Parenting can be a difficult thing, especially when a parent is trying to be socially or politically correct.
Take the case of Amy Chua, more famously known as the Tiger Mom. She’s the mother of Sophia and Louisa. Can you believe she made one of her daughters practice the piano hour after hour?
Maybe that’s not too extreme, but many people thought the mom went too far when she wouldn’t let her daughter take a water break or even go to the bathroom. I agree; I think, in a way, that’s child abuse. To me, making your child play the piano for hours isn’t overly strict. It’s the forced practice without a break that gets to me. 
Louisa eventually mastered the “Little White Donkey” and played it at a recital weeks later. Her persistence paid off, but it was her mother that pushed her too far. 
Many Americans have come up with ways they feel would help us better compete with China from an educational standpoint. I think the things that are typical for American children to do could be improved with more supervision.
The Tiger Mom did not allow her children attend a sleepover, have a play date, participate in a school play, watch television, play computer games, choose their own activities, make anything less than an A, or play any instrument that wasn’t a violin or piano.
There are many parents who are very strict about what their kids can and cannot do. I can’t imagine how different my life would’ve been if my parents had made me sit endlessly doing something that I didn’t want to do.
I actually think my life would probably not improve from all the trauma of someone standing over me making demands all day. The things that Tiger Mom didn’t let her daughters do could’ve helped her children, if done properly. For example, attending a sleepover gives children a chance to bond and make lifelong friends.
Having a play date can have the same effect. Kids playing together would probably fun since they are not sitting alone. This helps override obesity issues because the more kids move, the more likely they will shed pounds and be more fit. Kids should just be kids and enjoy themselves.
I can’t think of one person I know personally that wouldn’t let his or her child be in a school play. School plays are fun. I was in one myself in the 6th grade. I got to interact with other students I didn’t have in my classes. Plus, being in a school play is a stepping stone to a career in acting. As we all know, actors make a lot of money.
Watching television and playing computer games can be beneficial for kids if monitored properly. There are some educational shows on television that can help children learn about the real world. Computer games can be fun for children because they often like competing with each other. They can help improve math, reading and science scores. Of course, television and computer games can be bad if children are using them too long or if they are doing things on them they aren’t supposed to be doing. It’s about checking on what kids are doing when they least expect it. It’s not that hard.
The styles of the average Chinese and American parents may be different but both want what’s best for their children. I personally don’t think it’s right for parents to override their children’s hopes and dreams. That’s assuming the children don’t want to do anything crazy.
Parents should be leaders in their children’s lives and guide them as they go along. They should tell them what they expect of them and keep them along a path to success. And honestly, there are some things that parents shouldn’t make their children do. At least the Tiger Mom and I can agree to disagree on this.
Christopher Webb is a junior majoring in business administration. He can be contacted at
[email protected].