Child discipline: A necessity in our fast-paced society

   “Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” -Robert Fulghum Many African parents, especially those who grew up in the traditional family setting, pride themselves on disciplining their children, regardless of political or global concerns. The Bellos are a close-knit family; the father works long hours and […]

 

 “Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” -Robert Fulghum

Many African parents, especially those who grew up in the traditional family setting, pride themselves on disciplining their children, regardless of political or global concerns.

The Bellos are a close-knit family; the father works long hours and is scarcely home to help his wife raise their three children. But when he is home, he spends most of his spare time teaching his kids all they need to know on surviving outside their home.

Both parents are career-driven, but it has never stopped them from applying some level of discipline on their children.

Sometimes they enlist the help of their extended family members as well as their neighbours, friends and even the kids’ school teachers to instill the needed discipline growing children need to cope in this world.

Though many people consider them old-fashioned, they believe they are doing the right thing.

Unfortunately our African society today can be said to be divided into two types of parents, it seems. Those who favour bringing up their children the old fashioned way, which does not necessarily involve excessive beating, like many people are inclined to believe and those who decide that discipline of any kind, is out dated.

However the latter is quick becoming the order of the day in our 21st Century modern lifestyle these days.

Many parents would take offence if another adult, especially a stranger, correct their kids, after the child might have misbehaved, either at school or in a social gathering.

This attitude would hardly be found or accepted in the olden days, where a child then was considered the child of everyone around his/her locality and so corrected by everyone when he erred.

Regardless of the fact that the world is different now than what it used to be many years ago in terms of technology and modernization, the rules of training a child has not changed because for the world to work, things like truth, good manners, social graces, independence and knowledge of right and wrong are qualities that will lead one far in life.

 It is always the pride of every responsible parent in the society to watch their children grow into better versions of themselves due to the discipline instilled in them from an early age.

However while exerting discipline on children, parents ought to remember that actions, within and outside the home, influence children heavily, so caution should be applied when paving the way for them.

Discipline may not be high up the ladder for a lot of parents these days but it should be. This is because it goes a long way in ensuring that people in a given society are upstanding and ready to move their country forward, regardless of the differences in others around them.

Many disciplined children often turn out to be great in life.

 

 Model citizens

Our society today is plagued with many challenges, which occur as a result of ethnic, political and religious sentiments. If parents train their children to become more tolerant of things that are different from their belief, perhaps, people wouldn’t be threatened by what they do not recognize.

Children ought to be taught how to ignore drawing barriers based on ethnic sentiments, classism, political affiliations and religion so that when they become adults, they can become beacons of light for a more unified world.

 

 Dedicated workers

It is very easy to find young adults who are not ready to earn a living or engage in any type of work, not because they are lazy but because they do not feel the need to, due to their privileged backgrounds. However, if properly trained to become independent, such a person would never be comfortable being a taker.

Growing children need to learn how to be independently-minded. It is one of the best and easiest ways to survive, especially now when world economies are crashing. Although not everyone who was disciplined turns out to be great at their jobs, but many qualify just the same.

 

 Future parents

Children, who have had a great background in discipline on how to be upstanding people in society, often make even better parents themselves. If a family is associated with a good name, it reflects on the children and if they are wise, they grow up wanting to raise families just like the one they grew up in. This is the same as favouring good outcomes over bad ones. Of course, there are exceptions but in the long run, children who had great parents often become greater parents themselves, if they get the chance.

 “If we don’t shape our kids, they will be shaped by outside forces that don’t care what shape our kids are in.”- Dr. Louise Hart.

 

 Omono Okonkwo (Mrs) writes from Abuja.