Prohibiting Phone Use for Young Sons, Intense Exercise and Diet Restrictions
Experts Say "Education Methods May Cause More Harm Than Good... Can Lead to Excessive Self-Criticism"
Cristiano Ronaldo and his 12-year-old son are showing off their six-pack abs. Photo by Ronaldo Instagram capture
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] There have been claims that the upbringing method of Cristiano Ronaldo, a world-renowned soccer star and member of the Portugal national football team, could be considered 'child abuse.'
On the 4th (local time), Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) introduced what Cristiano Ronaldo is doing to raise his 12-year-old eldest son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., named after himself, as a soccer player to follow in his footsteps.
Father Ronaldo prohibits his son from using a mobile phone, enforces dietary restrictions, and puts him through intense exercise. The Ronaldo duo often showcase their six-pack abs side by side on social media, and the photo of their six-packs posted on Ronaldo's Instagram, which has 500 million followers, received nearly 16.53 million 'likes.' Additionally, videos of Ronaldo Jr.'s workouts are also popular on YouTube.
Ronaldo Jr. was a promising soccer player who was part of Manchester United FC's youth team. The identity of his biological mother has not been revealed, leading to various speculations such as 'a son born from a one-night stand in the U.S.' or 'a son born via surrogate.' Ronaldo has kept silent about the biological mother to protect his son's privacy. Although Ronaldo Jr. was born with a secret about his birth, he is receiving abundant love from his father and increasingly resembles him both in appearance and soccer skills.
Whether due to high expectations for his son or to fill the void left by the mother, father Ronaldo is known to raise his son strictly. Especially since he personally coaches his son in soccer, he sometimes acts more like a strict director or coach rather than a gentle father.
In a recent post on Twitter, he wrote, "My son has potential. I will watch him become a great soccer player. Sometimes he drinks cola and eats chips, which annoys me. I want him to be the best no matter what he chooses. I always tell my son that 'working hard' is the most important thing."
In response, some argue that while early education is good, forcing dietary restrictions on a child still in their growth phase could be considered child abuse.
Ronaldo is sometimes called a 'Tiger Dad,' a term derived from the title of a book written in 2011 by Yale University professor Amy Chua, 'Tiger Mother.' The education method of tiger mothers and tiger fathers involves strictly disciplining children like fierce tigers to push them to achieve results beyond their abilities.
However, child behavior expert Tanis Carey, author of 12 books including 'Taming the Tiger Parent,' warned, "If children are pushed beyond their abilities, many will completely disengage from a parenting style that says 'success at any cost is all that matters.' Also, if children do not feel sufficient satisfaction as they grow, the disadvantages may outweigh the benefits."
SCMP also introduced research by Professor Ryan Hong of the Department of Psychology at the National University of Singapore, who studied urban children like 'greenhouse flowers' who are pushed to succeed faster than they are cognitively and intellectually prepared.
Professor Hong found that children with interfering parents tend to be excessively self-critical and are more prone to anxiety and depression later on. He pointed out, "When parents interfere in their children's lives, it can send the signal to the child that what they do is never enough."
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