Help your daughter develop self-esteem
May 02, 2004
Dear Jamesa,<br><br>My daughter is in P.7 and their school is organising a tour to Mombasa this holiday. We are required to pay for the trip. The cost amounts to more than half her fees for next term.
Dear Jamesa,
My daughter is in P.7 and their school is organising a tour to Mombasa this holiday. We are required to pay for the trip. The cost amounts to more than half her fees for next term. I have explained to her that I cannot meet the expenses and next term’s fees to no avail.
I am a worried father. What do I do to make this girl understand my position?
E.N- Kampala
Dear E.N,
Your situation is quite trying and it is a test every parent must face at one given time. Did you know how girls view their fathers?
To your daughter, you are more than just a biological father.
You are an umbrella, which shields her from the harsh world. You are a provider, protector, and a refuge in times storm.
At her age, group identity is very crucial for the development of her self- esteem. Group approval coupled with a desire to please friends is a characteristic of children at her age.
How does it feel being left out while the entire class is involved in an activity?
How would you feel if it were you?
As a parent, you might feel that fees should be accorded the first priority. Well, should your daughter also at her age share with you this perspective?
As one educationist wrote, the difference between an adult and a child is not in body size but in the way they think. At her age, socialisation and identifying with the group is more important than paying school fees on time. How about taking a look at the other side of the coin?
-How will she feel when her classmates begin to share exciting stories gathered from their tour. I imagine her seated alone as tears trickle down her face. She feels lonely, uncared for and out of place.
-Some children are unkind towards others. Her friends may use this opportunity to tease and belittle her. “You are so unlucky, why didn’t your dad pay for you?â€
These are some of provocative statements, which friends may make. How do these statements affect the child’s self esteem? Of course she feels shattered.
-Did you know that this experience might remain scar in your daughter’s life? Children do not forget painful and exciting experiences easily.
She will not forget the day she remained at home while her classmates were touring and enjoying themselves in Mombasa.
There is a lot of learning that takes place out of class and visiting places is one avenue of such learning. The child gets exposed, compares her environment with others and socialises out of class.
Would you like to have an academician with a low self- esteem and who harbours childhood bitterness?
You should never underestimate the psychological damage, which such experiences can have on a child. Class performance depends on emotional stability of the learner among other factors. Remember, your daughter is a candidate- a critical class.
Like the proverb goes, you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. Similarly, you can’t have a child with balanced personality without a bit of sacrifice on your part. What do you think?
jamesawagwau@yahoo
077631032
My daughter is in P.7 and their school is organising a tour to Mombasa this holiday. We are required to pay for the trip. The cost amounts to more than half her fees for next term. I have explained to her that I cannot meet the expenses and next term’s fees to no avail.
I am a worried father. What do I do to make this girl understand my position?
E.N- Kampala
Dear E.N,
Your situation is quite trying and it is a test every parent must face at one given time. Did you know how girls view their fathers?
To your daughter, you are more than just a biological father.
You are an umbrella, which shields her from the harsh world. You are a provider, protector, and a refuge in times storm.
At her age, group identity is very crucial for the development of her self- esteem. Group approval coupled with a desire to please friends is a characteristic of children at her age.
How does it feel being left out while the entire class is involved in an activity?
How would you feel if it were you?
As a parent, you might feel that fees should be accorded the first priority. Well, should your daughter also at her age share with you this perspective?
As one educationist wrote, the difference between an adult and a child is not in body size but in the way they think. At her age, socialisation and identifying with the group is more important than paying school fees on time. How about taking a look at the other side of the coin?
-How will she feel when her classmates begin to share exciting stories gathered from their tour. I imagine her seated alone as tears trickle down her face. She feels lonely, uncared for and out of place.
-Some children are unkind towards others. Her friends may use this opportunity to tease and belittle her. “You are so unlucky, why didn’t your dad pay for you?â€
These are some of provocative statements, which friends may make. How do these statements affect the child’s self esteem? Of course she feels shattered.
-Did you know that this experience might remain scar in your daughter’s life? Children do not forget painful and exciting experiences easily.
She will not forget the day she remained at home while her classmates were touring and enjoying themselves in Mombasa.
There is a lot of learning that takes place out of class and visiting places is one avenue of such learning. The child gets exposed, compares her environment with others and socialises out of class.
Would you like to have an academician with a low self- esteem and who harbours childhood bitterness?
You should never underestimate the psychological damage, which such experiences can have on a child. Class performance depends on emotional stability of the learner among other factors. Remember, your daughter is a candidate- a critical class.
Like the proverb goes, you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. Similarly, you can’t have a child with balanced personality without a bit of sacrifice on your part. What do you think?
jamesawagwau@yahoo
077631032