What is this Masterclass about?

In this debate session, you would be assigned to one of the 2 teams who would be competing against each other -For or Against the topic.

To be strict or not to be strict, that is the question – in fact, it’s the number-one question among child-rearing and education authorities, among teachers and, of course, parents. It’s doubtful that there is a parent who hasn’t agonized over this.

Child-rearing depends on the type of parenting styles that adults use with their children. There are two extremes: the lenient parent and the strict disciplinarian parent. Lenient parents want their child to have fun and enjoy “being a kid”. They are not concerned with time-based activities and they will allow their kids to stay up late and experience new things.

However, disciplinarian parents monitor their children very carefully, since their main priorities are safety and protection. They will encourage their child to focus on his or her studies instead of making friends. It's nevertheless the parents who decide what best suits their child. Hovering at the playground or letting kids climb freely and risk scrapes?

Let’s Discuss this over

How do I prepare for this Masterclass?

In this debate session, you would be assigned to one of the 2 teams who would be competing against each other -For or Against the topic.

Please prepare for both aspects of the topic

FOR the Motion - (Parents should be strict) -

*A strict parent is more likely to push their children to perform at their highest ability. Such kids will learn self-discipline and more importantly, self-belief.

*Strict parents are teaching their children to be accountable for their actions and therefore they are ready to face whatever comes their way.

*The children learn to make healthy decisions and thus they develop confidence in themselves. They can then face new challenges and confidently overcome them.

*There are some obvious issues with being a “cool” or lenient parent. A child with no rules or boundaries fails to learn to respect authority in school, jobs, and society in general. Children who get everything they want never learn patience or frugality.

*A child who has never failed or faced real consequences, who never faced a strict environment is robbed of the ability to handle strong emotions and the resilience that comes from failure.


AGAINST the Motion - (Parents should NOT  be strict) -

*Strict parenting deprives kids of the opportunity to internalize self-discipline and responsibility.

*Authoritarian parenting -- limits without empathy -- is based on fear. It teaches kids to bully.

*Kids raised with punitive discipline have tendencies toward anger and depression.

*Kids raised with strict discipline learn that power is always right.

*Kids raised with harsh discipline tend to be more rebellious.