Mathura Thapa’s Book ‘Gentle Parenting’ Launched
Article Summary
Reviewed and Presented.
- Mathura Thapa’s book, “Gentle Parenting,” discusses behavior and skills related to raising children from pregnancy to 18 years of age.
- The book covers child psychology, developmental stages by age, play, nutrition, and behavior management in a simple, practical manner.
- Professor Dr. Vidur Chalise described the book as a guide for parents, homemakers, and social activists.
Kathmandu – Mathura Thapa’s book titled Gentle Parenting has been officially released.
The book centers on the entire process of raising children from a woman’s pregnancy up to the age of 18. It highlights the behaviors, mindset, and skills that parents should adopt throughout this journey.
Author Mathura Thapa, with over two decades of experience in the education field, interprets parenting not merely as a responsibility but as a sensitive art and a long-term social investment.
Divided into 74 chapters, the work addresses topics ranging from a child’s habit development to nurturing a good society through responsible parenting in a straightforward and practical way. It integrates suggestions grounded in child psychology, age-specific developmental stages, play, nutrition, behavior, and learning methods in a balanced manner. The book offers parents not only information but also actionable guidance for application in daily life.
Professor Dr. Vidur Chalise has praised the book as a directional manual for parents, homemakers, social activists, and all caregivers in Nepali society. According to him, it emphasizes key aspects such as the choice of toys for proper child development, nutritious diet, the critical importance of the first five years, age-appropriate play, and behavior management. The book presents a thorough analysis of common child behaviors such as foot stamping and stubbornness, exploring the psychological causes and long-term effects.
The author clearly states that children are neither born good nor bad. The formation of their personality largely depends on the behavior, environment, and culture established by parents, teachers, and society. Since children are most quickly influenced by the speech, conduct, and lifestyle of their parents, conscious parenting is indispensable.
Drawing upon 21 years of teaching experience, the author incorporates knowledge gained through interactions with children and parents of diverse temperaments and backgrounds into the book.
While parents universally desire to raise their children well and successfully, the book addresses the reality that critical knowledge and practical skills are often lacking.
The book elaborately discusses parental behaviors that should be adopted during various developmental phases from pregnancy through adolescence. It clarifies that mental and emotional development begins during pregnancy, thus parental thinking, behavior, and environment at this stage significantly affect the child. Challenges from newborn care to early childhood and adolescence are explained in easy-to-understand language.
The 272-page book features cover art by Vashu Kshitij and has been edited by Professor Dr. Vidur Chalise.