Sudha Murthy's timeless parenting tips are too relevant to ignore

Be it her take on throwing a birthday party or her views on using gadgets, Sudha Murthy's parenting tips are forever relevant! Author, educator and philanthropist Sudha Murthy wears many hats, and the decorative one among these is that of a mother.

Mother to two, Murthy is a powerhouse of parenting tips. Her suggestions on parenthood and upbringing of kids goes without any queries. The agreeable explanations, the wholesome anecdotes and the non-partisan views given by her are not just acceptable, they seep into the households of a common Indian family.

Murthy's parenting tips hold Indian values, ethics and mannerisms in a tight grip. Her suggestions are so germane to the Indian context that no discussion on parenting is possible without a mention about her quotes.

Gadget indulgence is a major headache for parents these days. Children get introduced to mobile phones, majorly, from a very young age. Toys, lullabies, stories of elders that used to keep a child busy earlier have become outdated.

On the overuse of gadgets, Murthy has a unique explanation. She says the overindulgence of gadgets in kids goes hand in hand with the gadget habits of the parents. Parents should themselves first restrict using gadgets, she had said in an interview.

If you want to stop your child from using gadgets, stop yourself first. Unless and until it's a priority do not engage yourself for hours over gadgets, she says.

Read: Include these beneficial seeds in your child's diet to boost brain health

Children have a sense of ownership. They are usually reluctant to share things with others. Be it toys or chocolates, whatever a child has in its grip is hard for it to part with.

Sharing is a very essential mannerism that kids need to be taught.

On sharing, Murthy shares a very interesting story which is one of the most widely shared anecdotes on parenting. On several occasions, she has narrated this specific story on how she taught her son the importance of sharing.

When her son pestered her to throw a birthday party for him, she estimated the expense would be around Rs 50,000. Instead of immediately agreeing to her son's demand, she suggested he have a small party and give the rest of the amount to their driver, for his children's education.

"Initially he did not agree," says Murthy. "But later he agreed to a small party," she adds. On this she adds, "Many years later, he gave his scholarship money to me and asked me to use it to help the families of soldiers who had lost their lives in the 2001 Parliament attack in India."

Children can be lured with money and monetary promises. This prompts them to do several dishonest activities.

On monetary values, Murthy says children should always be taught that values make a person extraordinary, money does not. She has always talked about how she persuaded her kids not to indulge in lavish parties, extravagant life and heavy expenditures and how that money can be used in helping someone less fortunate than they are.

"Delay" is her mantra on meeting the demands and pesters of the kids. While parenting is all about giving comfort to the kids, it is also about embedding values into the young mind.

When your child is asking for something, do not give in to the demands, instead delay it for a while and try to figure out if it is really required, says Murthy.

She also strongly advises not to belittle the child for the demands and instead make them understand the value of the thing they are demanding and why it can be put on hold for sometime.

Sudha Murthy has a brilliant piece of advice for parents who always look forward to fulfill their dreams through their kids. Do not impose your ambitions and dreams on your child, she says. A child has its own future which should not be dictated by others. Let the child explore what he or she wants to do.

A child needs guidance and supervision to explore its hidden talent. Imposition may not always lead to a bright future. It may gradually wane the real talent of the child.