Establishing friendly relations with them will enhance their self-confidence and encourage children to talk freely about their problems, said Ismail Maritheri, an English language professor at King Abdulaziz University.
Maritheri made this statement while giving a presentation on "The Art and Science of Family Life" organized by Sadaya, a charitable society of Keralite families working at Abdul Latif Jameel Group. He referred to the unwholesome relationships some boys and girls establish through social media. "Parents should be partly blamed for such negative tendencies," he said.
He said imposing too many restrictions on children would have a negative impact on them. "We should not keep our children in a box, restricting their freedom. Rather give them an open field to grow while we closely watch their activities and stop them when they foul up,” he explained.
Maritheri advised parents to deal with young members of the family differently taking into account their mental development. “We should set a good example to our children by speaking the truth, behaving nicely to others, reading books and watching good TV programs. How can we advise our children not to watch bad movies if we watch them,” he asked.
Maritheri urged Sadaya members to contact their parents back home and show their love toward them. “The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us that one cannot even smell Paradise if one makes parents unhappy. We have to love and respect our parents if we expect the same love and respect from our children,” he said.
He urged Toastmasters, a non-profit organization developing public speaking and leadership skills, to make use of their capabilities to enlighten the public through social awareness programs. “We should put an end to dictatorial rule at our homes. We have to respect our children and give them love and affection.”
He criticized women for wearing revealing dresses while going out. “We should not buy such dresses for our children.”
Mohammed Haneef, a Toastmaster, also spoke during the function. “Family is the most peaceful place in the world. It is the first place where our children develop their personality. About 75 percent of their values come through family. We should give priority to our family over anything else, including our job. We are working for our family so our work should not be at its expense.”
Lakshman Sockalingam, an English lecturer at KAU, spoke about good parenting.
During the event, Sadaya launched its Najda program to assist poor families. “Thousands of poor families are suffering in our home country without food, housing and medical care. We have to support these unfortunate people by giving them from what we have today as a result of God’s blessing,” said Shabnam Basheer, president of Sadaya.
Coordinator Zainudeen opened the program by giving a registration form to P.K. Mohammed, a senior community member. Sameer Kunnan and Basheer Ambalavan presented a memento to Maritheri.
