A Psychologist Explains: These Parental Techniques Produce Inept Adults

Sep 15, 2018 by apost team

Child psychologist Michael Winterhoff notes that for over 20 years many parents have been raising their children to become dependent adults. Since about 1995, more and more electronic gadgets have entered our daily lives - from televisions, to computers, to smart phones. Since these devices have now become a true facet of our lives, we can see how they affect children's upbringing in a negative way.

The current pace of life overwhelms many parents, meaning that they increasingly neglect parental techniques and spend less and less time with their children. They are no longer having to respond to just their children when they are home but also to their smart phone, laptop, and other devices. As soon as a child begins to whine, they are given a phone to play with or sat in front of the TV - the main objective here is to get a moment's rest. The child will become seemingly calm with the help of a device in hand or their favorite TV characters, but the real problem is never dealt with. This phenomenon was confirmed by the BLIKK-Study (Coping with Learning Behavior, Intelligence, Competent Communication) from 2016. The study shows that 75% of children between the ages of two and four are given smart phones for about 30 minutes a day to play games.

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Of course, this behavior has a negative effect on children. They can get anything they want by being a little whiney. As a result, they never develop a high tolerance for frustration, and, even as adults, they are not able to handle difficult situations well. The stress associated with being uncomfortable can later be triggered by very small things, like having to stand in line at the grocery store. This quality is very significant and relevant for us later in life. Without it how can we handle the stresses of everyday life, especially at work? Especially when we are told to sit near someone that we really don't like, but have to be friendly to?

Of course, parents should respond to the needs of infants and not neglect it, because they can't really articulate their needs. This criticism is aimed more at parents, who prefer to use a quick solution to calm their children, such as giving them what they want instead of just listening to them whine. And if we are being completely honest with ourselves, we know that we are all guilty of this behavior. However, we should be aware of the fact that some of these uncomfortable and annoying situations just have to be endured instead of quickly fixed without thinking of the consequences.

Do you know someone who too often parks their child in front of a TV, computer, or tablet to make them be quiet? Show them this article! Perhaps it could help or spark an interesting discussion.