Smart babies come smart parents, who know how to raise and
nurture smart babies. However, to be smart parents, you must know your real
self.
“Knowing others is intelligence.
Knowing ourselves is true wisdom.
Overcoming others is strength.
Overcoming ourselves is true power.”
Lao Tzu, “Tao Te Ching” (chapter
33)
Lao Tzu, the ancient sage from China
Who are you as a parent?
First and foremost, best parents are not infallible;
nobody is perfect, and you are no exception.
Look back at your own childhood. You may have been
influenced by how your parents acted towards you. There might have been
positive and negative experiences. Now, your goal as a parent is to emulate the
positive aspects of your parents, and to avoid repeating their mistakes.
Types of Parenting
Parenting style generally falls into three types,
although there may be overlaps and variations.
Authoritative Parents
Authoritative parents often provide an environment
of freedom and democracy. They set rules and regulations that their children
must follow or obey. However, within these boundaries, children are encouraged
to act, speak, and think independently without any restrain or restriction.
Authoritative parents are always in control of their children, but they also
encourage from their children’s verbal exchange and creative thinking based on
different situations and circumstances.
Authoritative parents generally produce happy, smart,
and self-reliant children.
Permissive Parenting
Permissive parents are generally accepting and
non-punitive regarding their children’s attitudes and behaviors. In many ways,
their children’s actions and reactions, as well as their desires and impulses
control and determine the parent-child relationships. The only drawbacks are
that these children tend to become less self-reliant and initiating.
Authoritarian Parenting
Authoritarian parents are always much in control of
the behaviors of their children based on their own standards; they attempt to
shape the growth and development of their children. Other than obedience, there
is not much room for any compromise or even flexibility. Children under
authoritarian parents are generally distrustful, discontented, and withdrawn.
Worse, they often become rebellious in adolescence.
The style of parenting is based on the parents’ beliefs,
values, personality, and upbringing. To make your baby smart, you need to give
him an environment of safety, peace and harmony. Parenting, like marriage, is
partnership; make sure that both of you are on the same page.
Which type of parenting do you belong to?
Stephen Lau
Copyright© by Stephen Lau
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