How Parenting Has Changed Over Time

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Parenting is one of the oldest and most universal roles in human society, but it’s also one of the most dynamic. Over the decades, how we raise children in India and World has undergone massive shifts, from joint families to nuclear setups, from oral storytelling to screen time, from handwritten letters to WhatsApp parenting groups.

And yet, one thing remains unchanged: parenting is never easy.

1950s–70s: Parenting in Simplicity and Scarcity

In post-independence India, families were largely joint, and parenting was shared. A child was everyone’s responsibility, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and even neighbours. There was little room for personal parenting styles, and obedience was often the highest virtue.

Challenges of the time:

Limited resources meant parents had to work hard to provide even the basics.

Education was not easily accessible, especially in rural areas.

There was little awareness of emotional well-being, mental health or “child psychology” wasn’t even a term most had heard of.

A mother in a small town in Bihar might walk miles to get her child vaccinated, while a father in Punjab would take his son to the fields at 4 AM to teach him hard work by example. Love was shown through action, not words.

1980s–90s: The Transition Years

As India opened up its economy and saw the rise of the middle class, aspirations changed. Families moved to cities for better opportunities, often shrinking to nuclear units. Parenting became more individualistic, but also more aspirational.

Challenges of the time:

With fewer caregivers in the household, mothers bore more pressure.

The pressure of education grew. IIT-JEE and Medical entrance became household words.

Discipline remained strict, but now with growing peer comparisons.

This was the age of Shaktimaan and Doordarshan, where parents feared too much TV but still let children enjoy Sunday cartoons. Report cards were terrifying events. “Log kya kahenge?” became the dominant fear of every child and every parent.

2000s–2010s: The Digital Revolution Hits Home

Parenting now entered the tech era. With the internet, smartphones, and global exposure, children became more aware and more questioning.

Challenges of the time:

Technology brought distractions, gaming, and screen addiction.

Exposure to global cultures created a value clash with traditional Indian upbringing.

Parents had to learn to negotiate, not just dictate.

Parents googled "how to deal with teenage tantrums" while their kids posted memes about them. CBSE toppers were celebrities, and coaching classes mushroomed in every city. Mothers started juggling jobs and parenting, redefining the “Indian supermom.”

2020s and Beyond: Conscious Parenting in a Fast World

Today’s parenting is more intentional. There's talk of mental health, gentle parenting, and inclusivity. Kids talk back, ask "why", they need a logical reason for everything denied, and want to be treated as equals.

Challenges of the time:

Information overload, parenting advice is everywhere, but often contradictory.

Rising anxiety and stress in both parents and children.

The pandemic taught parents to be teachers, caregivers, and employees all at once.

A parent balances Zoom calls while helping their child submit homework on Google Classroom. Grandparents on video calls replace bedtime stories in person. Words like “anxiety”, “neurodivergent”, and “safe space” are now part of parenting vocabularies.

So, Was Parenting Easier Then? Or Now?

The truth is, every generation of parents has had a tough job, just in different ways.

Earlier, it was about survival and discipline.

Then came aspiration and academic pressure.

Now, it's about emotional well-being, balance, and navigating a world that changes faster than you can say “Snapchat”.

There is no “easy” era of parenting. Each phase brought its unique joys and pressures. What has remained constant is a parent’s desire to give their child the best, whether that’s rice from the family farm or an iPad with coding lessons.

Final Thoughts

As India grows, so does the Indian parent adapting, evolving, and learning. From "Beta, chup raho" to "Beta, how are you feeling today?", we’ve come a long way.

But whether you're raising a child in rural or urban , remember you’re doing the best you can, just like your parents did.

And that’s what truly makes parenting timeless

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