Parents are having a difficult time getting their children to concentrate on their year-end examinations instead of being glued to their television screens watching the soccer World Cup. Laila Muhammad said: “With the final examinations coinciding with the World Cup I have insisted that my children concentrate on their studies, especially since one of them is sitting for the secondary school certificate examination.” She said she has promised to record the matches for them so that they can watch it after the examinations. She said she will not allow them to watch the matches during the examination period. Muhammad said that she has also banned them from studying with their friends “because they will start discussing the matches and forget about their studies”. She said her children have tried their level best to resist but she has been determined to remain firm. She said “families play a decisive role in guiding their children” and should not submit to their demands. Shady Abdul Rahman said: “I decided not to subscribe to the TV channels broadcasting the matches because I cannot allow my children to waste the effort they put in throughout the year. However, I have given them a chance to watch some of the matches at the home of a relative on Thursdays, only for a limited period.” Noora Abdullah said: “I have arranged for my children to watch the matches depending on the subject they'll be writing. So if it is an easy subject I may allow them to watch the matches for a limited time. But if it is a science subject, then I will prevent them from watching. I do not want to let them develop a lax attitude toward the examinations because this will definitely affect them in their future careers.” Nahla Ahmad said: “It is difficult to control children especially if they support a specific team. My role as a mother is to direct and guide them gently because the carrot and stick policy does not work in this case. Balance is needed. Moreover, I keep an eye on my children when they prepare for any test, to make sure that they study and revise the subject thoroughly.” Nawal Ahmad said: “I don't deal with the situation as if it is a crisis because this makes them feel nervous. I strongly believe that this depends on the way that families guide their children. It should be understood that there are obedient children and there are also some children who hate it if you impose your will on them. We have to be reasonable in dealing with our children. We should also take a child's age into consideration so that we can weigh matters properly. In order not to frustrate them, I record the matches of their favorite teams so that they can watch later.” Manal Abdul Aziz said: “I intentionally did not renew our subscription for the channels which are broadcasting the matches. In this way, I resolved the situation. I do not want my children get involved in futile discussions about the matches while they are preparing for the examinations. Despite this, I allow them to watch the matches at my mother's house, but of course only for a limited time over the weekend.” Mona Saud said: “Fathers should not watch the matches at home because this will distract the children and negatively affect their performance.” Dr. Areej Daghastani, a family counselor, said: “Studying worries parents especially if the examinations coincide with an event the children like. However, parents should plan for their children to manage their time. They should also avoid having heated arguments or discussions with their children about time management. Instead they should help them plan their time so that they can do their hobbies.” Daghastani said hobbies are very important for children. She said a friend told her recently that she had asked her son to give up soccer because he was in his final year at school. Her friend's son gave up the game, but then performed badly at school, even though he had been a top performer before. Daghastani said that this shows that hobbies can make children feel proud of themselves and give them more confidence. Parents have to understand that allowing children to carry on with their hobbies will not affect their studies in any way. On the contrary, it can help them psychologically to succeed in their future careers, she said. Daghastani said this does not mean that parents should be submissive in the face of demands from their children. On the contrary, parents should show their children that they have to submit to them because they have their best interests at heart.
