Alexander Kolmanovsky in Amsterdam. Lecture "Parents and Children" 13 March 2025

Behavior and character: what is innate, what is acquired?

Every parent knows his child better than all psychologists and educators. But a parent knows only his child well, and knows a little about the children of his acquaintances. And to a person who communicates with a large number of children and families, unexpected patterns become apparent that are not very visible to our private experience.

• What is wrong with the phrase "watch your step"?
• What is behind the manner in which children make an expressive "face" in a photograph? Why should we not tell a child "don't be afraid"?
• What are the child's exaggerated monetary claims associated with, and how to deal with them?
• Is it necessary to punish? And how to understand what exactly is a punishment for a child?

These and many other questions of upbringing and behavior of children are discussed on the example of fragments from films, documentaries, and the participants' own situations.