Westerners often laud their children as 'talented' or 'gifted', while Asian parents highlight the importance of hard work. And in fact, research performed by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck has found that the way parents offer approval affects the way children perform, even the way they feel about themselves.

Some people don't need parental commitment, they will still come out great, but for others, parents can be critical in providing moral and academic guidance.

Some people are just self-motivated - my husband was. I also believe there are many children for whom parental involvement is key.

Amy Chua Quotes