Putting on the Thinking Cap for our Children

Should we be spoon feeding our children or should we push the limit and let them think a little more? This was the question that I was asking myself when I was revising an assignment with Ethan. I don’t think we can strike a balance and we are always at a difficult position. I always feel like I’m in a dilemma. If I help him, then it means I’m spoon feeding him, therefore he will always rely on me for answers. If I don’t help him and provide him with the guidance, am I being too cruel to him considering that he is still a young boy?

In the process, I thought to myself that what we need is to help the children with the concepts. If they understand the concepts, with some guidance (ie; not giving them answers but guiding them and provide some hints), our children should be able to learn and slowly, they should be able to learn to be independent. This is not easy and we have to put in extra effort in helping them. Its not a mum’s job, but its our job, as mum and dad.

About Patrick Pang

Father of 3. Husband. Global Shaper. Shares parenting experiences & life as a dad juggling around work, family & community.

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  • FearlessDad

    I couldn’t agree more, I really struggle with this and their schooling. Too much time at school and they seem to loose the ability to think independently or start play themselves, always waiting for me to initiate. It’s a very frustrating balancing act.

    • http://twitter.com/patrickpang Patrick Pang

      Hey FearlessDad, it surely is. I do hope to share more as my child enters formal education.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/William-Medina/1048179109 William Medina

    We should let them like a little more, push the limit so they can learn. Of course being a dad i know kids can push our limits and we want the ordeal to end. But in the end, we should push them, chase when we are gone all they have is the things we aught them stuffed between the ears.

  • http://twitter.com/TheLovingParent The Loving Parent

    I think our challenge is to encourage them to find the answers from the inside, not impose the answers upon them from the outside. This is the same for school homework as it is for bigger philosophical or spiritual questions. Easier said than done, of course, but just being aware of the difference is a good start! I wrote about it here actually http://thelovingparent.com/if-im-naughty-do-i-go-to-hell/.