Child welfare advocates from BRAVEAURORA are calling for stronger community involvement in raising children, warning that negative parenting practices, especially during separation, can have lasting psychological effects.
Speaking on a radio discussion on the State of Our Nation on DreamzFM, social welfare practitioners emphasized that child upbringing should extend beyond the nuclear family, urging communities to take shared responsibility.
“A child belongs to all of us as a community,” one social welfare officer said during the discussion. “When that child grows to become a doctor or leader, the entire community benefits.”
Experts cautioned against parental alienation, particularly in cases of divorce, where one parent may speak negatively about the other to the child.
“When you tell a child that their father or mother is wicked, you are not hurting the partner, you are destroying the child,” the officer said, noting that such actions can undermine a child’s emotional development and relationships.
They stressed that children should be guided to maintain respectful relationships with both parents, regardless of conflict.
“If a child approaches a parent respectfully about their needs, it can even cause that parent to reflect and change,” the speaker added.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of balancing discipline with guidance, warning that children must be taught to be respectful while also being aware of potential risks, including exploitation by adults.
Participants said communities must reclaim traditional roles in child upbringing, where elders guide and correct children, especially in the absence of parents.
The team said strengthening communal support systems remains key to raising responsible and well-adjusted individuals.
