Page 101 - 17-16 Aug 5 2020
P. 101
1
Parenting Traps
and Myths
By Rifka Schonfeld, Director of S.O.S.
(Strategies For Optimum Success)
Q:
them in developing the skills that will
put them at an advantage. When par-
ents set everything up for their kids,
they lose the chance to learn to do
A: According to Dr. Darlene Sweet- puts them at a disadvantage. On the
land and Dr. Ron Stolberg, and their other hand, when parents assist their
new book, Teaching Kids to Think: children in developing skills so they
can gain those advantages them-
- selves, their children truly enter the
if you answer yes adult world ahead of the game. With
to any of the statements above, you the pressures so strong in this gener-
might be falling into parent traps.
What are parent traps? Sweetland
and Stolberg explain that a parent
traps and then outline how you can
are drawn to solve problems for their work to avoid them. I’ve summarized
children or rescue them in a way that
-
No one likes to see
his or her child struggle. Therefore,
harder than their children to solve
their children’s dilemmas or prob- their children when their children
lems. Of course, you want to assist are hurt, frustrated or angry. If we
your child in any way you can. The dif- constantly rescue our children, they
ference is in whether you are giving never learn to help themselves. If
