NPSC survey indicated that 92% of Jamaica parents do not know how to communicate effectively with their children
The National Parenting Supporting Commission (NPSC) expressed grave concern at the “deep level of apathy” among Jamaican parents.
The disinterest parents show in the lives of children was exposed in a recent survey conducted by the NPSC.
The report said that most parents who participated in the survey had a nonchalant attitude toward parenting. They complained that they were frustrated and did not know how to show their children love.
Only 34, or 7.5 percent, of the 450 parents interviewed for the survey reported that they knew how to communicate effectively with their children.
The survey was conducted September 12-23. There is no margin of error stated.
“You can imagine if we have a community of people saying we can’t bother. We’re in a quandary, because parenting is the single most important role that any human being will ever undertake, and it’s something to take seriously. In previous years, we talked about planning for parenthood the way we plan for everything else in our lives,” said NPSC Chief Executive Officer Kaysia Kerr.
The CEO was addressing Tuesday’s launch of the National Parent Month ceremony.
Kerr acknowledged that the 450 parents interviewed were less than the nationally acceptable sample size but were sufficient to offer enough information for review.
She said it was disturbing that parents appeared to be shifting their responsibility onto teachers.
“We want our parents to be partners, but do we want the other end where they are involved in ways that they misconstrue what we are saying that they are handing over their children? That’s not the parental involvement that we want – that’s not what we’re describing,” Kerr said.
“There has to be a relationship between school and home, and each partner in education is to be accountable in his or her role.”
Minister of Education Fayval Williams also emphasized the importance of parents partnering with schools by volunteering and attending school functions.
“We do have an issue with parenting in this country. We know that not all parents are ineffective or bad parents. Still, there is a component of our society on which we really need to focus to give them the skills,” she said
Meanwhile, Children’s Advocate Diahann Gordon-Harrison told The Gleaner that parents’ lack of interest in their children’s lives directly translated to feelings of deficiency in children and caused mental health issues.
“There is a direct correlation with some of the mental-health struggles our children are having. Some of them are saying they’re depressed, they’re feeling neglected that they don’t feel important enough that they have to identify with another unit, whether it be gang or posse at school so that they can get that sense of belonging.”
Harrison advised parents to take advantage of the support from various agencies.
“It’s a journey that’s filled with a lot of hiccups, and if you fall into a pothole, it doesn’t mean that it’s the end of the road. It means that you need to recognise that other people have potholes, albeit at different times, and each one helps one,” the children’s advocate said.