Footy training, music lessons, swim squad, dance rehearsals, maths tutoring, leadership programs… the list goes on. Some children these days seem to have every minute of their day accounted for.
But who sets these busy schedules? The child or the parent? Some parents are living out their own dreams through their children – and may now even be aware they’re doing it.
A Dutch study, published last year, provided the first evidence to suggest that some parents hope their children can redeem their broken dreams.
In a blog post commenting on the study, Dr Justin Smith said that pushing your child to achieve your unfulfilled dreams sends them two harmful messages:
- The world revolves around their schedule.
- Their parents care more about their activities than anything else; so their success is important to keep everyone happy.
So take a step back next time you find yourself applauding loudly at an eisteddfod or shouting from the sidelines at footy. Are you pushing too hard? And why?
Dan Haesler suggests that telling your kids they’re great all the time can also set them up for failure. Take a sneak peak at Dan Haesler’s message, which you can hear in person at this year’s Boarding Schools Expo.
