Is Elephant Parenting or Tiger Parenting Right for You?
Should you be more like an Elephant or more like a Tiger when it comes to parenting? I was on Good Morning America this morning to talk about parenting styles and what’s best for Moms, Dads and their children.
Is Elephant Parenting a good approach for parents to take versus the more strict disciplinarian “Tiger Mom”?
The elephant mom style is one grounded in the belief that children, above all, need to be nurtured and protected, especially while very young versus the ultra strict “do it now, get it done, get it right” approach of the tiger mom. Which approach is best to use? The truth is that every child is different and children need different approaches as they grow. There are moments that call for both approaches but most of our best parenting is more nuanced and falls somewhere in between.
Remember; there is no perfect way to parent and there is no “one” type of child. When I’m presenting to parents I tell them, it’s not about being perfect, it’s about being present. Your child will need different approaches from you at different times.
Do you think people can get too focused on adhering to a particular style of parenting?
I feel that when people become so focused on one particular parenting approach—especially when it falls so far into the extreme, we can miss some opportunities to provide our children with exactly what they need and what we frankly believe is the right thing to give. A parenting philosophy can guide you but my belief is that most children need a soft place to land when things go wrong and most children need a nudge in the right direction when they’re not giving their all or with something new. We need to really tune in and listen to our children and tune in and listen to our gut—and where those converge is the sweet spot of parenting.
And you say parents shouldn’t worry too much about “screwing up” their kids, right?
Everyone is going to screw up. Again, it’s about being present, not perfect. But the best thing? If we mess up, parenting provides opportunities for do-overs. So don’t despair! If you don’t like how you handled a particular parenting situation, do something different the next time.
What approach do YOU think is best? I’d love to hear from you here, on Facebook or on Twitter!