Child development: Why emotional bond with parents is key
Every child needs a safe and supportive environment for healthy development, according to experts speaking on a Radio Moldova programme, marking European Parents’ Day.
The emotional bond with parents is considered fundamental.
Psychologist Ana Niculăeș, an integrative psychotherapist, said: “When a child feels safe with their parents, they develop the perception that the world is a place where they can be secure and explore it.”
Communication is key to a healthy relationship, the specialist noted, warning that parents can inadvertently send messages that hurt or inhibit children’s emotions.
She added: “Our responsibility as adults is to offer children a framework where they can express their anger, sadness, or any emotion they feel.” She highlighted the common pressure many parents put on children to be ‘good’, stressing that ‘this approach is unhelpful’.
To understand the child’s perspective, Radio Moldova journalist Alina Chiperi spoke to several children about the important things they learned from their parents.
One child said: “My parents taught me good manners, to behave nicely, and to do well in school.” A second child added: “To have respect for others and, first of all, to have respect for myself, to love myself and others, and to be a good person.”
Other children also reported learning to be responsible and to speak respectfully. One girl stressed: “I think the most important thing is that they taught me to be well-mannered, which allows me to have good results both in school and in life.”
European Parents’ Day was established in 2002 by the European Parents’ Association and is marked every second Tuesday in October. The goal is to highlight the importance of cooperation between parents and school staff in children’s education, while also reminding adults of the need to maintain their own inner balance to raise balanced and happy children.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
