| Syazwani Hj Rosli |
PARENTS should attempt to bridge positive communication with their children particularly teenagers, said Haji Ali Yusri bin Haji Abdul Ghafor, Head of the Counselling and Career Guidance Unit at the Ministry of Education (MoE).
Delivering his motivational forum on strengthening family institutions at the International Convention Centre yesterday morning and later at Pusat Insani Seria in the afternoon session, Haji Ali Yusri shared youths’ perspectives towards achieving ‘Keluarga Ku, Harapan Ku’ (My Family, My Hope) as well as numerous tips on building effective communication in developing a healthy and harmonious relationship between parents and their children.
According to him, one of the main challenges faced by many parents is their lack of understanding on the need of their children that builds the barrier in communicating with them.
From his evaluation, he found out that 85 per cent of the children desire for parental love so that they will become more comfortable in approaching their parents and be honest about their feelings. He also emphasised that parents should also become their children’s consultant or supporter and be able to provide comfort and open their arms for their children whenever they needed a shoulder to cry on.
“Mothers are the best person for children to unload their anxiety or stress on because they are the best motivator, the best counsellor and the best teacher for their children,” he continued.
The panel speakers at the forum. – AZROL AZMI
Haji Ali Yusri also highlighted the powerful prayer of a parent, particularly mothers, and reminded mothers to always choose their words carefully and often bless their children with love and a caring spirit. Building trust, he added, is also one of the keys to effective communication for parents to consistently listen to their teenagers and be more patient and accepting towards understanding the needs of their children.
He also shared that most of the teenagers wanted their parents to avoid parental embarrassment towards them that makes them feel humiliated or uncomfortable in public.
“Be the best parent for your children and be the parents of Keluarga Ku, Harapan Ku,” he said.
Also speaking at the forum yesterday was Ustaz Dr Haji Noralizam bin Haji Aliakbar, Dean of the Student Affairs at the Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan, who elaborated on the significant role of children in realising a visionary family and strengthening family institution through the Islamic perspective.
He stressed that a pious family is an example of a visionary family that always seeks to please Allah the Almighty and gain His blessings and drives the family towards performing good deeds.
He highlighted the need to teach the children about ‘Ihsan’ (excellence in faith), as stated in the Al-Quran, so as to shape them in becoming pious children so that the parents will benefit their virtuous deeds in life or even after their death.
He also stated that the role of the children towards becoming a visionary is to study hard in their academics to secure a stable and happy future.
“A harmonious and ‘Mawaddah’ family is a visionary family,” he ended.
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