Should You Choose To Be A Tiger Parent
Not to generalize, but as a parent, your style of parenting would typically lean towards being strict or being friendly. While the parenting method you choose is entirely up to you, taking too strict an approach, or what is also known as ‘tiger’ parenting, might not always be the best way to go despite the fact that it’s not without its pros and cons.
Let’s explore.
The Basics Of Tiger Parenting
Tiger parenting can be defined as a harsh and rather strict and demanding way of parenting via which parents use authority and fear to make their children obedient and compliant (1). Tiger parents typically have very high expectations from their children in all aspects of life and use harsh means to ensure their kids achieve what they want them to.
What Makes Tiger Parenting Different
Very similar to authoritarian parenting, tiger parenting differs in the sense that it also provides space for affection. A tiger parent may be a stickler for rules, but they’ll go to any extent to provide for their kids. It’s a mix of affection and control.
Signs That Indicate You’re A Tiger Parent
Well, if you’re not sure whether your type of parenting can be termed as tiger parenting, these signs of the latter can help you:
- You rarely allow your children to sleepovers or hangouts with their friends.
- You expect your child to excel academically and punish them severely in case they don’t get the top grades.
- You care more about the standards and rules you uphold and want your children to live up to your high standards.
- For you, how they achieve isn’t important as long as they achieve; your self-esteem is more important than what they’re capable of.
- Your child refrains from telling you the truth because they fear you.
- You don’t trust your children and order them around to get things done.
- Rules and regulations matter more to you than keeping your kids happy.
- Your children work more and play less because your authority scares them.
Advantages Of Tiger Parenting
It might sound like tiger parenting is too harsh to have many benefits, but that’s not entirely true. Here are the pros of this type of parenting:
- Tiger parents help in inculcating a sense of self-discipline in children through the laying of strict rules.
- Despite the lingering fear of punishment, children learn to explore their potential and achieve their goals.
- Tiger parents teach their kids how to be responsible through their harshness.
- A tiger parent aims to ensure their kids grow up to be successful and happy adults, which helps children in becoming focused and goal-oriented.
Disadvantages Of Tiger Parenting
Despite having the best interest of their kids in mind, tiger parenting can result in some disadvantages. These are:
- Children can often feel pressured and overburdened.
- They fear making mistakes because of the punishments they might have to face.
- The pressure of being perfect always can hinder their growth.
- Since tiger parents are controlling, the child can become dependent on their parents.
- Often tiger parenting can cause negative emotions during cognitive development in kids.
- It can also hamper creativity due to the extra emphasis on rules.
- In the worst cases, the pressure can cause anxiety and depression.
How Tiger Parenting Affects Children According To Research
According to research, tiger parenting isn’t the best method of parenting. Studies show that tiger parenting is associated with negative parenting traits and does not help develop healthy and successful adults (2). According to experts, the best form of parenting is supportive parenting, which emphasizes creating a patient and nurturing environment for the child to learn and grow without fear. Besides, those raised this way also deal with failure better, getting up again to achieve what they set out to.
To conclude, though the parenting style you adopt is a personal choice, we’d advise opting for a healthy mix of tiger and supportive parenting so your child can grow up to be both happy and successful.
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