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The family plays a central role in building children’s character and developing a sense of responsibility and self-reliance, according to educators and specialists in Abu Dhabi. Experts emphasize that a balanced environment based on guidance, support, and trust forms an essential foundation for preparing a generation capable of bearing responsibility and positively engaging with educational and societal requirements. Educational institutions then complement this family role by refining these values academically and behaviorally.
According to Iman Kurdi, an academic supervisor, the family represents the first nucleus where children’s personality traits are formed. She confirms that values of responsibility, discipline, and self-reliance instilled by parents during early childhood accompany children through various educational stages, including university. Students who grow up in balanced family environments demonstrate higher abilities to organize time, handle academic burdens, and deal consciously with educational challenges.
Building Responsibility Through Balanced Family Environments
Kurdi adds that granting children space to make decisions contributes to building mature personalities capable of learning from experience. However, she notes that continuous interference in children’s affairs may limit the development of their sense of responsibility. The proper educational role is based on support rather than guardianship, and on dialogue rather than imposition, which enhances children’s feelings of confidence and belonging.
Educational expert Ali Al Taniji emphasizes that the family’s role in developing a sense of responsibility among children is pivotal. The seeds of responsibility begin in early childhood through assigning simple tasks appropriate to the child’s age, such as organizing toys or caring for personal belongings. These responsibilities gradually progress with age to include academic commitment, time management, and participation in family matters.
Gradual Development of Self-Reliance Skills
Al Taniji explains that promoting self-reliance requires families to focus on essential educational skills. These include teaching decision-making, developing problem-solving abilities, building self-confidence, and bearing the consequences of actions. The parenting style within the family directly and profoundly affects building an independent personality capable of making decisions.
Additionally, Al Taniji states that education based on dialogue and respect, along with involving children in family discussions, enhances feelings of value and independence. In contrast, overly authoritarian or permissive methods may lead to weak personality development or hesitation. Educators play a role in guiding families to avoid overprotection by raising awareness of its negative effects and providing practical models for balancing protection with guidance.
Practical Family Experiences in Fostering Independence
Sheikha Al Naqbi, a parent, shares that her family believes building children’s character is achieved through small details and daily practices rather than words alone. Involving children in age-appropriate responsibilities enhances their sense of value and distances them from dependency. Meanwhile, she affirms that mistakes are part of the learning process, and calm guidance with positive support proves more effective than blame and punishment.
The family continuously reinforces children’s self-confidence through constant encouragement, listening to their opinions, respecting their personalities, and granting them space for self-expression. Furthermore, they guide children to benefit from parental experiences while maintaining their independence.
Clear Values and Consistent Parenting Approaches
Maryam Ahmed, another parent, believes that building children’s character begins with clarity of values within the family before any external guidance. Agreement between parents on parenting style directly reflects on children’s psychological and behavioral stability. Granting children clear responsibilities at home, with follow-up without excessive interference, helps them realize the value of commitment and time management.
She confirms that continuous communication with schools facilitates understanding of children’s academic and behavioral needs. This contributes to addressing challenges while enhancing children’s sense of security and support, encouraging them to rely on themselves with confidence.
Zina Hassan describes her experience instilling initiative and self-reliance in her children by encouraging them to participate in organizing small family activities. Each child assumes a specific task and becomes responsible for completing it, teaching them responsibility, cooperation, and discovering personal abilities away from direct instruction or overprotection.
Experts anticipate that continued collaboration between families and educational institutions will further strengthen these values, though specific implementation timelines remain under ongoing discussion among educational stakeholders.
