Modern Parenting May Hinder Brain Development: Studies Suggest

Written By:

Written By:

Modern Parenting May Hinder Brain Development 2

Studies confirm that modern parenting may hinder brain development




Letโ€™s look at a few blunt (and disturbing) facts about our society.

  • Children are more overweight than any other time in history.
  • They play more video games and watch more television than ever before.
  • Children are being overstimulated with soda and cartoons and then we pump them full of drugs when they canโ€™t focus inside a classroom.
  • Modern Parents are getting divorce at a higher rate than any other time in history, which strongly impacts a childโ€™s sense of worth and personal development.

Not to mention, there are a whole host of false parenting beliefs and cultural beliefs that have been proven to cause brain and emotional health problems within children:



โ€œIll-advised practices and beliefs have become commonplace in our culture, such as the use of infant formula, the isolation of infants in their own rooms or the belief that responding too quickly to a fussing baby will โ€˜spoilโ€™ it,โ€  says Darcia Narvaez, Notre Dame professor of psychology reporting on a recent study.

Related: Permissive Parenting Style: Why Itโ€™s Bad For You and Your Child?

How deep do the effects of poor and modern parenting go?

Aside from obvious forms of child abuse of all forms, there are some more deep-rooted and subtle forms of abuse that lie at the heart of depression and feelings of inadequacy.




When teenage boys are told to โ€œgrow upโ€ and that men donโ€™t cry, and girls are told they have to look and act a certain way and act like a โ€œladyโ€.   The definition of a โ€œmanโ€ and a โ€œwomanโ€ are almost entirely socially engineered concepts that get reinforced at a very young age.

In other words, we are taught that the core of our natural expression and behavior is flawed, and that there is something defective about us because of how emotions present themselves within us.  Have you ever heard your mom or dad tell you to be a โ€œmanโ€ or start acting like a โ€œladyโ€? What does this do to your sense of adequacy, worthiness, and how does this play a role in the development of our conscience?

Is it possible that there are other deep-rooted belief systems within older generations that have negatively impacted the emotional and mental development of youth?

Kids are taught that crying to their parents a lot means they lack maturity or strength as an individual, and that needing to be around both mommy and daddy makes them less of a โ€œbig boyโ€ or a โ€œbig girlโ€.  Being a โ€œmommaโ€™s boyโ€ is something that gets mocked and made fun of by other children as being a sign of weakness, and that needing to be constantly hugged or shown affection by either parent is a sign of weak will or neediness. In reality, society has it backwards:

โ€œBreast-feeding infants, responsiveness to crying, almost constant touch and having multiple adult caregivers are some of the nurturing ancestral parenting practices that are shown to positively impact the developing brain, which not only shapes personality, but also helps physical health and moral development,โ€ says Narvaez.

Related: Parenting Challenges In The Digital Age




Modern Parents are taking shortcuts

Studies have also shown that responding to babies emotional needs when they are crying contributes to their ability to empathize with other people and even has a correlation with a higher IQ.  But what happens in our society when a baby, or young child, starts crying?

Well to start, children spend more time in highchairs, car seats, carriages, and strollers than ever before.  And when kids start crying or throwing a fit, parents give them electronics and put cartoons in front of their faces to occupy them and provide them with a false sense of relief. According to a study done in 2013, 38% of children in the United States under the age of 2 have used an iPhone or an iPad.

Wath out the video to know more about modern parenting:

There is less direct touch, less breastfeeding (especially when babies are in public), and less emotional patience than they need at that time in their life. Children donโ€™t need to be watching 4 hours of television a day. They need to be spending time being nurtured by their parents and developing their left and right brains with their support.

What does this do to a childโ€™s psychology? It teaches them that their emotions are an inconvenience, that there is something wrong with their emotional reactions, that entertainment is preferable to emotional availability, and that their concerns arenโ€™t worth enough to be taken seriously by their parents (which makes them feel unloved or like something is wrong with them).

This can be summed in the following two points:

The bar on proper parenting has been lowered, and modern parents are taking more and more shortcuts.  Have you ever heard parents brag about how they ignore their kids when they cry, how they hit them, or how they get them to shut up by playing a movie for them?  Why are these forms of parenting even accepted, let alone joked about?

Related: 10 Doโ€™s and Donโ€™ts To Keep Your Parenting Healthy and Non Toxic




Proper parenting gets ridiculed

1474783899-1972-proper-parenting

Mothers and fathers who nurture their kids usually get made fun of by other parents as being too soft or spoiling their child too much.  If you donโ€™t yell at them enough, you are going too easy on them.  If you donโ€™t hit them, you are being too easy on them.  Even spending a lot of time with their children gets ridiculed by parents as not giving the kids enough space or not allowing them room to grow and explore life on their own.  โ€They wonโ€™t grow up to be a man. They wonโ€™t grow up independent.โ€

Keep in mind, the generation of parents who ridicules proper parenting also encourages filling childrenโ€™s minds with distractions and electronics, pumping drugs into their children when they canโ€™t focus in school, joking about hitting their kids, and spend more time filming their childrenโ€™s school rehearsalโ€™s with their Ipads than they do actually cheering them on.

Related: New Parents, Listen Up: Passion and Parenting Can Co-Exist

The result? Emotional neglect, resulting in the highest rate of youth suicide in the Western world and is the third-highest cause of death in people between the ages of 15 and 24.  But there is some hope here. Professor Naevaez says the following will help repair and reverse the effects of emotionally neglectful parenting:

โ€œThe right brain, which governs much of our self-regulation, creativity and empathy, can grow throughout life. The right brain grows though a full-body experience like rough-and-tumble play, dancing, or freelance artistic creation. So at any point, a parent can take up a creative activity with a child and they can grow together.โ€




It ultimately comes down to stepping up as a parent and nurturing your child in a way that you know that you would want to be nurtured if you were still a child.  Social engineering has made parents more irresponsible and docile which is preventing proper brain development and emotional growth, but with a proper wakeup call and some healing time with their children, parents can begin to meet the emotional needs of their children before they develop into forms of depression or addictions.


Modern parenting
Modern Parenting May Hinder Brain Development pin


— Share —

Published On:

Last updated on:

, ,

— About the Author —

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Up Next

Should Parents Set Consequences for Misbehavior or Not?

Should Parents Set Consequences For Misbehavior? Key Points

You want your child to grow up responsible and disciplined, but should you set consequences for misbehavior? Let’s learn the right balance between discipline and understanding.

Should we set consequences for our children when they don’t do what we want?

Key points

Research shows that physical punishment predicts negative outcomes in children.

Authoritative parenting has been found to be the most effective style that yields the happiest children.

Parents need to be able to tolerate their children being upset, disappointed, sad, or even angry with them.

Up Next

Does Gentle Parenting Work?

Does Gentle Parenting Style Work? Important Things To Know

Can setting firm boundaries with kindness raise well-behaved kids, or does it lead to entitlement and defiance? Let’s learn more about gentle parenting style!

A look at the data on gentle parenting.

Key points

The concept of Gentle Parenting is not based on scientific data.

Gentle Parenting does incorporate some very good parenting techniques.

Gentle Parenting may ask too much of parents.

What Is Gentle Parenting Style?

Up Next

Let Kids Be Kids? 6 Identifying Signs of Hurried Child Syndrome

Clear Hurried Child Syndrome Symptoms

Some of us felt the pressure to grow up too fastโ€ฆ meet deadlines, succeed academically, and always be on top of thingsโ€”before we were even ready. It turns out, this pressure is real for some children today, and itโ€™s called Hurried Child Syndrome. Letโ€™s explore more about this condition.

What Is Hurried Child Syndrome?

Wondering what is Hurried Child Syndrome? It re

Up Next

Hovering Too Hard? 7 Mistakes Parents Who Overparent Often Make

Mistakes Parents Who Overparent Make: Hovering Too Hard?

Itโ€™s easy for parents who overparent to fall into the trap of doing too much in the name of love and care. But sometimes, all that hovering and controlling can backfire in surprising ways. Letโ€™s break down the seven common mistakes and how to avoid them!

KEY POINTS

Overprotective parenting can have a negative impact on childrenโ€™s mental health and relationships.

If you recognize any of these signs in yourself, itโ€™s important to take steps to change your behavior.

Encourage your child to try new things, let them make mistakes, take risks, and solve problems on their own.

Up Next

Is Your Daughter in a Controlling Relationship? 9 Ways to Help Her Break Free

Daughter in a Controlling Relationship? Things You Can Do

Have you ever had a very strong gut feeling that your daughter might not be in a healthy relationship? Or that she is in a relationship with a controlling boyfriend? Today we are going to talk about what you can do, when you have a daughter in a controlling relationship.

Yeah, itโ€™s a tough pill to swallow. Bossy boyfriends sneakily isolate, manipulate and dim the light in the people they date. And if your daughter is dating someone like this, then it’s understandable how tough it can be to watch that.

However, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel – as her mother, you can help her break free from her controlling boyfriend. This isnโ€™t about swooping in like a superhero; itโ€™s about being smart, supportive, and steady.

First, let’s start with trying to understand who a controlling boyfriend

Up Next

8 Undeniable Signs She’s Destined to Be an A+ Mom

Qualities of a Good Mother That Guarantee A+ Parenting!

Moms are superheroes, plain and simple. But being a great mom isnโ€™t just about keeping the fridge stocked and making sure homework gets done. Itโ€™s about making your kids feel loved, valued, and truly understood. Moms are often the first and biggest influence in a childโ€™s life, shaping how they see themselves and the world.

Being a good mom is about way more than just keeping a kid alive (though, yes, thatโ€™s non-negotiable). Itโ€™s about showing up with love, wisdom, and that unshakable belief in her kidโ€™s potential. Moms help mold who we are and how we see the world.

Up Next

Divorce And Holidays: 5 Co-Parenting Tips To Help Kids Enjoy Christmas

Helpful Divorce And Holidays Coping Tips For Parents

The festive season is often described as the most wonderful time of the year. However, divorce and holidays can be tricky to navigate for some families, itโ€™s not only challenging for kids but also for their parents.

Children deserve to be in happy and healthy homes, a safe space to enjoy and make memories rather than facing bickering fights and drama.

If youโ€™re co parenting on Christmas, create a holiday season thatโ€™s joyful and comforting for your children. Below are five practical divorce and holidays coping tips to help your kids enjoy the festivities, even after a separation or divorce.