Saturday, February 11, 2012

parenting

Despite the annoyingly-catch-your-eye-title, this article was good:
I'd recommend reading it, and watching the video in the middle of it that expands on the ideas, if you're into that sort of thing.....  

En bref: it's written by an American mom living in France, who noticed that French children did not act like American children. She began to study the differences, find that other such studies had been done, and she wrote a book.  I think it'd be an interesting read.

I'll highlight the differences.  The French parents view themselves as authorities. {Crazy concept, no?  Apparently American parents do not.} They see their role as establishing a frame with firm boundaries where their children have freedom within.  French parents place a higher value [than American parents] on
- teaching delayed gratification  (learning to wait, patience, etc...)
- independent play (connected to...)
- adult time
- trying all kinds of food
I'm sure the book has more.  She wrote nicely, and I think it would be an éclairante et agréable read.

The ideas aren't revolutionary, and I think they follow biblical values.  But perhaps the majority of American parents won't accept these values on the basis of them being "Christian", but would be willing to try them as "French"?  Hmmm.

1 comment:

Ju said...

thanks for posting that article! I'd heard about the book & wanted to read more about it. Have you read the book? I like the principle! Will be trying to go even more in that direction :)