WHEN PARENTS SING WITH THEIR TODDLERS

 

Why sing-along rhymes are my favourite parenting superpower

Anisha Narang in Sunday Times of India of 26 July 2026

Find a rhythm within the beautiful chaos of motherhood.

It's a rhythm built on giggles, exaggerated expressions and the kind of impromptu living room dance performances. It would make anyone weep, mostly with laughter.

There is a special kind of magic in singing rhymes with toddlers, especially children between two and four years old. It's a stage where every song becomes an adventure and every action is a new discovery. The songs are always accessible from multiple sources. From crooning soft lullabies at bedtime to jumping around in full energy during playtime, these sing along sessions become the happiest moments we share with the child.  They can also be your secret parenting superpower. 

A cheerful rhyme can transform rushed school mornings into fun dress-up moments or encourage a reluctant eater to take "just one more bite."

In a world that is fast paced and screen heavy, these musical moments have become one of the simplest yet most meaningful ways to connect, communicate and create memories that will last a life time.

When parents sing with their toddlers, something beautiful happens. The child feels seen, heard and emotionally safe. Our facial expressions, eye contact and playful gestures communicate love more powerfully than words alone. What may seem like "just rhymes" are actually powerful tools of connection, communication and cognitive growth.

Beyond the emotional bonding, there is a massive 'brain boost' at play. Research shows that music strengthens language skills, improves memory and enhances emotional regulation. These songs combine rhythm, coordination and phonetic awareness. When a toddler moves their hands, or points to their body parts, they are strengthening motor skills and neural pathways.

Toddlers thrive on repetition. While singing the same verse for the fourteenth time might test your patience, remember that for them it provides predictability and comfort. In our messy unpredictable lives , these undistracted moments of singing are where the real connection happens. You might start singing just to entetain your child, but you'll likely find yourself letting go of your own self-consciousness and enjoying the "freeze' moments just as much as they do.

So, the next time your toddler tugs your hand and says,"Again", sing louder, dance bigger and freeze dramatically. You aren't just reciting a rhyme. You are building a bond that will last a lifetime.

After the high energy dancing 
After playing with your children

Close your day and transit into peaceful sleep 
with the Gratitude Prayer

"Thank you God for the world so sweet

Thank you for the food we eat

Thank you for the birds that sing

Thank you for everything"

Sing it with your children at bedtime

Sing it with everyone at home

You'd be happy

Forever

PARENTS ARE ALL THE KIDS HAVE

 

Giving birth is the hardest thing a woman does in her life.

Raising a child is tough

When you make a mistake with a child, you will always have time to explain and amend. 

A child will always be kind to you.

Both wives and husbands have their roles in parenting. 

They are accountable in the raising of the children.

Before the dawn of nuclear families kids had siblings to fall back on.

Now the parents have just one or two kids.

Parents are all the kids have.

Parents should not be violent.

You have to keep the communication open and a slap is the fastest way to close it. 

Being, "an I will bring the whole world at your feet," kind of parent is certainly wrong.

Parents have to stop merely providing and start participating.

Stop giving everything to the children without giving them your time.

Give children your valuable time.

Spend time with them. 

Don't be the parent who provides and leaves.

It is okay for parents to have expectations as long as  they are okay with failures too.

While you long for the child to succeed, don't expect the child to do well in everything.

Pressure is good, it needs to be applied in the right direction and you need to be there as scaffolding if the child falls.

Let the child notice how you tackle failures. It teaches the child to do likewise

Never lie to them. 

Answer them

ARUN OUR NEPHEW'S LOOK-ALIKE

                                                 ARUN OUR NEPHEW'S LOOK-ALIKE 

                                                     Arun is settled in Australia

                                                        Oceans keep us apart

You looked like this at this age. 

You look like this even now.

But this is Elvin, two years, four months and 15 days on 28 July 2026

He's our grandson

At times he looks like our Papa, your Appacha at Thalavady.

Genes transcend. 

The past comes alive in the present.

Legacy is carried forth to the future. 

It's in the family all the time.

As time moves on the bonds disintegrate.

No one would know anyone else.

Yet heritage can never be erased

You'll be on earth centuries after centuries

The past will come alive in you forever

It's hereditary

We surmise

GRATITUDE PRAYER

 

GRATITUDE PRAYER

After the day's toil

After playing with your children

Close your day and transit into peaceful sleep 
with the Gratitude Prayer

"Thank you God for the world so sweet

Thank you for the food we eat

Thank you for the birds that sing

Thank you for everything"

Sing it with your children at bedtime

Sing it with everyone at home

You'd be happy

Forever

DINNER MENU WOULD CONSIST MAINLY OF PRISON FOOD

 IN HALF THE WORLD'S CAPITALS THE DINNER MENU 
WOULD CONSIST MAINLY OF PRISON FOOD

Chidanand Rajghatta writes in Sunday Times of  India of 26 July 2026:

"Only in America could the First amendment receive an acknowledgement from one of its most trenchant litigants. Try staging that in half the world's capitals and the dinner menu would consist mainly of prison food."

Only in USA: Amid the roast, Trump toasts free speech

The White House Correspondent's Association's rescheduled annual dinner produced one of those deliciously improbable scenes that remind the world why American democracy is equal parts constitutional republic and absurdist theatre. There sat President Donald Trump, who has spent years suing, skewering, ridiculing and generally treating journalists the way a cobra views a mongoose, applauding Wall Street Journal reporters as they collected an award for investigating ....Donald Trump.  

As CNN's Wolf Blitzer, introducing the award, reminded the audience, in front of the President, that the reporting on the President had  triggered lawsuits, retaliation and personal consequences for the reporters, the President threw up his hands and essayed a wry smile.

Then came the piece de resistance: Trump smiling, rising, shaking hands with the very journalists whose work he insists is false and whose newspaper he is still batting in court. He ribbed reporters about their coverage. He torched through an hour of familiar terrain, firing jibes and jeers at journalists. Though he had promised he had toned down his original speech, the listeners quickly discovered that his definition of restraint resembled a chainsaw fitted with a muffler.

Yet,Trump called on Americans to respect freedom of speech. "We settle our differences not with bullets, but with open and vigorous debate."

The words were measured, but felt weird coming from Trump. Of all US Presidents, Trump had the most caustic relationship with the American press.

The strength of American democracy is that while Trump has mocked journalists, accused them of fake news, insulted media organisations and sought their licences cancelled, his ad hominem attacks are not spilling into crack down on free speech and free press. (American press, as in most democracies, is protected by its constitution.)

The message is, ideas must be answered with better ideas, not censorship, intimidation or force.

The finest measure of democracy is nothing but, how well a nation consistently  absorbs and makes room for disagreement.

In spite of the inconsistencies in his own administration, Trump's words on free speech reiterate  that  the democratic foundations of America are indeed invincible.

(The final six paragraphs are drawn in part from The Times of India editorial of 27 July 2026)

United States First Amendment (1791)

The First Amendment usually refers to the historic part of the U.S. Constitution that protects freedom of speech, religion, and the press.

Protects five key basic rights: religion, speech, press, assembly, and petitioning the government.
Stops the government from making laws that favor one religion or stop people from practicing their faith.
Applies to public and government actions, not private businesses or private employers. 

CSI North America Family and youth conference 2026

 I received a forward in CSI Church Thalavady WhatsApp
 For which I raised a few points

Panel discussion hosted by Rev JobyJoy and on the  dias are Moderator Rt. Rev. Dr. Reuben Mark, Adv. Fernandas Rethina Raja general secretary of CSI, Rt. Rev. Dr. Paul Francis Ravichadran, Bishop of Madras , Rt. Rev. Dr. Vincent Vinod Kumar, Bishop of Central Karnataka, Rt. Rev. Hemachandra Kumar, Karnataka Southern Diocese, 

Rt. Rev.  Dr. Royce Manoj Victor, Bishop of Malabar diocese and youth speaker Dr. Sam George

CSI  NA Family and youth conference 2026

Good to see so many celebrities on the dias.
Why no picture of the participants?
Was the hall full?
The audience does have a role because it is they who make these discussions a success.
Or was it a televised programme?
In that event the audience is on multiple screens.
Then the participants need not be there.
And besides the picture what was the topic of discussion?
What was the conclusion?

ALL TIME VIEWS CROSS 200000

 

Blog's all time views cross 200000 mark at 4.00 pm IST 

on 25 July 2026

It took 37 days to reach 200000 from 150000 

It was 44 days to reach 150000 from 100000 on 18 June 2026

I thank all the viewers for the encouragement showered upon me 

I praise the Almighty for His blessings

As a recap, placing here the post 

when  all time views reached 150000

.................

When all time views of this blog crossed 150000 mark on 18 June 2026, Wednesday,   the happy news  was relayed to my mentors, Rev. Dr. C.I.David Joy and Rev.Dr.Santy.S.Paul, the Principal and the Registrar of the KUT Seminary, Kannammoola, Trivandrum, Kerala, India. Rev.Dr. C.I. David Joy is the President of the Senate of Serampore. 

"All time views, today, at the moment, are 150762. I am indeed grateful to my viewers, when I observe that  all time views have surged to 150762 on June 18, 2026.

The journey had taken 15 years to reach the 50000 mark.

However, from 50000 to 100000 it was a 6 months' hop.

Capping it, in a leap of 44 days, the views have exploded from 100000 to 150000

I praise God for enabling me travel this far.

I am indebted to the viewers for accepting me"

It evoked this wonderful response from Rev.Dr.Santy.S.Paul

That's indeed a recognition that what you share makes sense to those who read and hence it is  well received.

1.5 Lakh views for a blog is not that easy (even for a video content, it is difficult)

I am really happy for you.

Keep going.

You are indeed an inspiration

And I replied

"You are indeed an inspiration," has bowled me over.  Thank you for the elevating and invigorating compliment. I had no idea on the probabilities of blog viewership when I had commenced.  I was pleasantly surprised when it began to rise across the globe. It's the encouragement you have given that urges me to prod on with vigour

Prof. Babu Zacharia had recently told me, he liked what he had read. He said he found it conveying from heart to  heart. 

The well known Professor had taught English at the Marthoma College, Tiruvalla.