Schoolchildren on their way home stop to pose for a picture on Camp Road, Kingston, on Friday, January 5. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

Parents need to know how to handle the very critical years of a child's development because it can make or break them.

Merris Murray, executive director, Early Childhood Commission, made this observation at the 2007 Victoria Mutual Building Society's Marriage and the Family series in Kingston. She said that during the pre-school years, children should be taken early and regularly to school.

"Set up and help your child to enjoy learning and to develop a positive disposition towards life-long learning. If the child is going to school for the first time, the child is going to have difficulty in making that transition from a nurturing, caring home environment to school.

"Parents must take it as their responsibility to take the child to school and to try and help that child be happy," said the early childhood specialist.

take responsibility

Teachers who are also playing that parenting role should be aware that it is critical to make children feel welcomed.

Watch your child to see if he or she cries when he/she does not want to go to school - because it could be an indication that something isn't right, advises Murray.

"You need to go and talk to the teacher - and after a while the child will want to participate in learning without your prodding. Work with your child. Make it a practice or habit, as it is important that the child enjoys learning."

According to Merris Murray, good parents apply good disciplinary measures.

"There are times when things go wrong, the child is not doing what you want him/her to do, but instead of hurting by hitting and cursing to hurt one's feelings, we need to find appropriate means of teaching the child the difference between good and bad."

Parents who recognise that they are having challenges in raising their children should not be afraid or reluctant to ask for help.

who to call

The early childhood specialist advises, "The Church is one of those institutions that you go to for help. There is also the Coalition for Better Parenting, Parenting Partner, Hope for Children in Kingston, and then there is Rural Family Support Organisation that is located in Clarendon.

"You can also call the nearest Child Development Agency; or come to Early Childhood Organisation. We'll help you to carry out your parenting role. Remember, as parents our role is to foster the development of healthy, caring human beings."

Potential parents should think of how rewarding it is when they see their children growing up to be morally upright persons who are considerate of others.

Children who are well behaved, who understand right from wrong, do not need much supervision and can carry out activities in an independent, objective way.

"As parents, we need to be a companion, a friend to our children. You must be a teacher, a communicator, and we need to provide our children with stimulating experiences which they will remember in their adulthood, and which they will treasure in the years to come," Merris Murray said.