Parents’ wellbeing and mental health are crucial to provide necessary care to their children, UNICEF says

Tbilisi, Georgia, 1 June 2023 - UNICEF Georgia congratulates all children in Georgia on Child Protection Day – the day dedicated to the well-being and safety of children.  June 1^st also marks the launch of UNICEF’s Parenting Month.

This year, UNICEF is emphasizing the importance of parents’ wellbeing and mental health. Parenting can be a challenging task and ensuring parents' well-being is crucial for them to provide the necessary care and support to their children. Taking care of their own mental health allows parents to build resilience and effectively cope with the demands of parenting, ultimately benefiting the entire family.

"Parenting is the most important job in the world”, says Amy Clancy, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Georgia. “Recognizing the ‘power of parenting’ UNICEF is acknowledging the incredible role parents play in shaping their children’s lives and is calling for greater investment in parenting services. Investing in parents' mental health and well-being is crucial for ensuring positive and holistic development of children. Through our work, we strive to equip parents with the tools and knowledge they need to practice positive parenting methods to give their children the best start in life," added Clancy.

"Investing in parents' mental health and well-being is crucial for ensuring positive and holistic development of children. Through our work, we strive to equip parents with the tools and knowledge they need to practice positive parenting methods to give their children the best start in life", - Amy Clancy, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Georgia.

UNICEF is calling on the Government, civil society and businesses to develop quality parenting programmes, ensure access to quality early childhood education and care for every child and prioritize investments in the earliest years of children’s lives.

As part of the Parenting Month activities, UNICEF Georgia has planned a range of initiatives aimed at empowering parents with specific knowledge and skills on how to take care of themselves and their children. Through various channels, including workshops and interactive sessions, parents will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to foster positive parent-child relationships and promote healthy child development.

To amplify the message of positive parenting, UNICEF Georgia is launching a social media campaign featuring inspiring stories of parents and children. Additionally, renowned Georgian child psychologists will contribute video explainers, offering expert insights and guidance on different aspects of positive parenting, further empowering parents in their journey. A dedicated parenting platform was also launched to provide information, recommendations and resources about positive parenting: https://uni.cf/3WAoRfH

The 2^nd international conference on Early Childhood Education and Care planned on 8-9 June in Batumi focuses on play-based learning and will be used as a platform to disseminate information about positive parenting.

A series of meetings with parents have been organized in partnership with the private sector companies such as International Chamber of Commerce and GPI Insurance to facilitate conversations between parents and psychologists about different aspects of positive parenting. 

Positive parenting emphasizes respectful, non-violent, and nurturing interactions between parents and children. It encourages parents to be responsive to their child's emotional needs, promote their self-esteem, and support their healthy growth and development.