July Topic: Parents!

It's National Parents' Day on July 26th! This day promotes responsible parenting and celebrates the special love between a parent and their child. It also recognizes the important roles that parents play on their children's lives. Get your students talking about what it's like to be a parent, what their parents were like and/or what their childhood was like.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS BY ESL MADE EASY:

1. Are you a parent? If so, how many children do you have and what are their ages? If you aren't a parent yet, do you want to have children and, if so, how many would you like to have?

2. What are/were some of the house rules observed by your family? (Ex. no computer after 10 p.m., formal dinner every Sunday...etc)

3. What are some of the challenges parents face today when it comes to raising young children? What about when it comes to raising teenagers?

4. Do you think parents today have a more difficult time raising children than their parents and grandparents had? Explain.

5. In what ways can parents "spoil" their child? What negative consequences might this have on their child's life?

6. What are some things that your parents did when you were a child that you would or wouldn't do now as a parent?

7. What do you think makes someone a good parent? What makes someone a bad parent?

8. The verbs 'make' and 'let' are often used when describing a childhood experience. 'Make' suggests being required to do something and 'let' suggests being allowed. (e.g. my parents used to make me tidy my room every Saturday and my parents used to let me stay up late on Saturday night). Make your own sentences using the verbs 'make' and 'let' based on your own childhood experiences. If you are a parent, what are some things you make or let your children do?