• 2 years ago
Most parents would agree that parenting is extremely complex and challenging. What works for one child, might not work for another – even within the same family.

Parenting practices and beliefs around the world can also be strikingly different. Japanese children, for example, are often allowed to ride the subway by themselves from as young as seven. This would be considered unthinkable to parents in some other countries. Similarly, the idea of children going to bed at 6.30pm is horrifying to many Spanish or Latin American parents who see it as critical for children to take part in family life during the evening.

Researchers have explored cultural and historical differences in parenting practices for many years. Studies tend to agree that three major factors often explain differences in parenting style: emotional warmth versus hostility (how loving, warm, and affectionate parents are towards children), autonomy versus control (the degree to which children are given a sense of control over their lives), and structure versus chaos (how much children’s lives are given a sense of structure and predictability).

In Asian countries such as the Philippines, traditional parenting styles in households where 3-4 generations living under the same roof are being challenged as the digital milieu is in full swing.
According to 2020 population census, there were roughly 26.39 million households in the Philippines, reflecting an increase from the previous year's total. In the same year, the average household size in the country was 4.1.

In The Manila Times (TMT) online business forum, titled “Achievement unlocked: Parenting for Gen XYZ “, psychologist Dr. Michele Alignay tackles Digital Parenting; wife and mother Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano shares the joys of having an artistically gifted husband and children; psychologist Dr. Randy Dellosa talks about family therapy; and CEO of Save the Children Philippines Atty. Alberto Jesus Muyot tries to alleviate the needs of marginalized and discriminated children from poor households.

On Thursday, May 12, 2022, the forum will be simultaneously livestreamed on The Times Facebook page, YouTube channel and Dailymotion account from 10 a.m. to noon with TMT editors Tessa Mauricio-Arriola and Dafort Villaseran as forum moderators.

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