THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRAINING AND DISCIPLING A CHILD
Child training is the act of guiding a child in positive ways of human conducts in the society. It involves correction, love and a good way of discipline, which can be shown or given by parents or guardians. The Bible made us to understand that training up a child in the way he should go, when he grows up, he will not depart from it. The training of a child should not be left alone for the mother. The father has an important role to play on the training of a child, be it a boy or a girl.
The home is the first training centre of a child. The parents are the first teachers that a child will ever have. Good and proper upbringing of a child needs corporate training from both parents. The Child has to be disciplined. Some mothers are weak when it comes to training of a child. This weakness is as a result of close relationship between the mother and the child. If the training of a child is not well-considered, the child may go to an unknown and wrongly-motivated direction.
A story was told of a child who was always harassed by a bully in his class. The mere thought of going to school always frightens him. One day as he was going down the street with his father, he saw the boy but instead of being afraid and run away as always, he was bold and stood to face him. This is because he was confident that his father was with him and will protect him and not allow the bully beat him as always. Fathers are always seen as the protector of a family, with their presence in the lives of children, there will be growth and love.
Training and discipling a child also involves financial support. Most mothers from the African community are mostly housewives without Job or skills. The basic needs of a child cannot be provided. The father who is seen as the breadwinner of the family can provide the basic needs of the child, therefore, his contributions are needed in the training and discipling of the child.
Some children are naturally closer to either their father or mother. For example, the girl child is closer to her father while the boy child is closer to his mum. This is an opportunity for both parents to teach their children the right behaviors or the best human conducts acceptable in the society. Some children take their fathers as their role models, they learn from their behaviours and skills. In Africa, a father is seen as the head of the family; that symbol of authority controls every behaviour of the child.
Crime, corruption, rebellion, disobedience, drug abuse and immorality are the effects of lack of training of the child. Training and discipling a child will help in curbing a lot of crime. Children tend to learn a lot of behaviours at a tender age.
A child is a member of the community whose future depends entirely on his/her decisions in life. They decisions taken can either mar or make them for life. Such decisions are made by the type of discipline the child has received. For we to have a better society, parents should endeavour to train and discipline their children. Without twisting words, I would gladly say that the child training, caring and discipling is the responsibilities of both parents.
Excellent write up