Parents urged to guide and support adolescents

Parents should continuously monitor changes taking place in their adolescent children and be of support and guidance to them, Fadheela Abdul Rahman Al-Nasiyan, director of education of model schools, said in Riyadh.
Al-Nasiyan was speaking to callers on the health awareness campaign for students and parents to enlighten them on problems related to teens and drugs. She advised parents on how to deal with teenagers when they move with their friends and members of the society.
The Ministry of Health launched a massive health awareness campaign on Sept. 1, when five million children began attending school in various parts of the Kingdom.
Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Khalid Al-Mirghalani said the campaign was part of the MoH program to educate members of society in various segments on a variety of health issues that need attention and clarification.
The program is a continuation of the health awareness campaign that the ministry has been conducting for the past six months that was preceded by the “Hello Ramadan” program, which was a big hit during the holy month.
Under the new program, dubbed “My Health, My School,” people can call toll free number 8002494444 during office hours and get clarification on any issue related to school health and their school-going children.
“Friendly dialogue with adolescent children would help parents guide them to a sound path,” Al-Nasiyan said, adding that a strong parent-child rapport would help elders understand the growing needs of their children.
“Parents must help their adolescent children adopt positive behavior to eliminate negative attitudes,” she said, adding that children are often afraid to face examination in schools since they fear not being able to fulfill their parents expectations.
Al-Nasiyan said that parents must encourage children to take part in extra-curricular activities in school to keep them busy. She also insisted that parents constantly show appreciation for their children’s progress. It is also the responsibility of the parents, she said, to be aware of the environment and the friends their children associate with.
“Friends are important since they bear a great influence on the life of adolescents,” she said.
The campaign will have chest specialist, Dr. Ahmed Salim Bahammam, speaking on parental care for children who have respiratory diseases such as asthma.
According to Al-Nasiyan, the awareness program attracted a large number of queries from parents, as well as senior students studying in government and private schools.