Deputy Governor of Imo State has tasked parents to engage their children positively during holidays so as to teach them morals, skills and keep them away from bad gangs.
Speaking to the select newsmen recently, at an event in Owerri, on how to tackle the rising spate of juvenile delinquencies, social vices especially cultism in the high institutions, Prince Eze Madumere blamed it on background of the children.
The number two citizen of Imo State said most career parents fail to utilize whatever opportunity they have to mold the character of their children. He disclosed that the trend is not unconnected with the communication gap between parents and the children. He insisted that failure on the part of the parents to make their children friends estranges them.
Explaining further, he said such friendship will open strategic channel of communication where they will be able to know what they are doing, what their challenges are, who their friends are and what preoccupies their minds.
Giving instances, he advised that July-August school holidays should be properly utilized to engage the children positively. He mentioned the areas of computer appreciation, special classes for mathematics, music, moral teachings lessons and Igbo language.
While agreeing that present day challenges elicits parents to work so as to meet up with the up keep of the family but warns that with good time management, the children must be closely monitored.
He decried the impending alienation of the culture of the people especially the dearth of Igbo language, which remains the identity of Igbo people. He therefore admonished parents to ensure that they communicate with their children in their native dialects so as not to lose the identity of the Igbo.
In his advice, he said parents should take their children as a project that boarders on life and death because when they fail it becomes a failure on the part of the parents. He also reminded that since family is the bed rock of every society, parents should see failure of the nation as a failure on the families, which points to them.