Parents urged to build healthier relationships with children at Dobsonville event
Parents gathered at Jose Senyamo Primary in Dobsonville for a parenting awareness event hosted in partnership with Laerskool Jozua Naudé from Roodepoort, where speakers encouraged families to replace violence with understanding, communication and support for children.
Parents encouraged to build healthier relationships at Jose Senyamo Primary event
Parents urged to replace violence with support at Dobsonville parenting event
Parents gathered at Jose Senyamo Primary School Partnership on May 17, for an educational and awareness event aimed at helping parents better understand the pressures faced by children and how to support them from a young age.
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The event was hosted through a partnership between Jose Senyamo Primary in Dobsonville and Laerskool Jozua Naudé from Roodepoort.
The two schools now work together under the Jose Senyamo Primary Partnership initiative.
Several speakers addressed parents on a range of topics, including violence, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, mental health challenges and parenting issues.
Parents were advised not to use violence when disciplining children, as physical punishment can cause trauma and expose them to violence at an early age.
Principal Lydia Motsoane said the school decided to host the event because teachers are often able to identify the challenges learners are facing.
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“When you support parents and provide help as a school, it becomes easier for them to raise the child,” she said.
Motsoane explained that teachers spend a significant amount of time with learners during the day and are therefore able to detect social and emotional challenges affecting them.
She added that the school can identify issues such as co-parenting struggles, separation and household difficulties
According to Motsoane, the purpose of the event was to help parents understand that the school is aware of these challenges and is willing to support them in finding solutions.
Rakgadi Thole from the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) advised parents on how to respond if they suspect their children are involved in substance abuse.
She said parents should avoid reacting with anger, but rather calm themselves before approaching their children. Parents were encouraged to speak softly, act calmly and guide their children appropriately.
Thole also warned that unmanaged sadness can lead to anxiety, which can affect a person’s breathing and overall wellbeing.
Zakes Manda of Elevate by Zakes Pty Ltd said the gathering was not about blame, but about encouraging collaboration between parents and schools.
“If there’s one thing you must take away, it is one message. We are not here to blame each other, but to work together with the school,” he said.
Manda said the organisation aims to act as a bridge between schools and parents so that children can receive proper support. He also used an example of a child named Thabo to illustrate how anger and external influences can make parenting more difficult.
Noni Tshabalala from Ikfutsa Lembe NPO shared her personal experience of becoming a mother at the age of 19, highlighting how early parenthood can affect both young parents and their families.
“We are all broken, and we are here because we have all gone through different difficulties,” she said.
Tshabalala spoke about the challenges parents face when raising children who are entering stages of self-discovery, as well as difficulties within different family and parenting structures.
After the presentations, parents were divided into groups to discuss the social issues raised during the event. Each group used charts displayed around the room to guide discussions.
Group One focused on raising teenagers, represented by Nokuthula Mhlanga.
Group Two addressed mental health and bullying, represented by Gordon Mkhuhlane.
Group Three discussed smoking, teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence, represented by Sympathy More.
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Group Four focused on economic pressures and parenting structures, represented by Puleng Kgewu.
Each group later presented their findings and what they had learned from the discussions.
Lebogang Memory Malandela from the Johannesburg West District concluded the session by encouraging parents to speak positively to their children and create loving home environments.
She urged parents not to start a child’s day with violence, but with affection and encouragement, saying: “Hug your child and tell him or her, I love you.”
