Counter-Parenting Philosophy: How This Child-Rearing Ideology Works

Tanya Van Court shaped up new parenting philosophy which she called "counter-parenting." Counter-parenting means to counterintuitive to what people believe excellent parenting really is. So how does it work?

Tanya Van Court, CEO and founder of iSow, has learned an important lesson that other moms can apply too. According to Huffington Post, Van Court said that her realization that "protecting" her kids from the perils of a less-than-perfect life actually means that she is doing them a significant disservice. From her realization, she made up the "counter-parenting" philosophy.

Counter-parenting, as of Van Court, is like opposite day parenting style as it is sometimes counterintuitive to what most people consider good parenting really is. An example is when a kid forgot lunch at home.

Modern parenting says, "Bring the box to the kid." Counter-parenting says the opposite, "Don't bother to bring the lunchbox to the kid, let him eat the food in the school which he detests, fears and dreads."

As per Van Court, instead of teaching kids that life is full of invisible protection nets that safeguard them from their poor decisions, parents should teach kids that life is all about lessons learned, growth, consequences and accountability. If parents want to teach their kids to always remember their lunchboxes, Tanya said they should never break their necks bringing the lunchboxes to the school each time their kids forget about it.

When it comes to buying kids holiday gifts, counter-parenting has a tip for parents and that is to buy kids less gifts and use it as a chance to teach them genuine happiness. Van Court stressed that instead of purchasing them just another toy that will just end in another landfill, why not teach and help the kids to attain more important goals in lives. For example, teach them to save for the future or buy them something that really matters to them.

As part of counter-parenting philosophy, Van Court launched the iSow.com. The website allows young kids to use holidays and birthdays to register for life goals in three groups like spending on things that really matter to them, sharing with other people and future savings.