Maseru, April 25 — District Child Protection Teams (DCPT’s) across the country have on Friday wrapped up a two day training focused on Positive Parenting, Psychosocial Support and Mental Health Care at Thaba-Bosiu Cultural Village where they were strongly encouraged to foster productive parental engagement, build trust in parent-child relationships and to reassure them about implementing good parenting styles.
Ministry of Gender, Youth, and Social Development Senior Child Protection Manager Mrs. Mantoa Sejake highlighted that there was a particular New Year’s Eve celebration whereby the country witnessed a massive behavioral shift among under age children; heavy use of alcohol and drugs among them became a public issue.
Mrs. Sejake highlighted that it was against that background which triggered the National OVC Coordinating Committee (NOCC) by then, to figured out what could have gone wrong on parenting styles, or whether parents are overwhelmed with the behavior of their children and as a result after various consultations which were also involving children and other stakeholders were conducted; adding that let to development of some strategies on how parents-children’s relationship can be enhanced.
She said as a matter of fact, children are human beings, although their parents might have some huge expectations about their respective lives, therefore both parents and children need each other for the benefit of a healthy and well balanced social life and healthy child development and their well being.
Furthermore, Mrs. Sejake reiterated that along the journey of life, parents may go through extremely hardship phases such as facing poverty and hunger, job loss and other social problems that might have a negative impact on their mental health, hence the development of mental health and Psychosocial Support for all relevant stakeholders.
She pointed out that let to the development of the positive parenting guidelines book meant to address the issues on how best can the children be nurtured, adding that by having the positive parenting guides and Psychosocial Support are more like the tools to be used either at work places for provision of effective services or during the interventions directed to children.
Sharing the same sentiments, Ministry of Social Development, Child Protection Services Unit Mrs. Boitumelo Mofolo highlighted that parenting is a dynamic subject which keeps on evolving, but it involves techniques used by parents to raise or nurture their children with styles which may include to instill the discipline and communication, therefore such techniques play a significant role of shaping a life which is not only going to end in a family set up.
Mrs. Mofolo stressed that in parenting there are some different elements such as the positive parenting which refers to a relationship based, non violent approach focused on fostering a child’s development through love, warmth, empathy, consistent guidance.
“Good parenting is one of the techniques that can be used by child focused service providers to eliminate and prevent the occurrence of violence towards children”, she explained.
Mrs. Mofolo said parenting in a child protection practice is more of understanding the concept of parenting which is fundamental for a child protection service provider as it allows them to move beyond the reactive focus on harm to a preventive focus of strengthening the family unit.
She highlighted that at the earliest stage of life, the relationship of parents-child starts with the attachment in parenting whereby with the quality attachment it is going to influence how children relate to others, manage their emotions, or view themselves throughout the life.
“Children with secure attachment tend to feel safe or valued, develop trust in others and they even show confidence in exploring their environment,” she elaborated.
Mrs. Mofolo further said there is adjustment in parenting which simply refers to how parents adapt to their children’s needs, developmental stages and changing environment, adding that effective adjustment helps parents to support their children’s healthy development while maintaining a balanced and supportive family life.
“Poor adjustment may lead to conflict and misunderstanding, emotional or behavioral challenges in children,” she said.
On the issue parents facing difficulties in their parenting styles, she strongly urged service providers that they should recognize the parent’s existing effort to improve or learn as that gives them courage to stay in a program, adding that they should promote protective factors; where they prevent future occurrences of neglect such as helping parents to develop attachments, nurturing and understanding of child development.
She further said as service providers, they should strongly support the family reunification processes, citing that reintegration will help in the rebuilding of relationship between parents and children, further to ensure a safe and a stable home between child and parents.
Mrs. Mokhothu indicated that positive parenting is a need, citing that we are living in an era where people are exposed to many challenges of which can affect adults either mentally or in other spheres of life and as a result they have to approach their children in a kind, but firm manner by giving them proper guidance, rather than resorting to punishment.
Addressing the participants on parenting styles, one of the teachers Mrs. Malehlohonolo Mashapha said it is important to involve parents in the child’s growth, citing that there is a need to raise a child giving him/her values and their importance in life.
Mrs. Mashapha said as service providers, they have to be knowledgeable about different types of parenting styles such as authoritative parenting, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful or uninvolved parenting so they can easily diagnose the problem of clients and also provide an intervention that is going to address such problems.
“Lately, parents are uninvolved in their child’s growth, they are too busy with social issues or to take care of their families, and they leave all the responsibilities to their domestic workers and that is causing serious harm to the children,” she said.
She indicated that children are humans which as well need to be listened to, engaged, while also parents nurture them and set boundaries, moreover she urged them to always strive for providing solutions, rather than depressing a client.
Additionally, Mrs. Mashapha encouraged participants to go and change from personal perspective and even the way they run their respective families and communities lives in order build a peaceful nation, adding that they should take their children to the play based Early Childhood Care Development (ECCD) schools so that they can be able to interact with the outside world and develop problem solving skills.
Reflecting on the core pillars of positive parenting, Mohlomi Mental Hospital, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Ms. Refiloe ‘Mota said from pregnancy to an adulthood, a child can feel, hear or see the circumstances happening around and as a result parents should treat them with respect, provide a safe nurturing environment.
Ms. ‘Mota indicated that children do not know how to express their feelings and as caregivers of parents there is a need to help them to recognize their emotional, cognitive needs and help them to mention how they feel.
She pointed out that for a parent to express love to a child requires a present parent, further highlighting that they should strive for a non violent discipline, provide emotional support and affection.
Ms. ‘Mota said another core pillar includes a shared responsibility, by promoting equal involvement of children or according to their age maturity.
She further encouraged positive role modeling by demonstrating responsible behavior, adding that children learn by observing how adults handle emotions and challenges.
Representing the DCPT members, Mr. Bolokoe Mohale acknowledged the training, highlighting that it has opened their eyes not only on work related matters, but has covered various areas of life.
In closing remarks, World Vision International Lesotho, Child Protection Manager Mr. Motlatsi Taaka highlighted that from 2026-2030 they are mandated to support the government of Lesotho on the implementation of positive parenting issues being one of their strategic objectives.
Mr. Taaka added that they are expected to reach every stakeholder such as parents, children, faith based, schools and all other community structures on positive parenting issues.
He further said expectations are high that they are going to work collaboratively with the DCPT’s to conduct some step down training to other structures in the village child protection teams and dissemination of such initiative.
On the other hand, the DCPT’s are expected to actively engage in their awareness campaigns on the issues of positive parenting as part of helping parents, communities, stakeholders to do away with harmful parenting practices and to adopt the positive parenting initiative which can as well support a healthy child development.
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