I read an article recently from parenting expert, Michael Grose where he spoke about two qualities that parents need in 2025 and beyond. Things were very different when my parents were raising their family. Arguably, life was slower and somewhat simpler. In his article, Michael suggests that family life today is significantly more challenging and that, therefore, additional qualities are needed from us as parents in a world dominated by social media, artificial intelligence and unprecedented change. These additional qualities, he says, are Curiosity and Courage.

Michael urges us to stay engaged and interested in the ever evolving world of our children. Showing genuine interest in their world, from their school day to their sports and other activities is a powerful way to build connection. Knowing we are genuinely curious makes it easier for your child to open up about their triumphs and challenges. To do this he suggests we practice asking ‘smart questions’ that move beyond a generic “How was school?” which often results in a one word response. Questions can, instead, be specific. For example, instead of asking “What did you do today?” you can try asking , “What was the most interesting thing you learned in class today?” or “who did you play with at recess?” We can also aim for open ended questions that invite more than a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response. Questions like “What was challenging about training today?” or “Tell me about the story you are reading” encourage them to elaborate and share more details about their experiences.

Secondly, Michael challenges us to make courage our compass by being willing to make tough decisions, set boundaries and allow our children to struggle and fail. He also speaks about the importance of taking opportunities to model vulnerability and imperfection ourselves. All of this can certainly be difficult at times, but they are all things that are essential to helping our children learn, grow and become the best people they can be.

If you would like to read more of Michael’s tips you can check out his blog articles.

God bless
Angela Myles