Raising Thinking Children

The job of parenting today is harder than ever before.

Parents are so immersed in the day-to-day challenge of juggling work, family and kids – they can find themselves focused on controlling and micro-managing their kids lives in an attempt to make things easier and more efficient – for everyone. While this might be easier in the moment, it is undeniably detrimental to the emotional health of our children – not to mention the relationship we are building with them.

Imagine a child

• Who is trained to obey and to comply
• Who feels paralyzed by their inability to make decisions or navigate his world
• Who does not have the confidence to handle what life throws her way – without support from mother or father.
• Who is easily influenced by outside forces having no internal compass of his own

We all know them. We read about them in epidemic proportion; “20-somethings” who are failing to thrive because they were raised by Helicopter, Velcro, or Cockpit Parents. (Yes, we even have names for them.)

We at Parenting On Track™ say ENOUGH – it is time we raise Thinking Children.

Imagine a child

• Who is raised to think, to learn, to explore, to question and to challenge
• Who is invited to participate in every aspect of their family, including contributions, decision making, and family guidelines
• Who is encouraged to make choices and to learn from them – even when it means an inconvenienced parent

If we want to raise thinking children, we must provide them with opportunities to practice making decisions, making mistakes, solving problems and experiencing success.

If we want to raise thinking children who have a strong sense of belonging within the family and a deep sense of self worth out in the world, we must maintain an environment that is respectful and inclusive.

If we want to raise thinking children then we can not micro-manage every aspect of their life – after all, kids learn by experience.

If we want to raise thinking children – we must be thinking parents.

If we want our children, at 18, to throw open the doors and walk into life with confidence, enthusiasm and a strong connection to us, we must take the challenge of raising thinking children, not compliant ones.

• Yes, thinking children can be messy.
• Yes, thinking children will raise eyebrows.
• Yes, you will get the hairy-eyeball – but who cares, someone is already giving you the hairy-eyeball.
• And yes, raising a thinking child is worth it.

With a bit of training from the Parenting On Track™ program – along with an online coaching format to guide you through, answer your questions and offer encouragement along the way – you will have the tools to raise, independent, thinking, confident and enthusiastic kids AND get out of the house on time – with smiles on all of your faces.