Every parent is different when it comes to raising and taking care of their children. Their approach could vary, but they all want the best for their kids.
According to the South China Morning Post, traditional Chinese parents -most especially mothers - tend to push their children to their breaking point. This is largely due to over-dominance and the quest for perfection. While the intention is good, this can eventually result in an unhealthy attitude.
For example, there are two different kids. One proves to be a high achiever and dedicates most of his/her free time to extracurricular activities. The parents have always actively encouraged the child to be their best. The only catch, however, is that the kid barely has time for friends.
The second child, on the other hand, is capable of achieving decent grades in school and even loves to take part in their fair share of after-school clubs. But unlike the kid mentioned above, he is far from being a high achiever. Nevertheless, his/her parents are supportive and dish out praise whenever he/she does something particularly well.
Laissez-faire - or commonly known as "hands-off" parenting - is rare in Chinese households. This is because it is usually perceived as parental abandonment. And for Chinese families, this is something they do not want to be involved with.
This is also the main reason why traditional Chinese parenting have proven to be strict and hands-on. Amy Chua's 2011 memoir Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother shone the international spotlight on this ultra-strict parenting style. Her book encapsulated the pushy, sometimes extreme, and demanding Chinese style of parenting.
As far as advocates of strict parenting are concerned, they believe no parent should deny, or pretend, that achievements do not matter. They believe it is only through persistence and making constant demands that they can push their children to improve. This may be true, but it is also a fact that perfectionist parenting, as practiced by most Chinese mothers, can push kids to a breaking point.
Tiger mothers often believe happiness is overrated, but love is not. They love their children so much that they would do anything to make sure their offspring are prepared for life, even at the expense of childhood happiness, Newstral reports.
They believe their hard work will eventually pay off and earn their child something more important: long-term happiness.
For Annie Cheung Yim-shuen, a spokeswoman for concern group Parents United of Hong Kong, the aforementioned is not a healthy attitude.
"Tiger mums are a formidable force. They demand their children to act and behave according to their wishes. We are not just talking about academically, but everything else in a child's life," Cheung says.
