A World Renowned Parenting Expert, Fearless Paralympians, And Educationists Share Valuable Parenting Tips

My weakness is my strength

Arunima Sinha 

Every mountain is different. The snow, the wind, the weather, and the altitude differ from one mountain to another. And Antarctica is the coldest place on earth, so everything felt twice as much. So, when they knew about my leg, they were shocked. They were like, How can you do it? That's exactly what I did. I showed them all my previous accomplishments. Seeing that, they didn't have any choice but to allow me.

So, I managed to get permission and we set out to climb Mount Vinson. The snow was all over my jacket, my boots and my ears. I had my glove on in one hand and the other bare hand started to freeze. I started to shiver and sat down for a bit. My Sherpa came to me and said, "We can go back if you want to." I said, "No! I want to go up, I want to go further." We then started walking and within a kilometer or so, my body started warming up, and we kept going until we reached the top. I did it!

The problem usually is not that you didn't reach your goal. The problem is that you don't have a goal. The basic thing is to always set a goal for yourself, and work towards it. There will be many hurdles and struggles, but never give up. There will be extreme pain, but only when you come out of that pain, will you achieve success.

I was proud when the Prime Minister of our country said, "The women of this country are not weak." And when the President said, "Women are not weak, and if you don't believe my words, look at Arunima Sinha."

Arunima Sinha lost her legs when she was pushed out of a moving train by robbers in 2011. In under two years post the dreadful incident, she conquered Everest and in the process, became the world's first female amputee to do so. Later that year, she also became the first female amputee to climb Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica. For the complete interview: https://www.parentcircle.com/interview-with-mountain-climber-arunima-sinha-inspirational-story/article

Seeing the MIND (and not just the eyes)

Dr. Dan Siegel

Parents who communicate to their children about their feelings, help children identify and be aware of their emotions. These are subjective experiences that the eyes can't see.

You can do this by having reflective dialogues. Talk to them about feelings, what they feel in their body when they think about something, what scenes they imagine when they think about it, what their thoughts are, what they feel like doing, and so on. Then, you can have a conversation about it.

When you are teaching children about their minds, it's a language. When they learn it, they thrive and become resilient. It's what they say (about feelings)—'Name it to Tame it'. When children know how to reflect about their own emotions and that of the other person that's emotional intelligence. And that is extremely important for their lives.

Dr. Dan Siegel is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and the founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA. His psychotherapy practice includes children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. He has authored several research papers and best-selling books on brain development, parenting, and more. Watch the complete interview on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/parentcircleindia

From paralysis to paralympics

Deepa Malik

My life has always been about ability beyond disability. I was too young to even understand what disability was or what the long-term effect was going to be when I was first diagnosed with a spinal tumor. But I remember my dad putting up my hospital room with purposeful toys. Both my parents gave it their all to help me in my treatment and in making me feel good. So, at the age of 36, when I wanted to enter the world of sports, people thought I was crazy.

It was a 360-degree transition in terms of diet, training, the equipment and the grip. The javelin is a 600gm, 2.2-meter-long stick. Shotput is a heavy round iron ball. It isn't easy to learn a new skill quickly, especially at my age.

I just learnt scuba diving last year, and how to manage my body underwater, so I am hungry to learn more and more, and I think this is what helps me get through life.

Despite a life of tumors, surgeries and paralysis, Deepa Malik entered the world of sports in a wheelchair! Meet the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic medal. She won a Silver medal at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. For the complete interview: https://www.parentcircle.com/interview-with-women-paralympian-athletics-deepa-malik-inspirational-story/article

Anger-free Zones in CBSE Schools

Rama Sharma

The Anger-Free Zone initiative from the Board is to provide a happy learning environment to students in schools, which, in turn, will help in their holistic development. We requested all affiliated schools and its school leaders to make efforts to convert all CBSE Schools into Anger-Free Zones. It is praiseworthy that schools have made keen efforts in making children happy, joyous and active learners.

Equally, there is a need to promote self-thinking, creativity, and effective study skills among students. Experiential learning has, therefore, become one of the thrust areas for CBSE.

Even the design of the question papers has been changed accordingly. In consonance with its agenda, CBSE has made Art Education mandatory for Grades 1 to 10 with a minimum of two periods per week. Guidelines have been given to schools to integrate art with teaching and learning of all subjects from Grades 1 to 12. In another first from the board, schools have also been suggested to include teaching culinary art in Grades 6 to 8 in a gender-neutral way.

CBSE spokesperson Ms. Rama Sharma talks to ParentCircle at length about how the board is keeping up with the changing times, and is bringing in innovations. She also speaks about the board exam question paper and changes in its pattern. For the complete set of interviews: https://www.parentcircle.com/cbse-innovations-and-changes-in-practices/article https://www.parentcircle.com/cbse-board-exams-tips-for-10th-12th/article