Hidilyn Diaz Amazed With Marian Rivera, 'Hands On At Supportive Siya Kay Zia'

Zia Dantes has resumed her training for gymnastics - this time with an Olympian teacher.

On Tuesday, July 12, 2022, she went back to her gymnastics class accompanied by her mom Marian Rivera.

 The GMA-7's Primetime Queen, thrilled to see Zia taking lessons with the country's lone Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, took a photo and posted it on Instagram.

Hidilyn reposted the photo on her Instagram stories and wrote an encouraging caption, "Ang galing ni Zia sa training niya kanina. Kudos kay idol Marian pinaenroll niya sa gymnastics class si Zia."

READ ALSO: Should You Enroll Your Toddler in Gymnastics Class? 9 Benefits of Structured Play

Hidilyn, who seemed to be somewhat starstruck seeing Marian in person, also uploaded her photo with the actress.

She wrote in the caption, "Nahihiya ako magpapicture kay idol @marianrivera syempre Marian yan! Mabait at sweet pala siya in person. Hands-on at supportive siya kay Zia. Kudos to Marian."

Zia went straight to her street dance classes after her gymnastics training with Hidilyn.

Marian uploaded a video of Zia learning a new dance, amazed by her daughter's boundless energy.

She wrote, "Iba ang energy ng anak ko after gymnast - street dance naman [emoji] kanino nag mana?! [emojis]"

Zia started taking gymnastics classes in 2018, when she was only two years old.

Marian shared photos of the toddler Zia showing her flexibility by doing a split on her first day of classes.

"Good job, Z!" the proud mom wrote in the caption of her post.

How to encourage your child to try new things

It may seem easy for Marian to engage Zia in different hobbies and interests, but you can do it too!

Here are some tips on how you can encourage your child to try different things that they might grow interest in, according to National Center for Youth Issues.

1. Praise effort, progress, and process

If you feel like your child has a fear of exploring new things, it may be because they have developed a fear from their experiences that they will only be rewarded by their parents when they've succeeded. 

According to Cora Collette Breuner, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington, it is important to not only recognize success, but more importantly, the child's journey - complete with struggles and losses - towards it.

2. Ask the right questions

Here are some questions that you can ask your child, from Paul Smith, the bestselling author of “Parenting with a Story,” so that you can bring up the topic of their fear of new things.

a. Name something you'd like to do now but have been scared to try. How can I help you with that? (May gusto ka bang matutunan na takot kang gawin dati na gusto mo nang subukan ngayon? Paano ka kaya matutulungan ni Mommy/Daddy para magawa mo ito?)

b. You can also ask the question from a different perspective, like what do you think it would take for someone to become good at a hobby? (Palagay mo, gaano katagal bago matutunan ni (ibang tao) ang mag-gitara o mag-basketball?)

From here, they will be able to grasp that everyone starts from not knowing everything and they can learn through practice.

3. Be a patient teacher

Don't forget that you are the first person who can help them reach their full potential. As a parent, your guidance and experience can help your child discover their talents and abilities, just like Aky, a 12-year-old robotics champ.

Remember, it's Hidilyn's family who first believed in her that brought her closer to the Olympic gold. 

This story originally appeared on PEP.ph. Minor edits have been made by the SmartParenting.com.ph editors.