The Hemmingay Preparatory school on Sunday presented its annual Parent’s Day of Fellowhip at the Montego Westgate Hills Baptist Church to an appreciative congregation which was challenged to improve its child-rearing skills.

“Respect your children.. stop what you are doing and listen to what they have to say,” said Dr Heckford A Sharpe who delivered the homily.

Using his personal experience growing up with God-fearing parents whose union produced 12 children – seven of whom became pastors – Dr Sharpe engaged the congregation in a dramatic presentation of some of the values his parents instilled in him as child and urged his listeners to be guided in their own everyday efforts at bringing their children up right.

“You can become better parents by loving and affirming your children…do not pave the way for sibling rivalry by showing favour to one child over another. Child-proof the home – Do not give your children access to sexually explicit material – and be truthful, because children know when their parents are lying. Avoid unprescribed drugs and keep yourself physically and spiritually fit and remember that the ultimate aim is to guide your children to become self-controlled and self-disciplined,” he said.

The issue of proper parenting has become a national concern as a widespread failure to instill appropriate values and attitudes in young people has manifested itself in a host of social ills, the most worrying of which is a runaway crime rate.

Hemmingay’s principal of the Pansy Picott told the Observer West that the service which was conducted under the theme “Parenting Right from the Start” represented the school’s effort to celebrate Parents’ Month.

“What we are seeing nowadays is a different set of parents and children. Many are unwilling to do what it takes to pass on the appropriate values and attitudes to their children and it has been ten years since we have had a family-type affair of this kind, hence the service,” she said.

The 31-year-old school which will fete the parents of its students with a mini-banquet this afternoon, will wrap up its celebrations on Friday with a guest speaker in the form of Vice-Principal of the Green Pond High School, Iris Stoddart.