Parents play key role in children’s mental growth

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

A clinical psychologist and a specialist general paediatrician believe that parents should be more engaging with their children and must have more patience and time with them to discuss their feelings to erase misconceptions or prevent worst scenarios related to the COVID-19 global outbreak.

Clinical psychologist for 10 years Prathna Singh, a children and adolescent specialist, said: “It is important for parents to be aware of changes in their children. Different people react in different ways. It is normal for children and young people to experience some degree of frustration and boredom. However, when parents start to notice that their children are not their usual self or have lost interest in activities previously enjoyed, then, it might be the time to take extra notice and act if necessary.”

Specialist general paediatrician for 14 years Dr. Wisam Ali Hussain offered three approaches namely remain calm and reassuring, be honest and be open, and pay attention as well as spend time for discussions.

Being calm and reassuring eliminates possibilities of children acquiring the negative traits and qualities of parents under stress and pressure. Being honest and being open means answering questions appropriate to the children’s ages as well as avoiding lies and children imagining worse scenarios. Time for discussions is helping children free themselves up of bottled emotions and misconceptions and providing more chances for correcting mis/dis-information and more importantly, quality time.

Singh, the Heriot-Watt University Dubai Student Well-Being advisor and Hussain of the Amina Hospital & Medical Centre Ajman gave insights on the new norms of home confinement as well as digital/online education and homeschooling.

In a related news, the Philippines’s Inter-Agency Committee on Philippine Schools Overseas (PSOs) consisting of the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Foreign Affairs as co-chairpersons with the Department of Labour and Employment, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and Commission on Filipinos Overseas as members, released in March 2020 the following advisory, after a meeting on homeschooling: “The (IACPSO) would like to inform the Filipino communities abroad that the only recognised international program of the (DepEd) which offers Basic Education (K to 12 Curriculum) is that being offered by the (PSOs) with valid permits to operate or government recognition.”