In my last article I discussed how some parents push their children to advance and be the best. I also discusses that some parents do this with their children’s best interest in mind while others push for the competition of their children being better than others.
While some encouragement and pushing by parents is normal and at times very necessary, over doing it can be harmful to your child.
Readiness is a critical factor in early childhood learning. In most cases pushing your child before he or she is developmentally read is useless. Some parents find themselves placing adult standards on young children. They feel that childhood play is unproductive and feel that their children would gain more from a structured activity such as a game at a computer.
Children who are pushed in extreme cases are often robbed of their childhood exploration. These “pushy” parents have their children involved in so many activities that there is no time for the imaginary play that is needed for a healthy childhood. In fact pushing your child through too many of these activities such as music lessons, foreign language lessons, sports, and more can actually have the adverse effect that the parents desire.
Children who feel major pressure from parents can also develop health issues. These children may develop anxiety attacks, ulcers, headaches, and adult stress symptoms.
Sitting down for a spelling review or playing a math game with your child is far from going to rob him or her of his or her childhood. These activities can be very rewarding for both the parent and the child. However parents should be careful to take note of how much emphasis they place on the perfection of the child.
Let your child know that you always expect him or her to do his or her best. However also make certain that your child understands that perfection is not expected.
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When a Child Does the Opposite of What You Want
Point out Behaviors in Other Children