Parent must spend more time with their children

WITH only a week to go before the holidays, the question that runs through my mind is how parents are planning to spend the long holidays with their children. Many a time parents tend to blame the teachers for not caring and guiding children while at school. Well, that might be right. However, parents too have a big role to play. I wonder whether parents ever check their children’s report cards. It is their responsibility to read and understand their childs performance and the report card is one starting point. A teacher carries the responsibility to prepare a report card at the end of every term with the view that the parent will look at it thoroughly and know what is going on with regard to the time his or her child has spent at school. A report card is very essential and it contains the child’s progressive performance. Being third term, it has monthly and end of term performance. This is to show the parent how the child has been progressing not only in the end of term tests but to show how important the mid-terms count. The class teacher and headmasters make comments on each and every report card. These comments should be taken seriously and not just ignored. Parents should always read these comments and if there is anything that calls for the intervention of the school administration, they should do this promptly. A circular always accompanies the report card. It the parent’s duty to read and study the circular because it helps to note down important dates of the school term and activities that will take place during the term, some of which may require the parents attendance, support or contribution. These include visitation days, class days, clubs activities among other important dates. Studying the circular helps the parent to look at the requirements needed at school and if need be plan before hand, especially for events that require time and money. For the holidays, the children need time with the parents. A holiday programme should be worked out with your child. The program must have a good mixture of work and play. And, in all this, interaction with the parents should not be ignored. Get concerned about your child’s whereabouts. Teenagers tend to hangout with friends, and if not watched closely, your child’s friends may have negative influence on the habits of your children. As a doing. Most important of all, have time for your child however busy you may be. A child needs your attention and needs someone to talk to and confide in. If they have a problem, it is only you the parent that can give honest counsel. If you are not available or always too busy, you never know who your child may turn to. You need to find time to discuss your child’s fears, worries, and anxieties at the soonest. You are all they have to make their future desirable. The author is a teacher at Kagarama secondary school shebs10@yahoo.com