Anthony Seldon, the Master of Wellington, given the title "How do you raise a winner", instead writes an outstanding piece on "How to be a good parent" in the latest edition of the Independent School Parent Magazine.
In this much-needed counterblast to the "Tiger Mother" approach to parenting, Seldon argues:
"The key to being a good parent is learning how to let go. It is important to realise that you don’t “own” your child, but rather that they are their own person, with their own thoughts, feelings and passions.
The good parent will spend attentive time with the child, the father as well as the mother, and help the child to think through and develop their own thoughts, feelings and opinions. They will help the child through the key decisions in their life; including choice of school, choice of subjects and choice of university, rather than subtly making the child do what the parent wants.
Good parents help their children to become autonomous and independent. Bad parenting prevents a child from becoming autonomous and fully independent, with life-long damage, not least in the way that those children will in turn bring up their own children."
For the full article: 'How do you raise a winner?' Independent School Parent Spring 2013, p17
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