Repelling Mosquitoes, But Naturally...

Global warming has affected universal weather patterns too. Winter season in Delhi, as a case in point has been squeezed to just a couple of months of late, while Summer season exists mostly for the rest of the period. On the other hand, mosquitoes and flies also have become stubborn too while their volumes have been increasing tremendously at an exponential pace. 

These days, finding a mosquito at even the most opulently maintained places should not come across as a surprise. The grave issue of protecting oneself from mosquitoes persists whether you are indoors or outdoors. Everyone needs to be sensitized towards mosquito control because it is important to safeguard ourselves from the harmful impact. 

Also, it becomes important to learn about some natural mosquito repellents and how helpful they are when it comes to safeguarding our families. While on an outdoor trip, if you carry a fabric roll-on, you can surely transform any ordinary trip into a stress-free experience as far as the menace of mosquitoes is concerned.  

Eucalyptus Oil is a tried and tested phenomenon that is quite helpful in this regard. The same is true for Citronella Oil. There are various reasons that make people prone to mosquito bites. It hardly matters whether you are relaxing, working, enjoying at home or are somewhere outside with friends, colleagues, or family members as a single mosquito bite can mar the whole momentum and zeal of enjoyment and togetherness in no time, and a small incident like that can, in fact, swing all the moods upside down. A minor carelessness can thus create a big nuisance that can enhance the after-effects to any extent. 

As a matter of fact, a small nuisance like a mosquito can annoy a lot. For the sake of everyone's health and happiness, safeguarding oneself from mosquitoes becomes a prime concern for one and all. Probably, in matters of health and well-being, you can't take things lightly. 

As we all know, citronella oil for mosquitoes is an effective formula. Similarly, eucalyptus oil for mosquitoes has also been in use even before these standard formulae were available as products in the market. It is always important to opt for a natural mosquito repellent than a chemically synthesized one to avoid any harmful side-effects of chemicals to our skin. Keeping the severity of the matter in mind, mosquito control has become one of the most important aspects of our life. 

Though our increasingly dynamic lifestyles and ever-engaging work environments do not allow us much time at hand to spend at leisure with family and friends on adventures while taking a hike, or even camping purposes, we still try to make some time for recreational activities to recall these moments of enjoyment and happiness spent with dear ones. 

That is the time it becomes important to protect our family members, especially the children, pregnant women, and elders from the riskful mosquito bite because, during these stages of life, the body requires more protection and has less resistance towards such dangers to health. That is why we must keep in our company the most suitable happiness and health protector that has been Good knight. :)

#TraditionalRecipes: It's Tea Time, Mama!

A startup By The Parents For The Parents which exists to solve seemingly little problems of young parents by providing certified toxin free, international standard products under the First MadeSafe Certified brand in Asia. That's what MamaEarth is all about.

MamaEarth is the brainchild of Ghazal and Varun who were, on the birth of their baby, bothered by the reality that due to lack of any regulations most products across categories available in India for babies were not safe.

With the aim of making products which are mum-baby friendly, toxin-free, meet stringent international standards, MamaEarth was born.

I was recently introduced to MamaEarth by a colleague who is a new mother and the fact that the brand has ventured into #TraditionalRecipes with the introduction of Herb Infused Teas and Apple Cider Vinegar.

All of the products introduced as 'Traditional Recipes' on the occasion of National Nutrition Week can be used by mothers (Mama's Milk Tea for lactating mothers) and all adults.

Herbal teas are a convenient way to up one's fluid intake and settle for some extra nutrients on the side. Herbal teas have become quite popular as their possession of medicinal benefits has come to light.

Make that 'Herbal Tea', in particular

Hence I decided to go ahead and try out the two Herb Infused Teas - namely Feel Better Tea and Stress Relief Tea - priced at an economical ₹599 each.

Both the teas are marketed in boxes containing 30 sachets of tea dips.

Also, there were some cautions before use mentioned on the lids of both boxes.

While the Feel Better Tea provides for better digestion and immunity, the Stress Relief Tea does just what its name suggests.

The Feel Better Tea has numerous herbs going into its making, each with its unique advantages, thus boosting a parent's immunity over time.

• Nettle leaf is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant that is a strong anti-oxidant and thus purifies the blood stream and cleanses skin pores. It also is a relief for an upset stomach.
• Ginger aids in digestion while countering nausea. It is the best bet when seeking respite from a bacterial imbalance in the gut.
• Mint provides active defenses from a common cough and cold and can also help soothe menstrual cramps.
• Chamomile is a relaxant that helps sleep better, builds immunity. 

As for the Stress Relief Tea, it promotes relaxation and reduces tension and fatigue, thanks to some chosen natural agents working for the cause.

• Sarsaparilla root, thanks to its saponins, sterols, and antioxidants, has been known to ease fatigue and enhance immunity. It also acts as a natural blood cleanser.
• Cinnamon bark is one of the powerful natural antioxidants available and has been known for its amazing medicinal properties. Apart from relieving stress, cinnamon, being a versatile spice, is a super-spice as it possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, immunity-boosting, cancer and heart disease protecting qualities.
• Eucalyptus oil acts an instant stress reliever and can also enhance brain wave activity as it reduces mental fatigue and relieves muscle and joint pain. Apart from that, it can keep heart diseases at bay as it reduces inflammation in blood vessels. 

I tried both the teas for myself and felt relaxed on multiple levels. With their #TraditionalRecipes, MamaEarth is sure set to attract a lot of new parents looking to reinstate their immunity and bid adieu to stress. :)

It's All Child's Play At PlayBox...

PlayBox, one-of-its-kind kids play facility catering to children aged 2-9 has set base in Gardens Galleria Mall, Noida, whilst being spread across a sprawling 14,000 sq. ft. area.

Emulating an interesting maze with dedicated play areas for specific age groups, PlayBox is an interactive environment and children play by themselves in a secure, clean and safe space under the watchful supervision of well-trained staff.

PlayBox is divided into five distinct zones dedicated towards specific activities:

My Burrow is a play area catering to 2-4-year-olds. 

My Maze is a play area catering to 5-9-year-olds. 

SnackBox is a Cafe focussing on nutritious as well as yummy food. 

ShowBox is a Studio that will host a series of workshops and events targeting toddlers, kids, parents and in many cases parents and kids together also, from time to time. 

PartyBox is the pseudonym for two dedicated party rooms that are perfect for hosting memorable birthday parties that have an individual capacity of forty pax, with a sliding partition that can be utilized to combine the two rooms. 

With age groups being intentionally demarcated in order to mark two distinct play spaces i.e. My Burrow and My Maze, a play maze for kids aged between 5-9, there is also a height chart sported by J - PlayBox's playful fox mascot - at the entrance, in order to ascertain whether a child is allowed into a certain play area or not, thereby facilitating the separation of stronger older kids from the tender toddlers thus ensuring safety and a certain uniformity among kids of the same physical stature. 

Within My Maze, kids can bounce around on trampolines, try out speed, spiral & roller slides, glide on Tarzan Log, indulge in foam ball battles, crawl through tunnels and tangled webs, as well as cross rope bridges, etc.

The toddler play space, My Burrow, is a completely foam-padded environment with lots of play panels, rotating climb frames, swings, slides, play kitchen for girls, play garage for boys, a construction area for kids to build using foam bricks, etc.

Parents can be with the toddlers within My Burrow, while they can watch their kids explore the space from a distance in My Maze. The play area conforms to the strictest standards of hygiene, safety, and security as per European Norms for Playground Facilities.

The entry and exit points in the facility are controlled and manned by security personnel and the entire play facility is completely monitored by CCTV. The space is well managed by the child-friendly crew who have been handpicked and trained to cater to children in the most efficient way possible.

PlayBox has been designed as an all-encompassing parent-child facility and thus both adults and kids can spend quality time together while feasting on some delicious savories and desserts at SnackBox. the Boutique Kids and Parents Café, that boasts of sumptuous healthy treats for toddlers, kids as well as parents too.

Based on the philosophy of community engagement and parent-child bonding, PlayBox has been built with painstaking attention to detail, that engages toddlers, kids and parents alike.The facility aims to foster and promote social and peer interaction, co-operative play, cognitive development, creativity and imagination through its play activities.

Apart from the crew, another exciting aspect of the facility is its energetic and adorable mascot - ‘J’ the Cool Fox and his inspiration for creating the facility, which is to provide an engaging, enriching and exploratory play area that offers Fun while ensuring Safety. The mascot is visually depicted as an anthropomorphic fox who is clever, caring and intuitive and yet street smart - qualities children of today ought to imbibe.

Right at the entrance, there are photos of J's family and his playful antics, with signages signifying the five respective zones. Also, there is the provision of lockers for safe keeping of personal belongings while parents enjoy with their kids.

ShowBox has a series of interactive sessions lined up over 52 weeks i.e. a unique session every week. From workshops on building paper rockets to Zumba to good parenting to sensitization towards recycling and environment, there are a lot of learning avenues for children.

“PLAYBOX is a community concept that specifically targets the 2-9 age group and their parents with an emphasis on parent-child bonding. Through Play as a medium, we aim to infuse our young guests with values, thinking and skill sets that are essential for their formative years which will eventually help them develop into responsible socially & globally aware individuals”, said Ms. Neha Gupta, the General Manager of the Facility.

“Today, India is a dynamic and lifestyle indulgent demographic with an immense appetite for novel fun concepts. However, this demographic has limited options for quality, safe and well-operated facilities to choose from, especially when we address the 2-9 age group. We, therefore, chose India to launch PLAYBOX as we think the concept is ideal for the demographic and we will be fulfilling the gap that exists in the market”, said Ms. Rosanne Fernandes, the Corporate Business Development Manager at Amusement Services International, the Company that created the concept and owns PlayBox.

PlayBox also aims to foster an environment of sharing and giving as working with several NGOs and foundations is on the cards in order to create awareness for their activities and to share contributions with the less privileged.

#GetSetRoar Against Breast Cancer At #LaFemmeMotarde

Breast cancer majorly occurs in women. But it has a possibility to occur in men too, though the chances are quite bleak. Broadly, symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast, substantial changes in the shape or texture, or bloody discharge. The appearance of symptoms does not imply the severity or stage. Therefore early detection is very important. For this, a regular checkup needs to be done. There are various treatments depending on the stage of cancer. These include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. The chances of its occurring are higher in above 19 years of age.

Fortis La Femme is doing a lot about breast cancer awareness and treatment. A bike rally with female riders was held a few days back on 4th December 2016 in Delhi to present a breast cancer awareness campaign in a unique manner. The rally not only marks the continuance of Fortis La Femme's special offer for breast check-ups at all of its facilities in Bengaluru but also offer a free mammography for hundred underprivileged women. The latter part is in association with the Rotary Club of India.

Fortis La Femme is a state of the art facility. The core belief behind is that a woman is a very special entity requiring special attention. Therefore, it aims to provide an exhaustive clinical and holistic attention which is designed exclusively for women. This exclusive care intends to cover every stage of a woman's life right from her birth.

It further includes adolescence, motherhood, menopause, and beyond. Therefore, medical facilities at the hospital include Obstetrics (Painless Labor), Gynaecology, Neonatology (Level III NICU), Anaesthesia, General Surgery, Laparoscopic Surgery,  Cosmetic Surgeries, Genetic Medicine, and Fetal Medicine.

The whole idea behind the concept of women bikers rally was to encourage women from all walks of life to shed boldly, all their inhibitions when it comes to their own health and care. The woman of our society performing multiple roles brilliantly dares to do anything and everything as far as her family is concerned. But she stays least attentive towards her own health. That was the core reason behind this initiative by Fortis La Femme.

The initiative was launched with this fabulous message from La Femme - Don't be a fence sitter, come out and join many like-minded women who are all fighting for a cause. A cause that is yours. Ride with La Femme to fight against breast cancer and let the world feel the roar that is inside you. It’s time to feel the fear, feel the courage and feel the hope. Register now!

Learning Avenues With MarkSharks...

I recently came across MarkSharks, an App that is bringing about a complete transformation in learning and teaching. According to me, it brings a complete paradigm shift in the phenomenon, as Marksharks believes that learning will never be the same again. 

MarkSharks is creating a complete system that aims to teach secondary school students. To start with, it is focusing on Maths and Science. The innovative approach is to combine phenomenal pedagogy with the power of mobility. Students can learn on-the-go thus preventing waste of time. In addition, it creates a meaningful engagement and enables ‘learning by doing’. 

Although there have been many significant innovative advancements in Education Technology (EdTech), there is no remarkable change in the process of teaching worldwide. In fact, it is the same for decades. The main drawback of our existing education system is that it is mostly unidirectional. Whatever mode a teacher adopts, it is usually passive learning. 

The various modes are chalkboard, whiteboard, smart board, audio-visual broadcast on internet or offline. But it lacks interaction and seems to be ‘watch’ and ‘listen’. That is why I call it Passive Learning. It is like watching TV which is a purely one-sided affair. 

MarkSharks is a result of disruptive technology to end this unidirectional mode of teaching and learning. In fact, the younger generation belongs to the digital age. Thus they need to learn in a

different manner. 

Now there is a learning app evolving fast to help them. Students can use mobile devices to create there own knowledge mechanism. MarkSharks helps them in learning classroom concepts in a real immersive, multi-sensory, interactive, and meaningful way. And all this happens in a very interesting manner. So it is more learning with fun. They have games, simulations, interactive exercises, and virtual experiments. In fact, it is visually more enriching and is an interactive experience. And that too in a student's own style, as per their own convenience. That is what I call as Active Learning. 

If we look at the current learning and teaching mechanism, it is quite raw and mechanical in nature. Students easily get bored and dissatisfied. There is no fun. 

Students are of the general opinion - “I have to memorize everything that makes studying painful.” On the other hand the statement of a parent is, “How can I get my child to WANT to learn? I spend so much of my time and energy forcing her to study because I know that education is the only way to secure a bright future.” 

And, in general, an educator has an altogether different predicament to share - “Marks are important and my time in class is limited. So I just cannot devote the time and energy I need to individual students’ learning requirements. I KNOW there are students who are getting left behind”. 

MarkSharks, on the other hand, imparts a unique experience of learning that enhances a student's interest and speed. It provides a one-on-one experience thus introducing a personalized environment. This happens because a learner is using their own mobile device with a freedom of anywhere, anytime. It provides 100% hands-on and learner-driven self-paced learning experience that is quite enriching. There is CBSE Maths & Science curriculum for classes 6 to 12. The app is easy to install and modules are available for Class 8 and 9 on Google Play Store. I was able to download and install it quite easily. It was a hassle-free experience. 

There are features like voice-over and text in English which helps to grasp the concept intuitively. Since the content is modular, it enables easy adaption into various languages and curricula. Learn, Analyze, and Connect is the lifeline of MarkSharks. Learning is a fun because there are interactive games and interactive exercises. In addition, a learner can easily analyze performance in real-time. In fact, parents and teachers also have access to the same information. Connecting with friends in a constructive manner is another remarkable feature of this app. There is a feature - ‘Social Learning Network’ - where a learner can share notes with friends, request help from online tutors, and network with others on MarkSharks. 

You can download MarkSharks Class 8 & 9 Science CBSE content for Android devices on the Google Play store here. Also, you can watch videos of MarkSharks content being used here. 

I tried a few of their modules, those were available on Play Store. All the modules begin with this screen: 

Also, one can read the MarSharks story via the module by tapping on 'Our Story': 

Sliding Friction 

Phases of Moon 

Seismograph 

Lateral Inversion 

Air Pollution

All of them ran smoothly and an intermediate pace, neither too rushed, nor too slow. However, in the Lateral Inversion module, it got stuck at the following screen, for some reason. 

Other than that, it was a nice experience exploring MarkSharks, both as a learner and an educator. :)