Maartje Louwers

Space for the child

Raising children is a constant balancing act between protecting and letting go. In today’s society, an overprotective parenting style has gradually become the new norm. Increased prosperity means that we can give our children almost everything they want, and often, we do. At the same time, declining social cohesion has led many parents to place less trust in the role that other adults, and society as a whole, play in raising their children.

Partly as a result of these developments, parents are increasingly inclined to remove obstacles from their children’s path. Like a curling sweeper smoothing the ice in front of the stone, this has given rise to what is known as curling parenting. It is a parenting style that stems from love and the best of intentions, yet important lessons are unintentionally swept away and taken over by the parents themselves.

It is precisely through setbacks that children learn, from an early age, how to deal with discomfort, disappointment, and uncertainty. These experiences help build resilience. Achievements earned through their own efforts foster self-confidence and enable children to discover their preferences, boundaries, and strengths.

By consciously taking a step back when a child encounters obstacles, parents give them the space to find solutions and gain experiences of their own. Parenting then shifts from removing problems to supporting children as they face those problems. Eventually, support increasingly gives way to letting go.

Resilient presents a visual narrative across eleven kites. In the story, the Kite Maker, like many parents, faces the question: to protect or to let go? Do we shield our children from the storm, or do we teach them how to navigate it?