Parents discouraged on corporal punishment
As Child Protection Week (31 May – 7 June) continues, the Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, has once more encouraged parents to use other forms of discipline as opposed to corporal punishment on their children.
“Teenagers need caring adults to help them control their behaviour and should be able to respect the parent or caregiver’s authority without harsh discipline such as corporal punishment, verbal abuse and name calling, as these are harmful to children’s self-esteem, make it difficult for children to have respect, and may condition children to use violence to solve their own problems,” said Minister Dlamini.
A report released by the Institute for Security studies in April 2015 looking at how parents can lessen violence shows that there is a direct relationship between corporal punishment and children’s feeling of anxiety and depression, violence and aggression. According to the report, exposure of children to violence used as a means of problem solving increases the likelihood that they will grow up to engage in violent behaviour.
The Children’s Act discourages any form of violence against children, whilst the Children’s Rights sector argues that any physical punishment is unconstitutional.
Through the dialogue sessions organised by the Department of Social Development in the lead up to Child Protection Week, children have amongst others lamented physical abuse by parents and teachers or corporal punishment.
Minister Dlamini says effective discipline is about grooming, teaching and guiding, not just forcing children to obey.
“Discipline is most effective when it teaches appropriate behaviour and self-control. The goal should be to teach self-discipline which gives a sense of empowerment and improves self-esteem. Teenagers need to know that the parent or caregiver is caring and also in control. This gives them a sense of security and trust,” Minister Dlamini says.
The National Department of Social Development is rolling out a parenting skills programme - Active Parenting of Teenagers – aimed at highlight the challenges facing parents of teenagers; exploring the stage of adolescent and its dynamics; assisting parents in understanding their teenagers; enabling parents to deal better with the challenges of raising a teenagers; as well as highlighting the support system that can be accessed by parents.
The Department views it as critical to assist parents, through education, with alternative discipline measures to deal with transgressing children. This also takes into consideration family beliefs or cultural background as these tend to influence discipline. In some cultures children do not have a say on what they think is right for them and discipline is used to control rather than to build a child.
The roll out of the Active Parenting of Teenagers programme is strategically located within the Families Directorate in the department as children’s issues cannot be addressed outside family life. The main objective of the Directorate is to promote and strengthen families in South Africa through the development of various family development programmes such as the Active Parenting of Teenagers.
One of the key policy instruments to come of the Families Directorate is the White Paper on Families, which prioritises the promotion of healthy family life; family strengthening; and family preservation. Discouraging parents from using corporal punishment is about promoting healthy family life.
Healthy family life is also about encouraging responsible co-parenting by both mothers and fathers; enhancing parents’ ability and capability to protect children from exposure to, and participation in activities that may be detrimental to their physical, emotional, psychological, intellectual, and sexual well-being; as well as encouraging effective family planning to ensure that children are born to emotionally, physically, financially, and structurally ready parents who can provide a well-established and strong support structure within which to raise and rear the child.
Minister Dlamini says the department wants to help parents understand that children today grow up very differently compared to themselves, and are exposed to smoking, alcohol, drugs and sexuality at a much earlier age and more frequently than before. Technology is a vital part of children’s lives today and can replace the parent in the life of the child.
“Being a parent of a teenager is not easy; the teen is finding their own way, testing the limits and discovering who they are. Sometimes parents may feel that their teens are moody, rebellious and do not appreciate them as parents. In as much as the adolescent years can be trying, they don’t have to be tumultuous if parents know what to expect.
“We encourage parents to give positive attention to their children by listening to and respecting them. And if the teen does not seem to be interested in bonding, parents should keep trying. Parents can also improve their relationship with their children by allowing teens to be themselves and not pressure them to be like their parents when they were young or wish they could have been,” concludes Minister Dlamini.
The Department of Social Development has set up a 24-hour call centre dedicated to providing support and counselling to victims of violence. The toll free number to call is 0800 428 428 (0800 GBV GBV) to speak to a social worker for assistance and counselling. Callers can also request a social worker from the Command Centre to contact them by dialling *120*7867# (free) from any cell phone.
Inquiries:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
Email: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
