No longer focusing on grades, Vietnamese parents are changing the way they raise their children.

Child-rearing thinking in the new era

In recent years, the way of thinking about raising children in Vietnam has changed significantly. According to the Education Market Study 2024 survey conducted by Britcham Vietnam in collaboration with Decision Lab, Vietnamese parents are increasingly moving away from the culture of valuing academic achievements. They prioritize raising children to develop comprehensively, not only good at studying, but also independent, with good morals, core competencies such as critical thinking and a passion for lifelong learning.

Therefore, in addition to book knowledge, many parents appreciate the role of practical experience for their children to learn life skills through real-life collisions through gifted classes, extracurricular activities and summer camps. In which, school sports are also becoming the priority choice of many families. There is no pressure on scores, nor is there an expectation that children must become "players", what parents hope for is that their children "have the right to try, be allowed to make mistakes, and grow up every day" in a sports environment.

Like the way Ms. Hong Phuong ( Hanoi ) has raised her children for many years. Her daughter Tra My has had a special love for basketball since she was little, and her family has always created conditions for her to pursue her passion. Although she was a professional athlete herself, Ms. Phuong does not expect her child to "follow in her footsteps", nor does she pressure her child to achieve results. "I just want my child to have a complete childhood, to play sports and develop physically and mentally," she shared.

Through many years of accompanying her child to participate in different playgrounds, Ms. Phuong realized that sports is the environment that helps her child practice life skills naturally and effectively. Tra My has become more confident, communicates and coordinates well with teammates, maintains discipline and improves concentration. The interwoven study and basketball schedule also teaches her how to arrange her time reasonably and be more responsible for what she does.

Physically, regular exercise helps My grow taller and have a stable health foundation. Emotionally, I learn how to stay calm during competition, have a positive spirit, and enjoy playing sports with friends.

Similarly, Truong Hoa's family ( Hung Yen ) also created conditions for Quoc Viet (11 years old) to exercise according to his interests, to be healthy and grow up with sports. Since childhood, Viet liked to play soccer with friends in the neighborhood, and when he was a little older, he played in local community tournaments. Through each match like that, he formed a regular routine, discipline in eating, drinking, sleeping and resting regularly to prepare for the match.

Discovered by local coaches and introduced to the football training center since 2023, he has had more opportunities to play in many large and small tournaments across the country such as the Phu Dong Provincial Sports Festival or the National U11 Children's Football Tournament - Nestlé MILO Cup.

After 3 years of experience, Viet is taller, more open-minded and more proactive in arranging a balanced schedule between studying, participating in training and competing. Mr. Hoa cannot hide his pride when following his son's progress.

“Accompanying my child and witnessing positive changes every day, I believe more and more that sports is the best teacher. This environment not only helps my child become healthier, but also helps him grow up, cultivates his character, and trains his perseverance from a young age so that he can stand firm in the face of all challenges, whether on the field or in real life. To me, those changes are more valuable than any victory.”

Accompany your child in the right way to grow up in his own way

The change in parenting thinking is not only reflected in choosing a suitable development environment, but also in comprehensive attention from spirit to body and nutrition every day.

From community football matches to major tournaments, parents have always been silent spectators cheering for Viet. Mr. Hoa recalls a match at the Phu Dong Sports Festival organized by Hung Yen province: “He regrets not scoring a goal. I just encourage him: today he tried his best, tomorrow he just needs to improve a little more and he will have defeated himself.”

Ms. Phuong also believes that the most important thing is that parents are always willing to help their children experience a variety of experiences, accompanying them so that they understand what they want and how they need to develop. Up to now, Tra My still maintains her love of sports, she plays both soccer and basketball, and is active in cultural activities. Her journey is even more stable when her family is her support, and sports become a bridge to help her develop in many ways.

As silent companions, parents are always present at every special milestone of their children, from the training ground, the cheering stands to every daily nutritious meal. “On the days when my child is preparing to win a tournament, I focus on nutrition in every meal to give my child enough energy to practice, and supplement my child’s favorite drink like a box of MILO in the afternoon,” said Mr. Hoa.

When parents are willing to change their mindset, choosing to accompany instead of imposing, their children will have the opportunity to develop comprehensively in the direction they want. Because more than anyone else, parents will be the ones to lay the first bricks for their children's journey to grow up, so that tomorrow, wherever they go, they will carry with them the solid baggage that has been cultivated from their small home.

In addition to the efforts of parents, there are still organizations and businesses that quietly accompany school sports, contributing to creating a comprehensive development environment for children. A typical example is Nestlé MILO - a nutrition brand associated with school sports, which has been accompanying millions of Vietnamese parents on the journey to nurture a generation of active and healthy Vietnamese youth. Over the years, Nestlé MILO has continuously expanded school sports playgrounds and grassroots tournaments for children through sponsoring and organizing many activities within the framework of the Dynamic Vietnam program to bring sports to more children across the country.

Ms. Le Bui Thi Mai Uyen, Director of MILO and Milk, Nestlé Vietnam Company shared: “Nestlé MILO always believes that sports are teachers who help children not only develop physically and mentally but also equip them with the necessary qualities for the future: perseverance, endurance, team spirit, discipline,... Accompanying diverse school sports playgrounds, from basketball, soccer, Vovinam to swimming, aerobics... is part of our long-term commitment in the journey to build a more dynamic generation of young Vietnamese people.”

Source: https://tienphong.vn/khong-con-chu-trong-vao-diem-so-cha-me-viet-dang-thay-doi-cach-nuoi-con-post1768636.tpo