your name is you. It is the permanent imprint on your being. It is what makes you unique. When a name is
attached to you, special powers come into play and give form to the individual that is you. The responsibility
of naming a child should be taken lightly. Here are some names that we have specially collected, each with
meaningfull interpretation.
NAME NICHE:What is in a name?
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Alisha Dina
Iraj
Silah
Basim
Salik
Kaiser
NajbaMaram
Feroz
Muntasir Wahab
ArhamRabab
Protected by Allah
Sincere, Generous, Wise
Love
Of Noble LineageFlower
Connection
Emperor
Reasonable
Smiling
Ghania
Beautiful
Aspiration
Bright
GenerousSuccessful
MercifulWhite Cloud