Uri Friedman's How Much Do Parents Matter?

There is no bond like that between parent and child; no moment like holding your newborn for the first time or realizing your little one has grown up when you send them off for their first day of school. As a parent, you are a source of comfort, guidance, and life. Uri Friedman states in “How Much Do Parents Matter?” that parents really don’t matter. According to Robert LeVine, an anthropologist and emeritus professor of education and human development at Harvard University, and his wife Sarah, there are more factors other than the parent involved in the upbringing of a child into adulthood. Despite the ideology experts advocate about how parenting should be done, the LeVines want to encourage parents to be “sponsors” for their children as the environments and situations they encounter shape them rather than succumb to paternal instincts. Although environments and experiences do influence a child, I believe that a parental role has a greater impact on how that child may perceive and approach situations as they grow. The world cannot nurture as a parent does.

Their conclusions are assumed by observing over a period of time and making generalizations of beliefs and actions of people as a whole. Observations of majorities are not equal to solid facts and statistics. In their eyes, parenting is, “more of an art than a science.” Are you willing to change how to teach your child based on opinion? Parenting fulfills an essential role in not only our families, but the raising of our communities. Parenting styles vary from person to person, just as there is more than one style of