Cherryfield Mon­tessori School marked a major milestone with its 10th Graduation, Speech, and Prize-Giving Day, calling attention to the need for parents to hold the key to their children's holistic development.Held on the theme: 'The Impact of Parental Lifestyle in the Holistic Development of the Learner,' the ceremony served not only as a celebration of academic achievement but also as a wake-up call to families across the country.Delivering the keynote ad­dress, Dr Clement Kadogbe, a Law Lecturer at Kings University College, appealed to parents to prioritise their children's emotion­al and moral development amid the country's worsening economic climate."Economic realities such as rising costs and work demands are real, but they should never come at the expense of a child's development," he said. "Children need more than school; they need you.

Your attitude, your lifestyle, and your daily choices shape who they become," he added.Dr Kadogbe also raised concerns over a growing trend: parents working longer hours to make ends meet, while their children are left behind in school far beyond closing hours."This imbalance, though unin­tentional, is depriving a generation of the emotional guidance they desperately need," he warned.He concluded that: "Let us raise not just smart children, but strong, grounded, and emotionally secure individuals.

That is the leg­acy we owe the next generation."A plea in her address, Madam Magdalene Dzifa Adzanu, CEO of Cherryfield Montessori School, echoed the concerns, urging parents not to trade meaningful involvement in their children's lives for financial survival."Yes, we must provide.

But pro­vision is more than food and fees.