Bringing up a famous child

Sheila Gashumba one of the famous TV personalities

PARENTS' VIEWS

Andrew Kigozi
Andrew Kigozi, a certified accountant, father of Keran Birungi, one of the youngest promising models, says raising a celebrity or famous child is a bit of a challenge because often parents view celebrity status as a distraction for the child from their academic obligations and recipe for undesired behaviour.

However, ensure that there is a balance between education and co-curricular activities.
“I encourage my daughter in her hobby of fashion and design.

Modelling is just a manifestation of her interests but she has confessed to me that she is so much into fashion and design . Who knows what she will make out of it in future?” he asks, adding: “I ensure she pays most of her attention to school work but does a lot of fashion and design at home in the form of designing different styles on the internet during her free time.

That way she does not feel bored with academics.” When she asks for colouring books with illustrations of models. I buy for her many of those because it’s educational and could be her future profession.
Tip: Parents should support talent much as children should have a good education. This could be the youngster’s fortune in future.

Frank Gashumba
He is the father of Sheila Gashumba one of the famous TV personalities. Frank Gashumba says as soon his daughter began presenting on TV, he cautioned her that she is not different from other children. “I told her that for one to be respected they have to be decent.

You can only be different when you use the available opportunity to change your life and those around you. Besides, she loses nothing when she greets a cleaner,” he says.

He says that he encouraged his daughter to concentrate on school because presenting on TV without qualifications is like buying meat when you have no food.

“If your child is a celebrity, you should always know where they are. “It is very important for a parent to be close to their children. Take time to know about their friends.

In case you realise their peers are bad mannered, be fast to stop them from associating with such peers,” he cautions.

Tip: Make decisions which you believe are good for the child’s well-being,” he stresses.

Moses Ssali aka Bebe Cool
Being the father of Alpha Thierry Taliq Ssali one of the auspicious football stars, Bebe Cool says it is good to make children your friends because that way, they listen more to you than being the strict parent whose presence they detest.

My son is my friend and takes my advice seriously as he likes to keep me happy so that I continue doing him the favours.

When I am not happy, I will resent him and that alone is a psychological punishment because it is unusual that daddy shows him attitude. He knows when I am not amused.

I never beat but his mum is a strict disciplinarian so we balance the way we manage him. He feels inclined to being close to me while being very careful not to cross the mum’s path .

Tip:“You should make children understand that celebrity status remains at school, while at home, they are all children. Separate talent and fame from grooming children. Whether a child is a celebrity or not, it’s the role of parents to guide them.”

Expert take
David Kavuma, a child psychologist says parents should be involved in the development of their children’s talents adding it is difficult to predict the future of a child. “You think your child will be a doctor when God planned that they will survive on their talents,” he says.

He cautions that parents should make sure that children do not grow horns when they gain the celebrity status. This he says can be achieved by befriending the children.

This makes children freely interact with their parents. Kavuma also cautions children who have gained a celebrity status to remain loyal to their parents and teachers.

“When you allow the fame to drive you , you will lose track and regret. Being a celebrity does not mean that you are very different from others,” he cautions.