Story by Fungai Jachi
The upsurge in child sexual exploitation and drug abuse among youths has drawn attention to the primary responsibility of parents with experts identifying gaps in modern-day parenting which is exposing children to these social ills.
Despite the seemingly good intentions, modern-day parenting techniques are somehow falling short of expectations as drug abuse has become rampant among youths, while children are no longer safe at home and at school.
Like it or not experts are convinced that this has become a generation of bad parents.
A parent from Harare, Mrs Edith Chezani said, ‘‘The challenge is that most parents have become distant from their children. They do not have time for their families. The family has become disconnected and parents are failing to control their children. The traditional ways of parenting should be infused with the modern ways.’’
Parenting coach, Mr Tariro Mukunga noted, ‘‘The disconnection between parents and children is the major source of worry. Showering children with presents and giving them everything they ask for is not love it ends up giving children the wrong impression. Children end up getting in all sorts of trouble because there is no one to control them.’’
Drug abuse is rampant and so is child sexual exploitation. But where is the parent or at least the guardian?
Mrs Chezani observed, ‘‘The traditional ways of parenting are not bad and if fused with modern ways we will be able to bring up better children. Corporal punishment is not as bad as modern parents want to think.’’
Mukunga noted, ‘‘Discipline is never a bad thing, in fact, it is the right way forward. Parents should learn to create trust with their children so that it becomes easier to discipline them. Traditional ways of parenting are not always wrong, parents should be firm and they should be concerned with everything concerning their children.’’
With children being abducted in broad daylight and dangerous substances being thrown around like confetti, questions are being asked about who will police the police as some of the parents are part of the syndicates.
