Parental Influence On Children
Posted: Friday, April 16, 2010
by Abraham Ozegbe
http://www.betterachild.blogspot.com
Most parents hardly appreciate the degree of responsibility they owe their children. They are often so busy as bread winners striving to earn money for the upkeep of their families. A French proverb states: "a father is a banker provided by nature". The reality staring us in the face is that the children's upbringing is as important as earning incomes for the maintenance of children.
One verse of the Bible conjures prime attention: "train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." However, no child is ever perfect. What is important is to be proud of the child you breed. Examples are better than precepts. Children are generally sensitive and see parents as role models for emulation.
A lot has to be done to counter the evil effect of peer pressures. Parents should exercise calm, loving persistence as well as understanding with considerable patience. No matter how irritating their conduct may be, parental guidance is indispensable.
Nothing should be left to chance. Drug education is as necessary as sex education.
Parents must watch the company their children keep and the social parties they attend. The increasing incidence of AIDS epidemic, alcoholism and cocaine consumption among youths call for utmost caution and apprehension.
There is no limit to parental monitoring and tutoring. A non chalant attitude will be counterproductive. Motivating children who behave well should come in intrinsic rewards and open commendation.
John Smith admonishes: "building strong and honest relationship with your children is a vital ingredient of parenting". Children learn integrity, sincerity, transparency and accountability from parental comportment and character.
The most daunting period with children is when they start to assert their identity. It is regarded as a period where they demand freedom as a matter of course. This conflict should be handled with maturity and tact.
Mothers also play a cardinal role at home since "men are what their mothers made them"-Robert Emerson.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)A very well written article, Abraham, and so true. From the little booklet Way to Happiness, it states "A child is like a blank slate. If you write the wrong things on it, it will say the wrong things. But, unlike a slat, a child can begin to do the writing." Thank you for your article. If you want me to send you a copy of the booklet, I would be only too happy to do so. It's a simple non-religious moral code.
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