Overparenting Part 1

Hi Steve,

I agree that there are millions of children who are able to play organized youth sports without any issues of overzealous parents. Unfortunately there are still quite a few children who have to play under the pressure of their parents demanding that they WIN, but not being told to have FUN and then shoot for the win.

I’m not a parent. However I do have nieces and nephews ages 4, 8, 10, & 11. I too just like anyone else want them to be very successful in all their endeavors but not to the point of bushing them to hard. Now grant it we (their parents & I) demand that they do their leveled best and after they’ve done their best we then encourage them, win or lose.

Manners and respect are key elements missing in the children of today. I still believe in some of the old fashion rules such as a child not calling an adult by their first names. My nieces and nephew know to call every adult Mr. & Ms._______ They will never walk up to you and say hello Steve. WHAT????!!!! No little child it's "Hello Mr. Steve"!!!
I admit that yes the four of them have every toy and gadget imaginable.
The toys and gadgets are not given to them to get them to be our best buddies however the toys and gadgets are earned by them doing very well in school, being well behaved, and continuing to be respectful. Now grant it those items were given as a reward/gift, but trust me when either of them doesn’t do as they should, the toys and gadgets are taken away immediately.

I know there are millions of parents and aunties who don’t over parent, who teach their children to behave, and I’m sure they feel just as I do… Wishing millions more would do the same.

Chellena..

Very good discussion - however, there was a very large amount of drawing generalizations from isolated incidents.

Example: Yes, some parents are overzealous at little league games, and those are the ones who we hear about on the news, but millions upon millions of kids play little league, soccer, and other sports without either "over" or "under" parenting.

Fact: The national dropout rate is NOT at an all time high. Actually, it's close to an all time low. "Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics."