Pushing children to excel is fine, if done within limits

The key idea behind “The gentle touch” (Jan 31) is not new: Parents must support their children in their educational journey.

As much as parents need to be their children’s supporters, they must remember that they are valued partners too, which entails more than support.

As a partner, parents can build up their children and push them to their limits such that they can excel further, academically or otherwise. The writer added rightfully that parents should “offer guidance, instead of actually setting demands”.

Pushing is not a bad thing if it is within reason and the child’s limits. In this competitive world, gone are the days when grades were all that determined a good job or future.

The idea of “good” has also globalised and includes excellence in values, skill sets and mindsets. This is why schools enthusiastically engage pupils in holistic programmes and activities such as leadership roles, community service, arts appreciation, co-curricular participation, et cetera.

Through these programmes and activities, pupils can learn skills and values that, once they graduate, they can apply to the real world, where they learn to work with people, build on their confidence and be resilient in their life pursuits.

These are a few of the scenarios. Partners in education — schools, parents, community — must collectively be active and constructive so that holistic education comes to life.

Each partner has a valuable role in shaping the future of Singapore. Parents must continue to encourage children to excel in school, not forgetting values and skills beyond the classroom.