By Sade Adewale, Ondo

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Parents have been advised to see themselves as moulders of lives of their children, rather than treating them in autocratic ways.

A retired Professor of French at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Ajoke Bestman, gave the advice during an event organised by the Adeyemi College of Education, Female Staff Association (ACEFSA) in Ondo.

The don presented a paper titled: “Parenting and Family Dynamics: Importance of Seltting Boundaries”.

Speaking on the connection between family and parenting. Bestman  described the relationship as very close, saying “without family, there is no parenting”.

She classified family into two categories, nuclear and single, stating that while the former could be classified as monogamous and polygamous, the latter on the other hand, could arise as a result of divorce, demise or personal choice by individuals.

He enumerated roles expected to be played by parents at home,  ascribing provision of leadership, safety and material needs to the father.

She, however said the mother has the role of nurturing, and rendering needed support to the father, in order to enhance the well-being of the family.

On issues concerning setting of boundaries in the family, Prof. Bestman, while acknowledging the negative effect of technological development on children’s attitude and behaviours in contemporary world, however, advised parents not to be discouraged by the development, but to show love to their children, through proper guidance on their positive use.

The don also spoke on different types of boundaries and listed them to include spiritual boundaries, emotional boundaries, material boundaries and financial boundaries.

In addition, he spoke on time management and urged parents to guide their children properly on how best to make effective use of their time especially while doing their class assignment, stating that as parents, parenting should be regarded as serious business and something to be taken seriously.

Earlier in his welcome address, the President Adeyemi College of Education Female Staff Association (ACEFSA), Mrs. Eniola Olagundoye, identified lack of appropriate parental training as one of the major factors responsible for increase in moral decadence in contemporary world.