The head of Parent Education for Development in Barbados (PAREDOS) has thrown her full support behind Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s call for community parenting groups, arguing that taking parenting support directly into communities is critical if more families are to receive the help they need.
Speaking to Barbados TODAY on Monday — World Parents’ Day — director Cecily Clarke-Richmond said PAREDOS backed Mottley’s call in Parliament last week for community-based parenting groups as part of efforts to address emerging gang culture and strengthen families.
“The prime minister has my full support with regards to the calling for the need for more community-based parenting programmes. There’s no question about that,” Clarke-Richmond said.
She stressed that the success of such programmes would depend on reaching parents where they are.
“The question is how do we get the parents to come out,” she said. “We definitely need to really get out into the community because a lot of parents are busy and finding the time is difficult. So when we come to them, I think that that is half of the battle. Parents need help, but we have to go to the parents. I think that’s definitely a better step for us.”
Prime Minister Mottley told the House of Assembly that Barbados could not afford to assume that all parents know how to navigate the challenges of raising children, particularly as traditional support systems have weakened and concerns about youth involvement in gangs continue to grow.
PAREDOS began providing support to families through parenting classes in 1965, expanding to offer counselling services and community outreach programmes.
“We go out into the community to conduct these classes. We also hold classes here at PAREDOS,” Clarke- Richmond explained.
The organisation’s parenting programme covers 11 topics, including emotional intelligence, bullying, nutrition and sexual and reproductive health. “We try our best to cover all the issues that parents are confronting today.”
On the issue of challenges facing parents, Clarke- Richmond identified co-parenting as the leading concern among those seeking assistance. “The number one issue is co-parenting. It is the number one issue that brings parents here,” she said.
She added that many parents also struggle with understanding their responsibilities and recognising when they need support.
“Second to that is just understanding your role and responsibility as a parent,” she said. “And having the courage to say, ‘I need help. My child is two or three or five or 18 and I’m losing control.’”
According to Clarke-Richmond, one of the biggest barriers in co-parenting situations is when parents allow personal hurt to overshadow the needs of their children.
“The first solution, you have to look at this is not about me anymore. This is about a child, a child who didn’t ask to be here. So how do we put our differences aside to think about what is in the best interest of this child?”
She maintained that both parents have an important role to play in a child’s development and urged separated parents to focus on cooperation rather than conflict.
“So, the first thing you need to do is to put your differences aside and think about what is the best interest for the child.”
She also encouraged parents facing difficulties to seek assistance early rather than waiting until problems escalate.
“First thing you need to recognise is that there is help and there’s no perfect parent,” she said. “If you need help, just ask for it. The children will behave and do what theywant to, but if we don’t put down the barriers and put down the guidelines for them to follow, then they’re not going to.”
She pointed to PAREDOS and other agencies as resources available to struggling families. “We have to work together. It’s not about competition. We’ve gone past that. We have to work together to help the parents of this country.”
PAREDOS is scheduled to begin another parenting class on Thursday, continuing its efforts to equip parents with practical tools to navigate the challenges of raising children in an increasingly complex environment.
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