Don't Allow Fears to Ruin Your Children's Childhood

03/10/22 • 22 min

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).

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.

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).

Previous Episode

The Gift That Keeps On Giving? Covid!

Show Notes: And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing ...

The Gift That Keeps On Giving? Covid! Read More »

Next Episode

Don't Allow Fears to Ruin Your Children's Childhood

Show Notes:

2 fears are driving 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

GS/HS should be about growing up, learning social-emotional intelligence skills, autonomy to pursue interests, figure out what you like & aptitude, sample

play for plays sake and love of the game
learn for love of learning, service
explore, adventures, challenge yourself
make decisions based on what’s right for them vs keeping up with the Jones’ kids

Let kids be kids! build their own story and make their unique mark on the world (Bobbi Brown story)