In our parents’ time, education was much stricter than it is today. So, obviously, when grandpa and grandma see their grandchildren grow up, they adapt to new parental methods of education. But what do they really think?
“When we were children, the rules were stricter, we had to pay attention to good manners and be polite. We didn’t have a screen or a telephone and we were reprimanded as soon as we didn’t listen to our parents , that we came home a little later than expected or that we had bad grades at school”, confides Patrick, grandfather of seven grandchildren. Today, parenting styles have evolved. There are those who follow the Montessori method, but also dolphin parents, jellyfish, helicopter or tiger parents… Sometimes, certain types of parenting give our elders the impression of a more permissive education. But what do they really think of this development in our modern society?
First of all, for grandparents, today’s education is marked by a radical change from their own childhood. The rules were much stricter in most families, but love and respect were just as present. While most of them welcome a gentler and more caring approach, others believe that parents have become a little more permissive, with limits that may seem less clear to children.
Grandparents also worry about the emergence of screens and other electronic gadgets, which have consequences on their development, whereas in their time, they spent most of their time having fun outdoors. Our elders also believe that “Parents should put less pressure on their children“. Because nowadays, the emphasis is often placed on academic success, performance, and the diversity of extracurricular activities, which, in the long term, can tend to stress young schoolchildren.
Despite their concerns, grandparents appreciate the growing trend toward more caring parenting focused on listening to children’s emotional needs. They recognize the importance of cultivating confidence and self-esteem from a young age. And although some aspects of contemporary education may confuse them, grandparents are also open to new approaches that promote child development. They are curious to learn about alternative educational methods, such as game-based learning and emotional education. Grandparents also have a lot to pass on to their grandchildren, and most all recognize that parents today are much more involved than in their time, especially fathers. That said, grandparents and parents have one thing in common: love for their children.