Parenting and child protection

Mar 07, 2026 Editorial, News

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(Kaieteur News) – Guyana has recently been shaken by a series of troubling incidents involving children. Two heartbreaking tragedies involving minor mothers have sparked widespread national reflection, while a disturbing video showing social workers dragging a schoolgirl through the Stabroek Market bus park has triggered outrage about the way vulnerable children are treated.

These incidents have raised serious and legitimate concerns about the country’s child protection systems and the conduct of officials entrusted with safeguarding young people. They have also prompted renewed scrutiny of the institutions responsible for the welfare of children, including the Childcare and Protection Agency and other state entities.

But while it is necessary to examine institutional failures and hold authorities accountable, another critical element of child protection cannot be ignored. That element is parenting.

This newspaper wishes to be clear from the outset. The tragedies involving minor mothers are complex situations influenced by poverty, social pressures, gaps in education, and weaknesses in community support systems. It would be unfair and simplistic to cast blame on the parents of those children. Parenting itself is often undertaken under difficult circumstances and without adequate guidance or support.

Nevertheless, the home remains the first and most influential environment in which children learn how to navigate life. Long before teachers, social workers, police officers or government agencies enter a child’s life, parents and guardians are shaping attitudes, values and behaviour.

The creation of responsible citizens begins in the home.

Good parenting is not merely about providing food, clothing and school supplies. It is about emotional guidance, communication, supervision and the steady reinforcement of values. Children who grow up with consistent attention, discipline and encouragement are more likely to develop the confidence and judgment needed to avoid many of the dangers that exist in society.

Love, in its simplest and most genuine form, is one of the most powerful tools a parent possesses. Children must feel secure in the knowledge that they are valued and supported. This does not mean shielding them from correction when they err. It means that even when discipline is necessary, the child must never doubt the parent’s care and concern.

Equally important is the example that parents set. Children learn far more from what they observe than from what they are told. If honesty, respect and responsibility are preached but not practiced, the lesson becomes hollow. Integrity within the home lays the foundation for integrity outside of it.

Parents must also be careful about how they speak to and about their children. Comparisons with other children can damage self-esteem or breed unhealthy competition. Labels such as “lazy” or “stupid” can follow a child long into adulthood, shaping their sense of identity in ways that are difficult to undo.

Encouragement, by contrast, nurtures growth. Children must be allowed to explore their interests and ideas within reasonable boundaries. The role of the parent is not to dominate every decision but to guide, discuss and help children develop the ability to think for themselves.

Communication is perhaps the most underestimated aspect of parenting. Too often, conversations within families are limited to instructions and reprimands. Yet children benefit immensely when parents create an environment where questions can be asked freely and topics—no matter how uncomfortable—can be discussed openly.

Issues such as relationships, sexuality, peer pressure and personal safety cannot remain taboo subjects. Silence leaves children to seek answers elsewhere, often from sources that are unreliable or harmful.

Listening is just as important as speaking. A parent who listens patiently allows a child to express fears, doubts and experiences that might otherwise remain hidden. In many cases, early intervention through simple conversation can prevent serious problems later.

Mistakes, too, are part of growing up. When children stumble, the response of the parent is crucial. Harsh condemnation may push a child further into secrecy or rebellion. Guidance and accountability, balanced with understanding, offer a more constructive path.

None of this suggests that parenting is easy. Many parents are juggling financial pressures, demanding work schedules and personal challenges. Some are raising children without the support of partners or extended family. In such circumstances, even the most committed parent can struggle.

This reality underscores the importance of community support, parenting education and stronger social programmes aimed at equipping families with the skills and resources they need. Strengthening parenting capacity should be a national priority if Guyana is serious about protecting its children.

Government agencies, schools, religious institutions and community organisations all have a role to play in reinforcing the importance of responsible parenting.

But ultimately, the first classroom a child ever enters is the home. The first teachers they encounter are their parents.

If Guyana hopes to reduce the social crises that continue to surface,

from teenage pregnancy to abuse and neglect then strengthening the family unit must remain central to the conversation.

Child protection does not begin with a government agency. It begins at home.

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• “parenting, Child Protection, Editorial, Schoolgirl

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