Children First, Spring 2006: My Family … Our Future

A crucial element of the Children First project strategy is to develop a comprehensive range of child–sensitive models for services related to children and one approach to achieving this focuses on the family unit itself. The Family and Child Training (FACT) Programme has been re–configured as My Family–FACT with the aim of reaching a third of parents and care–givers, especially in poor urban and remote rural areas, and training them in positive child–rearing practices.

During one of the first Master Training sessions in Mersin at the end of October, a group of FACT trainers from various project provinces were provided with extra training and teaching material aimed at improving education for families with children under six years of age.

Safiye Şahin: Educating children within the family helps reduce many typical conflict situations.
Photograph by Rana Mullan
© UNICEF Turkey 2006

Safiye Şahin,
Teacher, Sarıyer Public Education Centre, İstanbul

We had training in family education before but this has been a shorter, more compact and topical exercise. Previously the focus was primarily on the mother but now the role of father is also taken into account since we have found that it is much better to look at the family as a unit. Educating children within the family helps reduce many typical conflict situations. The mother’s traditionally protective role towards the children can sometimes create an odd kind of tension within the family where the father is alienated but this method unites all of the family members in mutual understanding.

Zahide Gözüaydın: Although most parents attending our courses are mothers, we are very keen to encourage the involvement of fathers.
Photograph by Rana Mullan
© UNICEF Turkey 2006

Zahide Gözüaydın,
Teacher, Mersin Public Education Centre

This new training is especially useful for low–income and disadvantaged families but it can be easily applied to any family regardless of background or income. Although most parents attending our public education centre are mothers, we are very keen to encourage the involvement of fathers. That way it would be much easier to balance parental awareness of the protective environment between both parents.

The mother’s position within the family also becomes stronger as her lines of communication with her husband are strengthened. The parents are better able to provide support for each other and of course the children can only benefit from their enriched relationship at the same time.

Şermin Aksakal Vilday: Parents will be better able to appreciate the fine details and needs of their child from one stage of development to another.
Photograph by Rana Mullan
© UNICEF Turkey 2006

Şermin Aksakal Vilday,
Teacher, FACT Trainer

The goal is for parents to be better able to appreciate the fine details and needs of their child from one stage of development to another. When parents realise the differences in these stages, they can take the necessary steps to meet the child’s needs. Parents feel generally stronger, more competent and rather less helpless and confused because they know what to do when it comes to improving a child’s health, nutrition and development.

Individuals who know how better to look after their personal needs and the needs of those closest to them contribute to a stronger, more stable and understanding community structure. When parents are able to moderate their behaviour for the sake of their children, there is a ripple effect throughout their community and society at large.

Ümmühan Acar: This is a great way to show parents how they can really help their children.
Photograph by Rana Mullan
© UNICEF Turkey 2006

Ümmühan Acar,
Teacher, Alanya Public Education Centre

This training is very important because it is aimed at parents of children under six years of age — a very sensitive stage of their development in every respect. I plan to go from house to house, letting parents know what the training is about and that it is available for them to take part at their local public education centre. Already we have a number of regular attendees at our centre and I’m hoping that we can reach a greater number of families through these people — by word of mouth, so to speak.

Nihayet Uçlu: It’s quite possible to have a negative influence on our children without raising a hand to them in violence.
Photograph by Rana Mullan
© UNICEF Turkey 2006

Nihayet Uçlu,
Teacher, Antalya Public Education Centre

Family training is very much concerned with the general education and development of society at the same time. So the My Family–FACT Programme will have a concrete effect on societal development in the future. It is quite possible for us, as parents, to have a negative influence on our children without necessarily raising a hand to them in violence — there are many subtle ways in which we can hamper a child’s development without being aware of what we are doing.

Şehzade Polat: Fathers and mothers will be equipped to provide a more protective environment for their children.
Photograph by Rana Mullan
© UNICEF Turkey 2006

It is an unfortunate truth about human nature that some of our most natural behaviour or responses to our children can be damaging to them. So I’m very happy to be taking part in this training seminar both as a mother because I am more confident about my future relations with my children and also as a teacher because I look forward to sharing what I have learned with other trainers and other parents.

Şehzade Polat,
Teacher, Yozgat Public Education Centre

By teaching the parents about problem–solving in human relationships and behaviour, we are equipping them with the tools to help their children resolve their own problems and issues in a forthright and independent manner without having to resort to external agencies such as counsellors, teachers, community leaders. At the same time, both fathers and mothers will be equipped to provide a more protective environment for their children.