In today’s modern age, many parents are running for the next step in life without even having time to look after their children.
These have a huge impact on the development of the child.
So what is ‘complete child rearing’? Why is it important in the current situation? Tanushka Silva, marketing manager of Baby Sherami, shared this through an interview. Here’s what they are now.
1. What is holistic parenting? And why is it important in the current situation?
The famous English proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” is aptly applicable to today’s times as well.
However, the close-knit village lifestyle has now completely changed. In the past, the couple who became new parents were encouraged and supported by senior members of the family in child care.
However, due to the evolution of society, joint family units have transformed into separate family units, due to which the present day parents face a great challenge in child rearing.
On the other hand, nowadays women who are progressing towards their life aspirations and dreams, are participating in the industry and changing their economic status, while some have also ventured into home-based entrepreneurs.
Hence, it has become difficult to fulfill family responsibilities and spend time with family. Due to these, parents face difficulties in childcare.
Especially when the mother has to take care of the child when there is hunger and other needs, the complete child rearing system in which both the mother and the father participate becomes important.
During the first three years, the child’s brain develops rapidly and these are the foundations of the child’s physical and mental condition that determine the future.
Therefore, the first three years from the birth of your child are crucial. Not paying proper attention to the child at that time can have a massive impact on the child’s development.
The contribution of both mother and father helps to lay the right foundation for these little flowers to bloom beautifully. Here we observe that the mother is mostly the caregiver while the father contributes financially.
It is important for the father to break away from the average idea that he is the ‘earner’ and come forward to contribute to the upbringing of his child along with the mother. It will be immensely beneficial not only to the child but also to the parents.
It is high time that we get rid of the average thinking of parenting roles of father – breadwinner and mother – breadwinner. There is no doubt that children are best cared for when both mothers and fathers participate in child rearing.
However, in some cases we need to understand whether a mother or father cares for a child and is not a parent. As a brand, we express our appreciation to all those who care for children in a fulfilling child-rearing manner, both individually and as guardians.
Baby Sherami has been a trusted baby care brand for generations.
In fact, for nearly six decades, Baby Sherami, Sri Lanka’s top brand, has understood the pulse of Sri Lankan parents and what they expect from us.
We are equally committed to providing our children with safe and high-quality childcare products and are equally concerned with enhancing our role as a trusted partner in the parenting journey.
I believe in creating more awareness about wholesome parenting and in the case of Sri Lanka, the role of the father in the early stages of child rearing needs to be promoted.
The main factors behind this are the current de facto social norms that say fathers cannot take care of a child like mothers and backward thinking such as father is the breadwinner and mother is the breadwinner.
We need to rethink these socially imposed average ideas and we need to examine how far the modern parenting system moving towards holistic parenting is practical.
We hope to familiarize parents with these principles and encourage them to follow them in their daily lives.
3. What is the situation in Sri Lanka based on the research done on this topic?
Although holistic parenting is not much talked about in Sri Lanka, a research conducted by Kantar Sri Lanka in collaboration with Baby Sherami highlights the extent to which Sri Lankan parents engage in holistic parenting.
The research indicates that the majority still believe that the mother is the primary caregiver and the father the primary financial contributor.
This is acceptable in terms of Sri Lankan social norms. However, a major positive finding of the research was that 64% of parents strongly agreed that fathers should play an equal role alongside mothers in child rearing.
However, fathers are not involved for a variety of reasons, in fact only 33% believe fathers should be involved in child rearing.
Even today, it is thought that the mother should play a major role in raising the child, but it is better for fathers to take care of their children. However, time constraints and prevailing social norms are seen as barriers to this.
However, the majority of parents strongly believe that both parents should contribute equally to the upbringing of their children, and this encourages the development of Sri Lanka’s comprehensive child rearing system.
4. What effect does perfect parenting have on children’s well-being?
Science tells us that 80% of a child’s brain develops in the first three years. Children observe their parents’ behaviors like how they talk to each other, how helpful the father is in daily chores, and their brains are quick to pick up on every little detail.
Spending happy time with your child, playing, exploring and learning can make a huge contribution to creating a positive and loving home environment. When the father spends time with the child, talks to the child, and is emotionally connected, it can provide many benefits to the child’s development.
Although parents today seem to be time-poor, it’s about making the most of what little time they have.
A positive environment with the contribution of either mother or father/guardian or both parents is cognitive for children; Experts believe that initiation of activities allows them to develop languages, self-awareness, empathy, compassion and many other skills that will benefit them in the long run.
5. How can families better understand the need for fulfilling parenting in today’s fast-paced lifestyles of many families?
As most families are now single families and face various difficulties in managing it all, they realize the importance of a well-rounded parenting system.
The research results give us hope that fathers also realize its importance and are encouraged to do so. It is true that fathers are under pressure to devote more time to their work.
But in the current climate there is a need to invest at least a minimum of time in children and more importantly to make the home a happy abode.
A father can also contribute to a child’s development by playing with the child in fun activities, taking the child to nature areas, telling stories and using available time in a meaningful way.
6. What message would you like to share with millennial parents in particular?
I personally know as a parent that the first to three years of parenting can be very difficult with a busy lifestyle.
However, we must not forget that those are the golden days of children that lead to developing them into multi-skilled emotional intelligence.
Parents working cooperatively by sharing the workload, both spending time with the child and meeting the needs of the family and making the family a positive environment for the child’s development will lay a strong foundation for your child’s precious journey to develop into an emotionally healthy, intelligent and good citizen.