The debate around the definition of a good parent has been heated during the last few decades. In the 1960s, the approach to such family related matters as upbringing children and parenting changed considerably. Psychologists and sociologists suggested that children need an open area for development, fewer restrictions and less control. This led to a crisis in the 1970s as children lost their natural respect to parents and became uncontrolled. Such state of affairs caused further debate regarding the notion of being a good parent and successful parenting strategies. In the following paper, an attempt to the define a good parent will be made. Overall, a good parent is a parent who can offer one’s child love and affection which is important for his or her normal development as a dignified and contented person, and is also successful in teaching one’s child important social skills to help find his or her place in the world; this person is also a good example for the child.
Nowadays, the debate around the meaning of a good parent is heated. Psychologists, sociologists and the other specialists are in constant research of new techniques which can be used by parents to raise a dignified citizen for society and a deserving person for the family. The concepts of an ideal parent offered by them are very different ranging from the person who allows one’s child everything he or she may want, and ending with a tyrant limiting one’s child in every area to raise a strong-willed person.
According to Epstein (2010, p. 46), “the best thing we can do for our children is to give them lots of love and affection”. Despite many differences in their approaches, the majority of specialists will agree that love and affection is a central criterion for becoming a good parent. Similar comments will be made by children themselves who will always say that the main thing they need from their parents is their love, attention and support. As a result, a conclusion can be made that a good parent is a loving parent.
Next, each child should find one’s place in the Universe which means that it is important for each person in this world to have work, or better, labor of love, which will help him or her provide for oneself and feel needed among the other people. Parents should educate their children, share their experience and help children evaluate the examples of the other people to assist them in making their choices in life (Petersen, 2010). Thus, a good parent is a parent who knows how to teach one’s children all the important things which will help them occupy their position in this world.
Finally, parents should be an example for their children in every area (Le Menestrel & Academy for Educational Development, 2003; Epstein, 2010). Of course, this is very difficult because a good parent should be successful in every field including family life, professional sphere and being an exemplary citizen, but without that being a good parent is impossible. Hence, a good parent is good example for one’s child.
In conclusion, a good parent can be defined as a loving person who surrounds one’s child with warmth and affection, trains the child to help find one’s place in the outer world, and is a good example of dignified citizen by him- or herself.
References
Epstein, R. (2010). What Makes a Good Parent?. Scientific American Mind, 21(5), 46.
Le Menestrel, S., & Academy for Educational Development, W. C. (2003). In the Good Old Summertime: What Do Parents Want for Their Kids? Washington: Academy for Educational Development.
Petersen, T. (2010). What makes a good parent? Nordic Journal Of Applied Ethics / Etikk I Praksis, 4(1), 23-37.