Flavour Of The Day With Noora

As a working mama, it is especially important for me to feel that my kids are in good hands and being productive while I am at the office; as apposed to lazying around in front of the TV, making a mess, or my toddler's favourite activity of all, drawing with her crayons on the couches and floor.

That is one way of looking at things, the other is thinking that children need a little down time for themselves (just like us adults) and that they are entitled to some laziness every now and then.

How much planned activity is too much? As I was growing up, my parents never encouraged sports or activities, it was more our call, if we didn't want to, we didn't have to. So, in comparison to my friends, I cannot play an instrument and I am not good at any sport.

If it is obvious (through your own parental observation as well as teachers' and other caregivers' observations) that your child is clearly talented in an area but would rather stay at home watching TV rather than pursue it, do you as a parent insist that they professionally grow this talent through lessons, or do you leave your child to decide for himself?

At a parenting workshop I once attended, the specialist noted that all talents need discipline in training and practice until they earn the reputation of being "talented", do you agree or disagree with this statement?