Speaking ahead of a debate held on Monday at Newcastle's fortnightlyCafe Culture event, educational psychologist Liz Todd and her colleagueDr Joel Yoeli said that parents are having more demands placed upon themthan ever, causing many to feel inadequate about caring for theirchildren.
Dr Yoeli said, 'Today's children, rather than being emotionallydeprived, are often actually over-indulged, where both parents andchildren care too much.'
The researchers also suggested that Government-funded parenting classescould do more harm than good, arguing that a 'one size fits allapproach' will not work.
They said that parenting professionals need to base their relationshipswith particular families on each family's individual concerns.
Dr Todd said, 'Parenting classes can be useful in helping parents bondwith other families and network, but it's hard to see how teaching thesame thing to everyone will help individuals solve their own problemswith their own children. We should work with families with humility,respect, care and the intent to develop a collaborative workingrelationship.
'We as professionals need to talk to families in ways that arenon-blaming and non judgemental, and acknowledge that people are expertsin their own lives.'
