Give children family roles
I recently visited a friend and what I saw in her family amazed me. <br>Before we began to take lunch, her four year old son, Danny called the family to order. “Your attention please. Lets humble ourselves and pray. I am going to bless the meal before we eat,†he said.
I recently visited a friend and what I saw in her family amazed me.
Before we began to take lunch, her four year old son, Danny called the family to order. “Your attention please. Lets humble ourselves and pray. I am going to bless the meal before we eat,†he said. Voices fell dead as members bowed their heads. The young boy then led a prayer after which, the mother thanked him for being a ‘good pastor’.
The title of ‘family pastor’ intrigued me and I kept thinking about how special every child is in the family.
Many times we do not accord our children a privilege to make their contribution in the day-to-day running of the family.
These family roles might appear simple yet to the child, they make a big difference. Every child holds a special place in the family and depending on their potentials; children distinguish themselves through certain roles that nobody else can play.
There is a peace maker who settle family disputes, a spokesperson who presents cases to parents on behalf of siblings, and a family ‘administrator’ who pushes others to get things done.
Each of these roles is so unique that the gap is loudly felt should the role player be absent.
These roles give a children a sense of belonging. Identifying the child’s family role or position enables you to reinforce their self-esteem. It makes them feel they have a unique role that nobody else would play. The role makes them an accepted member of the family whose contribution is integral to the family’s wellbeing.
Did you know that these family roles reinforce the bonds and strengthen the team spirit in the home? Team spirit entails recognising special skills that others have and pooling skills for the wellbeing of the team.
Children who are not helped to identify their unique role in the group grow into selfish adults who cannot get along with others at their workplaces.
These unique roles in the family have moulded people’s career direction because the roles have something to do with the child’s talents or potentials. Such potentials might be thwarted if the child is ridiculed using titles like ‘kasuku’ or ‘family mouthpiece’. Give such children opportunities to exploit their talents by making them masters of ceremonies during family birthday parties or making them address family meetings.
Opportunities to play their roles give children a sense of identity that helps them lay foundation for self-esteem.
Children who are not involved in day-to-day running of family affairs feel neglected and rejected. This sting of rejection often makes them seek recognition by behaving negatively because a negative attention is better than none.
Next time your child attempts to lead family prayers do not brush them off. Your family is the first social set up that can help your child to identify their social roles and know who they are. If children fail to identIfy who they are from home, no one else will give them a realistic image of themselves.
jwagwau@newvision.co.ug
0772-631032
Before we began to take lunch, her four year old son, Danny called the family to order. “Your attention please. Lets humble ourselves and pray. I am going to bless the meal before we eat,†he said. Voices fell dead as members bowed their heads. The young boy then led a prayer after which, the mother thanked him for being a ‘good pastor’.
The title of ‘family pastor’ intrigued me and I kept thinking about how special every child is in the family.
Many times we do not accord our children a privilege to make their contribution in the day-to-day running of the family.
These family roles might appear simple yet to the child, they make a big difference. Every child holds a special place in the family and depending on their potentials; children distinguish themselves through certain roles that nobody else can play.
There is a peace maker who settle family disputes, a spokesperson who presents cases to parents on behalf of siblings, and a family ‘administrator’ who pushes others to get things done.
Each of these roles is so unique that the gap is loudly felt should the role player be absent.
These roles give a children a sense of belonging. Identifying the child’s family role or position enables you to reinforce their self-esteem. It makes them feel they have a unique role that nobody else would play. The role makes them an accepted member of the family whose contribution is integral to the family’s wellbeing.
Did you know that these family roles reinforce the bonds and strengthen the team spirit in the home? Team spirit entails recognising special skills that others have and pooling skills for the wellbeing of the team.
Children who are not helped to identify their unique role in the group grow into selfish adults who cannot get along with others at their workplaces.
These unique roles in the family have moulded people’s career direction because the roles have something to do with the child’s talents or potentials. Such potentials might be thwarted if the child is ridiculed using titles like ‘kasuku’ or ‘family mouthpiece’. Give such children opportunities to exploit their talents by making them masters of ceremonies during family birthday parties or making them address family meetings.
Opportunities to play their roles give children a sense of identity that helps them lay foundation for self-esteem.
Children who are not involved in day-to-day running of family affairs feel neglected and rejected. This sting of rejection often makes them seek recognition by behaving negatively because a negative attention is better than none.
Next time your child attempts to lead family prayers do not brush them off. Your family is the first social set up that can help your child to identify their social roles and know who they are. If children fail to identIfy who they are from home, no one else will give them a realistic image of themselves.
jwagwau@newvision.co.ug
0772-631032