Courageous Parenting

In my role as a Childcare Centre Director, I get to ‘be with’ families in times of great vulnerability.  I have been so inspired recently by courageous parents that I felt compelled to pay tribute with this blog.

Take, for example, that dreaded phone call from childcare saying your child has had an injury and you need to come quickly.  Or just imagine for a moment a call asking you to meet your child at the hospital.

This is every parent’s worst nightmare!

And yet, I have watched parents face this moment, with tears in their eyes, and praise their child for being so adventurous (even if it resulted in an ‘owie’) whilst hugging them like they would never let them go.

I take my hat off to this brand of courageous parenting.

These are the parents who let their children take risks like running faster, jumping farther or climbing higher.  Yes, there might be the odd accident, but we now know from research that these children will grow up to be decisive, brave and courageous.

Whilst research sings the praises of courageous parenting, it whispers a warning to helicopter parents who compulsively hover and intervene.  Studies indicate that this type of parenting often leads to children struggling with anxiety, depression, low self-confidence, and poor self-esteem. They just aren’t equipped to face the big, bad world because they haven’t been allowed to make their own decisions.

Here’s what Dr Jodie, from The Anxiety Clinic in Sydney, Australia has to say about Courageous Parenting and how to be one:

https://www.theanxietyclinic.com.au/blog/how-to-be-a-courageous-parent