Challenges of Parenting in the 21st century

There are a lot of challenges when it comes to mindful parenting in the 21st century. We are growing at a fast pace, rapid enough to supersede the growth rate of all previous generations. We are so advanced that we have successfully created gadgets that were once a pipe dream to most, from electricity-driven high-speed cars to virtual reality headsets. So, have we advanced? Did we make a big leap? The answer has two sides to it, one positive and the other negative. Positive on the note that we’ve captured most materialistic things the previous generations longed for but on the contrary, we have also lost our connection with one other, which till date is a necessity for species to thrive.

An interview with Ms Nisha, the Principal of Bachpan Play School and Academic Heights Public School, Madhapur, Hyderabad threw light on the current relationship scenario between parents and their children. She’s with the above-mentioned schools for the past eleven years and holds an experience of seventeen years in the field of education which she opted for, as a consequence of passion.

Due to the fast-moving lifestyle of the modern era, the pillars of these challenges of parenting in the 21st century have been bolstered. Parents are packed with their work pressure and children are often engaged in after-school activities which leave no room to sit and spend time with each other. The key challenge here is time management, with neither of the sides able to make time for the other out of their filled-up-to-the-brim schedules.

The improved economic situation has posed yet another challenge wherein parents expect their child to succeed in every field they undertake, which puts a lot of pressure on the kid itself. They are also exposed to a plethora of information at the click of a button in this technologically-driven world; but in reality, no one size fits all. This leads to the development of unrealistic expectations on the parent’s side. They are bombarded with so much information that it gets overloaded, increasing their perplexity in choosing the right path for their kids.

Time is the biggest constraint in parenting today. Work pressure should not affect a parent’s time with their child. They should be compassionate and loving towards their young ones. A small step could be indulging kids in household activities, instead of doing them alone. This strengthens the relationship while simultaneously being a fun activity. The focus should be on letting the child learn by making mistakes themselves and the child’s upbringing. Being overly instructive and commanding should be avoided.

Nutrition at home consists of mixed views as families have grown nuclear nowadays consisting of parents and one or two children. This allows the parents to focus more on what the kids eat but when they get too engrossed in their work or if it’s a busy day, a packed or fried meal is handed out to the kids which are harmful when consumed regularly.

Physical fitness of kids as well as of the parents should be promoted, especially in the course of this pandemic. Workout sessions and yoga at home should be adopted. Post-covid, parents with their children should visit nearby parks or sports complexes for fun and recreation. Today, even apartments offer a vast array of options such as swimming pools, game-rooms, gymnasiums, badminton courts that should be utilized to their fullest. Kids definitely love engaging in sports with their parents and structured fitness at schools intends to support this notion.

In conclusion, one’s child should be looked after well, and shouldn’t be left as they are paving way for them to grow fast without experiencing and enjoying. They should be praised often for their good deeds, counselled on bad and most importantly, they should be loved unconditionally. Parents should make time for their kids for it is what they only expect of their parents.

-Aditya Singh

To know more about all the sports and games in the kindergarten program, CLICK HERE

Image Source: Freepik

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