Shaping Young Minds
Not one person on the planet was raised exactly like another, even
between siblings. Many parents may have many similarities or extreme differences
but the fact is; every parent has their own unique parenting style and every
child learns differently. In “Why Chinese mothers are superior” the author, Amy
Chua, demonstrates her very strict parenting values, which may not be the best
form of parenting.
Amy Chua beings with a list of activities Chinese mothers would not let
their children participate in. The list includes; have a play date or sleepover,
play any instrument other than the piano or violin, not playing these
instruments, chose their own extracurricular activities, to not be the number
one student other than in gym and drama. Many of the actions that are not
allowed to be performed such as having a play date or sleep over greatly
diminished the amount of social interactions a child needs in their life. Social
interactions are needed to become a successful person as an adult: yes, they may
be successful in school academically as children but in twenty years the once
excelling child is now a struggling adult. Being socially intelligent does not
just benefit people in their personal lives; it also greatly affects their job
placement and performance. In adulthood one may get an interview based on
academic performance but when it comes to the interview process who the gets the
job? The straight A student who couldn’t make eye contact, was not a team player
without manners; or the above average student enjoyed helping others and would
make the office a team environment? The person who would get the job is the one
who grew up with social etiquette and could work well with others.
Within the list of what children are and are not permitted to participate
in the author also discusses how the activities of the children will be
dependent on the mother. The mother decides on piano or violin and absolutely no
sports. If their mother is constantly making all of the children’s decisions for
them, then the child will always rely on the mother to make any decision, and
that is no way to survive as an adult. Children need to make decisions and fail
and succeed on their own or they will never learn.
The author, Amy, also discusses a situation in which she disrespects her
mother and her father than calls Amy “garbage. The author goes into detail about
how this situation was advantageous for her and will call her own daughter
garbage when out of line. Children do not benefit from feeling ashamed by their
parents, which is how Amy described feeling after the incident. Parents are
there to be supportive of the children and comfort them when need be, of course
children should be disciplined when need be but they should never feel ashamed
by them. If children believe their parents are ashamed of them they wouldn’t
come to their parents when they need help or if they are in trouble because the
lack of comfort.
Amy Chua’s “Why Chinese Mothers are superior” makes an attempt to show
that the strictness. However, being raised in a household that decides what a
child will or will not be doing, lack of social experience, degrading them with
negativity, and not letting a child make their own choices makes for a good
child but not a good adult. Success in parenting is being able to raise a
contributing member to society when the child grows up which does not happen
being raised in that environment. Therefore, Amy Chua may be raising a
successful child but will not be raising a successful adult.
Not one person on the planet was raised exactly like another, even
between siblings. Many parents may have many similarities or extreme differences
but the fact is; every parent has their own unique parenting style and every
child learns differently. In “Why Chinese mothers are superior” the author, Amy
Chua, demonstrates her very strict parenting values, which may not be the best
form of parenting.
Amy Chua beings with a list of activities Chinese mothers would not let
their children participate in. The list includes; have a play date or sleepover,
play any instrument other than the piano or violin, not playing these
instruments, chose their own extracurricular activities, to not be the number
one student other than in gym and drama. Many of the actions that are not
allowed to be performed such as having a play date or sleep over greatly
diminished the amount of social interactions a child needs in their life. Social
interactions are needed to become a successful person as an adult: yes, they may
be successful in school academically as children but in twenty years the once
excelling child is now a struggling adult. Being socially intelligent does not
just benefit people in their personal lives; it also greatly affects their job
placement and performance. In adulthood one may get an interview based on
academic performance but when it comes to the interview process who the gets the
job? The straight A student who couldn’t make eye contact, was not a team player
without manners; or the above average student enjoyed helping others and would
make the office a team environment? The person who would get the job is the one
who grew up with social etiquette and could work well with others.
Within the list of what children are and are not permitted to participate
in the author also discusses how the activities of the children will be
dependent on the mother. The mother decides on piano or violin and absolutely no
sports. If their mother is constantly making all of the children’s decisions for
them, then the child will always rely on the mother to make any decision, and
that is no way to survive as an adult. Children need to make decisions and fail
and succeed on their own or they will never learn.
The author, Amy, also discusses a situation in which she disrespects her
mother and her father than calls Amy “garbage. The author goes into detail about
how this situation was advantageous for her and will call her own daughter
garbage when out of line. Children do not benefit from feeling ashamed by their
parents, which is how Amy described feeling after the incident. Parents are
there to be supportive of the children and comfort them when need be, of course
children should be disciplined when need be but they should never feel ashamed
by them. If children believe their parents are ashamed of them they wouldn’t
come to their parents when they need help or if they are in trouble because the
lack of comfort.
Amy Chua’s “Why Chinese Mothers are superior” makes an attempt to show
that the strictness. However, being raised in a household that decides what a
child will or will not be doing, lack of social experience, degrading them with
negativity, and not letting a child make their own choices makes for a good
child but not a good adult. Success in parenting is being able to raise a
contributing member to society when the child grows up which does not happen
being raised in that environment. Therefore, Amy Chua may be raising a
successful child but will not be raising a successful adult.