NGO hosts workshop for parents
A relationship between a parent and child plays a critical role in shaping the child’s behaviour and if parents do not learn new ways of creating strong bonds with their children, that could destroy their relationship. This was among the lessons learned at a parenting workshop hosted by Phumlisa isizwe in GreenPoint held an intensive parenting workshop last weekend.
Through the workshop, the Khayelitsha-based NGO aimed to teach parents how to strengthen their relationships with their children.
Founder Phumlisa Mpiimpi, said they wanted parents to adopt a method of parenting that enabled them to solve problems with their children and make children feel comfortable sharing and expressing their emotions.
The parents were advised to place more focus on their children's positive behaviour than on their negative behaviour and to ensure that their children understood the negative impact of gender-based violence.
“We want parents not to be harsh on their children but to love their children and create harmony in the environment. Gone are the days when parents lock that relationship door between their children and them. We want parents to play an active role in their children's upbringing.
“I hope such platforms do enlighten the parents about ways of improving their relationship with their children,” she said.
However, she said, the organisers were disappointed at the poor turnout at the workshop.
Nokuthula Zwayi, said she had learnt new ways of parenting, how to speak to her children and how to handle her own behaviour.
Ms Zwayi said after the workshop she had done some introspection and realised that she needed to ensure that her children had a platform to express themselves.
Life coach and director of the Shoulder to Lean on Support Group, Thembeka Mdunyelwa -Mxokozeli, warned parents that if their methods of parenting were not structured, their children could make uninformed life decisions or be open to being taken advantage of by others with ill intent.
