The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity stated today in Velas that the intervention carried out in the scope of Parental Education aims to "promote responsible parenting as a way of ensuring an inclusive development process for all children and young people from the beginning of their lives."
Andreia Cardoso spoke at the opening session of the "Positive Parenting Workshops" in the context of the Government's visit to São Jorge. The initiative stems from the Parental Education programmes and involves the participation of 11 parents and teachers.
"In fact, it intends to ensure that all children are involved in a healthy environment that will enhance their abilities and, accordingly, this intervention should begin in the family environment," the government official said, recalling the first priority of the Regional Strategy to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion.
The Positive Parenting Workshops aim to foster the exchange of experiences, reflection, and the construction and consolidation of knowledge on children's development. It will help parents and other parental figures to identify the areas they consider most problematic or difficult in the relationship with their children.
The main goal is to provide parents with strategies to promote a positive relationship between parents and children by reducing coercive and negative parental practices as well as the incidence of behavioural problems among children, namely opposition, lack of attention, impulsiveness or hyperactivity.
"We want that parents or other parental figures become active agents in and for the community. Therefore, we believe this initiative will contribute to the strengthening of community bonds, the exercising of their rights and duties, and the promotion of social participation and risk prevention, among many other areas," added the government official.
Parental Education actions are a measure implemented by the Regional Government towards good parenting. In this context, several initiatives have already been carried out on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira, Faial, Pico, Graciosa and now on São Jorge, followed by Santa Maria where they are scheduled to begin in February.
These groups are aimed at pregnant women and parental figures of children up to the age of six. They are intended to promote positive parental performance and encourage the participation of parents from very early on in the development process of their children.
"We believe are contributing to strengthening the relationship between parents and children, ensuring care and capability building without violence, providing the necessary guidance, setting limits, promoting the importance of protection, attention and emotional ties, and to developing stable family environments and safe relationships."