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There comes a time when every parent struggles with how best to discipline their child. Whether dealing with a screaming toddler or an angry teen, it can be hard to control your temper. No parent wants to find themselves in such a situation and the bottom line is that shouting and physical violence never help. Thankfully, there are other, more…, Why positive discipline?, “Parents don't want to shout or hit their kids. We do it because we're stressed and don't see another way,” says Professor Cluver. The evidence is clear: shouting and hitting simply do not work and can do more harm than good in the long run. Repeated shouting and hitting can even adversely impact a child’s entire life. The continued “toxic stress…, Engaging with younger children, One-on-one time can be fun – and it’s completely free! “You can copy their expressions, bang spoons against pots, or sing together,” adds Professor Cluver. “There’s amazing research showing that playing with your children boosts their brain development.”, Engaging with older children, Like younger children, teenagers seek praise and want to be thought of as good. One-on-one time is still important to them. “They love it if you dance around the room with them or engage in a conversation about their favourite singer,” says Professor Cluver. “They may not always show it, but they do. And, it's an effective way of building a…, What you can do in stressful situations , Every family goes through stressful times together. Here are some tips that can help parents get through such times: 1. Pause We all know the stress when we feel our child is being difficult. At moments like these, being present and stepping back is a simple and useful tactic. Hit the “pause button”, as Professor Cluver calls it. “Take five deep…

When conflict or war makes the headlines, it can cause feelings such as fear, sadness, anger and anxiety wherever you live. Children always look to their parents for a sense of safety and security – even more so in times of crisis. Here are some tips on how to approach the conversation with your child and to provide them with support and comfort.…, 1. Find out what they know and how they feel, Choose a time and place when you can bring it up naturally and your child is more likely to feel comfortable talking freely, such as during a family meal. Try to avoid talking about the topic just before bedtime. A good starting point is to ask your child what they know and how they are feeling. Some children might know little about what is…, 2. Keep it calm and age-appropriate, Children have a right to know what’s going on in the world, but adults also have a responsibility to keep them safe from distress. You know your child best. Use age-appropriate language, watch their reactions, and be sensitive to their level of anxiety. It is normal if you feel sad or worried about what is happening as well. But keep in mind that…, 3. Spread compassion, not stigma, Conflict can often bring with it prejudice and discrimination, whether against a people or country. When talking to your children, avoid labels like “bad people” or “evil” and instead use it as an opportunity to encourage compassion, such as for the families forced to flee their homes. Even if a conflict is happening in a distant country, it can…, 4. Focus on the helpers, It’s important for children to know that people are helping each other with acts of courage and kindness. Find positive stories, such as the first responders assisting people, or young people calling for peace. The sense of doing something, no matter how small, can often bring great comfort. See if your child would like to participate in taking…, 5. Close conversations with care, As you end your conversation, it’s important to make sure that you are not leaving your child in a state of distress. Try to assess their level of anxiety by watching their body language, considering whether they’re using their usual tone of voice and watching their breathing. Remind them that you care and that you’re there to listen and support…, 6. Continue to check in, As news of the conflict continues, you should continue to check in with your child to see how they’re doing. How are they feeling? Do they have any new questions or things they would like to talk about with you? If your child seems worried or anxious about what’s happening, keep an eye out for any changes in how they behave or feel, such as…, 7. Limit the flood of news, Be mindful of how exposed your children are to the news while it's full of alarming headlines and upsetting images. Consider switching off the news around younger children. With older children, you could use it as an opportunity to discuss how much time they spend consuming news and what news sources they trust. Also consider how you talk about…, 8. Take care of yourself, You’ll be able to help your kids better if you’re coping, too. Children will pick up on your own response to the news, so it helps them to know that you are calm and in control. If you’re feeling anxious or upset, take time for yourself and reach out to other family, friends and trusted people. Be mindful of how you’re consuming news: Try…

GENEVA/NEW YORK, 5 December 2022 – UNICEF today launched a US$10.3 billion emergency funding appeal to reach more than 173 million people – including 110 million children – affected by humanitarian crises, the enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide and the growing threat of climate-impacted severe weather events. “Today, there are…

NEW YORK/GENEVA, 28 June 2022 – Between 2005 and 2020, the United Nations verified over 266,000 grave violations against children committed by parties to conflict in more than 30 conflict situations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, UNICEF said today in a new report. [1] This figure is a fraction of the violations believed…

From the smoke and ashes of World War II, a refugee crisis emerged unlike any the world had seen. Out of this destruction, UNICEF was created to ease the burden of the world’s most vulnerable children., 1946, The International Children’s Emergency Fund (ICEF) is created by the UN Relief Rehabilitation Administration to help children affected by World War II. ICEF is for child health purposes generally and aid is to be distributed to all children, without discrimination.  On 11 December 1946, a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly brings…, 1947 to 1965, During his 18 years as Executive Director, Maurice Pate expanded UNICEF’s work to meet the needs of children in a more holistic way. He also strengthened consensus that the needs of children surpass politics. “There are no enemy children.”  Maurice Pate, UNICEF Executive Director (1947–1965) UNICEF Executive director Maurice Pate sits with…, 1947, The first private contribution to UNICEF is received. To this day, UNICEF relies on millions of supporters to help to make a difference in the lives of children. In the same year, the first UNICEF National Committee is established in the United States. National Committees are a supportive network of independent charities that raise funds to…, 1949, The first UNICEF greeting card is issued. Selling UNICEF cards soon became one of the organization’s largest and most enduring fundraising activities. UNICEF National Committees will play a key role in the sale of billions of cards during the next seven decades. Drawing of dancing children by seven-year-old Dzitka Samkova., 1950, Due to the “necessity for continued action to relieve the sufferings of children” the United Nations General Assembly extends UNICEF’s mandate ─ emphasizing the organization’s support for children outside of Europe. A student in Suwon, Repluc of Korea, prepares to drink her daily ration of milk., 1953, UNICEF becomes a permanent United Nations agency. The words ‘International’ and ‘Emergency’ are dropped from the official name but the acronym is retained. UNICEF’s projects in water, sanitation and hygiene seek to reduce preventable childhood diseases and death. Campaigns to eradicate yaws, leprosy and trachoma are highly effective.  A health…, 1954, Beloved United States entertainer Danny Kaye becomes UNICEF’s "Ambassador at Large". Danny Kaye visits his former primary school in Brooklyn, New York., 1956, Between 1956 and 1957, more than 13,000 maternal and child welfare centres receive UNICEF supplies and technical training in 102 countries.  A child is tested for tuberculosis., 1957, UNICEF launches new nutrition programmes. Communities are trained in vegetable gardening, fish pond management, poultry and livestock breeding, and receive education about nutrition. A boy feeds his family’s chickens. Thailand, 1955., 1959, The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child defines children’s rights to protection, education, healthcare, shelter and good nutrition. A doctor tests children for tuberculosis in New Delhi, India., 1961, UNICEF expands its focus to include children’s education. Aid for education programmes are launched globally and continue for years to come.  Two boys reading in a temporary school in Pakistan., 1964, The Bellagio Conference (or The International Round Table on Children and Youth in Development Planning) in Bellagio, Italy focuses on ways to link children's well being to national development plans. Following the Bellagio conference, UNICEF pivots from being a relief fund to an international development agency with technical expertise in all…, 1965, The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to UNICEF for the "promotion of brotherhood among nations". The Nobel Peace Prize designation recognizes work for children as work for peace. "The welfare of today’s children is inseparably linked with the peace of tomorrow’s world." Henry Labouisse, UNICEF Executive Director (1965–1979) Henry Labouisse receives…, 1967, Amid much controversy, UNICEF aid for family planning is approved. Family planning support is provided within the context of maternal and child hea Twins are delivered in Ankara, Turkey., 1968, UNICEF provides aid for mothers and children in civil conflicts in Nigeria and Viet Nam, upholding its philosophy of non-political and non-discriminatory aid. Packages are prepared in Ubulu, Nigeria, for distribution in the Biafra region., 1971, The UNICEF Executive Board expands its aid work to include services "benefiting children in urban slums and shantytowns," increasing the organization’s reach and depth over the years. Two children stand in the street. United Nations agencies mobilize to provide shelter, food, sanitation supplies and water to millions of refugees who fled to India…, 1973, UNICEF expands aid for non-formal education (outside regular schools), particularly for rural children and youth. . Boys enter a training centre., 1975, The Mark II water pump is invented, transforming village life. Children collect water at a Mark II handpump., 1978, The Alma-Ata conference, jointly convened by WHO and UNICEF, focuses world attention on primary healthcare and emphasizes community-based approaches to family health as the keys to achieving an acceptable level of health throughout the world. A girl is vaccinated while sitting in her mother's lap., 1979, Due to its non-political status, UNICEF is able to lead the United Nations and Red Cross in major relief and rehabilitation operations across Kampuchea, now Cambodia. A boy holds a drawing showing the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime. The United Nations declares 1979 as the International Year of the Child to increase awareness of the…

FLORENCE/NEW YORK, 3 September 2020 – Suicide, unhappiness, obesity and poor social and academic skills have become far-too-common features of childhood in high-income countries, according to the latest Report Card issued today by the UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti. UNICEF’s Report Card Series – now running for 20 years – uses comparable…, Key findings from the Report Card  , Mental health: In most countries, less than four-fifths of children report being satisfied with their lives. Turkey has the lowest rate of life satisfaction at 53 per cent, followed by Japan and the United Kingdom. Children who have less supportive families and those who are bullied have significantly poorer mental health. Lithuania has the…

NEW YORK, 17 June 2020 – Universal child benefits, such as unconditional cash payments or tax transfers, are critical in the fight against child poverty, yet are only available in 1 in 10 countries worldwide, according to a new  report  published today by the Overseas Development Institute and UNICEF. The report  Universal Child Benefits: Policy…

NEW YORK, 4 September 2019 – One in three young people in 30 countries said they have been a victim of online bullying, with one in five reporting having skipped school due to cyberbullying and violence, in a new poll released today by UNICEF and the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) on Violence against Children. Speaking…

GENEVA/NEW YORK, 29 January 2019 – Millions of children living in countries affected by conflict and disaster lack access to vital child protection services, putting their safety, well-being and futures at risk, UNICEF warned today as it appealed for $3.9 billion to support its work for children in humanitarian crises . UNICEF’s Humanitarian…

NEW YORK, 28 December 2018 – The futures of millions of children living in countries affected by armed conflict are at risk, as warring parties continue to commit grave violations against children, and world leaders fail to hold perpetrators accountable – UNICEF said today. “Children living in conflict zones around the world have continued to…