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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1979
DSW CALLS ON PARENTS TO HAVE PATIENCE
IN CARING FOR CHILDREN
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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, TODAY (SUNDAY) CALLED ON PARENTS TO BE PATIENT WITH THEIR CHILDREN IN TIMES WHEN THEY APPEARED TO BE PERSISTENTLY DIFFICULT AND TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE IR NEEDS AND PROBLEMS.
MR. LEE SAID IT WAS IMPROPER FOR CHILDREN TO BE NEGLECTED, REJECTED OR MADE AS AN OUTLET FOR FRUSTRATION.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A HAPPY FAMILY+ CARNIVAL JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AS PART OF THE CURRENT COMMUNITY-WIDE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION. THE THEME OF THE CAMPAIGN IS THE CHILD AND THE FAMILY+.
HUNDREDS OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN ENJOYED THEMSELVES AT THE HALF-DAY CARNIVAL IN THE KOWLOON WAH YAN COLLEGE.
THE CARNIVAL FEATURED A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMMES INCLUDING CHILDREN'S SHOWS, STALL GAMES, MOBILE THEATRE PERFORMANCES, AND DISPLAYS ON CHILDREN'S TOYS AND BOOKS, AS WELL AS ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION MESSAGES.
MR. LEE POINTED OUT IT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIGATION OF PARENTS TO PROPERLY BRING UP THEIR CHILDREN AND TO SHOW THEM LOVE AND CARE.
+ON THE OTHER HAND, CHILDREN SHOULD ALSO BE ENCOURAGED TO UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THEIR OWN RESPONSIBILITY AND ROLE IN THE FAMILY IN ORDER TO MAKE USEFUL CONTRIBUTIONS, HE SAID,
HE EMPHASISED THAT CHILDHOOD WAS THE MOST FORMATIVE STAGE OF LIFE AND HOW THE CHILD WAS TAUGHT AND WHAT HE RECEIVED AT HOME WAS SIGNIFICANT TO HIS DEVELOPMENT AS AN ADULT.
+BROKEN FAMILIES, INADEQUATE PARENTAL CARE AND ATTENTION, INAPPROPRIATE METHODS OF ENFORCING DISCIPLINE AND STRAINED FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS CAN HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES ON THE GROWTH OF THE CHILD, HE SAID.
MR. LEE POINTED OUT THAT RAPID SOCIAL CHANGES, ARISING OUT OF INDUSTRIALISATION AND MODERNISATION, HAD LED TO MISUNDERSTANDING BY SOME PEOPLE TOWARDS THE FAMILY CONCEPT, ITS DEFINITION AND SIGNIFICANCE.
THIS SOMETIMES HAS RESULTED IN FAMILY BREAKDOWN AND CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE GOING ASTRAY FOR LACK OF CARE AND PROPER TEACHING AT HOME, HE ADDED.
+FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION THEREFORE COMES IN AS AN IMPORTANT TOOL IN STRENGTHENING FAMILY TIES, BY INCREASING THE UNDERSTANDING OF SELF, OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE FAMILY, AND OF THE ROLE EACH FAMILY MEMBER IS EXPECTED TO PLAY, HE SAID.
THE ULTIMATE AIM, HE SAID, IS TO FOSTER HARMONIOUS FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, THUS CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS THE PREVENTION OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS.
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