WHEN it comes to children, you can never know too much or have too much information, so even if you are not a parent, you can still have a go at our quiz today on 4 minutes 4 change. See how many answers you can get right and then read up on the answers below for clarification. You never know, you might even learn something new about children.

1 Why is it necessary for children to be confident? Is it because…
a) Confident children achieve more and develop better relationships.
b) Confident children are always top students
c) Confident children are always the teachers’ pets

2 Teenagers take their own route to adulthood, but they all have one thing is common, is it that…
a) Teenagers are rebellious and rude
b) Teenagers don’t know how good they’ve got it
c) Teenagers always question things and seek their own identities

3 When a child has ‘challenging behaviour’ does it means the child…
a) Behaves in a way that might damage his/herself or others or the environment?
b) Throw a tantrum because he/she cannot get his/her own way?
c) Asks too many questions and does not accept the answers?

4 Which of the following proves that your child has a lack of confidence and self-esteem?
a) Your child is always in his/her room reading books
b) Your child never talks about what goes on at school
c) Your child is under-performing in school and hardly has any friends

5 When children find it hard to communicate how they feel they might…
a) Ask someone to help them express themselves
b) Act up, misbehave or do something quite out of character
c) Talk openly with a paediatrician about their fears

6 Adults are good at telling children what they shouldn’t do, but an understanding adult would…
a) Tell them what they shouldn’t do and give them a slap so they do not forget
b) Tell them what they shouldn’t do and explain the consequences if they did it again
c) Tell them what they should do instead and explain why what they were doing is wrong

7 When does a parent know that their teenager can be trusted? Is it when…
a) The teenager tells his/her parent everything that goes on in school?
b) The teenager is dependable, honest and reliable and is developing independence?
c) The teenager spends a lot of time on his/her mobile phone and hides it when he/she goes to bed?
ANSWERS
1) Confident children make the most out of their talents and opportunities in life. Parents can build a child’s confidence by showing love and by giving praise where due. Modelling self-love and positive self-talk (e.g. ‘I can do this’) will help. Ans.(a)
2) It is especially important for teenagers to have good role models, because as children grow they question their identities, naturally, and they tend to veer towards whatever is on offer. Ans.(c )
3) Some children can become physically disruptive at home and/or in a childcare/school setting. Other children should not be put at risk. Special measures must be put in place for a child who displays these traits. Ans.(a)
4) Low confidence, anxiety and low self-esteem result in under- performance. To help build a child’s self- assurance he/she must have a loving, stable environment. Always point out a child’s positive attributes; don’t put her/him down by highlighting the negative ones. Ans. (c )
5) Children should feel free enough to disclose their fears, anxieties, ideas, suggestions or talk about anything that bothers them, to their parents. Bad behaviour is sometimes just a child’s way of communicating, loudly and physically, that ‘SOMETHING IS WRONG’. Ans.(b)

6) Being thoughtful of how you may come across to a child means exercising some discretion. By using positive, choice words when you speak, you can achieve the same results and in turn, maintain a more meaningful relationship with a child. Ans. (c )
7) Teenagers need leverage and the opportunity to earn their parents’ trust. By giving them small responsibilities or amounts of freedom to begin with, parents can assess whether their teenager proves trustworthy enough to receive increased privileges over time. Ans.(b)

If you answered all seven questions correctly, well done! If you got less than four answers correct, we trust you have picked up some valuable information that will enhance your relationship with the children in your care, and/or in your environment.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to childcaregy@gmail.com

A MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION, CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY