I agree with both Bunn and LadyOfAstolat. My parents (neither of whom went to university) provided a private primary school when I was bored/bullied at my state primary and had decided that I hated school. I repaid them by winning a full scholarship to a private secondary school (otherwise things would have been very difficult financially). Perhaps unlike Bunn, I have no doubt that this was a Good Thing as I thrived there and had a brilliant experience (which might have been harder at the local state schools, which offered far fewer subjects and were even keener on sports).
Beyond that, when I was small they provided lots of trips to the library/castles/zoo on request. When I was bigger they provided pocket money for me to buy RPG books, cassettes of baroque music, and VHS tapes of The Prisoner, hosted endless sessions of boardgaming and roleplaying, and generally indulged my self-chosen enthusiasms.
Now, as parents, we're trying to walk that line between encouraging our kids to try activities, and letting them decide whether, and to what extent, to pursue them. Katy has, in her short life, been to dozens of different clubs etc; and though we're happy that one has stuck (riding), we would have been equally happy if she had decided to spend all her time reading and playing games (my childhood!) Danny is a more natural joiner-in, but his main hobby (dance) seems to have appeared from nowhere, and now we're supporting him as much as we can. Moral of the story? No idea!
As a teacher at an academically selective school, I see very little link (either way!!) between happiness/success (by any criteria) of child and pushiness of parent. I think it's down to personality; there's no "one size fits all" answer, alas.
no subject
Beyond that, when I was small they provided lots of trips to the library/castles/zoo on request. When I was bigger they provided pocket money for me to buy RPG books, cassettes of baroque music, and VHS tapes of The Prisoner, hosted endless sessions of boardgaming and roleplaying, and generally indulged my self-chosen enthusiasms.
Now, as parents, we're trying to walk that line between encouraging our kids to try activities, and letting them decide whether, and to what extent, to pursue them. Katy has, in her short life, been to dozens of different clubs etc; and though we're happy that one has stuck (riding), we would have been equally happy if she had decided to spend all her time reading and playing games (my childhood!) Danny is a more natural joiner-in, but his main hobby (dance) seems to have appeared from nowhere, and now we're supporting him as much as we can. Moral of the story? No idea!
As a teacher at an academically selective school, I see very little link (either way!!) between happiness/success (by any criteria) of child and pushiness of parent. I think it's down to personality; there's no "one size fits all" answer, alas.