Family Life Education Series
Building beautiful and healthy life for children

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Hong Kong is a metropolis, where both children and parents have to face different kinds of pressure and challenge arising from daily life, education or parent-child relationship. Parents hope their children will grow up happily and have a beautiful life, but they always consider that their abilities fall short of their wishes. Having taken part in children development work for many years with great achievements, Ms Mok Fung-yee has offered some tips on how to help children grow up happily.

Parents are role models for their children

Ms Mok points out that parents are the "enlightenment teachers" of their children. Children at the age of 0 to 12, in particular, are prone to be influenced by adults. During such a stage, parents can lead their children towards a right direction of their lives. However, apart from setting a good example for their children, parents should also understand their children's needs for development and growth. In case a child has emotional problems, parents should find out the causes and enhance communication with their child. If parents maintain positive thinking, they can have a harmonious and happy family life.

Develop a path to happiness for child

The keys to developing a path to happiness for children are positive thinking and parenting approach, which parents should examine and review from time to time.

Positive thinking

(1) Every individual has strengths and weaknesses. Every child is a unique individual. Therefore, parents should not compare their children with other children. It is important to magnify strengths rather than weaknesses.

(2) Life is full of difficulties and challenges. If we can overcome them, our resilience will be enhanced. Experience is wisdom, which can help develop our potentials.

(3) Failure is inevitable in life. Parents should take a positive view of failure. Only those who have experienced failure can appreciate the joy of success.

(4) Life is full of hope. People who believe there is always hope are usually happy people.

(5) Academic knowledge is not everything. Former American President Roosevelt said: "To educate a person in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society". Therefore, by embracing love, care, patience, sincerity and childlike pureness, parents should give every child an opportunity to develop their problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and personalities. They should also encourage their children to develop interest, build up confidence, and communicate with other people. All these can help children live a happy life.

Parenting approach

(1) Parenting is a long-term job. Parents should discipline their children first, and then follow with teaching. They should train their children to learn how to take care of themselves. Parents should also let their children feel their love and attention, and share joy and sorrow with them.

(2) Teaching children by setting examples is good education. Parents should behave all the time because their behaviours, attitudes and values will have a profound impact on the growth of their children.

(3) Parents always wearing a smile will bring their kids a happy life. They should avoid quarrelling before their children.

(4) Parents should be firm in parenting and not be easily influenced by advice and views. They should guide their children to learn, experience, and face up to difficulties. The following attitudes can help parents achieve a more harmonious and beautiful life:

- stable emotion and cheerful heart;

- willingness to listen and respect for children;

- acceptance of reality and enjoyment of life;

- courtesy and politeness, and

- positive thinking and an optimistic mind.

The development of a beautiful life for children starts with their parents. As such, a couple should have mutual respect from the moment they become parents. It is important to note that a couple may not agree on everything, but they should learn to accept each other and be forbearing and conciliatory. Children's observation of interpersonal relationship always starts from observation of the ways their parents resolve problems, communicate and love each other. Most children pay great attention to the behaviours of their parents and absorb like a sponge. Therefore, a couple can create an environment to provide a sense of security and mutual trust for their children.

PS & SR Branch Welfare Service Group
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