New NSPCC campaign supports parents to ‘Take 5’ and react calmly

Support and advice for parents and carers on staying calm when looking after young children is the focus of a new NSPCC Cymru/ Wales campaign.

Take 5 urges parents of children aged between one and four to stop – breathe – and react calmly when dealing with tantrums, difficult behaviour and other challenging parenting situations.

The innovative new campaign is supported by former Wales and British and Irish Lions international Martyn Williams and Welsh sports presenter Sarra Elgan Easterby. The launch is taking place today (Tuesday 17 October) at a Welsh Government ‘Flying Start’ centre in Ebbw Vale with Sarra and a number of local parents who have helped to inform the campaign during its development.

The NSPCC has produced five top tips for parents faced by challenging behaviour:

• Don’t expect perfect behaviour – all children misbehave sometimes

• Praise your child – affection and praise are more likely to see behaviour repeated

• Be consistent – a child’s behaviour improves when they know what the rules are

• Look after yourself – it’s much easier to take care of your child if you take care of yourself

• Remember, you’re not alone – every parent finds it tough sometimes

The NSPCC already supports mums and dads to parent positively through its Helpline, material on its website, information leaflets and face to face services. Take 5 will complement this work by providing easy to remember advice about how to react when a parent is cross with their child.

The campaign aims to help and support parents in meeting the emotional needs of their children and materials will be available at www.nspcc.org.uk/take5

In extreme cases, where the relationship between a parent and child breaks down, children can often become victim to emotional abuse. According to statistics published in the NSPCC’s annual report – How Safe Are Our Children?, the most comprehensive overview of child protection in the UK – this issue is increasing as a reason for a young person to be placed on a child protection register in Wales.

Last year (2016/17) counsellors at the NSPCC Helpline received more than 270 reports which were serious enough to refer to police or social services – an increase of 81 per cent over four years – after they had been contacted by members of the public with concerns about the emotional abuse of a child.

The NSPCC defines emotional abuse as ‘the ongoing emotional maltreatment of a child’. Often without any signs of physical distress, it is sometimes called psychological abuse and can seriously damage a child’s emotional health and development. It can involve persistent threatening or shouting, trying to scare a child, humiliating them, constantly criticising, exposing them to distressing situations, and isolating or ignoring them.

Head of NSPCC Cymru / Wales, Des Mannion, said:

“As well as being wonderful and rewarding, parenting can be challenging and exhausting. It’s completely natural for a parent to feel stressed, angry and frustrated at times. It’s how we react to that which makes a big difference to a child.

“Keeping your cool and finding ways to manage stress and frustration will not only help a child grow into a confident, happy and emotionally literate young person, it will also benefit a parent’s own mental health and wellbeing.

“Reacting angrily and physically or emotionally punishing a child does not help anyone and parents often regret it afterwards. The NSPCC has long championed positive parenting where parents provide love and guidance, set clear boundaries and praise the positive behaviour, so that the child is more likely to repeat it.

“We hope Take 5 offers some more helpful advice, tips and support for parents of young children.”

Former Wales and British and Irish Lions international Martyn Williams said:

“As a father of three I know very well just how much of a challenge parenting can sometimes be, but also how important it is not to react angrily when children’s behaviour is difficult.

“I am sure that the support and tips available as part of the NSPCC’s campaign will be useful for parents the length and breadth of Wales.

“The Take 5 campaign provides simple, easy to remember guidance for when parents feel they are reaching the end of their tether and react and I’m happy to support it.”

The launch of Take 5 in Wales also follows the Welsh Government’s recent commitment to remove from law the defence of ‘reasonable punishment’ in cases where adults are charged with assaulting a child.

The NSPCC supports this common-sense move which gives children the same level of protection against assault as adults.

Closing this loophole would bring Wales in line with dozens of countries including the Republic of Ireland, Germany and Spain and give our children equal protection under the law.

A 2016 Welsh Government study found that of the 43% of parents who reported that they might smack their children in certain circumstances, just 5% were comfortable with the idea.

The NSPCC believes that there is no justification for striking the youngest members of society. We have long campaigned to provide children in Wales with the same protections as adults and support is available to assist all parents manage their children’s behaviour.

Anyone struggling with a young child has access to help. Talk to your health visitor, doctor, school nurse, family centre, Family Information Service, or the NSPCC’s 24/7 free helpline.