Bonding through Reading with Apurva Shrivasta

In today’s episode of the “Helping Families Be Happy” podcast, host Dr. Carla Marie Manly, a practicing Clinical Psychologist, Wellness Advocate, and Author based in Sonoma County, California talks with guest Apurva Shrivasta about her life as a Book Reviewer.

 

Episode Highlights

• 01:38 – Apurva is a UX Designer by profession, and works for a Credit Card Company. Other than that, she’s also a book reviewer on Instagram.
• 03:13 – Apurva’s professional work is very similar to what one does in their day-to-day life and in motherhood.
• 05:09 – Just being their (Children) biggest cheerleaders is all about parenting and all these intricacies of reaching the child, states Apurva.
• 07:17 – Apurva’s children believe in the power of reading, and she’s so fascinated to see this valuable trait naturally emerge in her family, highlights Apurva.
• 09:23 – Dr. Carla about Apurva, no matter the child's age when she's reading with them, she has created sort of a bubble or cocoon in her own world where the two of them are exploring whatever's in the book together. She’s on an adventure in her own world.
• 11:10 - It does take a lot, not just cognitive energy but also emotional energy to tune into a child that way, says Dr. Carla.
• 13:25 – Dr. Carla enquires about how can toddlers learn problem-solving.
• 14:38 - It's very important to see how our kids react to certain things, and how do they carry themselves with confidence because that's important, says Apurva.
• 16:49 – Apurva highlights that just being in that moment present with them and not thinking about anything else and giving that undivided attention is important.
• 18:10 - Just being there with the kids is the most important thing without the intervention of technology, says Apurva.
• 20:34 - Kids have a brain where they can wander. So, why not be a model for them to display what the world is like and how it is so beautiful, states Apurva.
• 22:00 – Apurva shares her opinion on which book is better in certain age ranges.
• 23:20 – Apurva wrote a book which is, about how does a child’s brain works?
• 25:00 – They do like a lot of Montessori education for both her daughters.

 

Three Key Points

1. Apurva highlights - reading in itself creates that bonding and it's really important. We can really like read aloud or let them (Children) read on their own if they are a little elder, but when we're reading with them, we're creating our own world. It's significantly benefitted our child's brain and ours as well and we can see that wire but then it goes from our child to our brain and then naturally it prepares them for their academic success.
2. Apurva says - reading is one way where we express our affection and gratitude. We're given the opportunity that we can read it to them. It's like we should be really grateful for that and keep developing that habit little by little, even if it is like five minutes, 10 minutes. She thinks it's more than enough and when we see that smile on their face when we're together and not busy in our phones or doing other things and ignoring them, it's blissful.
3. Apurva shares what makes a really great children's book - first the story the characters that we bring in, what is the story depicting and also the ups and down. There's not a story that wouldn't have a down and then how do they shine up and brings out the moral out of that. So, all those milestones are really important in a story.

 

Tweetable Quotes

• “Being the child's advocate or cheerleader, is really important.” – Dr. Carla Marie Manly 
• “The more books, the better it is.” – Apurva Shrivasta
• “You are creating your own world when you're reading with a child.” - Apurva Shrivasta
• “You can get creative with reading.” - Apurva Shrivasta
• “It is joyful, but sometimes it is tiring.” - Apurva Shrivasta
• “5 to 10 minutes of reading can make a difference in a child's life.” - Apurva Shrivasta
• “Integrate practical life along with that. I think that's really important.” - Apurva Shrivasta
• “Empathy and compassion are a theme that we really put more emphasis on.” - Apurva Shrivasta
• “We also encourage a lot of unstructured day time too.” - Apurva Shrivasta
• “That bond between your children and yourself, you wouldn't even know how far along that can go.” - Apurva Shrivasta
• “A child who grows up with tuned parents, generally have really good self-confidence, high self-esteem.” - Dr. Carla Marie Manly 
• “Just imagine, there is no fear in imagining things.” - Apurva Shrivasta
• “What a strong power to have the gift of imagination and to pass that on to your children.” - Dr. Carla Marie Manly 

 

Resources Mentioned

• Helping Families be Happy Podcast Apple
• Dr. Carla Marie Manly Website LinkedIn Twitter   Instagram
• Podcast Editing