The Head of the Kindergarten Unit at the office of the Ministry of Education, Ms. Wafa'a Myrai'a al-Eessairy, said “There is no a stubborn child, but there is a child who seeks to catch others' attention,” adding that the mother is the key player in the behaviour guidance process of a child, and not a teacher. As such, one of the most outstanding wrong and common methods of behaviour guidance, adopted by educators, including parents and teachers, occurs when such an educator doesn't recognize the negative feelings produced by a child as a result of the beginning of the new school year. It is known that we, the adults and not the young persons, bear the burden of the early days of the school year or the first day following the summer vacation, with our diverse jobs; therefore, we have to recognize and accept the child's feelings.”
Moreover, Ms. al-Eessairy went on pointing out that some educators focus on the negative behaviour a child produces, leading, in turn, to make such behaviour deeply-ingrained, so the educators must ignore the negative behaviours a child usually makes to draw attention, and guide him to a new, and positive behaviour, without paying attention to the negative one.
As a part of the activities of the health awareness program (My health ... My school) coinciding with the start of the new academic year, the Ministry of Health (MOH) hosted the Head of the Kindergarten Unit at the Office of the Ministry of Education, Ms. Wafa'a Myrai'a al-Eessairy, through its Media and Health Awareness Information Centre's toll-free line: 800-2494444 as well as the MOH's account on Twitter: @saudimoh; in order to answer callers' questions on the importance of children's behaviour guidance.
Within the same vein, Ms. al-Eessairy said, “Many educators turn a blind eye to the suggestion method in education, which is considered one of the most interesting methods that brings positive results with regard to adopting new behaviour by the adult and the young person.”
Commenting on the verbal or moral punishment against the child, Ms. al-Eessairy said it has negative effects on a child's character, adding that such a punishment is not only hard to be uprooted, but its effects are developed to be a negative behaviour over the different age groups. Therefore, we, as educators, have to control ourselves when enraged, and not take it out on our children. Further, we have to be careful when issuing decisions on our children, even if this was out of laugh or jest, as the child cannot defend himself, or explain his behaviour. Consequently, we have to exploit these few years in growing a future strong character, which can manage its life properly, without depending on others. In this way, you will grow and harvest the fruits of your efforts, Allah willing, when you see your child growing to be an adult person able to distinguish between the good to follow it and the evil to avoid it.
Furthermore, Ms. al-Eessairy provided the audience of the Media and Health Awareness Information Centre with general tips to help them guide their children's behaviour. Such tips say “Set rules to be followed by your home and children”, “Conduct a lot of family gatherings weekly as it pays off”, “Write down these rules and post them in children's bedrooms”, “Such rules must be down-to-earth and practical”, “Do not break such rules as constancy and strictness are among the most traits that ensure safety for children at home”, “Lend ears to your children even if you see such a talk as trivial”, “Before bedtime, make time to clear children's minds and to release the negative energy gained during a long day, by holding a sweet and quiet talk under dim light as this will make a child feel that he is speaking to himself”, “Replace your orders by collective actions”, “Involve your child in solving his own problems and always ask him about his opinion of the solution, as the more the child provides a solution on his own, the easier he acts on it”, “Precede everything you want from your child by saying the phrase "How about?” and finally “Patience is very significant in upbringing”. Ms. al-Eessairy concluded the tips by asking the mother to be patient as she will harvest the fruits the child grows up, and since then she will forget tiredness.
Ms. al-Eessairy was concluded as saying, “Long vacations must not turn into mayhem at home, but we must make out of the vacation time for calmness and comfort, to the effect that they are not free of more bendable rules. We can plan for more leisure programs, games, competitions, travel, and journeys that benefit all, each according to his interest. Ms. al-Eessairy even suggested starting the vacation with a small family gathering, where all the executable ideas can be written down, while the non-executable ones can be postponed for the next vacation. Discussion in itself has a positive impact on children's souls.
In the meantime, in continuation of the educational activities and events carried out by the MOH, and as a part of the activities of the health awareness program (My health ... My school), the Ministry of Health (MOH) hosts Ms. Maha Mohammed Al-Muslim, the Pedagogic Supervisor of the Riyadh's Kindergarten Department, on Thursday 29/10/1434H (corresponding to 5/9/2013) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. through its Media and Health Awareness Information Centre's toll-free line: 800-2494444; in order to speak on positively dealing with feelings, and the way of planting self-confidence in children with the aim of creating ambitious generations able to achieve their message and role in the general and personal life successfully. Later, Dr. Aisha al-Shammari, the Manageress of the National Expanded Fortification Program, is to be hosted from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.