Is parenting a skill or an identity? 

Most of the times parents get stuck in their ways of parenting seeing it as a fixed, unchanging identity. 

Where do our models of parenting come from? 
How do we look at parenting differently for each of our children (when we have more than one)?
Do solutions that worked for others work for me? There seems to be so much advice around. I'm confused. 
To or not to do rewards and punishments?
What happens when my child refuses, rebels, and back answers?
What happens when they make bad choices?

With a million more thoughts and feelings a few of our parents embarked on a very different kind of workshop this season - Parenting as a Skill.

Every generation of parents and caregivers takes on the work of loving and nurturing every generation to come and the most important contribution we can make to that generation is by becoming more self-aware, empathetic, growth-oriented, and pursuing deep and meaningful connections over immediate gratification of our authority. 

This weekend a few from our parent community came together with a common goal to embark on this journey willingly and joyously.
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#sparklingmindzglobalschool
#inspiringconfidentlearners
#parentingasaskill
​#creatingchange

What do you need to prepare a dish? Recipe duh, right? That's what our children thought too till they read 'The Art of Cooking'. 

Why is it art? Isn't there a lot of science involved? What makes it an art? Why are these instructions so different from the recipes we are used to seeing? Really - can you really make any kind of broth if you learnt this skill? Wow! 

We wondered, explored, experimented, empathized, created personas and discovered that the problem was to learn the skills in cooking that could lead to unlocking the treasure trove of recipes and the ability to work with a plethora of ingredients. Voila! We had magic in our hands. 

Children spent time interviewing, designing and curating the skills that could help different kinds of people discover their inner cooking persona as well as learn and upskill themselves to become better cooks. 

This year for the Annual Day, our Leopards (4th and 5th graders) explored 'The Art of Indian Cooking' from first principles and designed something that each of us can use and work with. Along they way they had some magical moments of bonding with their families, embracing the inner scientist in them while some of them brought out their inner chefs. And well, what got cooked? Find out for yourself by watching the video!

​But before that, let's let Ms. Poorva Agarwal take us through the cooking of this whole process.

And here, the final product!

Here we have our wonderful parents reflecting along with us, and sharing with us their sides of the story as well. Have a look!
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#inspiringconfidentlearners
#youngachieversacademy
#21stcenturylearning
#socialemotionallearning
#emotionalawareness
#emotionalintelligent
#afterschoolprogram
​#learningforkeeps

My relationship with food has been very fascinating. My mom once told me that, when I was less than 2years old, I managed to climb up onto a table and finish half a dozen of bananas, seeming no less than a monkey.

 As I grew up, most healthy foods became repulsive; eating used to be an arduous task. This phase involved people constantly commenting on how thin I was and how I should eat more and put on more flesh, muscle and fat. This eventually started causing insecurities within me about my body until college, when I shifted my focus from what I was not, to embracing myself completely; surprisingly my body changed after that. It was the first time I felt a sense of liberation in surrendering to what is. 

My college days saw me develop a huge fetish for street food exploration. This was also backed by shows on TLC and Fox traveller that glorified food. Then, when I started working, I could afford the luxury of eating out at fancy restaurants and experiencing different cuisines and flavours (not that they were all very authentic). 

Today, I settle for terribly simple food; something that feels soulful if not plentiful.
It's funny how my relationship with food is constantly evolving; of course in coherence with my ever-morphing beliefs.

In retrospect, I learnt a few things about myself. I'd like to call them my superpowers - 

- I experience food (and pretty much everything I deeply connect with) with all my senses; I immerse myself in it and connect very deeply with it. I've had people wonder 'how could someone be so passionate about food?' 

- It wasn't just the experience that I would crave, but also sharing that with others. I had the superpower to describe food, with every morsel of detail, that would leave someone's mouth watering to experience it themselves. 

- My brain loves getting fired up with new experience; flavors and textures that tickle my taste buds. 

Now, I'm still in the process of looking at myself, identifying more such superpowers and figuring out how I can leverage them purposefully across all sections of my life.

​Contributed by Disha HK, Learning Facilitator at Sparkling Mindz Global School.

#sparklingmindzglobalschool
#foodasanexperience
#joyfullearning
#facilitatordiaries

 While in the midst of chasing after things we want to achieve or acquire, how often are we approaching life or rather, really experiencing life? How often do we choose to live our life the way we truly feel inspired? What are we learning from our lives? 

Here is Esha giving a perspective on life through her eyes, and how choosing to see life as a chef has helped her see things in many interesting ways, and a lot to take away. 

Let us know in the comments what the flavours of your life are. 

​#sparklingmindzglobalschool
#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
#inspiringconfidentlearners
#youngachieversacademy
#21stcenturylearners
#socialemotionallearning
#reggioemiliainspiredlearningphilosophy
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We at Sparkling Mindz handle children's issues in different ways. One way is to model their behavior back to them, asking them to reflect, take perspective and empathize on how/what they are doing or how others feel as a result of their behavior.

Another way is through role plays and this time, the facilitators at preschool decided to role play as children. They chose three scenarios to role play:
a) taking every communication with peers as an attack and being rude in response to attack,
b) self victimizing by saying they have no friends, and
c) wanting to look like the others and not satisfied with how they already look (especially the skin color).

Each scenario explains what the facilitators role played and what children reflected after each of the scenes.

Scenario 1

Friend 1 makes fun of friend 2's drawing that leads friend 2 to be upset and get into a mode of rejecting the other's friendship and her opinion by telling herself things that are not productive.

Reflections
 
An, "The house can be drawn however we want it to be."
Em, "We should not be rude at other's work."
An, "Friend 1 did not care about what the other child said." 
An, "Yes, she cared only about herself."
Sh, "She was hurt!"
Aad "Friend 2 was upset and was telling herself that she wants to be on her own."
Anya " Yes, she kept telling bad things to herself like, I don't like other people and they are rude to me!"

At this point the facilitator asked them, "Did friend 2 telling herself bad things help her?"

All, "Nooo!!!"

Facilitator (F), "What could she tell herself instead?"

Various responses such as, "I like mine, but I don't know why she did not like mine...", "I like mine but maybe she likes the way she draws...", "We should like what others do...", etc., came out.

F, "Are we expecting others to tell good things about us?"
An, without a blink, "Yes!"

F, "Is it ok when somebody doesn't like what we do?"
An, "It's okay I'll like it anyway."
F, "Okay. You can also tell them politely , "I like the way I have painted.""
F2, "So what did we learn from this?"
An, "To be kind to others and ourselves."

And the facilitator added, "Saying good things to ourselves and what we choose to do is not for other people's approval."

Scenario 2

Facilitators role played 2 kids playing and talking about their interests. Another child who wanted to join them did not want to join them as he did not get invited, and how the child 3 feels sad.

​Reflections