Raising Successful Children

In yesterday's NYTimes "Sunday Review" section, Madeline Levine's excellent article "Raising Successful Children" is a must read. Drawing from the work of Diana Baumrind and Carol Dweck, Levine points out several important parenting tips. 


I quote from the article:

• . . . the optimal parent is one who is involved and responsive, who sets high expectations but respects her child's autonomy.
• Hanging back and allowing children to make mistakes is one of the greatest challenges of parenting.
• If you can't stand to see your child unhappy, you are in the wrong business.
• When we do things for our children out of our own needs rather than theirs, it forces them to circumvent the most critical task of childhood: to develop a robust sense of self.
• But we must remember that children thrive best in an environment that is reliable, available, consistent, and noninterfering.
• Parents also have to be clear about their own values. Children watch us closely.