Children seeking attention is not a bad thing. A child becoming clingy should be addressed early and properly. There are many ways they want or seek attention.
Responding to that, a mother, Mrs Ibukunoluwa Falebita, advised parents to engage their children with things to play with to reduce attachment.
She said, “For such a child, know what he or she likes to do, if there is a particular animated movie or storybook he or she likes, get it to keep them busy so they don’t distract or disturb you. Parents at their leisure time can ask the disturbing child to summarise what he or she learnt. They can go through the book with them again.
“Give the child attention but not too much attention. As a parent, you must give your child attention, and ask the child questions like what he or she is learning in school. Ask them if they are facing any difficulty in school. When you give a child attention, they will open up to you. If you don’t give them attention, you won’t know the child well or know what they are up to”
Another mother, Mrs Florence Oladosu, said children seeking unwarranted attention should sometimes be deliberately left alone.
She stated, “Parents should not give maximum attention to such a child. Sometimes, they should leave them intentionally so that whenever they are not around, or they are busy with something else, they will learn how to be independent.
“My daughter loves attention a lot. I leave her alone sometimes or I let people carry her. She will cry, but I won’t mind her because there would be times she would have to be alone when I’m busy and I don’t want her to disturb me. It won’t be strange to her.”
Oladosu further said it was important to let them know how to be independent when they grow up.
She added, “They will be able to mingle with people when they grow up. They should not cling to their parents every time. As time goes on, they will have to go to school, socialise with people.”
Also, a father, Mr Segun Praise, said that it was the responsibility of parents to give their children attention.
He said, “The child may want them to be more attentive to him or her because they probably don’t know what he or she faces in school. Parents should focus on such children. They should notice any slight changes in them.”
He advised parents to humble themselves by always listening to their children and communicating more with them.
He added, “Children always have things to say. When their parents are attentive, they will tell them things that are going on with them. But if the child is too demanding, then he should be disciplined. Giving a child attention does not mean you should over pamper him or her, you are destroying that child. Give the needed attention to a child.”
On her part, a parent, Mrs Bamidele Kikelomo, pointed out that parents should know their children very well.
Source : Punch
