To mark Global Parenting Month, UNICEF Egypt hosted a roundtable on Tuesday, bringing together media professionals and experts to discuss key aspects of positive parenting.
The session aimed to raise awareness, exchange experiences, and explore practical strategies for supporting parents and caregivers in creating healthy, respectful, and nurturing environments for children.
Hala Abu Khattwa, Advocacy and Communication Manager at UNICEF Egypt, led the discussion.
“At UNICEF Egypt, we are particularly proud to be working closely with the Egyptian government and parents through the National Committee for Positive Parenting (NCPP), helping to build supportive systems and policies that reach those who need them most,” Abu Khattwa said.
Over the past year, joint efforts have enabled the initiative to reach 800,000 parents and caregivers, impacting the lives of more than three million children through more nurturing and responsive care.
“Those are not just statistics — they represent moments of love, healing, and transformation,” said Nathalie Meyer, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Egypt. “Each one of those moments tells the story of a child feeling safe, a parent feeling empowered, and a community growing stronger.”
Yet, many children still lack the opportunities and care they deserve. “We need to do more, reach further, listen more closely, and respond more effectively so that every child in Egypt can grow up safe, healthy, and with the opportunity to reach their full potential,” Meyer added.
“In most cases, awareness campaigns focus on a single day to highlight an issue. But due to the importance of positive parenting, an entire month has been dedicated to it,” said Salah El Hanafy, social and behavioural change specialist and manager of UNICEF’s Positive Parenting Programme, speaking to Ahram Online.
June is now officially recognised as Positive Parenting Awareness Month. This reflects a growing understanding of parenting's importance to a child’s well-being and development and how supporting parents can lead to stronger, healthier communities.
“When we talk about raising children, we’re not just talking about parents. Hence the saying, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ Many circles are involved — the family, relatives, neighbours, and government institutions all play a part,” El Hanafy explained.
However, the issue comes with many challenges. A key concern is the imbalance of caregiving responsibilities in Egyptian families.
“Studies show that mothers often perform six times more caregiving duties than fathers. This creates a clear lack of fairness in the parenting load. That’s why the ‘Parenting is Sharing’ initiative was introduced — to promote equality, raise awareness, and encourage shared responsibilities in child-rearing,” he said.
“It’s not just about how much time you spend with your child; it’s about how you spend it,” he continued.
"Spending three hours playing video games or watching inappropriate content isn’t meaningful involvement. But sitting with your children for just 30 minutes — listening to them, asking about their day, and being emotionally present — that’s what makes a real difference.”
Another major challenge facing children and parents is nutrition. With parents pressed for time and unhealthy snacks widely available, many children grow up on poor diets. As a result, the rate of anaemia among Egyptian children under five has reached 42 percent.
“Children are not getting the balanced meals they need for healthy growth. Busy schedules, lack of awareness, and easy access to junk food all contribute to this crisis,” El Hanafy added.
Additionally, the concept of positive parenting is often misunderstood. It does not mean spoiling children or indulging their every wish.
“Positive parenting means meeting the child’s physical, emotional, psychological, and familial needs in a balanced manner,” said Mai Elwy, psychologist, family therapist, and one of the programme's trainers.
“It’s not just about food, hugs, and listening — it also involves setting boundaries and teaching that ‘no’ is sometimes necessary. By helping children understand and navigate rules, we teach them how to make sound decisions.”
The programme aims to empower parents to achieve the kind of relationship they want with their children.
“We help them build stronger bonds, communicate better, and understand their children’s needs,” Elwy said. “When parents feel confident and supported, children grow safer, stronger, and more prepared for life.”
UNICEF provides technical support to the ministries and institutions that are part of the NCPP, which was established in 2021 under the leadership of the Minister of Social Solidarity.
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