Should Vietnamese Parents Raise Their Children the American Way?

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to be configured according to the Bonsai artist’s will. The same goes to the child. Researches on Early Childhood Education have showed results supporting this conclusion. "Why Does Infant Attention Predict Adolescent Intelligence?" by Sigman, Cohen, and Beckwith found that speaking often to children between the ages of 8 and 24 months of age could significantly improve intelligence later in life. It appears in volume 20 (1997) of the journal Infant Behavior and Development. A report by Rose and Feldman, August 1997 edition of “ Child Development “ suggests that visual recognition skills and tactile-visual skills at ages 7 to 12 months are a significant indicator of later IQ scores. In May 2007, Slate Magazine published an article discussing the results of a working paper by Nobel Prize winner James Heckman of the University of Chicago and Dimitriy Masterov of the University of Michigan about the social and economics benefits of nursery school for disadvantaged children, claiming that more investment in such children at an earlier age is needed to supplement the role of the family.

Lastly, in Vietnam, living under the same roof with their folks after adulthood is

regarded as normal, even encouraged, this, takes away the child’s ambition and will to

live on their own because of this indefinite life insurance which is the parents. Living in a

collectivist country, Viet children are encouraged to be attached to family values, hence it

creates the needs to be a part of a group in each and every person. This mindset, on a

certain extend, creates unity among people. However, in this scenario it sets up a habit for

dependency, generating the feeling of loss and disorientation among people who don’t

belong to any group. Therefore, the pleasure of safety, protection and having people to

depend on decrease the child’s hunger to fly on their own wings. It is abnormal in

this Asian country for a child to settle on their own at the age of eighteen or after college.

Compared to the adversities of an independent life, nine out of ten Viet youngsters would

immediately choose the former without a doubt. Sarcastically , individuals who dare to

accomplish the impossible which is living an independent life away from the parents, often

get the same admiration and praise that can only be given to The Great. However, in the

US, the situation can be demonstrated as the opposite of the Asian country. Staying with

parents at the age of eighteen, after college or marriage is extraterrestrial and these

individuals are often labeled as “ losers “. Most teenagers in the US are eager to depart

from home at adulthood considering the fact that they have long been prepared for this

ride, both physically and mentally. The setting out of an independent life not only marks the

chapter of maturity, but also the time when a person learns to control their destiny.

In conclusion, adopting a new matter has always been difficult, in this case it is for

Viet parents to raise their offsprings the American way. However, it is necessary for the

thriving of a better nation, and more importantly, this new family is suitable for the

fast-changing Viet society and hence, should be applied. When a new age approaches,

changing is inevitable, but to change without changing the core values of a nation is no

easy task and this issue must be approached with caution from both parents and children