Deconstructing Parenting Emotional Mines: Scholars Advise Taking Care of Yourself Before Teaching Children
At the 2026 Parenting Education Forum in Taipei, experts emphasized that parents must prioritize their own physical and mental well-being, suggesting analog activities like shared reading to replace kids' 3C device usage.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 15, 2026 at 15:12
- 🔍 Collected: May 15, 2026 at 15:32 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 15, 2026 at 20:37 (5h 4m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Chen Chih-chung, Taipei, 15th) The 2026 Parenting Education Forum kicked off today. Chou Yu-ju, a professor at the Department of Early Childhood Education at National Tsing Hua University, advised parents that before teaching their children, they must first take good care of themselves. By starting with regular exercise and a healthy diet, parents can increase their Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and deconstruct their emotional parenting mines.
The 2026 Parenting Education Forum was held in Taipei, attracting over 300 participants and leaving no empty seats. The organizers invited multiple educational experts to discuss topics ranging from parents' own emotional repair and children's psychological resilience to parent-child shared reading.
In her keynote speech, Professor Chou Yu-ju shared ways for parents to repair and rebuild their emotions. She mentioned that parenting styles are influenced by one's family of origin and marital relationship; parents might inherit patterns from their elders or try to correct them. A good relationship with a spouse is not just about having a "teammate" in parenting, but it also provides more nourishment and reduces physical and psychological wear and tear.
Chou stated that the primary task is to "take good care of yourself first." The academic community highlights Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), an abundant protein in the brain that acts as a nutrient for the survival, growth, and differentiation of neurons, enhancing memory and mood. Factors that increase BDNF include regular exercise, a healthy diet, continuous learning, and sufficient sleep. Emotional relationships are only a part of it, so there is no need to be constantly trapped in them.
Chou advised parents troubled by parenting to take good care of themselves by improving exercise and eating habits. They can also try journaling—not necessarily reflecting every day, but looking back after a period to identify patterns of anger or sadness, thereby deconstructing their emotional mines.
Lee Szu-hsien, a professor at the Department of Health Promotion and Health Education at National Taiwan Normal University, pointed out that a major worry for modern parents is their children's use of 3C devices. Especially in Taiwan, where technology is advanced and internet speeds are fast, it poses a significant "risk factor." Parents must find "compensatory factors," such as shared reading, exercising, and playing games together, to find things that can replace the joy of 3C devices.
Tu Miao-ju, an associate professor at the Department of Child and Family Studies at Fu Jen Catholic University, noted that about 30% of children have never or rarely experienced parent-child shared reading. Research shows that shared reading is "positively correlated" with the development of children's emotional capabilities. It's not just about "winning at the starting line"—the younger they start, the better—but also "winning through persistence" by maintaining the habit of shared reading. "Reading early is a gift; accompanying them for a long time is a blessing." (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150515
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship from you is the power protecting freedom of the press.
Download the CNA "First Hand News" APP to instantly grasp the latest news.
Text, images, and audio/video on this website are not to be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.
(CNA Reporter Chen Chih-chung, Taipei, 15th) The 2026 Parenting Education Forum kicked off today. Chou Yu-ju, a professor at the Department of Early Childhood Education at National Tsing Hua University, advised parents that before teaching their children, they must first take good care of themselves. By starting with regular exercise and a healthy diet, parents can increase their Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and deconstruct their emotional parenting mines.
The 2026 Parenting Education Forum was held in Taipei, attracting over 300 participants and leaving no empty seats. The organizers invited multiple educational experts to discuss topics ranging from parents' own emotional repair and children's psychological resilience to parent-child shared reading.
In her keynote speech, Professor Chou Yu-ju shared ways for parents to repair and rebuild their emotions. She mentioned that parenting styles are influenced by one's family of origin and marital relationship; parents might inherit patterns from their elders or try to correct them. A good relationship with a spouse is not just about having a "teammate" in parenting, but it also provides more nourishment and reduces physical and psychological wear and tear.
Chou stated that the primary task is to "take good care of yourself first." The academic community highlights Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), an abundant protein in the brain that acts as a nutrient for the survival, growth, and differentiation of neurons, enhancing memory and mood. Factors that increase BDNF include regular exercise, a healthy diet, continuous learning, and sufficient sleep. Emotional relationships are only a part of it, so there is no need to be constantly trapped in them.
Chou advised parents troubled by parenting to take good care of themselves by improving exercise and eating habits. They can also try journaling—not necessarily reflecting every day, but looking back after a period to identify patterns of anger or sadness, thereby deconstructing their emotional mines.
Lee Szu-hsien, a professor at the Department of Health Promotion and Health Education at National Taiwan Normal University, pointed out that a major worry for modern parents is their children's use of 3C devices. Especially in Taiwan, where technology is advanced and internet speeds are fast, it poses a significant "risk factor." Parents must find "compensatory factors," such as shared reading, exercising, and playing games together, to find things that can replace the joy of 3C devices.
Tu Miao-ju, an associate professor at the Department of Child and Family Studies at Fu Jen Catholic University, noted that about 30% of children have never or rarely experienced parent-child shared reading. Research shows that shared reading is "positively correlated" with the development of children's emotional capabilities. It's not just about "winning at the starting line"—the younger they start, the better—but also "winning through persistence" by maintaining the habit of shared reading. "Reading early is a gift; accompanying them for a long time is a blessing." (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150515
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship from you is the power protecting freedom of the press.
Download the CNA "First Hand News" APP to instantly grasp the latest news.
Text, images, and audio/video on this website are not to be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.