The youth are our link to the future and MUST BE "nurtured", "respected", "LOVED", protected and educated. Creating and maintaining a stable family unit should be our priority.
Recognize that children have THOUGHTS and IDEAS and they want and need to be "heard." Children too, have feelings and are very observant and receptive as to what goes on in their surroundings. Ask them what do they think about various topics, ask them how do they feel, don't just hear them, "listen" to them. Let them know how important they are.
We all know the problems affecting our families, communities and nation. Strive to be a part of the solution by investing your time, energy, effort and money in helping our youth grow and develop to become positive, productive members of our society.
We must emphasize the importance and value of EDUCATION to our youth every opportunity we get. As parents/guardians, etc., it is OUR DUTY and RESPONSIBILITY to instill in our youth a great motivation to work hard. Always keep your children reading some good book that will help them think beyond their present day reality and expand their worldview, etc. We must encourage them to spend more time reading and studying and doing their homework and school projects. Encourage them to participate in school activities. Challenge them to research and write about whatever it is they are interested in that's constructive and productive and what they may aspire to be as an adult. Whatever their current interests/talents are, invest in them to allow them the time NOW to begin to pursue their interests. It's never too early to prepare for their future. Take the youth places outside of their communities to show them how others live and that there's a bigger world beyond the block they live on. Take them to the museum, to the aquarium, to the beach, to plays, to the Liberty Science Center, to the zoo. Take them to other parts of the country, outside of the country if you're able. Do what you can to EXPOSE them to others culture (way of life), etc. If you can't take them physically, show them via the internet, etc.
Our children have access to more technology than we ever could have imagined. It is important that we monitor what video games they're playing and the amount of time they spend playing them. Monitor what websites they're accessing on the internet (set up blocks to negative sites), etc. Teach them about potential perverts, pimps, etc., looking to exploit them, etc.
Teach our youth the value of paying bills and establishing credit. Teach them to strive to be a landlord, not just a tenant. Encourage them to learn about the science of entrepreneurship. Teach them about the value of getting a career as opposed to just getting a job. We must encourage our youth to do better than what we have done. Let's break the cycle of poverty, let's break the cycle of negativity. To know better is to do better!
Teach our youth the KNOWLEDGE OF SELF. Teach them the importance of loving who they are. Them them the importance of respecting self and others. Teach them to say NO to anything that's negative and harmful to them.
REMEMBER: The best thing we can spend on our children is TIME.
P.E.A.C.E.
Please Educate Allah's Children Everyday!
