Paradise Under Your Feet — Page 91
Chapter 5: Middle School Years 91 It is also very important that, in matters of discipline, the mother and the father are on the same page, so to speak. Many times, the mothers are unwilling to exercise their authority as a disciplinarian and instead relegate the task to the fathers. In such a situation, the children get the message that it is alright to disobey the mother and that they should only be afraid of their fathers. Health, Nutrition, and Sex Education Leading a healthy lifestyle is Islamic. It is extremely important that a child ’ s health and nutrition are given high priority from infancy. As children grow into the adolescent years , they go through significant physical changes. Keeping the teachings of the Qur ’ an and Sunnah in perspective , it is the duty of the parents to make sure that both sons and daughters have regular visit s to health providers and ensure that they have the necessary immunization s. Many schools require that students have a proper immunization record in order for them to attend school. Proper nutrition is very critical during these years. The child is still growing and requires appropriate nutrients. But at the same time, it is very important to make sure that the children are not leaning towards obesity. The diet should be balanced and not overloaded with sugars and carbohydrates. Sometimes, when mothers feel overwhelmed and do not know how to manage time, they may find it easier to grab burgers and fries from fast food restaurants. Unfortunately, this behavior on the part of the mother puts her own children in an unhealthy situation. If the mother feels that she does not know how to prepare healthy meals for her children, or that her children may not like to eat what she provides, she should reach out to a nutritionist who can help her plan healthy meals for the entire family. With the dawn of video games and various computer gadgets, often, children are not getting enough physical activity. Parents should