Editorials

Problem parents

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-14 08:19

Many children are fed up with their parents. At least that's what an anti-parents discussion group on douban.com suggests.

The unusual group should set alarm bells ringing against a potential epidemic: children's detachment from their parents. The group has attracted 21,127 young souls who claim to have been ignored or hurt by their parents.

Many of today's parents are more protective of their children than their predecessors. No wonder, children today complain that they can't do anything without being under their parents' watchful eyes. Many say their parents are suffocating them by imposing too many disciplinary rules on them.

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Parents should get involved with their children's lives as a mentor, teacher and guide. But sometimes, the "helicopter" mums and dads, who keep hovering over their children and swoop down to help them at the slightest sign of trouble, may be doing a lot more than they should.

Keeping the lines of communication open between parents and children is important, though it's hard to find the right balance between being nosey and negligent.

But children do need a loving, stable and financially secure environment to grow up into healthy, intelligent adults.

Children cannot be blamed for making their parents overprotective and possessive. But parents and society are certainly responsible for what becomes of the children.

That's why the "anti-parents" group on douban.com needs our serious attention.

(China Daily 08/14/2010 page5)