AS PART of the lineup of activities prepared for the 26th National Children’s Month celebration, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7, through the Regional Council for the Welfare of Children (RCWC), conducted a whole-day Parents-Children Dialog last Nov. 22 at the Golden Peak Hotel and Suites in Cebu City.
The activity was participated by the parent and children representatives from the different local government units (LGUs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) in Cebu.
With this year’s National Children’s Month’s theme: “Isulong: Tamang pag-aaruga para sa lahat ng bata,” it is fitting that this parents-children dialogue is organized, in which positive parenting and discipline toward children were the significant discussions.
DSWD Assistant Regional Director for Operations Shalaine Marie Lucero, in her welcome message, said: “Parents, discipline your children, and they will never go wrong. Children, listen to your parents because no parent would want their children to be led into a crooked path.”
Lucero also emphasized the importance of a good relationship between parents and children in establishing a good family bond as it necessarily contributes to a rich and productive nation.
Two separate workshops with participating parents and children were facilitated by the RCWC staff and representatives from the World Vision Development Foundation Inc. Presentation of outputs followed thereafter, where children expressed their thoughts and feelings about the parenting styles applied by their parents, while parents, on the other hand, were able to clarify as well the parenting styles they applied toward their children.
One of the concerns tackled during the presentation of outputs was the importance of open communication between the parents and children in the family.
When asked how they would want to be disciplined in their home, one of the answers voiced by a child participant was: “It would be better if parents will explain calmly to their children that what we have done was wrong and correct us accordingly instead of immediately shouting at us.”
A parent participant also expressed thoughts on how a child should be disciplined at home during the presentation of outputs. She said: “A child should be taught using the right approach on how to be good citizens in the community, and we should also strengthen our teachings on good values toward them.”