Take a deep breath…

Vayu is one of the five elements of nature, so essential in our life, truly our life breath! But is Vayu really a part of our children’s lives today or are we giving them experiences that do not include this important element of nature?

Of all the five elements of nature, Vayu is everywhere in our homes and outside but rarely do we notice it or appreciate it! Maybe that is why we celebrate the festival of ‘Vayu’- Sankranti, kite flying, after all no kites can fly without Vayu and this festival reminds us that we need air in our lives to take us forward in life and to make it successful.

Our body needs Vayu or air because it has oxygen and oxygen is good for the brain! It keeps kids alert, attentive and active. So allow kids to take deep breaths after every activity. It helps break the monotony and gives a fresh burst of oxygen to the brain!

Vayu in our digestive system is not so good! So see that your kids avoid foods that cause gas! So too much of oily food or strong flavours are avoidable, keep food as natural as possible.

Yoga is an exercise form that helps make the best use of Vayu and ensures that air is taken in the right amounts and circulates in the entire body for its benefit. Take your kids outside early every morning and then take deep breaths, do yoga and see the difference in their health and over all disposition.

Keep a track of how much outdoor activity your child has in a day, because lack of outdoor activity means lack of fresh air and this can lead to all kinds of diseases and attention deficit issues. Ensure that kids have at least an hour of outdoor play (if not more!)  without fail everyday.

Are you keeping your child in air conditioned areas all the time? Then it is quite dangerous for the child’s growing immune system, so ensure that your child gets natural air environments, remember sweating is healthy!

A kite teaches us a lot about life and air, have you ever flown a kite? It is an exhilarating experience, the ability to make the kite catch the wind, then seeing the kite soar, keeping it away from all other kites and controlling its path with a small thread are all awesome skills that kids should learn. The concentration, planning and logic required in kite flying will help your child become a better learner and a better person in control of his/her decisions and plans. So it is safe to tell your kids- go fly a kite!

As one the most important elements of nature, Vayu also teaches us about parenting-

Vayu or air- What can this element cultivate in the personality of your child?

®  Air is everywhere. Everyone needs air. No one can see air

®  Air can soothe or air can become a storm and destroy

®  Similarly independence in children is like air.

®  Independence  can give them the ability to explore, gives them a zeal to venture

®  But too much independence can become a storm that destroys everything in its path. So be careful about it

How to gift your child vayu or air?

Give them  opportunities to feel the grass, play with sand, splash in water and hug a tree! When was the last time your child did this? These sensorial experiences connect directly with your child and help them become more grounded and confident. Let them  feel the wind with activities like football at the beach or kite flying, the different and varied experiences will definitely benefit them. !

So this January gift Vayu to your child.