28 Oct 2013

Fathers have been implored to develop a habit of regularly and consistently complimenting their daughters so that they do not fall prey to men who want to take advantage of them later on in life.

Speaking at a baby expo held on Saturday, October 26, a parenting consultant, Ms Ashley Thaba said girls not used to being complimented by men were prone to falling prey to males wishing to take advantage of them; thus pleading with fathers to always compliment their daughters to soothe their natural yearning for adoration and admiration by the opposite sex.

Ms Thaba observed that some instances of girls dropping out of school could be attributed to the feeling of being unloved that some girls constantly battled with.

“Tell your kids you love them, compliment them so they don’t fall prey to men out there who tell them nice things so as to take advantage of them,” she said. On another issue, Ms Thaba urged parents to spend quality time with their children. That, she said would help build a strong bond between them and their children, something that will result in children being able to discuss a variety of issues with them.

Without strong relationships, she observed that children often found it difficult to open up to their parents to share issues and seek advice on anything that might be bothering them. She pointed out that solid relationships between children and their parents gave the former a sense of security, which in turn engendered a high level of confidence in them.

She also emphasised the need for parents to involve their children in the carrying out of day-to-day household chores from an early age, which she noted was crucial in helping lay a strong foundation for a good work ethic necessary for success later on in life.

A paediatrician, Dr Dumisani Kamwama highlighted the need for parents to work hard to ensure the safety of their children at all times. He said it was disappointing that parents often did not make a conscious effort to find out about such things as the availability of fire extinguishers and accessibility of emergency exit points when enrolling their children in schools.

Dr Kamwama however, stated that it was important for parents to be aware that safety issues were not only about the environment but also revolved around many other issues.

He discouraged the habit by some parents to give their children self-prescribed drugs, saying this often resulted in children consuming things such as alcohol in quantities not suitable for them.

Another speaker, Ms Nkamo Radipati emphasised the importance of parents and guardians always ensuring that their children used safety belts and child-restraint seats in vehicles to prevent serious injuries and even fatalities during car accidents. She expressed disappointment at parents and guardians’ continued disregard for the safety of children when driving around or travelling with them. ENDS