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An integral part of children’s health, mental health, works hand-in-hand with their physical health, aiding them to succeed at school, work, and in society. Together, physical and mental health affect how one thinks, feels, and acts. Mental health is important through all stages of life, from prenatal to late adulthood. The foundation of mental wellbeing is established in the early years. It is the ability to produce positive emotions, feelings, ideas and adapt oneself when hit by a stressful situation or an adversity.
A child’s brain is like raw, fresh clay, one in its moulding stage. During the developing stage of their childhood, children acquire cognitive and socio-emotional skills that determine their mental health. The exposure to their immediate environments and experiences at home, school, peer groups, etc., helps them develop these skills. During the development stages of children’s life, parents must entail a positive and enriching environment for themto blossom in, and to be mentally healthy to function efficiently as an adult.
Following are little tokens of affection parents can utilise to support their child’s mental health:
The simplest acts of love, such as giving hugs, can trigger the release of oxytocin; bringing a wave of warmth and contentment. Unconditional love differs vastly from rewarding your child for their achievements (as you will see next), it means loving them regardless and not only if. Feeling loved is tagged along feelings of security, a reassurance every child needs.
Your child needs to be appreciated for their accomplishments and good deeds. The kind words will not only encourage them to continue doing so but make them feel recognised. Respect your child and approach them with a positive, and empathic attitude. Do not forget that their behaviour is a reflection of yours.
Play games, sing silly songs, read bedtime stories, play throwball at the park – do activities that bring you together. Over a period of time, these things might encourage them to view you as a friend rather than as a parent. Such positive experiences give them a dopamine rush and a lifetime full of memories. Henceforth, they will valuethe importance of spending time with their loved ones.
Walk and talk through their daily lives as well as any troubling experiences. Encourage them to talk about their feelings so they develop effective processing and communication skills. Talk to them with a soft approach and assure that you are always available to listen. Communication is key. Sometimes, an ear to their problem is all they need.
Be sensitive to your child’s needs and respond to the signals they give. Ensure a safe space by creating a warm, loving home for them. A strong support system results in many positive benefits, such as reducing stress and higher levels of well-being. Building a relationship on trust will aid the child’s emotional regulation and, in turn, raise them to have sustainable relationships as adults.
As soon as you notice signs of deteriorating mental health, address these concerns. Early identification is essential to get them the help they need. Children’s minds are fragile and need proper guidance and care to tackle bigger issues. For additional support, approach professionals – a teacher or school counsellor to begin with. In such cases, it is necessary to understand the root of the problem rather than jumping directly to the solution – and that is where professionals come into the picture.
The culture at Ekya is built on empathy and respect – students are taught and treated with the same. We create a positive and encouraging space for children to feel safe. By inculcating recreational activities such as reading books and watching movies as part of the curriculum, we make learning engaging and fun. Not only does this ensure the holistic development of the child in an enriching environment, but also empowers them to go out in the world as highly competent and good human beings !!
Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsports and is considered the fastest sport in the world. The races are filled with adrenaline-pumping action as race car drivers navigate hairpin turns and high-speed straights at breakneck speeds. These high speeds create one of the biggest challenges for Formula 1: pollution. The FIA International Conference on Road Safety revealed that driving a race car for 20 minutes produces about the same pollution as driving a regular vehicle for 320 hours—almost an entire month. If you have been following Formula 1 over the past few years, you may be aware of how much things have changed. New regulations have added hybrid engines, aerodynamic wings and even larger cockpits to cars. Some say these changes are necessary; without them, we risk losing racing as we know it. But what will happen to Formula 1 in response to pollution? Will there be a new type of track racing that doesn't produce so much exhaust? Perhaps not... Let's try to find out.
Every year, Formula 1 races across the globe, attracting millions of fans. However, the sport is producing an unbelievable amount of combustion waste—the pollutants created by an F1 car while racing is high enough to threaten human health. Formula 1 is polluting the atmosphere and has been doing so for a while. The FIA, the governing body of Formula 1, has been looking for solutions to the pollution problem since the 1990s. Back then, the organization started exploring how to reduce harmful exhaust fumes. However, the first solutions were not implemented until the following decade. Automobile manufacturers have been producing less polluting cars for some time now. But as Formula 1 cars are not made for regular road use, it is harder for engineers to design a hybrid vehicle that can withstand the stresses of racing. Formula 1, after all, is an extreme sport unlike any other.
The first Formula 1 race was held in France in 1906. At the time, the race was held over just 80 kilometres. The following year, the French Grand Prix was born over 342 kilometres. Over time, Formula 1 grew in popularity. By the mid-1950s, the number of races on the calendar had increased to around a dozen. However, the sport hit a hurdle in 1955 following the Le Mans disaster. There were several fatalities at the Grand Prix of France following a crash. As a result, the FIA implemented new regulations that reduced the number of races in the championship. However, the sport underwent another change in the 1990s when the FIA introduced new rules. These aimed to reduce pollution and increase safety. In 1994, Formula 1 cars started using less polluting turbocharged V10 engines. In 2002, the engines were further reduced when they were switched to 3000cc V10 engines.
Engineers from the FIA have tried numerous solutions to reduce the amount of pollution produced by Formula 1 cars. One of their first proposals was to make the sport more fuel efficient by reducing the number of kilometres each vehicle travels. The idea was to reduce the length of each Grand Prix from the contemporary distance of about 300 kilometres to about 100 kilometres. In doing so, engineers calculated that the cars could travel at a lower speed and still finish the race without needing extra fuel. With the shorter race, there would also be less pollution in the air. Another option that engineers looked into was making Formula 1 cars smaller. This idea was to shrink the car's size to make it more efficient. However, shrinking the vehicles would mean drivers would have to sit inside a smaller cockpit. This would force them to sit awkwardly, leading to health concerns.
The good news is that Formula 1 has been working on reducing pollution from racing. The bad news is that the sport's governing body has yet to devise a solution that works effectively without compromising the car or driver's performance. While hybrid engines are cleaner than regular ones, they produce a large amount of heat. It takes a lot of energy to cool down this heat, which significantly impacts the environment. Air-conditioning the cockpits of Formula 1 cars is another challenge. Engineers are currently working on reducing the electricity used by air-conditioners. Formula 1 will likely continue to produce high levels of pollution. However, the sport may transition to a well-developed hybrid engine without going completely electrical. This would reduce the number of harmful exhaust fumes in the air. Hybrid engines could also generate electricity for charging electric racing cars.
The Future of Formula 1 may be uncertain, but one thing is for sure: pollution is the price paid to enjoy the essence of the sport for what it is. Hybrid engines could be the solution, but significant changes must be made to the sport's infrastructure to accommodate them. Many fans and engineers aren't pleased with turning the sport into Formula E. With the pollution caused by Formula 1, it is clear that the sport needs to find a solution before it becomes too damaging for society and the environment.
-Nawal Kotla, Grade 12
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