Wsj why french parents

Her point is well taken that American parents tend to be coddling and overindulgent, producing undisciplined, high-maintenance and overly dependent children and young adults. If American parents are helicopters, French parents are more like mile-high drones, paying attention and keeping children in line from a distance.

The French establish firm rules, and their children learn to respect and obey. Americans, by contrast, are permissive and doting. Assuming that Ms. Druckerman's generalizations have some validity, is there evidence that superior French parents raise children who become superior adults? By most measures, the answer is no, despite French protestations to the contrary. It may be that lack of indulgence in childhood creates more demand for an overindulgent nanny state when the French grow up.

Do you agree? What contrasts have you found culturally in parenting styles, and which do you think are most beneficial to kids? Druckerman took questions from readers on Feb. Replay the event. You may change your billing preferences at any time in the Customer Center or call Customer Service.

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Where Amy Chua's popular "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" argued for the strict, high-expectations Chinese parenting model, a new book maintains that French parenting is where it's at. A few years ago, while enduring nightmarish restaurant meals with her thenmonth-old daughter on a French seaside vacation, it struck Druckerman that the French children around them were all perfectly well-behaved.

Thinking further, she realized she'd seen the same on French playgrounds and in her French friends' homes. You may change your billing preferences at any time in the Customer Center or call Customer Service. You will be notified in advance of any changes in rate or terms. You may cancel your subscription at anytime by calling Customer Service. Skip to Main Content Skip to Search.