Parenting: A Universal Challenge

How do you approach Parenting? Your approach to parenting has a lasting impact on how a your child think, feel , behave, and relate to the world around them.

Parents often approach raising children in different ways---More often the way they were parented or not parented; and sometimes adaptation of the environment they grew up or live in has great influence on their parenting. Some emphasize structure, others independence, yet others seek guidance in understanding parenting styles to help them recognize what works best for their children's development---informed parent do better parenting---uses knowledge, reflection, and awareness to guide parenting---they seek understanding before reacting, uses edidence-approaches to child development, psychology, etc., encourage communication and emotional expression, adapt parenting to the child's needs and context; and focuses on long-term development, not just immediate control and obedience. Thus, Discipline = Teaching + Guiding + Explaining + Modeling.

Civic Reflection I Leadership & Responsibility

Approach to parenting correlates with societal leadership approach and styles--Leadership styles shape society for better or worse. Some leaders lead and guide through collaboration, others through authority, and yet others shirk the leadership qualities and rule with absolute control, which more ofter results to societal crises at all level. At the level of communities, when they step up and provide parenting education and support families, it helps parents navigate societal crises /challeneges better and or positively.

Collaborative Leadership Model

Question to Reflect on:

Which matter more in parenting, responsible discipline, understanding, or guidance?

Feel free to leave your thoughtful response on the comment section below.