The role of parents and teachers in shaping children’s life cannot be stressed enough. Young children are like caged tigers; they can get unruly and out-of-control if the right approaches are not used to tame them. So, it is completely up to the parents and teachers to shape them into good human beings and responsible individuals.
Let’s talk about parents first. Parents are the primary caregivers of their own children. They can only form emotional bonds with their children only by spending valuable time with them. But today’s scenario is different. Strong family ties are dissolving and a lack of bonding with elders due to a ‘nuclear family’ culture are putting a strain on relationships. Parents of today are unfortunately only bothered about their financial success. Their time is entirely devoted to job markets, leaving them with no time and energy to take care of their children. Gen Z kids have all materialistic comforts in their life, but badly miss love and kindness, which can be given only by their parents. Due to a lack of emotional bonding with family members, children fall prey to the dark side of the internet and social media.
Here are a few tips for proper parenting
1. Time is more valuable than money
The most precious gift you can give your children is your time and attention. Even if you have limited time on some days, make sure they get your undivided attention on other days.
2. Encourage them to be independent
Don’t over-parent children. Helicopter parenting is a no-no! Give them space and let them solve some of their problems on their own.
3. Appreciate them
Appreciate your children’s little acts of courage. It will strengthen them emotionally and prepare them for life’s big challenges later on.
4. Encourage effective decision-making
It is important to inculcate in your children the ability to make the right decisions. But it is more important to instill courage in them so they can face life boldly when decisions go wrong.
5. Be their role model
Don’t worry about the fact that your children are not listening to you. Instead, worry that they are watching you. They look up to you and will follow your lead. Be their role model.
6. Handle negative situations positively
Praise your children for their efforts, regardless of whether they win or lose. This will help them tackle failures positively and work continuously towards their goal.
Now, let’s talk about teaching.
1. Teaching is a noble profession that creates other professions.
2. Teachers should not be just dispensers of instructions, but a source of inspiration. The mediocre teacher tells. A good teacher explains. A superior teacher demonstrates while a great teacher inspires.
3. “A teacher, who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn, is hammering on a cold iron’ said American educational reformer Horace Mann once, and he is 100% correct.
4. The modern teacher should know how to deliver serious messages using a humorous tone.10% of the conflict between teacher and pupil is caused due to differences in opinion, and 90% is due to delivery and tone in which these differences are relayed.
5. To become an effective teacher, one must become a reflective teacher first and become aware of one’s own thoughts, emotions, potential, characteristics, level of knowledge skills, source of inspiration, teaching style, the effectiveness of their teaching and so on.
A good teacher must be a multifaceted personality, an organiser par excellence and a successful guide in the life of the students. Finally, a teacher should be a ‘guide on the side’ rather than a ‘sage on a stage’.
