Ain Edruce emphasises respectful communication as key priority in raising her children
PETALING JAYA: Actress and television host Ain Edruce says one of her biggest priorities as a mother is ensuring her children grow up with good manners and respectful communication, amid growing concern over the increasingly casual use of harsh language among young children.
The 35-year-old entertainer said she wants her children, Soraya and Shaziman, to understand the importance of speaking politely and treating others with respect from an early age, believing that children often mirror the behaviour and language they observe at home.
According to Ain, parents have an important role in preparing their children for outside influences, particularly once they begin interacting with classmates and friends in school.
She acknowledged that children are naturally exposed to different forms of communication as they grow older, making it essential for parents to build strong values and guide them on what is appropriate and inappropriate language.
Ain said she would not hesitate to correct her children if they used words or expressions she considers disrespectful or unsuitable, explaining that consistent guidance is necessary to help them develop positive communication habits.
She added that teaching children to speak courteously also requires parents to be mindful of their own behaviour, as children often imitate the conversations they hear at home.
For that reason, she believes parents must set a positive example by avoiding offensive or inappropriate language in front of their children.
Her comments follow a recent experience that she shared on social media after witnessing another young child speaking harshly to her daughter while they were at a playground.
Ain admitted she was surprised by the language used during the interaction, saying it caught her attention because of the child’s young age.
She recalled that the child spoke to Soraya in an unnecessarily rude manner, prompting her to wonder where such expressions had been learned.
Fortunately, she said, her daughter did not understand the meaning of the words and simply laughed off the incident.
Rather than explaining the offensive expression, Ain chose not to elaborate on it because she felt the language was inappropriate for young children and preferred not to introduce such vocabulary unnecessarily.
Despite her surprise, Ain stressed that she does not blame the child involved.
Instead, she believes children often pick up speech patterns from adults, family members, friends or their surrounding environment, making it a shared responsibility for parents and communities to demonstrate respectful communication.
She also acknowledged that language and communication styles among children have evolved over time, particularly with the influence of social media, online content and peer interactions.
Nevertheless, Ain believes kindness, courtesy and respectful speech remain values that should continue to be nurtured from an early age.
She hopes parents will continue encouraging positive communication at home, emphasising that building good character begins with everyday conversations and the examples adults set for the next generation.
