Are there any parenting rules that allow parents to raise their children peacefully?
Bloggers, coaches, spiritual trainers, teachers, psychologists, and influencer moms are the main figures dispensing advice on social media and in specialized magazines. Fundamentally, there are two schools of thought: the first, which I’ll call the concessionists, is represented by those who allow their children freedom of expression, from choosing the color of their socks to summer vacations; the second, which I’ll call the prohibitionists, includes those who oppose any kind of decision proposed by their children. In this jumble, it becomes truly difficult to find a balance, but as always, the solution, which is not absolute but partial and personal, lies in common sense.
Trying to analyze the issue while distancing oneself from extremism, I think the only advice we can give today’s parents for raising their children peacefully revolves around the quality of time they dedicate to them and, consequently, how to fill their children’s free time.
Allowing children to experience the outdoors, to embark on adolescent adventures, and to unleash their imaginations could be a first piece of advice. Naturally, I would suggest avoiding allowing them to use cell phones, although I understand the anxiety of parents who fear losing control over their children.
The second piece of advice is to encourage their children to read, trying to transform that book, often considered boring, into a magic key to accessing fantastic worlds, unlikely stories, and timeless heroes.
A last, but not least, piece of advice is to introduce children to any kind of sport, not necessarily to win, but to work as a team, boost their self-esteem, face their fears, and learn the values of loyalty and respect that only sport can teach.
I have no other advice to give parents, but I firmly believe that even a little boredom can help children and adolescents approach their growth journey calmly and serenely, finding opportunities for personal reflection in moments of inactivity.
