Discipline, Reading, and Love – Parents are the Secret Weapons for Guyana’s Future

Oct 05, 2025 Features / Columnists, News

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By Karen Abrams, MBA, AA, Doctoral Candidate

(Kaieteur News) – When my husband and I decided to start our family, we were older (I was already in my 30th year) and we were both firmly established in our corporate careers in the United States. We had good jobs, stable lives, and all the trappings of security. But once our children became school-aged, we quickly realized that if they were to truly excel, it would take more than what the school system alone could provide.

That realization changed everything about how we approached parenting.

We made deliberate investments; not just in our own children, but in the environment around them. We started a community robotics club so they and other young people could explore, experiment, and learn by doing. At home, they were encouraged to read daily. They were enrolled in online academic enrichment programs, and at various points, even fully in online schools, because we knew their learning could not be confined to a classroom. They worked on real-life projects, like co-founding STEMGuyana and the creation of the Five-O Police App, which they built as teenagers and for which they went on to win first prize of 21,000 euros at a global competition at The Hague, Netherlands.

In addition, each Saturday from as early as the seventh grade, they practiced SAT prep. There were times when they expressed boredom with various activities but as parents, we understood the future environment in which they would have to navigate, so we insisted and made sure their activities became routine. They participated in university enrichment programs reserved for outstanding students, and, by the time they graduated high school, they were not just ready for college, they were ready to thrive at some of the world’s leading universities.

But our concern was never just about “education” in the narrow sense of grades and certificates. We wanted our children to be critical thinkers. We wanted them to be exceptional communicators. We wanted them to have the ability and willingness to work on teams to solve big problems. In short, we wanted them prepared not only to succeed for themselves, but to contribute meaningfully to society.

That same philosophy applies to Guyana today. For our small nation, where non-oil industries must be developed to secure a sustainable future, it is imperative that we harness the creativity, intelligence, and talent of every child – “every child is a nugget of gold”. Research consistently shows that the early years matter most; children who are read to regularly by age five have heard over 1.4 million more words than peers who are not, creating a massive head start in vocabulary and comprehension (Logan et al., 2019). By fourth grade, strong reading ability predicts not just better language skills, but higher academic success into adolescence (Pfost, Hattie & Artelt, 2014).

Discipline, too, matters; but not the “licks” many of us grew up with. Discipline looks like consistent parental expectations, consequences for breaking rules, structured routines even when they declare that they are ‘bored’, and opportunities for meaningful conversation. It means curating environments where children feel both supported and challenged. Screen time, though tempting for busy parents, cannot become a substitute. Excessive screens are linked to language delays, poor attention spans, and increased behavioral and emotional problems (American Psychological Association, 2023). Instead, children need interaction, books, sports, chores, and real conversations and enrichment experiences.

This is why I believe parenting is not just a responsibility; it is an investment, and in fact, a parent’s most important job. No government, no school, no NGO can replace the influence of parents, especially in those first formative years when our children are shaped most profoundly by us. Psychologists note that parental influence is strongest from birth to age seven, after which peers and environments take on a larger role (Harris, 1998). That means the earliest years are our window of greatest impact.

And it does not take wealth or privilege to create this foundation. It takes intentionality. Five to ten minutes of reading each night, parents who struggle with reading should use accessibility features on computers and listen to stories with children.. It takes, clear routines around chores, boundaries around screens, open conversations and small acts, done consistently, which inevitably compound into lifelong habits.

Our own children’s story is a testament to what happens when parents invest early, consistently, and with vision. Today, I look at them and see not just academic achievements but human beings who can think critically, communicate persuasively, and collaborate effectively and work diligently to add value and solve problems in any environment in which they find themselves. That is the true measure of success.

To all Guyanese parents, especially those struggling daily to provide; know this, your role is irreplaceable. Every moment of guidance, every word read aloud, every consistent expectation, plants seeds that will bloom for decades and if you cannot do it, reach out and ask for help.  STEMGuyana offers scholarships for STEM clubs and online learning programs each year.  Make use of it!

Our nation’s future is not built by oil revenues or government policies alone. It is built in our homes, day by day, in the time and attention we give to our children. Parents, please remember that raising children is, indeed, our most important job.

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• discipline, Karen Abrams, love, parents, Reading

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