A host of personal or societal ills like gross indiscipline, corruption, inappropriate dressing, hooliganism, and negative peer influence have been traced to bad parenting and parental neglect. History may never forgive if I should quickly forget the event of few years ago. A young girl was raped by her gateman and months after, committed suicide.It happened right under her parents roof continuously and they never noticed. In her suicide note, she explained that she never had a keen relationship with her parents because they were unavailable and therefore, she was unable to let them in on the happenings before the situation got out of hand.

I know it is always easier to find a blame target when bad things happen. I concede that as a teenager myself I don’t fully comprehend what parenting really entails. So, the last thing I want to do is join in the blame game. But I had to empathise with her. What tragedy might have been avoided if there had been a consistent channel of interaction that allows for openness and honesty.

Building relationships is yet another important aspect of parental duties. The parent-child relationship is one that nurtures the physical, emotional and social development of the child. It is a unique bond that every child and parent should enjoy and nurture. It is no secret that being a parent is one of the most challenging roles in the world.  The stronger the parent-child relationship, the better the upbringing.

Strengthening the parent- child relationships requires work and effort, but by maintaining a close relationship and open communication with your children, parents can stay connected to them during all stages of life. These are some ways to build firm relationships with your children:                              

 1. Tell your kids you love them every day, no matter their age. Even on trying days or after disagreements, parents should let their children know they love them unconditionally.

2. Treat every interaction as an opportunity to connect with your child. Be a warm in your expressions, give eye connect, smile and encourage interaction.                                                 

3. Talk to your children about what you expect of them and make sure they understand because children need structure and guidance.                                                                                            

 4. Acknowledge your child’s feelings, show them you understand, and reassure that you are there to help them when they have problems.                                                                                               

5. Be a good role model and show them how to behave through your own actions.                      

6. Be available and make quality time to talk to your child without any distractions.                      

7.  Moreover, eating together as a family sets the stage for conversation.                                         

8.  Set parenting goals and identify what you need to do to achieve them.

In sum, young people who grow with a secure and healthy attachment to their parents stand a better chance of developing happy and content relationships with others in their life. A child who has a secure relationship with their parent learns to regulate emotions under stress and in difficult situations.

The Bible also says, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it” [Proverbs 22:6].

This will always be true.