Children’s childhood is not all about joyfulness and playfulness, but a couple of dangers as well. There are two fears that drive parents to push and micromanage their children:
The fear that their kids are going to fall behind their peers and not keep up with the Jones’s kids.
Fear of how do I prepare my child for a future that is so much different than my experience.
So, parents fill kid’s schedule with enrichment classes, professional coaching, premier summer sports camps, test prep, early specialization.
Parents also overfocus on achievement instead of character.
All of this is telling us something about how we view childhood.
Childhood is not a race or a contest where parents feel they must mold/ micromanage, motivate child to stay on course we set for them.
Kids are missing out on knowing themselves and being distracted from what’s really important: getting to know yourself, self-exploration, reflection, contemplation, quiet time, self-awareness, social-emotional intelligence, try different things, take risks, develop self-efficacy, no time to just be!
GS/HS should be about growing up, learning social-emotional intelligence skills, autonomy to pursue interests, figure out what you like & aptitude, sample.
Let kids be kids! Build their own story and make their unique mark on the world (Bobbi Brown story).
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