Monday, February 14, 2011
Nature v. Nurture
Going back to last Tuesday, I just wanted to finally get a post up. We talked about the "tiger moms" and their effect on the children. One thing I wanted to ask (and it might've been mentioned), but couldn't really figure out how to phrase correctly in time was, "is making a child want a certain thing (i.e. to play piano, violin) still letting the child do what they want?" Do the children lose anything by not being able to come up with their "own" ambitions, or does guiding them have a better effect?
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Yes,because at any time the child can decided that they don't enjoy it and do not want to continue pursuing it. I think that guiding children gives them a chance to explore things that they might like and would therefore have a better effect on children. If, however, the child deviates from the parents guidance and decides that they want to try something new they should be allowed to change tracks of study.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Erin though I do think that parents have to take a proactive role in getting their children involved when they are young. No parent should simply step back and let their child take the reins from day one because he/she will have no idea where to begin. In fact, maybe that is a source of peer pressure (peer influence?). If the child doesn't know where to look for interests, he/she will look to their friends and get involved in the same thing. Setting a good basis for extracurriculars (or even academics) would allow the parent to have some involvement but not force an activity upon the child.
ReplyDeleteI think that parents should show children different ways to spend time, either actively (sport) or other way like playing piano or violin, but should not insist on them to pursuit in this direction. The best way for kids to learn is to have fun from what they are doing. Making them doing certain things can discourage them and have a opposite effect. As long as kid know what he or she want to do (as long is good and appropriate), parents should give them opportunity to get more involve. However, whenever children does not know what to do parent should be the guide as well as mentor to help children to discover own passions.
ReplyDeleteI think part of a parent's role is exposing their children to different activities, so I agree with Kacper. It should be up to the child, though, whether they wish to pursue the activity or not. When I was in elementary school my mom suggested I take violin lessons because she played the violin for a number of years. I played for three years but then grew out of it in pursuit of other interests. I was not the best player and I do not remember absolutely loving it but looking back now I am glad she pushed me to experience something I probably never would have ever picked up on my own (my interests lie more in visual arts). I think life is about experiencing a wide variety of things and challenges, so I do not feel that it is a bad thing for parents to push kids to try different activities, as long as they let them decide whether to continue or not, depending on how much satisfaction they get out of the chosen activity. I also feel that parents should attempt to expose their kids to MANY things, not just solely a sport or an instrument (as portrayed by the tiger mom). I think this could do a great deal in providing a child with a well-rounded education. Children may also unexpectedly find something they enjoy that they otherwise would not have tried in the first place.
ReplyDeleteYes, the definitely loose out by not choosing what they want to do. If they are forced to do something and pursue it for the long-term (i.e. piano or violin) then they are getting shaped and molded by the person making them do it, most likely their parent. The child is then unable to develop their own sense of self. They are not an individual, but merely a replica of hat their parents think of as an ideal successful child.
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