Over the past 4 weeks, a group of 12 sets of parents who have been competing to prove that they have the best parenting style! In the final we see the winning four couples who battle it out head to head for the final time!
Becky and Ben - 'Creative Home Educators',
Nicky and David - 'Strict Parents',
Jen and Tom - 'Back to Basics' and finally
Rin and Robin. - 'Eastern Influence Parenting'
Who's going to win? Let's find out!
In this final, instead of spending a few hours with the children in their houses, they were all sent to a holiday home to see how they were able to control each others children, as well as testing their morning and night time routines!
It was Becky and Ben who were the first parents to showcase their parenting style! Their style is to ensure their children are learning all the time and not just from 9am - 3pm, as well as teaching them social dynamics; such as becoming inclusive in different tasks and partaking in creative projects!
The first part of their day was playing on the outdoor frames! Instead of just climbing, they worked on teamwork and motivating the children to work together! After dinner, the children didn't have a set bedtime, they were able to go to sleep at whatever time suited them (and it was around 8:50pm when the younger children finally went to sleep). The older girls and the parents played games for a little bit, and by 9:50pm they also went to sleep!
After the discussions, the parents discussed the bed time situation, with soem of them agreeing and other disagreeing - with reasons such as the parents having full time jobs, and the children needing to have a routine when preparing for the 'real world'. Becky and Ben backed up their plan saying that they didn't want to live by the standard schedule of life, but instead as they have found a parenting style that works well for them, that's what they're going to continue doing. They also admitted that they are learning new methods all the time and that's the best way to be!
Their top THREE main concepts of their parenting style are;
The children should always be in education (or learning)
They need to be preparing for adulthood
They need to work with others as a team
Nicky and David were up next with their strict parenting style! When the children arrived, they mentioend their three strike rule, and if they got all their strikes then they would miss out on an activity - they admitted that they're strict, but also fair! During their first activity which was the bike ride, Nicky managed to persuade one of the young children to take part in the biking race and it sometimes helps the children as they feel that they can complete a certain task!
The difference between Nicky and David's parenting style is that the young kids went to bed at 8:30pm and they woke up at 8:00am, which gives them a set amount of time and it's a competition to 'beat the time'. Time management is an important skill to have as it will most certainly set children up for life...especially to ensure that they are never late!
The biggest topic of conversation was around the two types of discipline methods that Nicky and David had in place - the three strike rule, which again, the parents had mixed views on. Some admitted that it taught their children a lesson, but Becky and Ben admitted that you should deal with bad behaviour with a positive option rather than doing something to 'hurt their children' or 'make them feel upset' and Jen and Tom who admitted that their daughter should have been given warnings first, before receiving strikes! The second method was the 'smacking' which most of the parents didn't agree with.
Their top THREE main concepts of their parenting style are;
There needs to be mental and physical discipline
The children needs to eat what they're given...or go hunry
The children need to have 'patience' and 'perserverance'
Rin and Robin were the third set of parents who showcased their parenting style! Their first activity was canoeing (a slight downgrade from swimming, but still water based!). The children had little interviews after the race, and one of Rin and Robin's children were asked if they always need to win - their 8 year old son said 'For the canoeing race, it doesn't really matter, but if there was a war, then yes, you need to win!'.
Their sleeping pattern was for the children to read a story at 8:00pm, with bedtime at 8:30pm! Once all the children went to bed, they admitted that they needed parents time. Robin also stated 'I love my wife more than my kids' which I'm sure will cause some arguments/discussion on the show...Rin added on 'Without me, there would be no kids!'
The hot topic among their parenting style is about competitions, with some of the parents admitting that not everything is a competition, but instead of trying to follow in somebody else's footsteps - they should be the best that they can be. Becky added that it's all about progress; such as a child couldn't do something last week, but they've done it this week! It's almost like a competition against themself!
Their top THREE main concepts of their parenting style are;
Children should trian within the martial arts
Family should all cook together - rather than leaving it to the parents/kids
Include a balanced scholar/warrior lifestyle
And last but not least it was Jen and Tom to showcase their parenting style once again! The first task for showcasing this parenting style was going fishing, with all of the children working together! Whilst fishing, Tom offered the children food which was inside a box...but the 'food' was a box of worms (Hmm, not the sort of snack that I would want!).
During their evening routine, they were learning how to make a fire whilst having fun - and one of the children admitted that she was able to do something without being told what she could and couldn't do! Spending time outside and taking part in physical activity are two of the main concepts of their parenting style! Key point of their bedtime was to ensure that they didn't go to sleep too late! After pancakes and honey for breakfast, that was the end of the experience taking care of other parents' kids.
Going out and being around nature is something that some of the other parents didn't agree with, but Jen and Tom admitted that nature is almost everywhere and life shouldn't be all about electronics! This type of parenting style is accessible and free, but it's slightly more dramatic than some other nature lovers...
Their top THREE main concepts of their parenting style are;
Children should be able to reconnect with land
Playing in the mud should be taken advantage of!
It's all about taking risks!
After each of the parents sold their parenting style one final time, it was down for the audience to vote for their winning couple!
>> Learning 24/7, Strict but Fair, Nature or the Eastern influencing technique?!?
The winning couple was... RIN AND ROBIN with their Eastern influenced parenting style!
'We believe it delivers results; and balance and harmony is something that can be achieved with little changes, little habits' - Robin
Comments