Experts In The Fields Of Parenting, Dance, and Education Share Valuable Parenting Tips

Raising mentally strong children

Amy Morin, Psychotherapist

Mental strength is what you need to reach your greatest potential. It's possible for children of all ages and backgrounds to become mentally strong. But it's essential for the adults in their lives to be invested in helping them. As a parent, it's important you invest in healthy coping strategies for yourself when you feel anxious so that your child watches you deal with fear in a healthy way. You can also proactively teach your child strategies to increase courage (rather than reduce fear).

Children need to learn that they're capable of handling tough situations. They also need to know what they're doing well, as well as the steps they can take to improve. A good way to provide such feedback is to offer praise, criticism and then praise again. An example might be, "Thank you for picking up your room. But I can see that your bookshelf is still messy, and it's important to straighten that up. But I really like the way you made your bed."

Amy Morin is a psychology lecturer at Northeastern University in the US and the author of 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don't Do. For the complete interview, visit: https://www.parentcircle.com/dont-dos-of-mentally-strong-parents/article

Keep kids busy with books or puzzles, not screens

Diana Garber, Digital Literacy Educator 

It's important to have a gadget agreement with your child, depending on their age and stage. For example, talk about what times of the day are not appropriate to have your phone and what things your child wants to accomplish that day. Chart out this agreement after having a discussion with your child. Kids need boundaries and to give them those boundaries is really a gift.

I have my kids make a bucket list of 25 non-screen things they'd love to do, using their imagination. Unless we give our kids tools to get off their phones, there's no way they'll get off them. Very young children need lots of face-to-face connection time and hands-on play. The more you can make opportunities for that, the better socio-emotional skills they'll develop. Once you start using the screen as a pacifier or babysitter, it becomes a habit, and the child wants more and more of it. So, as much as possible, go back to the old ways of using blocks, puzzles or books.

Diana Graber is a digital literacy educator and advocate, and is the author of Raising Humans in a Digital World: Helping Kids Build a Healthy Relationship with Technology. For the complete interview, visit: https://www.parentcircle.com/how-to-encourage-children-to-spend-time-away-from-gadgets/article

Creativity is critical for future jobs

Dr Sanjay Gupta, Educationist

The perception of parents about a particular stream is based on the job prospects it offers. Even before engineering students graduate, they are offered jobs. Now, design is not far behind. In the past few years, placements at the National Institute of Design (NID) and the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) have begun to make news for the attractive salaries offered by companies.

I like the UK's education policy it considers the creative industries a part of the main industry system. In our country, we don't see creative industries as a separate sector, but if you observe closely, arts and crafts contribute greatly toward the economy and the development of our country.

Design is creative and can be applied to manufacturing, sales, banking and finance, and other fields. So, when we try to have an education system that boosts creativity, it will boost every sector of our economy. In the next five years, the industry as we know it, will change. Jobs will change. Experts say that anybody who has creative skills, who knows how to think out of the box, and who can work with skills that the computer lacks will survive and thrive. And based on these criteria, the career on top is design.

Dr Sanjay Gupta is the vice-chancellor of the World University of Design, Haryana, and has a rich background in education and management. For the complete interview, visit: https://www.parentcircle.com/interview-with-dr-sanjay-gupta-about-modern-trends-in-education/article

Follow your heart

Eshan Hilal, Belly Dancer 

I like dancing but I never knew about belly dancing. One day, I stumbled upon Illan Rivire, a male belly dancer, on YouTube and I was mesmerized by the art form. I started educating myself about the art. When I told my parents that I wanted to become a choreographer, they shut me down saying we belong to an orthodox Muslim family. When I opted for fashion design, they felt it wasn't a manly enough career. But I gradually realized that it's not me but the conditioning of people that needs to change. So, I pursued design and took up dancing as a hobby. Then one day, one of my dance videos became viral, reality shows came up, and now dancing is my profession.

There are many biased thoughts around gender such as girls can't park a car or boys in fashion must be gay. So, it's important to talk to parents and show them there's this new, dynamic perspective about gender and self-expression. Parents, please remember that you have not failed as a parent when your child doesn't act normal as per the expectations of society. You fail as a parent when you don't understand and accept your child the way he is.

And for young boys trying to follow your dreams, educate yourself about things out of your line of interest. Accept and love yourself, and respect your dreams.

Eshan Hilal is considered India's first professional male belly dancer. For the complete interview, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgoCc-mR9pg