A child’s home is meant to be his training ground. A place where he is taught important lessons in life and qualities such as honesty, fairness, patience, morals and values. The child will take his cue from the adults around him. If they are loving and affectionate, warm and considerate, the child will grow to be the same.
Along the way there will be incidents where the child makes a mistake. He may do something wrong or bad, but this is expected. Part of the training consists of parents helping the child to avoid mishaps; or to at least be aware of the consequences of his actions.
The objective of the training is to enable a child to be resilient, well-mannered, considerate to others and smart; in as much as he is able to perceive immoral settings and dishonest people and retreat out of harm’s way tactfully.

Every day of a child’s life is a learning day, regardless of how monotonous it may seem to the child; and parents have their work cut out. It is their job to provide the necessary ‘grounding’ to enable their child to go forth equipped for survival in this ever-changing world.
The foundation that parents need to consider initially is how they bond with their child. Bonding is a very special part of the entire journey for the child, it makes him feel secure, loved and protected. Children get by whether their parents are genuinely tuned into them or not. They live with either the frustration and irritation or love and affection that emits from their carers and they adapt accordingly.

Due to the discrepancies that exist in their upbringing, and the lack of an authentic bond, the child may grow harbouring fear, resentment, anger, or annoyance towards his carers. He may, on the other hand, simply be indifferent to his home life and the people who raise him. A lack of guidance, and his indifference, however, could result in behavioural problems.
Spending quality time with children is part of the training required for success. Pay attention to your child regardless of his age. If he has an interest, hobby or a special talent, encourage him to explore and enhance his ability.

Teenagers tend to spend more time doing their ‘own thing’ and grow away from adults. But that’s no reason to leave your child to his own devices. Time and attention from understanding parents cannot be equalled. Talking to your child and listening to him are precious moments; they should not be hurried, over-looked or dismissed as time-consuming.
When children become adults, they will remember who was there for them and cherished moments shared or they may remember having no one in whom they could confide and so resorted to self-help. Because technology has overtaken so much of our lives, people seem to communicate using technology more than they do in person, but never encourage technology to break the human bond you have with your child.

Children should be able to speak to their adult carers (parents, grandparents, aunty or uncle) about anything and know they will receive unbiased, thoughtful, clear advice and conversation. They should be treated with respect and their views and opinions sought when family decisions are being made.
Even if the child has a silly or outrageous contribution to make toward a decision or wishes to discuss a peculiar matter – listen to him. By listening you know your child more and can guide his thinking process if it needs your assistance. By listening, you can tell if your child is gaining maturity and a perspective on life or whether he has any shortcomings, such as needing a boost of confidence.

The training ground is where children will learn attributes that will see them well in life, it should be a positive environment, even if it is a one-parent family. Hostility, resentment, and bad feelings toward the absent parent should not be present, or visited upon the child. Children need to focus on their lives and what they are going to do. Adult problems are not their concern.
The root of children’s emotional development depends on their relationship with their parents. Based on positive input from parents, e.g. nurturing, constant interaction, love and protection, a child would learn to talk about his feelings and better understand the feelings of others.

Parents can help their child identify emotions while he is young (three years old and upwards) and as they occur. “It seems that has made you feel sad”. “When he grabbed your hat, were you angry?” As they grow, children will learn to control their emotions when faced with difficult situations and will manage failures and disappointments in life, appropriately.
Children need to play indoor and out. They need to create, to build, to enquire, to explore and to challenge themselves occasionally; don’t hold them back. Assess the level of danger or safety in a situation beforehand and give them the opportunity to test their skills. Some parents need to put their fears aside and think of what children will gain from stretching their abilities rather than always playing it safe.

Home life will affect the entire life of a child; create a positive environment and listen to your children – keep them safe, loved, and protected.
If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY,
MINISTRY OF HUMAN SERVICES AND SOCIAL SECURITY