We often look to successful children with envy and relish in hearing about their journeys to success. Each successful child has been nurtured with successful education since childhood. There are countless successful educational methods we can learn from, but remember, never to copy; instead, tailor an educational path suitable for your child’s unique traits, which is the best and most beneficial for their growth and development.

Former President Obama of the United States was raised by his mother because his father had passed away in a car accident due to drunk driving when Obama was young. Obama’s mother never spoke ill of the father in front of her son, nor did she describe the domestic violence and alcoholism; instead, she portrayed Obama’s father as a heroic figure doing ‘great things’ and ‘big businesses’. Growing up in poverty, Obama’s mother sent him to a regular elementary school and took it upon herself to teach Obama knowledge. Waking him up at four in the morning, she tutored him in English for three hours before school, then went to work herself. At the age of 13, to give her son stronger spiritual support and motivation, Obama’s mother pursued a master’s and doctoral degree in anthropology at the University of Hawaii. After becoming president, Obama spoke fondly of his mother’s good education in many speeches and memoirs. For a child, the best education, the most successful education, is for parents to become role models for their children, to have parents whom they can admire.

2. 【A harmonious and positive growth environment is the best education】More than 20 years ago, in a class I taught, there were twins, the older sister got into Shandong University, and the younger sister into Wuhan University. In that era, a family with two children admitted to top-tier universities indeed caused a great sensation. Teachers and I visited the twins’ home, both to congratulate them and to unravel the mystery of how such outstanding children were raised. It was an extremely ordinary family, a rural one. The honest and simple parents were so excited when they saw us that they didn’t know what to say. They wiped chairs and stools with their sleeves, eagerly inviting us to sit down, washed the teacups several times, and scalded them with boiling water. They were so excited they didn’t know how to show proper etiquette to entertain us. We conveyed our warmest congratulations and talked about the children’s growth with the parents. The father credited the mother, and the mother said the father had made significant efforts. It was evident that the parents had a very good relationship. A loving and harmonious family environment is the best for a child’s growth. The younger twin, more lively, spoke on behalf of her parents and sister. ‘In our parents’ eyes, my sister and I are full of strengths and shining points.’ ‘Whether in front of relatives, friends, or neighbors, our parents always speak of us with a gleam in their eyes and great happiness.’ ‘We didn’t know we had so many strengths. We grew up under our parents’ praise, they praised us until we were embarrassed, so we had to live up to these strengths.’ ‘There’s only laughter in our home, never any quarrels. In my memory, our parents never argued or got angry. Their greatest joy was watching us sisters do homework, admiring how well we wrote and how beautifully we completed our assignments. The more they did this, the better and more seriously we wrote, and the better our grades became.’ Every outstanding child is destined to have a harmonious and beautiful growth environment.

3. 【Guiding children to be physically and mentally healthy, and developing good habits is the best education】My cousin was in high school and found studying very difficult, often feeling sleepy in class. At his first parent-teacher conference, my uncle was asked to stay behind by the homeroom teacher. ‘Your nephew is very excellent and has high potential, but he tends to feel sleepy in class, please take him to get checked.’ After the meeting, my uncle drew up a ‘training plan’, waking up half an hour earlier each morning to jog with his son. On weekends and holidays, my uncle took his son to a martial arts gym to exercise. While other children spent this time attending tutoring classes, my cousin was sweating profusely in the gym. Soon, after a period of ‘arduous training’, my cousin’s rhinitis healed on its own, and he no longer had headaches or felt sleepy. His grades improved rapidly, and he was eventually admitted to a 985 university in Shanghai. Invited back to his alma mater to give a report, amidst warm applause, he said: ‘I am very grateful to my parents; they gave me a strong body. When I had headaches and felt sleepy, my father ran with me, exercised, and took me to the martial arts gym on weekends and holidays, enjoying the joy of learning martial arts. My father pays special attention to cultivating my habits, such as keeping regular hours, eating well. Chew food thoroughly and do not use mobile phones while eating…’ ‘Every day, week, and month, make detailed study and exercise plans. Once the plans are made, strictly complete them with high-quality execution. For example, questions that are not ideal or made mistakes due to carelessness should be collected in an error book and then repeatedly done in stages three times… Developing good habits is crucial for a person’s growth. Once good habits are formed, they must be maintained consistently. What is the best education? Starting from childhood, parents become their children’s role models, create the best learning environment for them, give them a healthy body and mind, and guide them to develop good habits. Achieving these is not difficult. It’s just that some parents have deviated from the right path in educating their children, imposing stricter and stricter restrictions without achieving positive outcomes. If you truly love your child, then you must first learn and become an excellent parent; tailor the best growth plan for your child. Dear friends, what is your perspective on this issue? Please share your insights.