Kamalanathan: Violence not the solution
EXPOSURE to violent behaviour during the early childhood years can cause the victim to replicate the same acts later on in life.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk P Kamalanathan said violence is never the answer, especially when it comes to disciplining young children.
“The early childhood years are a crucial stage for personality development,” he said during the launch of the National Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Week 2017 recently.
He also said that this applies to all including parents, educators, family and everyone the child is exposed to.
Parents and educators, he added, should also nip dangerous behaviour, such as bullying, in the bud, even if it is at the preschool level.
“Children might use violence to get what they want.
“So, ECCE educators should strive to be role models for their charges and provide age-appropriate interventions, that do not include violence, when needed,” he added.
Our children should have the right foundation for healthy mental health development, he said, adding that this will also help instil effective negotiation and problem-solving skills.
ECCE Council president Prof Datuk Dr Chiam Heng Keng said the council is concerned with the amount of violence being perpetrated towards preschoolers.
“There is strong evidence to suggest a link between a child’s formative years and the expression of violence in their later years,” she added.
The theme for this year’s National ECCE Week was “Children’s Well-being Through Violence-free Early Childhood”.
This year’s theme was chosen in view of the increasing incidence of violence among children in our country and the vulnerability of children in their formative years to negative experiences.
Every year since 2012, except for 2016, the ECCE Council has celebrated the National ECCE Week. It is also to honour and recognise early childhood educators.