Parents Urged Not To Harass Their Children

By OSAZUWA AKONEDO/IYRIASE BLACKIE UNUIGBE

PARENTS have been enjoined never to overreact, scream or harass their child whenever they discover that such children are involved in certain unacceptable behaviour or attitude.
Such reactions may harden the child.

This advice was given by an ex-training and institutional development expert, Dr. Tony Osawe while delivering a lecture titled, “Youths Empowerment, a road to curbing societal vices” at a one day seminal organized by members of the Indomitable Youths Organisation held in Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre.

“Whenever you (parents) discover that your child harbours certain unacceptable behaviour, don’t overreact, scream or harass him/her ... frequent beating, could harden up the child’’, Osawe said.

He urged parents to always apply some level of gentility, to find out the causative factor before deciding the next line of action.

According to Dr. Tony Osawe, for Nigeria to move forward and to conceive achieving meaningful and sustainable development, the people need to re- focus on how best to harness and channel the creative and innovative energies of the nation’s youths to productive ends.

Speaking further, he described family as a place where individual returns to heal their wounds after the battle for life, said, “the biggest problem about youths involvement in social vices is that they are far from facing the reality of their problem therefore, easily fall back to the abuse.”

Adding that, “most treatment, rehabilitation and counselling centers have not been able to make appreciable impact over the years.”

The expert said, for the purpose of good parenting, children enjoy been praised, commended and valued by their parents.

“This can be expressed in different ways, thus warm social expression, kind tones or voice, admirable look, a hug, a kiss, a good name etc” he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the associate administrator of the Indomitable Youths Organisation, Mr. Harrison Idemudia Izekor, said that the sole aim of the organisation is to promote the reproductive health of young people, to improve the standard of living of youths in the poor rural communities to engage youths judiciously in self gainful employment activities among other things.

The high point of the occasion was a short drama presentation by members of the organisation, which portrayed a pictural view of how the society is marred with social vices that have brought untold sufferings and pains to Nigerian, and the way such vices can be curbed.

Participants at the occasion were students, media practitioners, members from other Non Government Organisations, representatives of fast food owners, student’s union government president among others.