Parenting is about loving and caring for your children. Being a parent is not easy. Sometimes it is very frustrating! Along with the joys of parenting, many parents face problems, too. Tough times can give you the chance to learn and grow as a parent and as a person. It is ok to ask for help. Nobody’s perfect. There are no perfect parents, perfect children, or perfect people. We can only do our best, and we all need help once in a while.
UNICEF Viet Nam, working in partnership with the Government of Canada, has adapted and implemented the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Nobody’s Perfect parenting program.
This international program is now available in Viet Nam. Parents and caregivers of children aged 0 to 8 years can participate in facilitated group sessions that:
- promotes positive parenting
- increases their understanding of their children's health, safety, and behaviour
- helps them build on the skills they have and learn new ones
- improves their self-esteem and coping skills
- increases their self-help and mutual support
- brings them in contact with community services and resources
While there is no set curriculum and participants are encouraged to choose the topics of discussion, the programme in Viet Nam is supported by three books:
- MIND: thinking, feeling, learning and playing
- BEHAVIOUR: Helping children learn to behave and ideas for coping with some common behaviours
- BODY: Growth, health, illness and safety
It is recommended that parents and caregivers attend parenting programmes as early as possible, preferably before their children are aged 3 years, to achieve best outcomes.
- For more information about the Nobody’s Perfect parenting program in Viet Nam contact: Nguyen Thi Y Duyen, Child Protection Specialist, Email: ntyduyen@unicef.org; Tell: +84238500213
- For more information about the Nobody’s Perfect program outside of Viet Nam, contact the Public Health Agency of Canada at PHAC.dca.public.inquiries.ASPC@canada.ca.