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Western parents need to chill out about their kids
Spiked online ^ | June 9, 2015 | Frank Furedi

Posted on 07/23/2015 4:46:53 PM PDT by Pining_4_TX

The author of Paranoid Parenting says that far from needing a stricter ‘Asian’ approach, Western parenting is already way too intensive.

Last night, in a debate in London titled ‘Western parents don’t know how to bring up their children’, regular spiked contributor Frank Furedi clashed with Amy Chua, author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother , and others. Furedi’s opening remarks are published below.

When it comes to discussing parenting, everyone thinks they are warranted to take their own personal story and recast it as a philosophy. On no other issue are you allowed to communicate such prejudices and such stereotypes as you are in relation to parenting.

(Excerpt) Read more at spiked-online.com ...


TOPICS: Education; Society
KEYWORDS: children; china; parenting; west
Excellent piece about the tyranny of experts, as much as anything.
1 posted on 07/23/2015 4:46:53 PM PDT by Pining_4_TX
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To: Pining_4_TX

We're going to have a whole generation or two, of kids who have no memory of their mother , except that she was texting all the time. Sad. It's going to be a problem.

2 posted on 07/23/2015 4:52:33 PM PDT by Daffynition ("We Are Not Descended From Fearful Men")
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To: Pining_4_TX

I like the Asian way better.

Letting the kids get into drugs and perversion is the way to disaster


3 posted on 07/23/2015 4:56:13 PM PDT by GeronL
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To: GeronL

The point of the article is that many Western parents are behaving more like the hovering Asian parents we think are better.

Kids need free time, time to create, to think, to play, and even to just goof off. Kids learn more at home tinkering around with their toys and playing in their yards than they do at a preschool where they are forced to sit for a couple hours while someone drills the ABCs and numbers into their heads.


4 posted on 07/23/2015 5:00:00 PM PDT by Pining_4_TX (All those who were appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 13:48)
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To: Pining_4_TX

Kick kids off electronics and let the run around outside. Problem solved.
I think that would solve a lot of other problems at the same time.


5 posted on 07/23/2015 5:01:27 PM PDT by vpintheak (Call the left what they are - regressive control-freaks)
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To: Pining_4_TX
I saw an ad for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America the other day. They were pushing the idea that now that kids were out of school they had no place to go, nobody giving them things to do and it was SCARY!

I looked at my husband and asked, "how did we survive?"

6 posted on 07/23/2015 5:04:23 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
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To: Pining_4_TX

I don’t think ‘Asian’ means the same thing in the UK as the US.


7 posted on 07/23/2015 5:07:22 PM PDT by Ken H
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To: Pining_4_TX

This isn’t limited to parenting. I work for a large company as an engineer. I have an endless supply of managers running around trying to ram help down my throat. In absolutely 0 percent of cases has the help been needed or helpful.


8 posted on 07/23/2015 5:11:37 PM PDT by ronnietherocket3 (Mary is understood by the heart, not study of scripture.)
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To: Pining_4_TX

I think a lot of modern parents are both too lax and too “intensive” at the same time.

They are intensive about managing their children’s activities, constantly supervising them, boosting their self esteem, etc.

However, they are lax when it comes to instilling moral values, critical thinking skills, and a sensible worldview in their children.

Unfortunately, being attentive to the first category does nothing to offset the effects of being inattentive to the second category.


9 posted on 07/23/2015 5:14:17 PM PDT by Boogieman
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To: Pining_4_TX

To paraphrase them: “Trust us, your kids will have a LOT OF FUN with us”.


10 posted on 07/23/2015 5:17:44 PM PDT by BobL (REPUBLICANS - Fight for the WHITE VOTE...and you will win (see my 'about' page))
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To: Pining_4_TX

I’ll ask this again...and again. Is there ANY REASON that a kid under 18 needs a “Smart Phone” when there are plenty of (cheap) flip phones out there?


11 posted on 07/23/2015 5:19:16 PM PDT by BobL (REPUBLICANS - Fight for the WHITE VOTE...and you will win (see my 'about' page))
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To: Pining_4_TX

There is no one right way. I think parents need the freedom to choose their own style that meets the needs of the child with his own unique personality and that of the parents. What works for one may not work the another. AND there is that little issue of human innate depravity and personal choice. Try as you might, your kid can still make bad choices. Add to that the imperfections of the parents and sometimes parenting seems like nothing more than a lottery.

Absolutes of parenting:

Do love (in the purest sense, not in the spoiled sense)
Don’t Ignore
Do Discipline
Don’t abuse
Do teach
Don’t control


12 posted on 07/23/2015 5:38:12 PM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: Ken H
Since the article brings up Amy Chua the Tiger Mom, I think they mean East Asian, once called oriental before it was thrown on the fire of perfectly good words that can't be said any more.
13 posted on 07/23/2015 6:02:24 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (The 1st amendment is the voice and the 2nd is the teeth of freedom. Obama wants to knock out both.)
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To: Tax-chick

Ping


14 posted on 07/23/2015 6:02:26 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("All the time live the truth with love in your heart." ~Fr. Ho Lung)
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To: vpintheak

That will get a visit from child protective services in lots of places.


15 posted on 07/23/2015 6:24:18 PM PDT by Kozak (Walker / Cruz 2016 or Cruz/ Walker 2016 Either one is good...)
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To: Pining_4_TX

Parents need to be in control of their children now more than ever. No matter what experts say or don’t say. The world is going nuts and unguarded children will soon be fodder.


16 posted on 07/23/2015 7:04:57 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past

Good list. Good philosophy.


17 posted on 07/23/2015 8:02:01 PM PDT by Flick Lives (One should not attend even the end of the world without a good breakfast. -- Heinlein)
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To: GeronL

Well, think about this:

Mom is a Chinese upper-middle class high-level professional in New York City.

Dad is a Jewish upper-middle class high-level professional in New York City.

Highly educated Chinese Mom and highly educated Jewish Dad. Just like Tiger Mom Amy Chua and her spouse.

Daughter is an Ivy League grad. “Ivy League grad”, is, I submit, the be-all and end-all goal of “Asian Style” parenting.

According to a Complaint on file in a Federal District Court, this is what the Ivy League daughter talked about/texted about with her Ivy League friends while in college:

“I’ve officially had sex with all of John Doe’ best friends. . . - did lotsa drugs jk just got very drunk - well anyways - now i have an std i actually hate John Doe like if a girl is about to puke - don’t put your unprotected d**k into her. . . I realy don’t want to be known as the girl who contracted an std because she
was drunk you know? it is more his fault for f***ing me unconscious - i mean i was conscious
but clearly not in my right mind. . . i was literally blackout. . . like i puked all over the place.

A daughter to make her parents proud.


18 posted on 07/24/2015 7:29:18 AM PDT by Flash Bazbeaux
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