Amy Chua's Parenting memoirs (Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother) has created quite a global furor & debate and rightly so as it touches upon an issue that is as complex as the human DNA itself - the code that every responsible parent wants to break.

The issue at hand is, what is the best way to raise a child to be a successful adult ready to face the challenges of today's global economy. This is an extremely sensitive topic for most parents and the yardstick to measure their success or failure.

While I read through various articles in Wall Street journal and Time (still to read the book, ordered from Amazon today), several thoughts race through the mind on what style of parenting is effective or how much pressure is good for kids but the most important aspect of the issue seems to be widely ignored. Are the "Tiger Cubs" happy, did they have a happy childhood that they can cherish and the freedom to make the right decisions for themselves in life ahead.

Developing strong self esteem in children is very important and have a huge impact in their confidence and future outcomes.  There is one thing to discipline your children, but when teaching them the right tactics one has to remember that don't be too harsh and negative at the same time.   Some ways to increase childrens' self-esteem is by praising accomplishments.  By praising accomplishments, this  will make them feel proud; letting kids do things independently will make them feel capable and strong. By contrast, belittling comments or comparing a child unfavorably with another will make kids feel worthless.  Make sure you don't emphasize that they are stupid, their very childish, never going to learn, or are hopeless.  Such comments will negatively impact their self esteem and after hearing these comments, the children will start to doubt their abilities and strengths.  It is important to choose your words carefully, be compassionate, and still deliver a strong message.  But, the most important thing is let your kids know that everyone makes mistakes and that you still love them, even when you don't necessarily approve of their behavior.