“My son still shies away from me” – Save the Children

In Romania the use of corporal punishment along with verbal and emotional abuse against children is often a common parenting practice. Family risk factors such as poor parenting, family conflict and marriage breakdown strongly influence children’s development, and may entail risks for children’s healthy emotional development. 

This article focuses on the parenting programmes and counseling services offered in specialized community centres established by Save the Children in Romania. The programmes are geared to improve parenting skills, increase parent understanding of child development and encourage alternative solution thinking in conflict situations. Parents come to these centres to get support and guidance on how to deal with their child’s emotional and behavioural problems and to learn and practice skills to tackle family conflict and family violence.