Parenting Then vs Now: How Indian Parents Have Evolved Over Time
Ananya Mishra | Tue, 02 Dec 2025
Parenting in India has changed significantly over the years. Older generations focused on strict discipline, hierarchy, and limited career choices, while modern parents prioritise emotional support, open communication, mental health and gender equality. With technology shaping childhood today, parents now guide their kids with more awareness, balance and encouragement.
Parenting Then vs Now
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- Parenting methods and styles have a huge impact on a child’s personality in the future. It can be both positive and negative. These styles have also evolved over the years.
- The older generation’s way of parenting was quite different from the new generation.
- The older generation focused more on disciplined and strict parenting. On the other hand, the new generation of parents' style of parenting is quite the opposite. They focus on more emotional and loving aspects.
Family Hierarchy and Discipline
- In older times, family hierarchy played a major role in family dynamics. Children were expected to obey and listen to the elders in the family without any objection. Teaching discipline and respect used to be the main priority. However children also need to be heard and form their own independent thoughts.
- Modern Indian parents these days believe in more open communication. They want to make their kids more intellectual while also teaching them respect.
Daily Lifestyle
- With the advancement in technology and change of environment, the childhood of modern kids is very different from that of the older generation.
- Childhood in the older times meant outdoor playtime, joint families and fixed study times without too much exposure to technology.
- Modern children on the other hand have very easy access to technology and the internet. Even their education requires it. Hence parents need to be more cautious about what their kids are getting exposed to through internet or technology
Mental Health Awareness
- Modern parents are more aware about concepts such as mental health and emotional awareness.
- They encourage their kids to openly talk about their emotions, struggles and thoughts.
Education Pressure and Career Choices
Education Pressure and Career Choices
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- In the older times, only a few career choices like medical, engineering, teaching or government jobs were considered worthy or respectful.
- But modern parents are encouraging their kids to focus on their passion and turn them into career choices.
Gender Roles and Expectations
Gender Roles and Expectations
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- Earlier, gender biases among siblings used to be very evident.
- In many families, sons were valued more than daughters. Daughters were not encouraged to study much and were told to learn household work so they could go on to become “good wives”.
- Now, parents have become more open minded. They treat both sons and daughters equally.
- They teach all their kids important life skills like cooking as well as value education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How is parenting different today from that in the past?
Older parenting was strict and discipline-focused, while modern parenting is more emotional, supportive and communicative. - Are gender roles different now?
Yes, parents today treat sons and daughters equally and teach all kids basic life skills. - Why are modern parents more flexible?
They understand mental health, encourage expression and support individuality.
