One pertinent question we need to ask ourselves is, do we give enough quality time to our children?
In this age of the rat – race, parents correctly believe that they are much busier than the mothers and fathers of the past decades. Total workloads, and the hours dedicated in office and social networking, often lead to the loss of valuable time at home and with the children. In today’s fast paced world where climbing the career ladder, posting updates on social media, tweeting et.al. has taken a front seat, taking time out for our children has occupied a backseat in our lives. But do we ever question about what kind of impact falls upon children, who doesn’t enjoy enough time with their parents?
Normally every child cribs for undivided attention and love of their parents. The bonding created through the time we dedicate to weaving a relationship with our children by talking with them or spending quality moments with them, actually help in the wiring of a neural network that enhances their socio-emotional skills. An emotionally healthy child can handle stress, stay positive, empathetic, control impulse, be more flexible, adaptable and emotionally aware. As parents, we must increase the socialization skills in our children so that they would feel motivated enough to mingle with others.
Furthermore, sharing a special bond with the parents enables the children to cope with the day to day pressures and to build self-esteem and confidence. As rightly said by Craig Hill, “Parents with their words, attitudes, and actions possess the ability to bless or curse the identities of their children.”
A family usually shares time together at the eating table, after the work hours; in the weekends; during vacations and day outs. These are very crucial, as children get to understand the love, bonding and values of the relations, breathing in a family life. Parents need to spend time with their children and develop a relationship of mutual trust and friendship, thus bridging the generation gap between them. “Too much love, never spoils children. Children become spoiled when we substitute presents for presence.” Anthony Witham.
It is often seen that most teenagers have a huge culture gap or a kind of disconnect with their parents that leads them to a life of despair, and ushers them into the dark world of substance abuse and other negative enjoins. These children are lost, have no friend, philosopher or guide to show them the way. We are witness to an emerging society, where a feeling of disconnect prevails between the parents and children. This disorientation of the younger generation is largely an effect of neglect by parents or non-commitment of time towards them during their early childhood years. In order to help our children grow up to be healthy individuals, both emotionally and physically, parents must make some time to create that bonding of mutual trust, reliance and understanding, in spite of their busy schedules.
Ergo, time is what we need to talk.
by Vasavi Acharya , Early Childhood Educationist