Trevor Single, head of the Christian group, the Family Matters Institute, was speaking after David Cameron launched a whole package of reforms including measures to boost mentoring, improve mental health services and flatten "sink estates".
He wants to encourage high-flying mentors to pass on their experiences to youngsters at risk of dropping out of school as part proposals to encourage saving as part of his plan to "rescue a generation from poverty".
Mr Cameron praised ambitious "Tiger Mothers" who pushed their children to succeed, but Trevor Single told Premier's News Hour that this could push academic achievements and ignore other traits: "I think it's important that we get the right balance, all of us want encourage and see our children growing in a positive and appropriate manner, but I agree entirely that we have to do it in a balanced way to ensure that they're not pushed too far and too much pressure is applied on them."
He said that this also risks devaluing the role of dads: "The phrase 'tiger mothers' implies that there is only one within the relationship that is driving and supporting that child, I think very much we need to recognise the equal importance of both partners in terms of being good role models."
Listen to Premier's Hannah Tooley speak to Trevor Single here:
