Letters expressing how parents can love kids better

THIS love month, Save the Children Philippines highlights how love may be communicated within the family through love letter writing. Children and teens write love letters to their parents to explain how they desire to be loved more.

“Please po when mad, don’t shout. I’ll try to do better po,” writes Ed (not his real name), addressing the letter to his mother.

“I’m grateful I finally got to say what I wanted to say,” said Ed, one of the many children, who participated in Save the Children Philippines’ #LoveLetterChallenge on social media last February 14.

Hundreds of children and youth from different parts of the country have submitted their entries as of this writing and many are still welcome to join the campaign.

Save the Children Philippines has been advocating for the shift to positive parenting as an approach that emphasizes growth and learning by providing responsive and intentional care and clear, consistent rules and expectations through open communication with children.

“Filipino children themselves desire positive change in their homes and seek closer connections with their families without the use of physical or humiliating punishment,” said Save the Children Philippines’ Advocacy Manager Emma Salmani.

Based on Save the Children Philippines’ digital survey on positive parenting, 58 percent of respondents do not believe that physical or verbal punishment ensures children will grow up unruly. Moreover, more than 70 percent believe it’s possible to discipline children without resorting to punishment.

Save the Children Philippines promotes positive parenting and open communication by helping children express themselves in ways such as letter writing.