X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Build positivity in children - Dolphin parenting vs. tiger parenting

3 min read
Build positivity in children - Dolphin parenting vs. tiger parenting

In a strong contradiction to tiger moms, happiness researcher, Shawn Achor is propagating the skills of a dolphin dad to build positivity in children.

Dolphin vs Tiger

Kids love playful dolphins over roaring tigers! Watch out, we aren’t talking about animals here but parenting styles that are identified with these animals’ traits.

build positivity in children

Research have found that being stern is not the best way to build positivity in children.

Shawn Achor, who teaches at Wharton School of Business, believes that parents emulating dolphin’s combination of sociability and playfulness can build positivity in children rather than through the dreadfulness of a tiger – fear and criticism.

A leading happiness researcher claims parents are far better off imitating the loveable dolphin. It’s a direct contradiction to values and techniques displayed by ‘Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom’s author, Amy Chua who advocates no TV and a strict, no-nonsense style of child rearing.

Achor’s theories are backed up by a study in the Asian American Journal of Psychology, which found that ‘tiger kids’ had a lower grade point average, suffered from more academic pressure with depressive symptoms and a greater sense of alienation.

Read on the next page the top essentials to be a dolphin dad.

Top essentials to be a Dolphin parent suggested by Achor

build positivity in children

Smiling and being optimistic as parents can build positivity in children.

A positive, rationally optimistic attitude

This will help you assess the multiple options and navigate for your child to pick the best parenting course of action. You can also build positivity in children every day by giving thanks at the dinner table.

Smiling causes a mirroring reaction in others.

He believes that parents should consciously be working at being happier. ‘While it takes more cognitive processing to be happier, the more that you do these positive habits, the more that you switch your default,’ he says.

The key to a child’s success is when you build positivity in children .

‘Most companies and schools follow this formula: if you work harder, you will be more successful, and then you will be happy,’ he writes. This actually works backwards according to him. If you are happy you will be able to work harder which will bring you success.

Remind your child of past achievements to face future challenges.

You can build positivity in children by giving them a trophy before a competition. This will help them stay positive and focused.

build positivity in children

Making learning fun and not being overly harsh will set your child up for success.

Try to maintain a ratio of five positive interactions for every negative one.

Mr Achor believes in making learning fun. So rather than waiting to reward your kids for finishing their homework, he recommends letting them wear their favorite pajamas while studying.

Set your child up for success

He cites, if you want them to exercise more, try hiding the TV remote and put their sneakers by the door. Instead of being overly harsh, build positivity in children to set kids up for success.

Partner Stories
Empowering Couples in Singapore: A Guide to Family Planning for a Brighter Future
Empowering Couples in Singapore: A Guide to Family Planning for a Brighter Future
Facing Parenting Challenges? Help is at Hand. Just Reach Out.
Facing Parenting Challenges? Help is at Hand. Just Reach Out.
8 Wonderful Effects of Coconut Water For Pregnancy
8 Wonderful Effects of Coconut Water For Pregnancy
Parenting Lesson from a New Mum - Don’t Try to Do it All on Your Own!
Parenting Lesson from a New Mum - Don’t Try to Do it All on Your Own!

So which are you a ‘Tiger Mom’ or a ‘Dolphin Dad’? Although the theory suggested by Achor is true, you do not have to rely on it on occasions like when your kids break your iPhone or throw tantrums at the mall. There is that delicate balance that we as parents need to strike. Giving kids enough freedom and setting rules are the two halves of responsible parenting. Without either of them, parenting is incomplete.

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Roshni Mahtani

  • Home
  • /
  • Becoming a Parent
  • /
  • Build positivity in children - Dolphin parenting vs. tiger parenting
Share:
  • Should we be praising kids?

    Should we be praising kids?

  • Is it important to raise assertive kids?

    Is it important to raise assertive kids?

  • This Made My Day: Woman Stuck in JB Customs Queue Thanks Students for Helping to Care For Her Young Kids

    This Made My Day: Woman Stuck in JB Customs Queue Thanks Students for Helping to Care For Her Young Kids

  • Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

    Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

  • Should we be praising kids?

    Should we be praising kids?

  • Is it important to raise assertive kids?

    Is it important to raise assertive kids?

  • This Made My Day: Woman Stuck in JB Customs Queue Thanks Students for Helping to Care For Her Young Kids

    This Made My Day: Woman Stuck in JB Customs Queue Thanks Students for Helping to Care For Her Young Kids

  • Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

    Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.