Parenting is more important than schools

Lack of parental involvement can have long-lasting negative effects on a child. Children who don’t have a close relationship with a parent are at risk of picking up bad habits and even they turn to be anti-social elements, in this digital world, children are left to Electronic gadgets and both parents are busy working hard to make money for their Smart Children, in this process both parents and children are missing great treasures like love, care, affection, attitude, sympathy, social skills, life skills, life balancing art etc.

The danger of growing up kids with electronic gadgets like cell phones, laptops, tablets to pacify them at their tender age will be cool when they are young, once development start they feel lonely and disturbed mind, and they tend to develop drinking, smoking, eloping, run away, bike and car lifting and other anti-social activities.

On the other hand, data of Abounded parents and old age homes are growing up, there are many cases of rich and influential parents who are now in old age homes as their children are grown up without love, care, affection, in turn, they are leading a life without ethics and morals.

Recent years many parents are complaining that, their children are aggressive in behaviour and their attitude towards life, when the child reaches his 7 or 8 standard children are violent, some children are demanding for bikes, cell phones, costly parties for birthdays, cinemas and shopping, which is going beyond parental control, few parents are living a tension life added to their work tension, a close encounter with these situations shows that parents are also a major reason for this, as they send their children to schools and leave the rest to teachers and school management, it is not right as the schools are crowded with huge number of students, they cannot much concentrate on all children, it is the responsibility of their parents to redesign the kids with love and care , when they are violent , parenting plays a vital role with positive examples from both parents, if a parent feels that their child is out of their control or when the starting symptoms of misbehaviour are noticed, then it is an alarming siren to take the child to a psychologist for a professional counselling, the stigma or myth should be ended that taking a child to a counsellor is some thing wrong, it is for the child future.

Healthy Habits

Children observe parents and their behaviours. Parents lead by example. A child who sees his father or mother exercising regularly is more likely to be active as an adult. Behaviours demonstrated by parents affect a child’s eating habits, exercise habits, dental hygiene, wishing elders etc.

Bad Habits

Unhealthful behaviours might have even higher negative effects. Children of smokers are more likely to smoke, because of parental modelling and because they have increased access to cigarettes. A child of an alcoholic parent is four times more likely to become an alcoholic.

Positive Parenting

"Being an involved parent takes time, patience and the ability to deal with eye rolls and mopey behavior. Parents should practice family dinner, which has shown to have a tremendously positive effect on children. The family dinner brings parents and children together, giving time and space for conversation in a comfortable environment where parents can interact with children on their academics, their friends, their needs, interests and their hobbies, this will surely develop an approach of belongingness in the whole family.

Parenting is the collective responsibility of Father and mother, in many case mother plays this active role as a father is bread earner. A father should check for the academic progress of the child by attending all the parents meetings in school along with mother, signing of school diaries, progress reports etc. this will develop a great bond with the child, helping the child to grow positively, child development is very important to make next generation more ethical , patriotic and future parents, if a generation is best, the country will be better.

By A P J Vinu

The author is a Psychologist & International Corporate Trainer in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.