Parent’s Role as the First Teacher
From the time that we were born, we probably did not remember how our mothers struggled just so we can see the light of the world. When the doctor declared ” Baby Out!” our parents probably cried for joy. We could only imagine what transpired during that special day. Fast-forward and we also became parents. We experienced the joy and suffering of becoming a parent. Why suffering? Most of us probably knew today that a parent’s job is not a walk in the park where a child would just smile and patiently wait to be served or to be taken care of. A perfect family portrait where the child is all smiles and the parents were all dressed up and looked so fresh and happy would easily be misunderstood by some who did not experience parenthood. Assuming that a parent’s job is just a so-so would be a big mistake and that kind of thinking should only belong to the section of the brain where fantasies and fairies exist.
Now before we go beyond the adversities a parent has to endure let me share how crucial it is to become a good parent or at least “a not so bad one”. A mother and father need to show an attitude that is worthy to be emulated always or at least most of the time. Children learn first from their parents. They can easily imitate the words we speak and the things that we do. They are always watching and very receptive to the things that they can sense. They don’t have a sense of guilt and shame yet at the earliest stage of their life such as the infancy stage. They just follow and do as they are told. If a parent starts to show wrongdoings to a child, this would most likely continue until toddler years and that would be a big problem. It is with a high possibility that the child will grow up thinking that what was shown to him by his parents was right and that he should not feel guilty about it.
Mychildmagazine.com.au states five reasons that a parent’s role as the first educator is vital.
First, as a parent, you are responsible for helping develop secure and trusting attachments. If a child has issues with their security of attachments with you as a parent then a red flag should be raised as this can hamper their progress to trust others and it can affect their school performance later on.
Second, a parent should be there to help develop early social skills. If a parent learns to be more responsive to her child then a child will be more sociable and will display a more positive attitude towards others outside the home. While the controlling behavior of a parent will just create a negative social behavior of a child.
Third, a parent’s role as an educator is vital because they help establish values and morals. The positive traits that we inculcate into our child’s mind will be more evident in the later stage of their life.
Fourth, a parent is accounted for helping develop early literacy and numeracy skills. Teaching the ABCs should be on top of your priority as a parent. Before they go to school you will be the first one to help them in developing their reading and writing skills.
Lastly, a parent must help their child develop emotional awareness. Children will look up to their parents for emotional support, especially during infancy. As they grew older they will learn how to handle their emotions through the examples that you have shown them. So be worthy of emulation.
Parents Role as the first Educator in a Nutshell
Literally and theoretically, a parent is the first teacher of their child. Countless pieces of evidence show how influential a parent can be to the development of a child. A father and mother establishes the very foundation of every aspect of a child’s development, be it mental, emotional, social, physical, and all other aspects. A parent should take a good note on that and should always improve oneself to be a better parent. A child can always learn in school but the foundation in everything is laid by a parent. A teacher can only do so much but can never resolve things that need the special attention of a parent. – Karie | Helpline PH
