Needs-based education: Our topic for June
A friend recently told me that she pricks up her ears when she hears a mother say that she wants to raise her child in a consistently needs-oriented way. «The topic is often misrepresented to such an extent that parents and children are completely overwhelmed,» my friend said.
Your statement surprised me. You have children yourself and are an educational consultant. Why would a mother – who is as experienced in practice as she is in theory – question an approach to parenting that is all about recognising and taking seriously the diverse needs of a child?
Many parents believe that their child must remain the centre of their attention, even when they have long since wanted to become more independent.
But she is not alone in her scepticism. My colleague Michaela Davison investigated the question of where the criticism of needs-based education stems from and whether it is justified. Her findings have been included in our dossier «What do you need?»
First things first: the many concise and promising tips – often shared on social media – are based on a fundamental misunderstanding. Many parents believe that their child must remain the centre of their attention, even when they want to become more independent. So how can a properly understood needs-based approach succeed? We answer this and other questions in our latest dossier.
My daughter received her first mobile phone for her 12th birthday. And to be honest, we are facing a challenge. There are many discussions about mobile phone rules. And I ask myself, «Do I have to listen to this every day?»
«Yes, you must!» replied digital trainer Daniel Wolff, whom I asked this question in our monthly interview – and he followed this answer, as he did many others , with a big exclamation mark. The father of three knows this from his own experience and from the workshops he gives at schools. There, he sees how many children are confronted with disturbing things online at far too early an age, according to Wolff.
I hope you enjoy this issue and have many moments of inspiration, dear reader, and wish you a wonderful start to the summer.
Kind regards,
Evelin Hartmann
