Book 12 Rules for Life : Step-6
Published: 2018 & Pages: 448
14x Step Learning
Step-6
Parental Friendship
If you’ve ever seen parents ignoring a child causing chaos, you might wonder if they’re bad parents or if they have a clever strategy to let the child tire themselves out. Approaches to raising children have changed over the years due to debates about nature versus nurture and our instincts. In the past, some believed our ancestors were sweet and gentle, blaming civilization for our violent tendencies. Now, we understand that people are born with aggressive instincts and must learn to be kind and civilized.
The author thinks it’s the parents’ responsibility to teach their naturally aggressive kids how to become well-adjusted adults. This is the fifth rule: parents need to raise responsible and likable children. It can be tough because no one wants to be the “bad guy.” Kids are aggressive because they naturally test boundaries, so parents need to set clear limits.
Three key methods of good parenting are:
- Limiting rules to a few basic principles.
- Using only the necessary level of discipline
- Working together as team with your partner.
Think of it as teaching kids to be better early on, so they won’t learn the hard way later.
10x Short Questions
1. Why might parents sometimes ignore a child causing chaos?
They might have a strategy to let the child tire themselves out.
2. What has caused changes in approaches to raising children over the years?
Debates about nature versus nurture and our instincts.
3. What did some people in the past believe about our ancestors' behavior?
They believed our ancestors were sweet and gentle, blaming civilization for our violent tendencies.
4. Why is it important for parents to teach their naturally aggressive kids to be well-adjusted adults?
To help them become responsible and likable individuals.
5. Why can it be challenging for parents to set limits for their children?
No one wants to be the “bad guy,” and kids naturally test boundaries.
6. What is the first key method for good parenting mentioned in the paragraph?
Limiting rules to a few basic principles.
7. Why is it important for consequences to be clear when disciplining children?
Effective and fair discipline requires clear consequences.
8. What should the punishment be based on when disciplining a child?
The severity should only be as necessary for the child to learn not to break the rule again.
9. Why is it important for parents to work as a team in parenting?
Children may try to play one parent against the other, so a unified front is crucial.
10. How does the paragraph suggest parents should view teaching their children to be better?
Parents should view it as teaching children to be better early on to avoid them learning the hard way later.
10x Short Questions
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