Global Day of Parents; COVID-19 and Parenthood

Global Day of Parents

Sub-theme: COVID-19 and Parenthood

Parenting? What is it good for? What is in it for me?

There is a connection between parenting and COVID-19 protection. Societies provide opportunities for growth, development and sustenance; communities extend these opportunities to individuals who make them up. Individuals are called upon to care for themselves and others. On Global Day of Parents, we cast attention on parents who bring forth children, take care of them, support, provide enduring companionship and guidance.

Parenthood is the state of being a parent and the responsibilities involved. It also involves parenting. 

Parenting is process of raising and educating a child from birth until adulthood while parenthood is the state of being a parent. Society and communities are the spatial parents we all rely upon for provisions. In unit family or a setting such as a home or shelter parents are the providers to address physical, psychological and emotional needs.

According to sources parenthood has an element of responsibility in it. Responsible parenthood is simply defined as the “will” and ability of parents to respect and do the needs and aspirations of the family and children. It is the ability of a parent to detect the need, happiness and desire of the children and helping them to become responsible and reasonable children. The responsibility of parenthood in linked to outcomes which are in turn connected to the provisions that have to in place for good parenting outcomes to be realised.

The provisions include:

1.     Safe and secure growth and development environment

2.     Assurance and access to basic needs

3.     Access to self-esteem actualizing opportunities

4.     Instruction to develop values, beliefs and motivation for healthy living

5.     Intra/inter personal relationship through navigation skills

6.     Contexts to inculcate discipline

7.     Formal education or learning

8.     Growing, learning and contribution to sense of self and community

COVID-19 has brought to the fore the need for us to understand and appreciate parenting. This will allow us to reflect on the roles and responsibilities. It also allows us to plan better so that those taken care of are provided conditions that reduce vulnerability to COVID-19 infection. There are different parenting styles: 

ü Authoritarian: provides timelines, warmth, sets the stage, sets the pace, directs, guides, supports, balances dependency-independency and has high expectations.

ü Permissive: provides timelines, sets the stage, sets the pace, promotes independence and has high expectations.

ü Uninvolved: provides timelines, sets the stage, sets the pace, directs and leaves child/beneficiary on their own.

ü Authoritative: provides timelines, warmth, sets the stage, sets the pace, directs, places child/beneficiary in submissive roles, supports and has high expectations.

 Parenting plays a crucial role in the outcome of a child or any person. Healthy parenting allows for there to contexts within which agency, autonomy and self-determination of children or persons under their care. It means that parents provide opportunities for supported and independent thinking, decision-making, exploring life’s challenges and possibility for learning through their mistakes. This gives children emotional and physical balance, growth and development.

Understanding parenting makes it easier for us to plan better, identify resources and make parenting part of health promotion for quality life and healthy outcomes. Parenting provides contexts for a child to acquire confidence, feel safe, stay secure and enjoy self-esteem. Parenting presupposes responsibility toward self and society. Without parenting it is more likely that COVID-19 would have found unprotected and uncared for societies, communities and individuals. So, parents are the other frontliners we need to applaud.