Josua Naisele, the acting director of the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council, emphasized the importance of positive communication with children during his speech at the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji Women’s Conference in Lautoka on Saturday. Naisele urged parents not to label their children as “idiots,” explaining that words have a powerful impact on a child’s development and self-esteem.
He stated, “Whatever you say is going to affect your child,” advocating for phrases that uplift a child’s confidence, such as “you are clever and smart,” rather than negative characterizations like “you are an idiot” or “you are a slow learner.” He highlighted the necessity for respectful and polite communication, noting that “the louder you yell, the less they hear.”
Naisele advised parents to focus on their children’s strengths and to be fully present during conversations, avoiding distractions such as mobile phones. He pointed out that children spend equal amounts of time sleeping, at school, and at home, giving parents only eight hours of quality time to engage with their children.
At the same event, Alice Fong, the Ministry of Education’s Divisional Counsellor West, shared concerning statistics, revealing that three students from the West took their own lives in a single month this year. Fong noted that the first victim was a Year 8 girl from Nadi, whose mother reportedly did not understand her daughter’s challenges, attributing her distress to trivial issues. She urged parents, particularly mothers, to engage in meaningful conversations with their children in preparation for adulthood, stressing the importance of early communication rather than waiting until they reach university.