Are you also one of those parents who tell the child “don’t do this, don’t do that” at every step? Stopping the child in every matter disturbs the flow of his life, but parents often do this because they are also worried about the child,
but FAFO Parenting has brought a new perspective for you! FAFO (First Aid for Parents) means
letting children make mistakes, so that they can learn from their own mistakes. In this article, know how this method makes children responsible, self-reliant and strong.
1. What is FAFO Parenting? Its importance in raising children
Have you ever heard the term “FAFO Parenting” and wondered what does FAFO mean or what is FAFO parenting? Let’s know the full meaning of FAFO parenting is F**k Around and Find Out”. However, its basic principle is to give children a chance to learn from the consequences of their decisions without arguing.
That is, when the child makes a mistake despite repeated warnings, he is allowed to experience its consequences, such as if the child is not wearing warm clothes in the cold and is insisting on going out,
then fafo parents will let him go out, when the child feels cold, then he will realize his mistake. Teaching the child from the consequences of his decisions is called fafo parenting. A study was conducted called NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD).
This study was done by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). It found that when children are given the opportunity to make independent decisions and experience their consequences, it has a positive effect on their cognitive, social and emotional development.
In the present times, parents often try to save children from every difficulty, while FAFO parenting helps in making children self-reliant and responsible.
Related: Daughters Without Fathers: The Truth Behind the Emotional Gap
Present Why is FAFO Parenting important?
- Children get a chance to learn from their own mistakes.
- This style increases the decision making ability in children.
- Children become emotionally stronger.
- The child is protected from unnecessary overprotection.
- The child understands that every action has a reaction, so he will learn the art of decision making.
2. The basic principles of FAFO Parenting
In today’s era, many parents become so overprotective in trying to protect their children from every trouble that children are not able to learn the important lessons of life because their parents do not want to see them in extreme struggle or trouble.
But when parents stop the child before every mistake or solve every small problem themselves and do not give the child a chance to think and understand, then children are not able to learn the ability to take self-decisions,
understand the value of risk and self-reliance. This is the reason why FAFO Parenting is very much in discussion at present.
It is a modern and courageous parenting style which works to make children strong, responsible and self-reliant. As Julie Romanowski, a parenting coach from Vancouver, says, Natural consequences are exactly that natural,
not parent-created. This means that children should be allowed to see and understand the natural consequences of their actions themselves, and not try to teach them through punishment or conditions every time because for the good development of the child,
it is important that he learns to take his own decisions. FAFO parenting is based on the idea that children should be given the opportunity to learn from small mistakes so that they can be prepared for the big challenges of life.
Benefits of FAFO Parenting
- Decision Making Skills: When children get a chance to take their own decisions, they develop self-confidence and thinking ability which makes them better.
- Emotional Strength: Children who learn from their own mistakes are emotionally strong and fafo parenting gives children an opportunity to learn from their own mistakes.
- Resilience: Children learn from their own mistakes and getting up after falling helps them fight difficulties.
- Social Independence: By adopting FAFO parenting strategies instead of overparenting, children develop socially in a better way. They mingle with others and understand their responsibilities and duties which makes them responsible citizens.
- Reality Awareness: FAFO parenting style teaches children that every action has some consequence. When children learn to understand the consequences of their own decisions, they start feeling secure and become self-confident.
What does FAFO parenting mean?” So this is a parenting style which gives children the freedom to learn from experience, which makes them better citizens with a balanced and practical mindset.
3. FAFO Parenting and Modern Generation: How to let children take risks?
When we start interfering in everything of children, we decide what to eat, what to wear, whom to befriend, then it weakens the confidence of the child and he gets left behind in the journey of becoming a responsible citizen, so that the purpose of fafo parenting strategies is to give children a chance to learn on their own in a safe zone, so that they become responsible and self-reliant.
Related: The Importance of Father in a Child’s Life
5 points to understand FAFO Parenting
- Let the child make small mistakes so that he can learn from them.
- Don’t always give the right answer, give children an opportunity to think for themselves.
- Don’t consider their failures as a part of growth, not shame, only then will they learn from their mistakes, otherwise they can also be sad about their own wrong decisions.
- Avoid overprotection, but be prepared when needed. Your purpose is just to get away from the child’s sight, not from your responsibility.
- Teach to “reflect” instead of rescue.
Children will understand the lessons of life only when they know their importance. Just as one cannot learn swimming just by reading a book, one has to do practicals. Similarly, there are some qualities of life which a child can learn only from his mistakes and experiences.
4. FAFO Parenting vs. Helicopter Parenting: Which is better?
| Points | FAFO Parenting Sty | Helicopter Parenting |
| parenting goals | Let children try, make mistakes, and learn from them | Save the child from every mistake, even if it means missing the opportunity to learn. |
| parenting style perspective | “I am with you, but I won’t stop you from knowing the consequences of your own decisions all the time.” | Helping the child in everything and taking every decision for him |
| learning process | The child understands his mistakes and decisions that his decisions have consequences so he thinks about taking the right decision next time | Over-protection: The child learns to depend on others, not on himself. |
| Emotional impact | Self-confidence, responsibility, resilience develops in the child. | The child feels fear, self-doubt and less self-reliance in taking decisions. |
| Real Life Examples | If the child falls, he will learn how to maintain balance and will be more careful next time. | The child’s decision was rejected and our decision was imposed on him, so he could not learn anything |
| Difference in the future | The child becomes a strong-thinking, intelligent and practical person. | The child may grow up to be a person who always seeks someone’s support and is afraid of taking risks. |
Informational Infographic For Fafo Parenting
Fafo parenting helps develop responsibility, self-reliance and resilience in children, but parents must keep some important things in mind while adopting it and carefully set boundaries and provide emotional support. The infographic below explains its benefits, risks, warning signs and the right approach
