Javed Bashir, Honorary Visiting Fellow at the University of Bradford, discusses how much influence parents have in the behaviour of their children.

Parents are vital to the healthy growth and development of their children and preventing them from some of the social problems taking place in Bradford such as crime, drugs and anti-social behaviour.

All parents want children to grow up in a safe environment, achieve well in school and become good citizens of Bradford. In order for this to happen parents have a major responsibility to provide a safe environment for their children and be a positive role model for their children.

Many parents work unsocial hours to provide for all the necessary needs of their children, providing shelter, food, buying computers and books, and giving them adequate pocket money. Providing all the necessary means is only one part of being a good parent.

Parents need to think more about what they are teaching their children through their behaviour because children are usually more affected by what their parents do than by what they say.

From the time they are born, children observe, learn and acquire from their parents. It is very unlikely that a parent's words will have much impact on a child's behaviour and attitude unless the parent practices what he or she preaches.

Whether parents realise it or not, they are their children's first teachers. The question is whether they will also become positive role models. Children who have positive role models are more likely to do well in school and to have more self-esteem. Positive role model parents help their children realise their own potential, boost self-esteem, and make them trust in themselves.

It is important to be consistent particularly when you make a house rule, stick to it. It is confusing for children when their parents say no to something one day, then agree to it the next. Also, when you tell your children that you don't approve of something they are saying or doing, you have to make sure that you do not do that same action.

Talking to your children about your life experiences on how you deal with a problem is very important. If you are going through a stressful time or facing a problem, talk about it honestly with your child.

Children need to know that such problems are a normal part of life. It is okay to let your children know when you've failed or made a mistake, it may make it easier for them to tell you when they've made one.

Parents should model healthy eating habits because children pick up attitudes towards food, so try your best to eat together as a family as often as possible. Establishing healthy habits can be very difficult for children who receive mixed messages, so try your best to practice what you preach. Also, encourage your children to prepare food with you. Pleasant memories of making meals and sharing them at home are the start of family traditions that your children will carry on throughout their life.

It is also important that parents are involved in their child's education because children will then do better in school. Parental involvement in a child's education can mean reading with your child, checking homework every night, discussing your children's progress with teachers, visiting parents' evenings, limiting TV viewing on school nights and becoming a school governor or doing any other voluntary work in school.

Or, it can be as simple as asking your children, "How was school today?"

We must invest in our future. Our future is in our children. Parents are responsible for preparing their children for their future which includes educating, socialising and developing them to become good citizens of Bradford everyone can be proud of.