DSWD-7 celebrates National Children’s Month, holds parents-children dialogue

AS part of the activities for the 26th National Children’s Month celebration, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7), through the Regional Council for the Welfare of Children (RCWC), conducted a Parents-Children Dialogue on November 22, 2018 at a hotel in uptown Cebu City.

The activity was participated by the parent and children representatives from the different local government units and non-government organizations in Cebu.

With this year’s National Children’s Month’s theme “Isulong: Tamang Pag-aaruga para sa lahat ng bata,” the dialogue was focused on positive parenting and discipline towards children.

DSWD-7 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 good relationship between parents and children in establishing a good family bond.

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 towards 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 in a right approach on how to be good citizens in the community and we should also strengthen our teachings on good values towards them.”

Prior to the conclusion of the dialogue, parents and children made some recommendations on reviving family values, improving familial practices and strengthening parent-child relationship. /PR