Best gift for kids - parents' strong marriage
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 3:13 pm
Published on Jun 26, 2012
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Sto ... 14996.html
MUCH has been said about Singaporean parents' (over)emphasis on offering their children the best education possible, in a bid to give them a head start in life.
But education is a means to an end. Have parents considered and defined the 'end' and how they see success for their children?
Success, by many parents' definition, seems to centre only on academic achievement, in the hope that it will land their children good jobs with high pay. But does success revolve only around the themes of attaining wealth, material gain, achievement and status?
I would like to offer another perspective to what parents can give their children; one that is often neglected - the quality of their marital relationship.
According to research, a healthy marriage brings many benefits to children. They are more likely to succeed academically, are physically and emotionally healthier, are less prone to behavioural problems in school and delinquent behaviours, and have better relationships with their parents.
Social science research confirms that children grow up happy and healthy in homes where their parents are in stable and strong marriages.
A strong marriage is an intangible and priceless gift to children, which also begets a strong family unit - the bedrock of every society.
The trappings of a successful life charted for our children become hollow without the substance of a strong marriage. After all, our marriage is where our children draw their intrinsic life lessons on relationships, communication and the works.
Agnes Goh (Ms)
Parenting Specialist
Focus on the Family Singapore
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Sto ... 14996.html
MUCH has been said about Singaporean parents' (over)emphasis on offering their children the best education possible, in a bid to give them a head start in life.
But education is a means to an end. Have parents considered and defined the 'end' and how they see success for their children?
Success, by many parents' definition, seems to centre only on academic achievement, in the hope that it will land their children good jobs with high pay. But does success revolve only around the themes of attaining wealth, material gain, achievement and status?
I would like to offer another perspective to what parents can give their children; one that is often neglected - the quality of their marital relationship.
According to research, a healthy marriage brings many benefits to children. They are more likely to succeed academically, are physically and emotionally healthier, are less prone to behavioural problems in school and delinquent behaviours, and have better relationships with their parents.
Social science research confirms that children grow up happy and healthy in homes where their parents are in stable and strong marriages.
A strong marriage is an intangible and priceless gift to children, which also begets a strong family unit - the bedrock of every society.
The trappings of a successful life charted for our children become hollow without the substance of a strong marriage. After all, our marriage is where our children draw their intrinsic life lessons on relationships, communication and the works.
Agnes Goh (Ms)
Parenting Specialist
Focus on the Family Singapore