Children Don't Come with Manuals

My Optimist Sister Darshani Workman submitted a report for the March 11 edition of the Caribbean District News Desk that I wish to share on this platform as well, because it speaks to something we very often forget when we talk about working with children - how challenging parenting can be. 

The New Beginnings Parenting Workshop was organised by the less than year old Pride of Barbados Optimist Club. It is one way of addressing the challenges faced by parents and simultaneously better the lives of our children at another level. Let's see if as Optimists we can find other ways of engaging our parents as critical partners in our work with and on behalf of our precious children. Thanks Pride of Barbados! Here is the report.

Children don’t come with manuals

Darshani Workman

TODAY, THE CHALLENGES of parenting appear to have become greater. It is not uncommon to hear parents complain that their children are not paying attention to them; they prefer to spend time on the computer, TV or even to themselves. Other parents complain that their children lack motivation in studying and are even unwilling to help with household chores. So to parents, it has become increasingly difficult to remain cool and not to launch into lecturing mode.

Understanding the need for parents to be more effective in parenting their toddlers and pre-teens, Pride of Barbados Optimist Club organized the "New Beginnings Parenting Workshop" at its adopted St. Ambrose School. 20 parents participated in the half day workshop.

The event was aimed at equipping parents with the necessary tools to build in their children a strong sense of self, responsibility and resourcefulness. Essential topics covered were puberty, coping with sibling rivalry, tantrums, sexuality, effective communication, nutrition and drug awareness, and dependency.

Throughout the workshop, parents took the many opportunities to freely share their experiences and to ask questions of the facilitators. The topics covered in the workshop were solicited from the parents themselves when club members enquired at an earlier PTA meeting.

Judging from the level of participation by the parents and the satisfaction expressed by Head Teacher, Ms. Jacqueline Andewele, it seems that this workshop will be one of many more to follow.

Darshani Workman is Vice President - Internal Affairs of the  Optimist Club of Barbados - Bridgetown