Parenting in the modern age
- by WONDERMOM
- June 5, 2022
Parenting is nothing less than a balancing act. We want to be the best parents we can be for our children. However, we are often questioned about our parenting choices, no matter how squeamish and appropriate they may seem to us. Parents find it difficult to judge the authority of the many opinions bombarded with them. With the advent of modernity, a child is also exposed to various sources of information. Contact with these sources has become a necessary evil in many ways. This article examines important aspects of modern parenting that will help you raise a confident, loving, and successful child.
Bully-Proof Parenting
Bullying refers to a perpetrator exhibiting unwanted aggressive behavior toward a victim that is based on an actual or perceived imbalance of power, such as: B. physical violence or access to embarrassing information. According to a research study, more than one in five students report being bullied. 33% of students who report having been bullied at school say they have been bullied at least once or twice during the school year. Cyberbullying has become a relevant issue with the advent of social networks. Even now that schools have gone digital due to the pandemic, this issue has become a major concern.
To approach bullying with an open mind, we need to talk about both the victim and the bully. Why does one child bully another? Energy. We all strive for power and control over our lives. If we don’t have a healthy approach, it becomes difficult to resist unhealthy ways. A child who feels threatened or humiliated is hurt inside. Such feelings overwhelm and lash out at them. They feel better after projecting their pain onto someone else.
Why does a child tolerate bullying? We feel that our voice doesn’t matter if it’s been suppressed for too long. In extreme cases, we feel that we have lost our voice. A child whose opinion is not valued goes through a similar cycle. This should not be confused with an introverted personality. Can you bully your child? Unfortunately not. However, you can teach your child to do at least one of the following three things:
1. Stand up to the bully.
2. Keep the victim company.
3. Alert an adult
When a child is being bullied, it is important to reassure and support them. The victim prefers not to seek adult help as this often leads to further bullying. So you need to set up a friendly game. Communicate with your child and create a safe environment in which to raise concerns. When you let your children speak, they feel like their opinion matters. Accepting that your child is the perpetrator of a bullying incident is difficult. It makes question his parenting options. Denying or apologizing for your child’s behavior will only fuel your attitude towards wrongdoing. Therefore, it is important to have an open conversation with him or her. Remember that your child is transferring their pain to someone else. Your son, even if it’s his fault, needs help. Teaching your child not to be a spectator of bullying is the most difficult task. It is necessary to condition your child to understand the need to help the victim and put personal feelings aside. You can only teach and not preach.
Gender-Neutral Parenting
A distinct trend in the West, gender-neutral parenting is on the rise in urban Indian households. Gender-neutral parenting is a method of raising a child to avoid discriminating roles based on a person’s gender. Millennials who grew up in a gender-discriminatory environment or had a liberal upbringing take this approach. While the former do this to create a more inclusive society, the latter do so to pass on their values to future generations. There are three ways to incorporate gender-neutral values into your parenting style. They are
1.The Extreme Approach A Toronto couple hasn’t even revealed the gender of their 3-year-old baby to family and friends. These parents want their children to have the opportunity to make informed choices when they grow up. However, this is a difficult position. You must watch your child grow up in isolation as they may not be able to relate to other children their age. The boy suffers from an identity crisis.
2. The Middle Ground A lesser form of gender-neutral parenting is one where you protect your child from society’s accepted gender stereotypes. For example, girls wear pink and play with dolls, while boys wear blue and play with army tanks. This gender-neutral form of upbringing encourages your child to make their own decisions and teaches them responsibility and consistency. If you take this approach, you should be happy with your son wearing a Tutu
and your daughter dressing up as Spider-Man for the school costume contest.
3. A Personal Approach This is the type of gender-neutral parenting where you lead by example in which areas your children should and should not be gender-neutral. You practice this approach by protecting your son from the gender stereotype (let’s say) that only the father can drive because society says that men are better drivers. However, it still teaches your child to identify as a boy or a girl.
It is important that your children feel comfortable.Gender stereotypes can sometimes become too restrictive. The goal of good parenting should be to help children, not micromanage their lives. To do this, you must protect your children from highly commercialized media. representations of gender and help them constantly evaluate their choices.
Building Solid Moral Foundations
Raising a good and kind child is what every parent wants.Although bully-proof and gender-neutral parenting is still in its infancy in India, parenting to create strong moral foundations has been practiced for a long time. nature or upbringing? Which of the two dominates a child’s personality remains a mystery until they start making their own choices.
In certain households, participation in religious institutions is seen as a source of morale. Holiday celebrations and family time are other sources.Everyday occasions teach children certain beliefs. However, you cannot teach your younger son to respect the elder by preaching the example of Lord Ram and Lakshman. You must first follow your teachings, for children learn by watching you.
Education is more of an instinct than a reflex. I hope this article helps you find the solutions you have been looking for.