Parents are being warned over the hidden dangers of training their child to be obedient, as a child development expert highlights how you could be putting your child MORE at risk.
You might wish your child would do everything you tell them to, especially if you often ask yourself 'is my teenager even listening to me?' when you're trying to get something done at home. The thought of an 'angel' child might be a dream, as you frantically search for ways to discipline your children after your child laughs in your face when you reprimand them.
But a parenting expert has highlighted the hidden risks of training your child to be obedient. Jessica Milburn shared on her @responsive-parenting Instagram account some important things to consider.
She warned, "Training your child to be obedient makes them easier prey for predators. But no one wants to talk about that. We just want obedience because it’s convenient. Because it’s what the school, child care, swim teacher and the soccer coach all expect. It makes everyone’s job easier… well you know who else’s job it makes easier? Predators. Obedience… at what cost? That’s what I think about… at what cost?"
Jessica went on to highlight one parenting method that doesn't focus on obedience as she shared some exciting news with her followers. "There are other ways to parent that don't focus on obedience as the main goal. One of these methods is Responsive Parenting. I have some exciting news… I have released a new EBook [Finding Your Calm]!! I have taken the Connect Instead of Correct Challenge and turned it into a book. Why?! Because I basically explain how to connect instead of correct in most of the common scenarios that parents ask about."
So the next time you're feeling envious of your friend's child who does everything they're told to do, or feeling pretty low when your child pushes back, refusing to do something, remember that them saying 'no' could well protect them from predators.
In other family news, if you're struggling with discipline this might help: ‘I’m a psychologist and here are 4 ways to teach your kids how to manage their anger’. Meanwhile, did you know that 14-year-olds are most open to life-changing advice, according to new research - here are 7 quotes for teens from some of the most inspiring names in the UK.
-
How to play with Barbie dolls: 6 ways to use the iconic doll as a positive role model at homeIf you have a little one who loves to play with Barbie, there are lots of positive ways in which you can encourage them to play in a way that helps their development and self-esteem. We’ll show you how.
-
Think you're raising a mini-me? It's actually unlikely your child will inherit your personality and could have a temperament closer to a 'random stranger', according to new studyIf you often hear the phrase 'like mother like daughter,' or 'like father like son,' research suggests you're actually only slightly more likely to share familial traits than with strangers.
-
What is ‘sturdy parenting’? Child psychologist Dr Becky explains the benefits of this techniqueIf you're at a loss when it comes to disciplining your kids, sturdy parenting might help - and it's approved by child psychologist Dr Becky.
-
3 tips to set screen time boundaries from parenting experts Dr Becky Kennedy and Professor Emily Oster - and #1 is an important reminderStruggling to set screen time boundaries with your kids? Parenting experts Dr Becky Kennedy and Professor Emily Oster have shared three top tips.
-
Could 'lazy parenting' be the next big thing? 2 psychologists share why it can be beneficial for development, but not everyone agrees'We need more lazy parents' and here's why, according to two child psychologists
-
Parents, do you know what H.E.L.P. stands for? Psychologists swear by this acronym to navigate those tough parenting moments we all faceRemember: Halt, Empathy, Limits, Proximity...
-
Sticker charts 'don't work in the long run' says psychotherapist - try these 8 tips to teach kids intrinsic motivation insteadOne expert has explained eight things you can do as a parent to help your child develop intrinsic motivation - and it means abandoning the sticker chart.
-
Reflective parenting could help your teenager manage their big emotions, new research shows - here are 5 steps to tryThe teenage years are tough for everyone involved. But research has suggested that an approach known as 'reflective parenting' can be the key to reconnecting.
-
These 5 'game changing' phrases can teach your children about the mental load, according to a psychologist - and it could set them in good stead for adulthood"Change at home can change society"
-
'You can quit... but not today' - the game-changing words to use when your kid wants to give up a sport, according to an Olympic gold medallistOlympic gymnast Nastia Liukin has shared the words her parents told her whenever she wanted to quit - and you can use them too.
