Reports about a mother in Singapore killing a challenged child who forgot numbers has been doing the rounds, reigniting the debate on treatment of children in a fast-paced world where even parents are given to nano-second attention spans.
Social institutions in highly-industrialised societies are acquiring complex dimensions with information technology tools virtually penetrating the social fabric. Compulsive use of social media and gadgets crimps the time needed for other activities in the household. This is not to say that information technology and new age media have provided a disenabling environment for other creative pursuits and activities considered traditional in the family. A complex interplay of forces determines what the parents of today expect from and give to the child.
The incident in Singapore underscores the schism between eastern and Western hemispheres when it comes to parenting and pedagogy. The Singapore mother is said to have repeatedly stamped on the kid which led to the death. The West, given more to liberal and democratic values, has been at the forefront of a liberal upbringing. The East has pulled another way. China, Korea, Singapore, Japan have followed a style of upbringing that emphasises unquestioned adherence to traditional values in the sphere of family and other social institutions. Chinese writer Amy Chua’s “Battle hymn of the tiger mother” talks about an excruciatingly hard style of parenting using punitive measures to motivate the child. Chua has admitted to being brought up by very strict parents.
The book sparked a debate about parenting and values that families in both hemispheres hold dear. Developmental psychologists weighed in and ones from the West came swinging. Here was a mother who would rudely tell her child to redo a task relatively well done. The kid would return gingerly, but according to the writer, show a better performance.
Western psychologists though repudiate an unduly strict way of raising children. Spanking, still common in the East is frowned upon in liberal western democracies, especially in Scandinavian countries like Norway, Denmark and Finland. The Scandinavian model of development has been built upon the premise of utmost liberty and freedom that includes the sphere of education.
Going over to the other side of the Atlantic, Dr Spock’s parenting guidebook emphasised freedom and a permissive upbringing. It has been conjectured that the current generation of middle-age Americans have been brought up on Dr Spock and are hence more freedom-loving. Spanking, swearing at and badgering children leads to psychological scarring resulting in undesirable personality traits. It is hard to spank a child into performing well. In fact, it is easy to spank him into fear. A balanced approach without the use of corporal punishment should be the most desirable way to raise kids. It is hoped this will lead to the flowering of a productive, beautiful and emotionally intelligent generation.
Reports about a mother in Singapore killing a challenged child who forgot numbers has been doing the rounds, reigniting the debate on treatment of children in a fast-paced world where even parents are given to nano-second attention spans.
Social institutions in highly-industrialised societies are acquiring complex dimensions with information technology tools virtually penetrating the social fabric. Compulsive use of social media and gadgets crimps the time needed for other activities in the household. This is not to say that information technology and new age media have provided a disenabling environment for other creative pursuits and activities considered traditional in the family. A complex interplay of forces determines what the parents of today expect from and give to the child.
The incident in Singapore underscores the schism between eastern and Western hemispheres when it comes to parenting and pedagogy. The Singapore mother is said to have repeatedly stamped on the kid which led to the death. The West, given more to liberal and democratic values, has been at the forefront of a liberal upbringing. The East has pulled another way. China, Korea, Singapore, Japan have followed a style of upbringing that emphasises unquestioned adherence to traditional values in the sphere of family and other social institutions. Chinese writer Amy Chua’s “Battle hymn of the tiger mother” talks about an excruciatingly hard style of parenting using punitive measures to motivate the child. Chua has admitted to being brought up by very strict parents.
The book sparked a debate about parenting and values that families in both hemispheres hold dear. Developmental psychologists weighed in and ones from the West came swinging. Here was a mother who would rudely tell her child to redo a task relatively well done. The kid would return gingerly, but according to the writer, show a better performance.
Western psychologists though repudiate an unduly strict way of raising children. Spanking, still common in the East is frowned upon in liberal western democracies, especially in Scandinavian countries like Norway, Denmark and Finland. The Scandinavian model of development has been built upon the premise of utmost liberty and freedom that includes the sphere of education.
Going over to the other side of the Atlantic, Dr Spock’s parenting guidebook emphasised freedom and a permissive upbringing. It has been conjectured that the current generation of middle-age Americans have been brought up on Dr Spock and are hence more freedom-loving. Spanking, swearing at and badgering children leads to psychological scarring resulting in undesirable personality traits. It is hard to spank a child into performing well. In fact, it is easy to spank him into fear. A balanced approach without the use of corporal punishment should be the most desirable way to raise kids. It is hoped this will lead to the flowering of a productive, beautiful and emotionally intelligent generation.
