[Column] The Path to Becoming a Good Parent Begins at Parent University

Watching the recently aired show "My Golden Child," we come to realize that children's problematic behaviors are not simply matters of "bad habits" or "personality." In many cases, the root cause lies in the parents' upbringing methods, and even further, in the environment in which the parents themselves were raised and their own emotional deficiencies. Ultimately, a child is a mirror of their parents, and a child's behavior can be a signal reflecting the parents' wounds.

Sangkwon Kim, Former Director of Education Bureau, Gyeongnam Office of Education.

However, we have never truly learned how to become parents. Simply having a child does not automatically make someone a good parent. In fact, many parents unconsciously pass on the wounds they have not healed themselves to their children. To break this vicious cycle, systematic parental education?especially programs that develop emotional and psychological competencies?is urgently needed. To this end, I propose the establishment of a "Parent University."

Parent University is not merely a place to provide childcare tips or guidance on academic support.

First, it should offer practical and professional parenting methods tailored to children's developmental stages, including communication strategies and conflict resolution skills.

Second, it should help parents reflect on their inner selves, express their emotions in healthy ways, and explore the kind of parent they wish to become.

Third, through programs in which both parents and children participate together, the home should function as both a small school and a space for healing.

In particular, Gyeongnam has a unique regional characteristic where urban and rural areas coexist. Urban areas face the challenge of a competitive educational culture, while rural and fishing communities struggle with a lack of educational resources. Furthermore, schools are often unable to fully address children's emotional difficulties due to a shortage of counseling teachers and limited counseling opportunities. Now, we need an educational structure in which schools, families, and local communities work together.

Gyeongnam was the first in the nation to implement free school meals, leading the way in educational welfare. Now, it is time to lead the nation in parental education as well. If a Gyeongnam-style Parent University is established, where parents learn, teachers cooperate, and local experts provide support, children will no longer have to express their pain through their behavior.

Good parenting is not instinctive, but the result of learning. A child's future begins with the growth of their parents. Now, parents must also learn. That first step begins at Parent University.

Sangkwon Kim, Former Director of Education Bureau, Gyeongnam Office of Education