Parenting and Intelligence

When I was in primary school in Russia, I had a classmate named Anna Famberg. She looked dumpy, got bad grades and had behavioral problems. Then, in sixth grade, she came back. She was elegant, self-possessed, and got good grades. And her name was Anna Filipovich.

This shows a difference that good parenting makes. Obviously her domestic situation changed, and she changed with it for the better. I have no idea as to the exact change that took place; but a change in the last name obviously signifies a change in domestic situation.

There can be any number of reasons why a child would thrive. But one of the best ways in which this takes place is through good parenting practices. This happened to Anna. She went from being parented badly to being parented better. Once again, I have no idea as to the exact manner in which this happened; but change in last name signifies that that is what happened indeed.

Much has been studied about parenting; much has been written about parenting. On this issue we see an ongoing conflict between more liberal parents who want their children to thrive and be happy and the more conservative parents who want to use the rod. On this matter I am on the side of the liberals. I treat my daughter as an intelligent form of life. When she does something wrong, I explain to her why it is wrong, and she does not do it any more.

So far she has been a happy, thriving and well-behaved child who gets excellent grades at school.

Plants thrive when they are watered; and children thrive when they are loved. We see this all around us. The parent must be loving to his child, and he must treat the child as an intelligent form of life. The result will be a good relationship between the parent and the child, and the child doing well.