Children’s literature plays a significant role in providing valuable insights into how individuals should parent their young ones. More importantly, it helps parents in having a better understanding of their children and how to make the best out of them. Notably, the upbringing of children appears to be among the most complicated tasks that parents encounter. Nonetheless, current scholars have written numerous works concerning children, making important contributions to the knowledge of children and their literature.
Particularly, three recent articles have provided detailed arguments about raising responsible children. To begin with, Michaeleen Doucleff, a scientist and the author of “Hunt, Gather, Parent,” states that “in many cultures around the world, parents do not struggle to raise helpful, kind kids” (Doucleff, 2021). However, the writer asserts that American parents do the opposite of what these cultures do to nurture cooperative children. After conducting four-year research on how the Maya, Hadzabe, and Inuit instill helpfulness in their children, Doucleff (2021) made two important suggestions that can help American parents. First, parents should allow toddlers and young children to help with some household chores. Second, parents should be willing to request their children to perform some tasks daily.
Doucleff emphasizes that children are naturally helpful and cooperative but are often denied that chance by their parents. In an interview with Rachel Martin, Doucleff reveals that her relationship with her daughter, Rosy, has since changed as she learned a lot from the study. She attests that the approach she recommended “is really about minimizing conflict and tension and maximizing cooperation” (Martin, 2021). Subsequently, Amy Morin, a psychotherapist, writes about the four forms of parenting; authoritarian, permissive, authoritative, and uninvolved. Morin insists that parents should embrace the authoritative style because it fosters a positive relationship with a child and allows one to establish authority healthily, unlike the rest of the parenting styles. The author adds that empirical findings have established that “Children raised with authoritative discipline tend to be happy and successful” (Morin, 2019). In essence, these three materials fit into the theme of children’s literature and definition of childhood by providing approaches to nurturing helpful, cooperative, responsible, and happy children.
References
Doucleff, M. (2021). Are we raising unhelpful, bossy kids? Here’s the fix. NPR. Web.
Martin, R. (2021). “Hunt, Gather, Parent” Offers lessons collected around the world. NPR. Web.
Morin, A. (2019). 4 types of parenting styles and their effects on kids. Verywell Family; Web.