Parents vs.
Teachers: Why Parents Play a Bigger Role in Shaping a Child’s Growth
NO.3 “Who has a bigger role in shaping a child parents or teachers”
WANG JIAQI
Imagine a child’s mind as a blank canvas, waiting for the brushstrokes that will shape their
personality, values, and future. Who wields the greater influence over this delicate
masterpiece—parents or teachers? This question has sparked debate for decades, as both
play crucial roles in a child’s development. While the classroom serves as a hub for formal
education, the home is where lessons of life, morality, and emotional growth begin. Parents,
from the moment of birth, lay the foundation for a child’s understanding of the world. They
are the first to teach not only basic knowledge but also essential life skills, moral values, and
social behaviors. In contrast, teachers guide students through academic subjects, introducing
them to broader perspectives and fostering intellectual growth. However, the scope of
influence between these two groups differs. Teachers may shape the mind, but parents
nurture the heart.
This article will argue that parents hold the stronger, more lasting influence in shaping a
child’s growth. Through moral guidance, social skill development, and academic
reinforcement, parents play an irreplaceable role in the complete development of their
children, one that formal education alone cannot replicate.
From the moment a child is born, parents are the primary sources of moral education. A
study from Harvard University showed that children who had close relationships with their
parents were more likely to develop strong moral reasoning, even in difficult
[Link] to research published by the American Psychological Association
(APA), early parental involvement is directly linked to a child's development of empathy,
self-control, and social responsibility .Even in the absence of formal education, children
raised in stable, nurturing homes often grow up with a solid moral [Link] instance,
children in homeschooling environments, who rely heavily on parental guidance for social
and moral instruction, often perform well in society, showing that education isn't just about
formal schooling . Unlike teachers, who typically focus on academic content, parents
provide lifelong moral guidance, shaping a child’s character.
Some argue that schools and teachers provide essential lessons in ethics and behavior.
Teachers in many school systems are tasked with teaching values such as fairness,
cooperation, and [Link], a 2018 study from The Journal of Moral Education
concluded that these values are often reinforced at home, making the parents' role more
significant in long-term moral development . Parents have a broader and more lasting impact
on moral development than teachers, as they are continuously involved throughout the
child’s life. Parents serve as lifelong role models, continuously instilling values that shape a
child's moral compass. Transition to the discussion of parents' role in social skills and
personal relationships.
Social skills, which are crucial for success in life, are largely taught by parents. A study by
the University of Washington found that children who spend more time engaging with their
parents are better at developing communication and conflict resolution skills . Family
interactions lay the foundation for how children handle relationships with peers, authority
figures, and others. A study published in the Journal of Family Psychology showed that
children from supportive family environments exhibit higher emotional intelligence and
stronger social networks later in life . Research also shows that children who are
homeschooled or spend less time in formal education but have strong family support still
develop excellent social skills. While teachers offer guidance on social behavior in school,
parents provide the first and most consistent environment for developing social skills. Some
claim that schools, where children interact with peers, are the main arenas for social
development. Peer interactions in school settings are important for learning collaboration
and competition. Yet, these interactions build on the foundational social skills a child learns
at home. The 2015 study by the University of Chicago found that parental influence
significantly predicts a child's social outcomes, even more than peer influence . Parents set
the groundwork for how children engage with others, making their role indispensable in
social development. Parents are pivotal in shaping a child’s social abilities, as they are
involved from infancy, long before formal schooling [Link] to discussing parents'
influence on academic growth.
Beyond school-based education, parents play a crucial role in fostering a child’s academic
success. The home environment, whether supportive or not, greatly impacts academic
outcomes. A study by the U.S. Department of Education showed that children from homes
with high parental involvement score higher on standardized tests . Parents who engage with
their children in homework and academic discussions reinforce what is learned in school,
making the lessons more practical and long-lasting. Even in families with less access to
formal education, parents often teach practical knowledge and life skills that are critical for
success, showing that education extends beyond the classroom. While teachers provide
structured education, parents’ continuous involvement has a lasting impact on academic
growth. Some argue that teachers, as formal educators, are primarily responsible for
academic development. Teachers are trained professionals delivering subject-specific
knowledge, which is essential for cognitive development. However, a study from the
Educational Psychology Review revealed that students whose parents are engaged in their
learning have higher academic achievement, regardless of the school environment . Parents
serve as lifelong academic coaches, ensuring that their children can translate formal
education into everyday success. Parents are essential in nurturing a child’s academic
growth by reinforcing and expanding on the lessons learned in school. Transition to the
conclusion where both parental and teacher roles are summarized.
While teachers provide important education, parents play a bigger and more
comprehensive role in shaping a child’s growth. Parents influence children’s moral values,
social skills, and academic development, starting from birth and continuing throughout life.
Teachers play an essential role in formal education, but their influence is limited compared
to the broader, lifelong role of parents. Parents’ role in shaping a child’s character, social
competence, and intellectual growth is irreplaceable. The foundation laid by parents remains
the most significant factor in a child's development, long after school days are over.
"Children may leave the classroom, but they never outgrow the lessons learned at home."
· American Psychological Association (APA): Published research indicating that early
parental involvement is directly linked to a child's development of empathy, self-control, and
social responsibility.
· Journal of Moral Education (2018 Study): Concluded that values taught in school are
often reinforced at home, making the parents' role more significant in long-term moral
development.
·Journal of Family Psychology: Showed that children from supportive family environments
exhibit higher emotional intelligence and stronger social networks later in life.
· University of Chicago Study (2015): Found that parental influence significantly predicts a
child's social outcomes, even more than peer influence.
· U.S. Department of Education: Released findings that children from homes with high
parental involvement score higher on standardized tests.
