Raising children has never been an easy journey for parents. Many parents want their children to be obedient and disciplined, so they often apply strict teaching methods. However, control accompanied by threats, punishment or excessive pressure can cause children psychological trauma that parents do not realize.
According to Dr. Puja Kapoor, pediatric neurologist and co-founder of Continua Kids (India), imposing parenting often appears when parents set rigid rules and require their children to absolutely listen without explaining or giving children the opportunity to express their thoughts.
This is a one-way communication style in which parents place high expectations and require children to strictly comply. When children make mistakes, instead of dialogue and guidance, punishment is often applied to force children to change their behavior.
Some common signs of this parenting method include frequent scolding, threats, making children ashamed, or using physical punishment to discipline them. Many parents also easily make their children feel guilty when they do not meet expectations. In addition, not accepting mistakes, always demanding perfection, and lack of flexibility in behavior can also create great pressure on children.
According to Dr. Kapoor, many children who grow up in too harsh environments often listen because they are afraid of being punished rather than really understanding the problem. This can make children insecure, reluctant to express their thoughts and difficult to make decisions for themselves. Some children are easily irritable, difficult to control their emotions, while others become withdrawn, afraid of failure and always worried when making mistakes.
She believes that aggression and pressure are not the key to building discipline. What children need is guidance, patience and the feeling of being listened to in the process of growing up. Giving children the opportunity to participate in appropriate decisions in daily life, while maintaining open communication, can help children become more confident and form self-reliance.
Positive parenting is assessed to be more effective in the process of accompanying children. With this method, parents still set out clear principles but at the same time maintain love, respect and listening to their children. Instead of just using punishment, parents will explain the reasons for the regulations, encourage children to express their feelings and find appropriate solutions with their children. This helps children understand right and wrong, boldly express their thoughts and be more confident in the process of maturity.
Raising children with companionship and understanding may take a long time, but this is an important foundation to help children develop healthily both emotionally and socially.
