A parent’s desire for their child to succeed is natural. However, top sportswoman Dame Sarah Storey says children must learn to grow without parental pressure.
Storey told the Daily Mail, “Whatever they do, they’ll have grown up with role models with a strong work ethic. I encourage my children to make their own choices. That’s the way I was brought up.”
Sandra Wheatley, a social psychologist, said, “It’s a tightrope to walk.” Amanda Jenner, a parenting expert, said, “And parenting expert Amanda Jenner stresses: “I disagree with parents being pushy. Later in life, children can become resentful against their parents.”
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They share their tips for finding the right balance here.
Critique Should Be Constructive
Wheatley says criticism can be constructive but needs to be productive if it’s going to be effective. She said, “It’s important to acknowledge how difficult it is to put it into their mouth, but you consider it sufficiently necessary to do so.”We can easily
Don’t Let Your Child Live Your Dreams
We can easily project our hopes and goals onto our children without realizing it. But as Wheatley says: “Live your dreams. Having them means no harm, but you may need to adapt them, so they’re not your child’s dreams.”
Listen To Your Child’s Wishes
Remember, it’s your child’s life, not yours. Its crucial parents understand what their children want to accomplish – and it doesn’t have to match yours. Jenner cautions that not listening to your child can make them feel insecure about their interests and unhappy.
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Communication Is Essential
The key to good communication is listening, speaking, and reflecting. When you say something, think about it, ask yourself, ‘did you mean that?’ and so on after you have left the initial conversation.
Be Realistic In Your Expectations
The ambitions and goals you set for your children should be realistic, says Jenner, and they should be your child’s wishes rather than yours. Setting goals and being open to a child’s needs is essential, but parents shouldn’t push their agendas on their children.