Summary Skillful Parenting - ICS Asia

8/14/2019 Summary Skillful Parenting - ICS Asia

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Product Summary

ICS Skillful Parenting Program

Notes: 1) the term "parents" in this document refers to all types of caregivers .

2) Parts of this document are both in English and Khmer.

I. WHY PARENTING?Violence against women and children are major concerns in Cambodia. Women and children

experience high levels of violence caused by a complex interplay between individual, relationship,

community, and societal factors. International and national research has shown that parenting

programs can play an important role in the prevention of violence against women and children. The

family forms the basic protective unit for children. It is within the family that children are taught

morals and responsibilities that will enable them go through life. Parents play a key role in the

physical, social and mental development of their children and are the first point of influence for

children. Furthermore a positive parent-child relationship and positive parenting styles can buffer the

effects of family and community influences on children's development, including violent behavior

later in life.

ICS belies that all parents are capable of raising their children. However in Cambodia a great part of

families are faced with challenges causing stress and negatively influencing their capacity to parent.

By increasing parents' understanding of child development, good communication skills and non-

violent parenting practices, family relationships can be strengthened, which is more likely to lead to

healthy, non-violence safe home environments.

II. THE ICS SKILLFUL PARENTING PROGRAM - WHAT IS SKILLFUL PARENTING?The Skillful Parenting program is based upon a positive approach to parenting. It is build upon the

understanding that change will only take place if parents are convinced of the need for change and of

their capacity to change. ICS applies the term "behavior change" not only towards behavior that

needs to change but also to sustain behavior that contributes to promotion of positive parenting. The

behavior change model regarding Skilful Parenting is adapted from the Theory of Planned Behavior1

.

The components of the behavior change model are addressed in the different program modules:

providing knowledge, addressing the risks of not providing adequate care and protection to children

and strengthen the belief of parents that they can take action to change (self-efficacy) (see figure 1).

Parenting and Childhood are strongly influenced by culture, history and other contextual factors. This

program does not aim to tell parents this is how you have to do it but rather wants to help parents

in their task of raising children by choosing what works best for them and their family.

Under guidance of a professional facilitator parents are provided with a safe platform for discussion

and sharing (parent peer group of 15-20 parents). ICS chooses to work with parent peer groups to

ensure social comparison, joint reflection and ongoing support.

The key foundation of the program is the Skillful Parenting manual and the quality of the facilitator.

Only facilitators certified by ICS are ready to deliver the program. The Skillful Parenting manual

guides the facilitator in working with mothers, fathers or other caregivers of different backgrounds.

1Fishbein, M. (2000). The role of theory in HIV prevention.


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Modules of Skillful Parenting

Parents get to know each other and create sense of trust. Understanding that there is no one way of

parenting and that culture shapes perceptions and expectations of parenting and childhood.

Introduction to the program to manage expectations and tailor next modules to the interest of this

specific group. Create commitment to the program.

Module 1 - Introduction: Being a parent _________3-4 hours

Acknowledge that being a parent can be complicated because it involves many different roles and

responsibilities. Understanding childrens behaviour and development and how to help a child in

meeting their basic needs and developmental goals. Understanding different parenting styles,

assessing one's own parenting style and understand by what this is influenced.

Module 2 - Roles and responsibilities _________3-4 hours

Creates recognition of the importance of finding time for yourself as a parent, building up resilience,

and encourages a healthy self-esteem. Discuss with parents how they can build self-esteem in their

children.

Module 3 - Time for me! ______________ __3-4 hours

Creates understanding of the importance of values in the home, communicate values and

understand principles of effective and positive discipline.

Module 4 - Values & discipline __________________________ __3-4 hours

Creates understanding of the importance of a positive family environment and the role of other

family members in parenting. Develops a healthy and effective communication in the home and

support parents to introduce family meetings.

Module 5 - Family communication ____________ _________3-4 hours

Understanding how issues of power, control and gender influence their family environment. Support

parents to deal with stress, conflict and change within the family as a way to prevent violence within

the family.

Module 6 - Peaceful families __________________ _________3-4 hours

Creates understanding how to protect children from risky situations, basic first aid and how to act in

cases of violation of rights of children.

Module 7 - Child Protection _________________ _________3-4 hours

Creates understanding of the implications of budgeting for the family. Supports parents to better

manage their income and expenditure, deal with debts and emergencies, and raise financially

literature children. This module is developed in partnership with a+b=3.

Module 8 - Family Budgeting __________ ___________5 sessions of 2-4 hours


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a + b = 3

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III. HOW DO WE KNOW OUR PRODUCT WORKS?ICS started to work with skillful parenting in Africa and build up extensive experience there. The

skillful parenting program in Cambodia only started this year, so it is too early to draw evidence-

based conclusions about the results of the program. However the pilot facilitator training was

received with great enthusiasm by the different NGOs. Even more important, the first feedback from

parents from the field is positive. Parents that were interviewed by ICS all indicated the programbrought a change to them personally and for their family. See below quotes of 3 parents in OMC.

I realized that children learn from what they see and hear, so I prevent them from seeing bad

behaviors at home, for example, I stop drinking beers before my children; I tell my wife about what I

have learnt from skillful parenting, and tell her not use bad languages over our children because they

will learn from and imitate what we do every day if it is good or bad;... in every evening after work, I

now spend time with my children and let them enjoy with playground

I now start observing my daily childrens behaviors even though bad or good; I speak softly with

them; I compliment them; I teach them how to read, write and draw

I told some neighboring men in my village that please dont use bad languages or violence with our

partners before children because our children can see and imitate what we have done, says one

fatherThose men spoke impolitely words back to me, but I stayed calm...I really want other men to

participate in the skillful parenting as I was because it can help them to change their behaviors. His

wife stressed, After joining the skillful parenting training, I notice that my husband changed his

behaviors a lot, for example, he reduced alcohol drinking, helped me do housework, spoke softly with

me and my children, and he complimented what our children have done. I am so happy and proud of

my husbands behavioral changes; I told his changes to other women in my village

ICS will continue to invest in monitoring and evaluation of the program and is planning to do more in-

depth research on parenting in 2014 and 2015.

Parent peer group organized by Ponleur Kumar, OMC, Cambodia.

Documents

Summary Skillful Parenting - ICS Asia