IT is quite obvious to me that there is a dire need for training in parenting skills for parents and guardians.

In times past, many parents, particularly young single mothers, had the benefit of the extended family (uncles, aunts, grandmothers, older cousins, etc) in one household, or living close by, to assist in the upbringing of children.

Other responsible adults in the neighbourhood also took a keen interest in the conduct of their neighbours’ children, and would draw any misconduct by those children to the attention of their parents/guardians.

There was little or no wiggle room for deviant behaviour by children, as discipline was strictly enforced. Young parents benefited from this tutelage and, therefore, parenting skills were handed down from one generation to the next.

Times have changed and what was prevalent then is no longer the norm. Neighbours nowadays have generally taken a hands-off position for reasons well-known to most of us.

Moreover, single-parent households have become the norm with very small children, in the main, being socialised by, among other things, their peers, the Internet, television, and music that is morally bankrupt.

Many of these single parents spend a lot of time at their places of work, and are too busy to properly supervise the activities of their children. Furthermore, they are not trained in parenting skills.

That is further compounded by their inability to get their employers to grant them time off to attend PTA meetings or requests by school officials for a meeting relating to matters pertaining to the child of a specific parent. We must remember many such parents do not enjoy the luxury of working 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Many of us who do not face such socio-economic challenges continue to blame those parents as heartless, irresponsible and uncaring. In fact, many such parents want the best for their children, but are bereft of the appropriate parenting skills.

Accordingly, there is a need for the Government, in partnership with the relevant NGOs, to offer such training utilising social and mainstream media and community centres.

There ought also to be a hotline that a parent can access if there is a particular situation that is proving to be unmanageable. In the more extreme cases, a parent ought to be able to access in-person counselling services, with the child present at such sessions.

Perhaps the time has come whereby employers ought to be compelled, by the appropriate legislation, to grant time off, to a limited extent, for parents to attend some PTA meetings and all requests by school authorities for meetings with a particular parent concerning his/her child.

The Government must also, in collaboration with NGOs, provide homework centres with properly trained mentors who can provide the support needed by children whose parents are unable to provide the necessary assistance in this regard.

The exception proves the rule, but contrary to popular belief, children want to make their parents proud, and parents do care and want their children to have fulfilling lives.

Let us stop bashing parents and, instead, put the appropriate mechanisms in place to assist those parents who require such assistance. Our nation stands to benefit tremendously from such interventions.

Louis W Williams

St Augustine