THE EDITOR, Sir:
PARENTS NEED to engage their children in any search for change as we seek for solutions to move our country away from its present state of disorder, hate and recklessness. Each child must be recognised for his/her potential to be a light to the world, having the capacity to make a meaningful contribution to society.
However, for them to achieve this qualitative impact we as parents/adults must deepen our relationships with them, by imparting to them our unrequited love, kindness, compassion, guidance and protection. In this way, we foster their spirit of belonging as well as their sense of patriotism.
We parents are the first and most important teachers in our children's lives and bear the primary responsibility for their overall upbringing and develop-ment. Teachers have only a partially although significant responsibility.
Studies have shown that what parents do to help their children to learn is far more important to their academic success than how economically well off parents are.
Conclusive research has also shown that by the age of three (the pre-school years), a child has already acquired more than 50 per cent of what he/she will require for his/her future well-being, brain power, mind and body activity, nutrition; and further that 85 per cent of all qualities that determine the ultimate personality of the individual are developed between zero to six years.
I am, etc.,
DOROTHY WHYTE
dorwhyte@cwjamaica.com
