As parents, few things are more scary than watching your child drift towards the wrong path. Whether it’s substance abuse, unhealthy friendships or disrespectful behaviour many parents today are struggling with a question: How do we guide children in a world filled with distractions and temptations?A recent interaction shared by spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj has struck a chord with many families. He recalled a conversation with a young boy who told him something heartbreaking. “I got trapped in alcohol from Class 9. Now that I am in Class 12, I sometimes feel like destroying myself,” the boy said. What Premanand Maharaj said next is what has left many people wondering. “This is not the story of one child. Thousands of children are facing the same situation today.”Why are so many children falling into harmful habits?Premanand Maharaj believes a big part of the problem is that values are quietly disappearing from homes. “If parents themselves do not understand spiritual values, what will they teach their children?” he asked. He isn’t talking about religion here. He’s talking about simple things: self-control, knowing right from wrong, respecting others. With phones, social media and peer pressure all competing for a child’s attention, these basics are getting lost.When correcting a child becomes controversialHere’s something many teachers and older parents will relate to. Maharaj pointed out that discipline has become a touchy subject. “Today, if a teacher tries to discipline a child, parents often oppose the teacher,” he said. Children need love, yes. But they also need boundaries. When every correction feels like an attack, kids never really learn to take responsibility for their actions.A growing lack of respect at homeAnother thing Premanand Maharaj noted is the way some children speak to their own parents.He said that many young children have started speaking to elders in a dismissive or disrespectful way. It’s not about the occasional argument. It’s about a pattern. And when that pattern sets in early, it’s often a sign of something deeper going on.The one solution he believes can helpWhile discussing the challenges facing today’s generation, Premanand kept coming back to the same point: spirituality. “The condition of society and the younger generation is worsening because they have moved away from spirituality. This can be corrected only through spirituality,” he said.Now, that doesn’t have to mean temple visits or prayers every morning (though it can). For many families, it simply means teaching children gratitude, honesty, compassion and the ability to pause before making a bad decision. Giving them an inner sense of right and wrong, something that works even when no one is watching.What parents can take away from thisChildren need more than just good marks. They also need values, guidance, meaningful conversations, and role models in the form of their parents at home. It is obvious that you can’t control every person your child meets or every video they watch. But creating an environment built on trust, discipline, respect, and strong values can go a long way in helping children make better choices.Because at the end of the day, good parenting isn’t just about keeping kids away from bad habits. It’s about making sure they have the strength to walk away from those habits on their own.“I started drinking from Class 9…”: Premanand Maharaj shares the ‘one thing’ parents can do to keep children away from bad habits
As parents, few things are more scary than watching your child drift towards the wrong path. Whether it’s substance abuse, unhealthy friendships or disrespectful behaviour many parents today are struggling with a question: How do we guide children in a world filled with distractions and temptations?A recent interaction shared by spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj has struck a chord with many families. He recalled a conversation with a young boy who told him something heartbreaking. “I got trapped in alcohol from Class 9. Now that I am in Class 12, I sometimes feel like destroying myself,” the boy said. What Premanand Maharaj said next is what has left many people wondering. “This is not the story of one child. Thousands of children are facing the same situation today.”Why are so many children falling into harmful habits?Premanand Maharaj believes a big part of the problem is that values are quietly disappearing from homes. “If parents themselves do not understand spiritual values, what will they teach their children?” he asked. He isn’t talking about religion here. He’s talking about simple things: self-control, knowing right from wrong, respecting others. With phones, social media and peer pressure all competing for a child’s attention, these basics are getting lost.When correcting a child becomes controversialHere’s something many teachers and older parents will relate to. Maharaj pointed out that discipline has become a touchy subject. “Today, if a teacher tries to discipline a child, parents often oppose the teacher,” he said. Children need love, yes. But they also need boundaries. When every correction feels like an attack, kids never really learn to take responsibility for their actions.A growing lack of respect at homeAnother thing Premanand Maharaj noted is the way some children speak to their own parents.He said that many young children have started speaking to elders in a dismissive or disrespectful way. It’s not about the occasional argument. It’s about a pattern. And when that pattern sets in early, it’s often a sign of something deeper going on.The one solution he believes can helpWhile discussing the challenges facing today’s generation, Premanand kept coming back to the same point: spirituality. “The condition of society and the younger generation is worsening because they have moved away from spirituality. This can be corrected only through spirituality,” he said.Now, that doesn’t have to mean temple visits or prayers every morning (though it can). For many families, it simply means teaching children gratitude, honesty, compassion and the ability to pause before making a bad decision. Giving them an inner sense of right and wrong, something that works even when no one is watching.What parents can take away from thisChildren need more than just good marks. They also need values, guidance, meaningful conversations, and role models in the form of their parents at home. It is obvious that you can’t control every person your child meets or every video they watch. But creating an environment built on trust, discipline, respect, and strong values can go a long way in helping children make better choices.Because at the end of the day, good parenting isn’t just about keeping kids away from bad habits. It’s about making sure they have the strength to walk away from those habits on their own.
