Holistic guidance will ensure children are groomed for life

I read with interest Professor K Ranga Krishnan’s commentary “Debunking the myth of sugar and hyperactivity” (Nov 24).

As this myth is debunked, and as society gets busier and less hands-on in the upbringing of children, it is good to remember that behaviour is not something that can be attributed to any one factor.

Our behavioural patterns go beyond what we eat, drink and breathe, and the maxim of nature and nurture holds true.

A child’s formative years are critical to the instilling of values, manners and discipline. This is not only about what we, as parents, impart to children, but also about how we influence them that moulds our young ones.

Allowing them the space to grow up is not the same as allowing them to do as they want.

Children will, in life, benefit if their parents ensure early on that their upbringing involves the awareness of boundaries.

Holistic parental guidance and properly delegated responsibilities are what will ensure our next generation is groomed for life.

Many parents prefer to delegatethat guidance to schools and teachers, but it is too late and too difficult when values, social etiquette and the ethos of discipline do not have their foundation from the cradle.

Let us all take a step back to see if we, as adults, are the cause of the many good and/or bad influences on young people and everyone else.

If we realise, too, that a simple smile has the potential to lower blood pressure for a healthier life, then let us go back to basics to see where our attitudes and behaviour can make a difference to ourselves and those around us.