“STARTING RIGHT” PARENTING TALK BY MRS LALITHA KOK

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2009


“Starting Right” was the first parenting talk organised by the Temasek PSG for 2009.

The speaker for the talk was Mrs Lalitha Kok, the school counsellor.

The talk was aimed at helping parents with children in Secondary One. It was   to help parents understand the changes their children are going through to adjust and cope with in a new school and the new secondary school environment .

Mrs Kok shared with parents that their children , many at the adolescent stage , need to know and feel confident of their parents’ love. As parents, she emphasized the need to provide room for their teenage children to grow, letting them to make decisions, respecting their privacy and giving them responsibilities. To highlight these, she  shared her journey as a parent as well and the changes that her teenage child is going through.

When transitioning from primary to secondary school,  she highlighted that the child faces the anxiety and stress of being the youngest in school, coping with many subjects and teachers, peer- pressures and meeting parents’ high expectations. Parents need to provide a safe and supportive environment at home during this difficult period as well as  provide the emotional support to cope with the stress of the  many changes their  children  face.

Mrs Kok also touched on the  generation gap between teenagers and parents. Here she shared how differences of ideas and interest could often lead to misunderstandings and conflicts. She encouraged parents to befriend their teenagers and listen to their views without being judgemental.

Overall, I found  the talk enriching. I am more aware of the changes that my teenage child is going through. I hope to guide and provide support for my child through her growing years.

As a start, I am volunteering my time with the school as a parent support volunteer.
Joining the PSG is a platform for me to get to know other parents who are willing to share their experiences in parenting their teenagers. It is also a way of building rapport with my child’s form teacher. Ever since I became active as a parent volunteer,
I could see the difference in my child who is able to talk about her school, friends and the anxiety she faces in adjusting to a new environment.

Volunteerism is never a waste of time. It not only benefits the people that we help, but also ourselves and our family. So what are you waiting for?

Contributed by PSG member Mdm Suzi