Perfect parenting
Human beings have been reproducing since year dot, yet there’s still so much anxiety around parenting. Certainly more than there was in our parents’ or grandparents’ day when it was just assumed you knew what to do and you got on with it. Of course, there wasn’t nearly so much information about raising little ones as there is now, and maybe that’s the problem. Just which one of the literally tens of thousands of parenting guides available offers the best parenting advice?
The good news is, it is possible to analyse the impressive body of research conducted over the past 50 years and identify those childrearing practices that consistently produce better results – that is, functional family relationships and happy, healthy well-adjusted kids. In fact, US researchers have done exactly that and what they’ve come up with is “The Parents’ Ten”, 10 skills listed roughly in order from most to least important, that predict favourable parenting outcomes.
These skills are:
- Love and affection
- Stress management
- Relationship skills
- Autonomy and independence
- Education and learning
- Life skills
- Behavioural management
- Health
- Religion
- Safety
For an explanation of what each competency involves, read here the article that appeared in Scientific American Mind. You can also learn more about more effective parenting at Mind & Its Potential 2011. There are still places available in Dr Michael Carr-Gregg’s post-conference workshop Identifying the teenager at risk.
