Disability and AffectionEvery child, needs to develop in five different ways and in this article, I will focus on disability and affection. A child with disabilities needs love just like any other child. Children should be given affection and should not be frightened. In our setting, there are several ways of frightening a child. Sometimes children are beaten or food is denied just because a child has “misbehaved”. This impacts negatively on the child. I have heard of some parents who have been nicknamed after some dictators because of their behaviour towards children. I have heard nick names such as Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein, Iron Lady and Joseph Stalin. These parents are given such names because they take decisions on things to be done in a home without considering the views and wishes of others. In a home, we need some form of democracy just like in the community at large. In a democratic set up, the head of household is able to invite family members to share ideas and to bring out talents of every individual member of the family. When there is democracy in a home there is respect for others, freedom of speech and respect for other peoples’ opinions. As parents we have encouraged positive feedback on our children. When they are wrong, we explain to them in calm manner that what they have done is wrong and encourage them to do the correct things. My wife and I, we agree together when giving punishment or giving permission to our children. As parents we have helped our children to identify their talents and we are helping them to nurture these gifts.
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