Japanese
children as young as 4 ride the subway by themselves. Vietnamese
mothers teach their babies to pee on command. These are 2 of 9 parenting
practices from around the world that aren't practiced--or at least
widely practiced--in the United States. For example, the Kisii people of
Kenya avoid eye contact with their babies:
Kisii, or
Gussii, moms in Kenya carry their babies everywhere, but they don't
indulge a baby's cooing. Rather, when their babies start babbling, moms
avert their eyes.
It's likely to sound harsh to a Western
sensibility, but within the context of Kisii culture, it makes more
sense. Eye contact is an act bestowed with a lot of power. It's like
saying, "You're in charge," which isn't the message parents want to send
their kids. Researchers say Kisii kids are less attention-seeking as a
result.
You can read the entire list at NPR. Do you see any that you think that American parents should adopt?
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