Global Day of Parents
Every year since 2012, the General Assembly honors parents on June 1 for their “selfless commitment to children and their lifelong sacrifice towards nurturing this relationship.”
Parental figures are anchors for youth and children, creating a safety net for them and laying a solid foundation for their long-term success. Research suggests that the parent-child relationship has a significant impact on well-being. Parents and caregivers can play an important role in influencing young adults and adolescents through establishing consistent and honest communication channels that can have ripple effects for entire communities.
In a global pandemic such as COVID-19, it is becoming increasingly clear that fighting disease and promoting health is a community effort. Parents and guardians are often at the frontline of prevention and care for the family unit. Through conversations surrounding sexually risky behavior as well as regular monitoring, and guidance, parental figures can contribute meaningfully to the prevention of STDs and HIV in young adults. As caregivers, parents also form an integral part of the support system for children who are already living with HIV, thereby improving their quality of life through advocating for their access to basic needs as well as helping them combat societal stigma. Children in sport are also able to prevent injuries such as concussions, as parents/guardians help to educate them and spot early symptoms. The partnership of parents can make a huge difference in preventing and controlling disease.
During the pandemic, as parents and caregivers also fulfill the role of teachers, it is increasingly important for them to have updated information to enable them to care for and educate children more effectively. TeachAids’ comprehensive tools for educators can also be used for parents or guardians to initiate and guide important conversations around health. We have created detailed Teacher’s Guides with information on COVID-19 education, Brain Fly-Through (which provides concussion education through simulations) as well as interactive, culturally-sensitive HIV education. TeachAids is honored to be able to help create tools and resources that caregivers can use to help their children make informed life-affirming decisions.