Posted by Yuan on September 09, 19102 at 06:30:36:
No doubt, parents are generally the first teachers to a child. They are the ones who teach the child how to walk the first step, to speak the first word, they are the first ones that show a child what does a tree look like, what does a flower smell and what does warmth fell. They are probably the most patient, most devoted teachers in the world for their child. They always want the best for their child. However, parents can be very biased because of their deep love toward their child, they want their child to be successful, lead an easy life, they tend to be over protecting and over controlling their child. In my opinion, for parents to be the best teachers for their child, they have to first satisfy three preconditions. First of all, the parents should have personal integrity; secondly, the parents should have enough knowledge in order to teach their children. Last but not least, parents should know when and how to switch between the role of parent and teacher.
Without personal integrity, the parents might not be able to teach their child what is the real value of live. If the parents cannot offer a cup of hot tea and some food for a beggar in front of their door, how do we expect their child will help others in need? If the parents always quarrel over small matters, how do we expect their child will respect other people? A Child's moral standard is very much affected by his or her parents' action and behaviors. Therefore only parents with personal integrity can be the best teacher to a child.
Apart from integrity, a child should learn enough knowledge in order to be successful in the society. Beyond doubt, all parents want to teach everything their know to their child so that their child can have a good stand in the society. However, a person knowledge is very much depends on his or hers education level or experience. Parents with no enough knowledge might limit their child's growth.
The third condition is very crucial too. Parents often find it difficult to switch between the two roles. In some families I know, the parents try to separate the role of teacher and parent between themselves. One of the parents is always very strict to their child, and the other parent, on the other hand is very caring to their child. However, this is not healthy for a child's psychological growth, as the child tends to dislike or scare of the parent who plays the teacher role. When the child enters his adolescent stage, he will be very rebellious, he will do things that are just opposite to the advices from the strict parent, and he will ignore everything from the parent who play the caring role.
It is not easy for the parents to be the best teachers for their child. They should be able to tell their child what is right and what is wrong, and show them through actions. They should process abundance of knowledge, so that they will be able to help their child to bring out their potential to the fullest. They also need to know when to be a parent and when to be a teacher; teachers are replaceable, while parents are indispensable in a child's growth.