Business Forum • 29 August, 2024 at 10:51 AM
In Romania, parents face significant financial difficulties to cover the costs of their children's education. According to a study conducted by an education-focused organization*, the minimum expenses dedicated exclusively to meeting a child's basic education needs can exceed RON 30,000 over a complete school cycle. In the same vein, the renowned Dr. Shefali Tsabary, a clinical psychologist, recommends that parents in Romania balance material elements with a strong emotional connection and emotional support to ensure harmonious development for their little ones.
According to the study, the expenses that a family must bear to cover the minimum needs for supporting a child's education include the purchase of school supplies, which can range from RON 100/year at the age of 3 to RON 544/year in the last year of high school; costs for textbooks, collections, and special notebooks, estimated from RON 140/year at age 6 to RON 293/year in the last year of high school. Additionally, participation in school celebrations involves expenses ranging from RON 46/year at age 3 to RON 213/year in the last year of high school, and after-school programs for primary classes (ages 6 to 11) require an allocated budget of RON 2,440/year, while purchasing a personal computer at age 13 has an estimated cost of RON 1,990.
At the same time, approximately 9% of children in Romania require medical support for various mental and emotional issues, according to a UNICEF study. The mental health of Romanian children and adolescents is significantly more affected than that of children in other countries. Nearly 33% of Romanian adolescents aged 11 to 15 reported feeling sad several times a week, compared to an average of 13% in the 45 countries included in a study by the World Health Organization.
Dr. Shefali Tsabary, renowned for her innovative approach to conscious parenting, emphasizes, in a special statement to the Romanian audience, the importance of emotional support in child development, considering it equally important, if not more so, than material aspects. Consistent emotional support is the foundation of self-esteem, confidence, and the ability to form healthy relationships. Consequently, children who benefit from a strong emotional connection with their parents are more likely to develop harmoniously in all aspects of life. Dr. Tsabary recommends balancing material elements with a solid emotional bond, ensuring that children feel loved, understood, and appreciated.
”While providing materially for children is important, emotional support is equally, if not more, crucial. Emotional support is the foundation of a child's self-worth, confidence, and ability to form healthy relationships. Children who receive consistent emotional support from their parents are more likely to thrive in all aspects of life. Material provisions should be balanced with a strong emotional connection, ensuring that children feel loved, understood, and valued,” Dr. Shefali Tsabary conveys to parents in Romania.
Dr. Shefali Tsabary, the parenting expert, will visit Romania for the first time on October 3, as part of the largest parenting event in the country: ParentED Fest, alongside other renowned international specialists, including Dr. Deborah MacNamara, Dr. Vanessa Lapointe, Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum, and Dr. Jessica Joelle Alexander, with expertise in areas such as child upbringing and care, family harmony, and personal development.