This informational note for action, produced by World Day of Prayer and Action for Children, aims to support religious communities and partners in promoting “positive parenting” and non-violent disciplining of children. The document asks: how can “positive parenting” help us find practical effective methods for parents to give guidance but also listen to children, encourage children’s participation and build children’s skills to solve problems without violence? What concrete actions can religious communities together with partners take as part of the Day of Prayer and Action for Children initiative?
“Positive parenting,” according to the paper, describes both a variety of actions and an overall approach. It is built on the knowledge that children develop in specific ways, and that the adults around them have a significant impact on that development. Every positive interaction that parents have with their children contributes to the self-esteem, confidence, adaptability, and overall success and well-being of the child. Such positive interactions are also joyful and self-fulfilling for parents. The paper states that a core component of positive parenting is to guide children to grow up healthy, happy and able learners. This can be achieved, says the paper, without resorting to violent discipline, which harms the child and is not effective. The paper also recognizes that it is important for positive parenting to be sensitive to the age, ability, and gender of the child and to include equal treatment of all children.
