Sharmeen Ali, Sunita Marshall, Saima Qureshi urge parents to raise self-sufficient kids
Sharmeen Ali, Sunita Marshall and Saima Qureshi have spoken up about raising self-reliant children. They believe both sons and daughters should learn practical life skills from a young age.
The three actors shared their thoughts on Nida Yasir’s morning show. They agreed that independence has nothing to do with gender. Every child should be able to take care of themselves. Every child should also help around the house.
Sunita brought up safety concerns in cities like Karachi. She said these often limit how freely kids can move outdoors. Even so, she believes parents can still teach independence at home. Simple habits matter, she said. Making the bed. Cooking a basic meal. These small tasks add up over time. She also spoke about extracurricular activities. Her son manages rowing and tuition on his own schedule. That balance, she said, teaches real time management.
Saima, who is raising three sons, shared a similar approach. She has her children handle their own chores. Washing dishes. Making tea. Ironing clothes. If the house needs dusting and help isn’t around, they step in too. Without early discipline, she said, kids won’t develop that habit later.
Sunita added that chores are shared across her household. She takes a turn. Her husband, Hassan, takes a turn. The kids take their own turns too.
Sharmeen agreed with both actors. She said chores should never be split by gender. Working mothers can’t always be present, she pointed out. That means kids need to solve problems on their own. She then reflected on her own journey. Learning to drive after her separation gave her real independence. Now, she wants to pass that same skill on to her 17-year-old daughter.
The conversation also touched on how children are growing up today. The internet, they agreed, has made kids more informed than before. Saima recalled moments when her children corrected her after learning something new online. Sunita shared how her son taught himself detailed history facts from YouTube, long before school covered the same topics.
Even with all this exposure, the actors were clear about one thing. Academics still come first. Screen time and hobbies, they said, should work more like rewards. Boundaries matter, and so does staying involved in a child’s daily life.
