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polyfulcrum · 01-30-2009, 05:14 PM

Being a parent, one of my goals has always been to help raise a child that is capable of thinking for themselves, determining what their personal opinions are using critical thinking skills, not just parroting the social norm, my opinions, or what "they" say about a given issue.

The question is how to best achieve this objective without sacrificing boundaries, discipline or structure within a parenting relationship? What are the best strategies you've come up with, if you're a parent who shares this goal? If you are an adult whose parents raised you to be an independent thinker, what types of strategies did they use to help you on that path?

My main concern is around the idea that I am still the parent, and expect that my wishes will be complied with, even if we have a difference of opinion on a particular subject. How do we respectfully disagree without squelching her development, or undermining my authority as her parent?

01-30-2009, 05:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
polyfulcrum Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 102	Kids that think for themselves Being a parent, one of my goals has always been to help raise a child that is capable of thinking for themselves, determining what their personal opinions are using critical thinking skills, not just parroting the social norm, my opinions, or what "they" say about a given issue. The question is how to best achieve this objective without sacrificing boundaries, discipline or structure within a parenting relationship? What are the best strategies you've come up with, if you're a parent who shares this goal? If you are an adult whose parents raised you to be an independent thinker, what types of strategies did they use to help you on that path? My main concern is around the idea that I am still the parent, and expect that my wishes will be complied with, even if we have a difference of opinion on a particular subject. How do we respectfully disagree without squelching her development, or undermining my authority as her parent?