Isha Koppikar’s powerful parenting lesson on raising children and what new-age parents can learn from it

August 10, 2026 - 11:40

Actor Isha Koppikar recently opened up about her approach to raising children, and her words have struck a chord with parents who feel overwhelmed by the constant pressure of modern parenting. Instead of pushing a rigid set of rules, she shared a simple but firm belief: children need presence more than presents, and discipline rooted in love beats control rooted in fear.

Koppikar, who is a mother to a young daughter, spoke about the importance of letting kids make mistakes while still holding clear boundaries. She pointed out that many new-age parents swing between two extremes, either being overly permissive to avoid conflict or turning into strict enforcers of schedules and achievements. Her take is that both miss the point. What children actually remember is not the perfect meal plan or the extra tutoring class, but whether they felt heard when they were upset and whether their parents showed up emotionally, not just physically.

She also touched on the trap of comparison, especially in the age of social media where every child seems to be a prodigy. Koppikar advised parents to stop measuring their child against someone else's highlight reel. Every kid develops at their own pace, and pushing them to fit a template only creates anxiety. Instead, she suggested focusing on building core values like honesty, empathy, and resilience, which matter far more in the long run than a trophy or a report card.

Another point she made was about apologizing. Parents often expect children to say sorry, but rarely model it themselves. Koppikar believes that when a parent admits they were wrong, it teaches the child that respect is a two-way street. It also builds trust, which is the foundation of any strong relationship. She admitted that this is not easy, especially when you are tired or stressed, but the effort pays off in a deeper connection.

Her final thought was about screen time, not as a villain but as a tool that needs limits. She does not advocate for banning devices completely, but she does stress the need for tech-free moments, like meal times or before bed, where the family can actually talk. The goal is not to raise perfect children, she said, but to raise kind ones who know they are loved without conditions. That message, delivered without any fancy jargon, is exactly what many parents needed to hear.