Gentle Parenting Unveiled: Ancient Greece’s (Athens) Approach to Child Rearing.
Hey everyone, History Mystery is back! with a fresh blog focusing on ancient parenting techniques for disciplining mischievous children, today, I will shift the focus away from authoritarian (strict) methods and instead explore gentle parenting approaches~
Greece, known as the cradle of Western civilization, thrived from the archaic period to the Hellenistic era. Its culture embraced philosophy, democracy, literature, and art.
This civilization has passed on its good name thanks to Prominent philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Its architectural marvels include iconic landmarks like the Parthenon and the Acropolis.
While the tales of gods and heroes cast their spell over Greek culture, the upbringing of children was a practical reality rather than a myth or a tale.
Handling Disobedient Children
Parenting in ancient Greece was a delicate dance between instilling virtues and curbing youthful exuberance, with a generous sprinkling of inventive punishments to keep even the most mischievous of children in check.
While not all of ancient Greece embraced the gentle and authoritative parenting style, Athens stood out in this regard.
In Athens, a balanced approach to child upbringing emerged due to a variety of factors. But keep in mind that by a balanced approach, I don’t mean those corporal/physical punishments didn’t exist!
When dealing with disobedient children, ancient Greek parents employed various disciplinary techniques:
Reasoning and Dialogue
Historical evidence has it that ancient Greeks valued wisdom, bravery, and intellect. But how did they impart these qualities to their children? Now that’s a question worth exploring.
Instead of resorting to physical punishment, like their predecessors Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. Ancient Greek parents adopted an authoritative parenting style.
Authoritative parenting is a parenting style in which the parents are nurturing, responsive, and supportive, yet set firm limits for their children.
The Greeks were fond of thinking and talking, they wanted their kids to share the same fondness for it too. So, they maintained parent-child communication.
Instead of just giving orders, they engaged in meaningful conversations about society and culture, listening to their children’s thoughts. They believed kids should learn good things by talking and thinking, not just by getting in trouble.
Withdrawal of Privileges
Athens parents since 3100 B.C., had a special trick up their sleeves to instill the significance of blessings in their mischievous offspring — a temporary removal of privileges.
If you read my blog: “Anomaly in Ancient Egypt: Consequences of Authoritarian Parenting on Disobedient Children”, you will discover that even the parents in Ancient Egypt had a soft spot for this consequence and more to deal with disobedient children.
Greek parents seemingly took a liking to it too. They recognized its power to impart lessons, employing it to suspend certain enjoyed activities or privileges when their little ones went astray.
Time Honored Sayings and Proverbs
Rather than resorting to a mere verbal storm and putting their children on trial, Greek parents employed a more nuanced approach. They turned to the wisdom of traditional sayings and proverbs, using these age-old gems to instill morals and life lessons in their youngsters.
Crafted to steer children towards improved behavior and decision-making, these sayings became the compass guiding their path.
Take The Boy Who Cried Wolf, an Aesop’s Fable, numbered 210 in the Perry Index. The boy in the story cried out that a wolf was coming, but there wasn’t a wolf. When he told the truth later, no one believed him and a real wolf came!
Parents used this tale to caution against lying.
Positive Reinforcement
Parents praised and rewarded their children for good behavior, encouraging them to continue making positive choices.
Also read: Ancient Greek Parenting Practices Across City-States
Learning from Heroes and Legends
Greek parents often shared stories of heroic figures and legends to inspire their children and encourage them to emulate virtuous behavior.
Exile From Important Events/ Social Consequences
Parents in ancient Athens, a famous Greek city were known for balanced authority. They brought positive reinforcement in parenting. Rather than resorting to excessive yelling or harsh punishment, parents employed measures like limiting playtime or withholding treats to underscore adherence to social norms.
These actions guided children’s understanding of right and wrong, nurturing self-control.
Visiting Special Places
In ancient Greek civilization, big temples did not only serve as a place to pray but also as big schools for good behavior. Statues of heroes and gods exemplified bravery and kindness. Parents hoped kids would look at these statues and ultimately want to be like those heroes.
What Can We Learn from the Greeks?
Looking back at the past can help us be better parents today. Ancient Greek gentle parenting emphasized nurturing moral growth while fostering individuality.
Their approach, a mix of authoritative guidance, moral education, and community influence, aimed to raise responsible, ethical, and involved citizens.
As we navigate contemporary parenting complexities, we can take inspiration from the Greeks’ ingenious methods. Through dialogue, storytelling, and presenting positive role models, we bridge eras, passing on ancient wisdom to illuminate a brighter future for our children.
What would you like to adopt from the Ancient Greek authoritative parenting style and why? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments!
