Consistently Training Kids can be a Challenge



Doing Life Together

In many developing countries around the world, parents have more than eighteen years to train and take their kids from total dependence stage to relative independence. But that is not the case in the most western countries; particularly, in the United Estate we parents have eighteen years to take our kids from the state of total dependence to a state of relative independence. In functional and purposeful families, mom, dad, aunts, uncles and- grandparents recognize and readily accept this responsibility of training.  This intentional parenting process typically takes more time, energy and prayer than just verbal instruction. For instance, telling a child how to do something is easier and less time consuming than showing the child on how to actually perform the task, observing his or her behavior, and making further recommendations for improvement. Experts says, this process of training involves not only training in certain skills, such as reading, writing, bathing, and riding a bicycle, but it also involves teaching the child how to respond to such emotions as fear, anger, and disappointment. Some experts also mention It also involves character development with an emphasis on such fundamental values as honesty, and work ethic, and courage. In the Caribbean island, parents are very big on intentional teaching, because of these many great values. Because they know if such work is demanding for parents, its rewards must also be countless. Most Caribbean parents count on their kids to care for them in the future, so the payoff is in the quality of life the child lives, and the side benefit is that the child’s training positively affects the society at large.