"Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them." — Lady Bird Johnson

Parent Awareness Sessions for Std. V & VI

- Ms. Ketaki Mohite

As part of Don Bosco High School's ongoing collaboration with Prafulta's EDCG Programme, parent awareness sessions were conducted on 11 July 2025 for the parents of Std. V and VI. The sessions were facilitated by Dr Sonali Mahale, a practising medical physician with a special interest in child development, emotional well-being and mental health.

The Std. V session, "Helping Your Child Build Self-Esteem – Khel Khel Mein," focused on nurturing children's confidence through positive parenting. Parents were encouraged to appreciate effort over perfection, correct behaviour without labelling the child, offer age-appropriate choices to build decision-making skills, and maintain a healthy balance between academics, play and supervised screen time. Dr Mahale also highlighted the importance of creating a safe, non-judgemental environment where children feel heard, respected and comfortable sharing their thoughts. Parents were reminded that patient conversations today help children develop the confidence to discuss more sensitive topics as they grow.

The Std. VI session, "How to Talk to Your Child About Puberty," guided parents in understanding the physical, emotional and social changes experienced during adolescence. Emphasis was placed on initiating honest, age-appropriate conversations, using correct anatomical terms, normalising puberty, and supporting children with empathy through changing friendships, body image concerns and growing independence. Parents were also encouraged to promote healthy hygiene habits, balanced screen-time, and open communication so that children always feel accepted and supported.

Both sessions were interactive and practical, equipping parents with simple yet effective strategies to strengthen communication, build trust and support their children's holistic development. The programme reinforced the school's commitment to partnering with parents in nurturing confident, emotionally secure and responsible young individuals.