A positive parenting programme in Kenya is a daily reminder that parenting is about connection than perfection. Kenya’s National Positive Parenting Programme addresses children’s security and safety concerns and enhances responsive care by parents and caregivers.
The National Positive Parenting Programme is implemented as part of a flagship cash-plus programme, the Nutrition Improvement through Cash and Health Education (NICHE) program in Kenya.
Faith Konde, 36, joined the positive parenting programme in Kilifi County two years ago when she was pregnant with her fourth child. She was keen to learn more about being a better mother and wife.
She appreciates the positive parenting classes that have fostered a supportive arm that has brought her husband and children closer, leading to a healthier family filled with love and smiles.
“I understand the importance of nutrition, and healthy living during pregnancy, the benefits of play, and consultative decision-making with our children. I gave birth to a healthy baby and the lessons have been very helpful every day,” she said.
She agrees that the positive parenting classes in the Mariakani area in Kilifi County have led to more active involvement of fathers in the early stages of pregnancy, infancy, and childhood to promote child growth and development. “The positive parenting classes have also encouraged my husband to be more supportive and involved, ensuring I ate nutritious foods for the healthy development of our unborn child,” she said. She added that the classes have broadened her perspectives on family care, strengthening their approach to parenting.
She is grateful that her husband was actively involved in taking care of her and accompanying her to the ante-natal visits and classes, which led to a well-supported delivery. Later, she reintegrated well at home when they brought the newborn home with her husband helping with some domestic chores, including taking care of the older children as she nursed the newborn.
NICHE is a cash transfer program working with vulnerable families to reduce poverty and fight malnutrition through cash top-ups and counselling on nutrition and child well-being practices.
The Global Partnership supports the Programme to End Violence Against Children, the Government of Japan, USAID, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), UKAID, and the World Bank.
UNICEF Kenya’s Child Protection Specialist Nurten Yilmaz noted the impact of the collaborative programme, adding it fosters lifetime bonds for happier children and families.
“Since its inception, UNICEF Kenya has been working alongside the government to implement the positive parenting program in Kilifi, Turkana, Wajir, and Garissa counties to educate parents on responsive caregiving by supporting them with the skills and knowledge on how to provide safe and nurturing environments for their children to thrive and reach their developmental milestones,” Nurten said.
According to Yilmaz, the national positive parenting program is implemented by trained community facilitators through participatory group sessions with beneficiaries, including parents, religious leaders, and caregivers, guided by a 15-week module covered in four to five months.
At the end of the positive parenting sessions, the parents receive a certification in acknowledgment and recognition of the skill sets and the knowledge they’ve gained during these sessions, she said.
Yilmaz hailed the program’s success, which has received anchored support from partners and stakeholders keen to ensure that families are happy and well-bonded.
“We have seen significant achievements which would not have been possible without the gracious support of our partners, the British High Commission and World Bank, as part of the Kenya Social Economic and Inclusion program,” Yilmaz added.
According to Yilmaz, the positive parenting programme also encourages male involvement, providing emotional support to the mother, reducing stress, and promoting overall well-being for both the mother and the child. She also noted that when both mother and father work together to lay the foundation of their family, this encourages them to think critically and make decisions rather than imposing solutions.
“Positive parenting helps children feel secure, loved, and valued, promoting their overall well-being and emotional development,” she said, adding that this program emphasizes nurturing, guiding, and encouraging children in a supportive, respectful, and loving environment.
The strategies used in positive parenting help to strengthen the relationship between partners, fostering better communication and collaboration in the early stages of parenthood.
As one of the participants, Konde appreciates the closer bonds with his wife and children.
“The program addresses the rising cases of violence against children by providing a safe space that encourages communication and enhances problem-solving,” said Konde
Konde shared that he also became more receptive to helping with household chores such as caring for the baby, playing with the children, and sometimes helping prepare the family meals.
“The positive parenting classes opened new avenues for me to care for my wife and have a healthy baby. The seed money helped us plant the green leafy vegetables in our kitchen garden and have a few fruits the whole family consumed,” said Konde.
As a father of four, positive parenting classes have further enriched his parenting skills and encouraged him to embrace a more active, involved, and emotionally supportive role in their children’s lives.
“It’s been a rewarding experience for my wife and child and the entire family. We are all healthier, more connected, and feel empowered to give our baby the best start in life,” he said.
The Kondes agree that the classes demonstrate how learning about parenting strategies can have a positive ripple effect on the entire family, such as involving children in making some family decisions.
The classes have inculcated culture to set aside a portion of her income for future needs, emergencies, or long-term goals for the family.
“As a mother, I save for today and my family’s future. With the money earned from the business or money given by my husband, I have learned that this is my family’s security.”
Janet Bahati, a Community Health Promoter, conducts door-to-door sessions to speak with families about positive parenting and to encourage open communication between parents and children.
“We actively promote positive communication and discourage emotional abuse and corporal punishment. In cases of child abuse, neglect, and other issues affecting children’s welfare, we take immediate action by referring them to the Child Protection Office through the Child Protection Desk at the Department of Criminal Investigation for further support and intervention,” she said
Whereas she says that the volunteer government Sh 2,000 stipend barely covers the personal and household budget costs, the monthly or bi-monthly sessions have nurtured a gospel that brings up happy and healthier families.
Bahati concluded that sharing knowledge and providing support fosters the development of healthy, loved, and well-protected children, nurtured to reach their potential. “Our goal is to raise confident, happy, healthy children by involving parents, caregivers, and the entire community.”
