Parents transforming kids into mini robots

For the new-generation parenting has become indeed a full-time job. With more and more parents opting for single kids and having kids much later in life they are transforming them into mini robots.
They try to protect them all the time and dictate everything to them starting from what they are supposed to do when they wake up in the morning to what they want to be when they grow up.
Parenting a full-time job
Then why has parenting become such a big thing? To this Rajani Gandhi, mother of a nine- year- old boy says, "It is not always the parents who are to be blamed; rather it is the whole system which is to be blamed. There is a whole lot of pressure on the kids on studies followed by admission to colleges and extra-curricular activities which is leaving them with practically no time to play around. Clinical psychologist, Seema Hingorrany says, "Parents should remember that they are not robots, but human kids who can falter."
Balance in parents
Many mothers who don't have an identity of her own sometimes want to live their dreams through their kids and hence end up breathing through their neck. With no harms intended parents try to control every small thing that a child does. If the child does not perform up to their expectations they take it as a personal failure.
Then there are parents who have a full fledged career and hence they feel guilty and so when they are back from work they want to concentrate on nothing, but give their full attention to the kids. To this Seema Hingorrany adds, "Parent, shouldn't project their fears and insecurities on to their child, causing pressure and stress by coaxing them to score high marks and join umpteen number of classes."
Don't bubble wrap your child
Student counselor, Sunayna Chatterjee says, "If you try to bubble wrap your child all the time and give him the total attention you actually end up doing more harm than good. I seriously feel that today's parents are over-doing the parenting stuff by attending workshops which are more like classrooms on parenting. They consult experts for every single thing rather than relying on their common sense."
Kids or scheduled slaves
Parents today have single kids and hence they put their whole concentration on one child which is becomes more like an obsession. Kids become scheduled slaves jumping from one activity to another, doing things what their parents want them to do and not what they prefer. Sunayna adds, "Parents need to understand that every child is different and every child has different talents and draw backs. It is time that they appreciate them on their talents and stop pestering them on their drawbacks. So just chill and be happy with your child."
Side-effects of hyper parenting
Common side-effects, like headaches, stomach aches and sinus are common signs due to stress. Many children cannot fathom what's bothering them. They store stress in their brain, which gets physically manifested into physiological symptoms.
Tips for parents:
- Follow the middle path. Don’t be overtly strict or lenient.
- Don’t have fixed rules for everything. Change as per the requirement.
- Don’t keep your child away from television or gadgets completely. But don’t over do it. Know where to draw the line.
- Encourage your child to be a social being.
- Understand your child’s potential and guide him accordingly.
- Be your child’s guide, but not his master.