Visiting child expert Bob Lancer explained how parents? actions greatly impact a child?s life and often undermine their efforts to discipline the child.

Mr. Lancer is visiting Bermuda from Atlanta. he is a popular radio host and author. He was brought here by the Bermudian Association for the Education of Young Children to celebrate the Week of the Young Child.

The main aim of parents is to raise a loving and well balanced child, Mr. Lancer said. However, by yelling at one another, acting condescending and disrespecting others, parents are teaching their children to do the same. Often parents will do one thing and say another to their child, such as stressing the importance of being considerate of others.

?In order to disrespect someone you must first be disrespected,? he said.

He added that a stressful home life hinders a child?s development. A recent study said that if children grow up in a contentious household 80 percent of their productivity and potential is lost, Mr. Lancer said. Fighting and disrespect causes unnecessary stress on a child.

?I?ve worked with six-year-olds who want to commit suicide,? he said. ?It?s not as uncommon as you think. Stress is very bad for children.?

He added that children that grow up in a loving family with parents who communicate are better prepared to enter the adult world. He also said that if adults do not change their tact, including the high divorce rate in the west, the future looked bleak: ?How we treat children today determines if this world will be a peaceful place in the future?.

Mr. Lancer will be giving a number of speeches this week anyone interested in attending one should call 232-1875 or 293-4172.