Unconventional Parenting

Unconventional Parenting

Introduction

Many aspects of the fundamental human lifestyle have been affected by modernization. Advances in medicine, telecommunication, language, and socialization seem to be affecting these fundamental processes of human growth. One of the most crucial processes that has been affected is parenting. Naturally, parents subscribe to a conventional protocol where birth is followed by inoculation, weaning follows the emergence of milk teeth, and education as well as learning are predetermined and structured. However, some parents seem to have designed a child-focused parenting protocol where the child’s choices come under consideration in their development process. This essay reviews the parenting advice two articles provide along the child-focused and conventional protocols.

Off-grid Parenting

The Daily Mail in the UK published the first article in November 2018. It depicts a couple in Brighton with three children who have chosen the off-grid system of parenting that is more child-focused (Corner, 2018). Instead of going to a medical center such a hospital to get advice and assistance with birth, the couple got all their children at home. They even allowed their children shed their cord off naturally as nature intended. Inoculation was not an option for this couple who also home school their eldest children. The children wean themselves while learning what they want and when they desire it instead of the forced process that is common on structured conventional parenting systems.

This system of parenting has its merits and demerits, but they shift according to the perspective from which the entire parenting process is viewed. Using the children as the point of reference in a modern setting, such unorthodox parenting poses many health and cognitive risks. Modern life exposes young children to all sort of pathogens making immunization critical. Additionally, getting children at home could be risky in case of birth defects or complicated birth processes such as the need for emergency C-section. Further along, if any of the children has learning disabilities or special gifts and talents, the untrained parents could never identify it early enough to act fast. The children could also get developmental or behavioral problems due to lack of interaction with other children.

However, the unorthodox, off-grid parenting system also has its merits. It obviously concentrates on the individual child meaning the child-parent bonds are stronger than those in the conventional parenting setting. Additionally, the child’s decision when to wean itself off breast milk means that such children develop significantly better immunity due to consuming more breast milk (Corner, 2018). Research shows that many modern children develop behavioral, cognitive, and physical problems due to being weaned too early. Home schooling can also assist the parent understand their child’s cognitive and academic strengths as well as weaknesses better than when they attend conventional schools.

The Independent published the second article on 4 September 2015. It focused on modern developments in conventional parenting and parents’ methods of contending with them (@Indyvoices, 2015). This article spoke about the conventional parenting setting where children are birthed in hospital, weaned at the right age according to medical experts, schooled in conventional schools, and enjoy the interaction of normal social settings. It also pointed out one of the common problems associated with conventional parenting; being too harsh or rigid while the child grows thus causing psychological problems.

One merit of conventional parenting according to the article was that their children tend to understand the notion of hard work in both school and society. Therefore, these children are part of a well-controlled social system where everyone has their role and the entire ecosystem is fluid (@Indyvoices, 2015). However, this notion is flawed in very many ways due to the social problems of operating in a highly competitive environment characterized by capitalism and gains.

While conventional parenting has its merits over off-grid parenting, the actual gains seem to vary based on factors such as the child’s health, cognitive abilities, and social resilience. Apparently, children who naturally have good immunity can survive without inoculation. Additionally, those with high IQs can perform equally well in general academics regardless of their being in a unstructured academic setting. Their social setting and the relative lack of social interaction at the young age in kindergarten and elementary schools does not impact their social development either. However, children with weak immunities, low cognitive ability, and serious social problems must be dedicated to a structured system.

Conclusion

Off-grid parenting should not be encouraged. Both articles are credible in the sense that they are renowned media platforms. That does not mean that aspiring parents should rely in the advice their content may have for the society. However, parenting in the modern context faces many problems that off-grid parenting could solve. Unfortunately, off-grid parenting denies infants and young children many security factors of health, cognitive, psychological, and social development. The choice a parent makes in terms of parenting their children must strike a balance between the child’s welfare, and social or government structures meant to protect their welfare. Some parents can be overzealous as demonstrated by the reckless decision not to inoculate young children. Interestingly, the law protects such decisions in some states.

References

@Indyvoices. (2015, September 3). Editorial: No surprise that permissive parents raise happy children. Retrieved December 15, 2018, from https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/lessons-in-life-it-is-no-surprise-that-permissive-parents-raise-happy-children-10485115.html

Corner, N. (2018, November 27). Off-grid family defend unconventional lifestyle on This Morning. Retrieved December 15, 2018, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6429467/Off-grid-family-blasted-lazy-parenting-defend-unconventional-lifestyle-Morning.html