Home is where the heart is - and where education begins

Supportive, connected and stimulating family environments based on a foundation of love have the potential to educate for peace, strong intergenerational relations and solidarity. According to Mr. Eduardo Garcia Rolland (Early Childhood Development Specialist, UNICEF) every child has the potential to be smart, happy and healthy, but family environment determines whether or not this becomes a reality.

Echoing the message of Mr. Alberto Pavoda (UNDESA, Division for Social Policy and Development) on this year’s International Day of Families, without the full engagement of families all over the world, the ambitious 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved. This year, discussions centred on the role of the family in achieving SDG 4: ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.

The most dramatic years of learning occur in the first three years of life making it the most crucial time for brain development. This occurs earlier than formal education begins. That is why family environment and early intervention are key to ensuring a good start to life. When home is where the heart is, home is also where education begins.

However, some circumstances make this more difficult, namely the challenges of modernity. Work lives of parents and family lives are increasingly influencing each other. According to Mr. Diego Barroso (International Federation for Family Development) the shift in gender roles has been asymmetric: female participation in the work force is increasing more than male participation in the household.

Ms. Patricia Debeljuh (Research Centre for Work-Family Balance IAE Business School, Austral University) noted the ‘inappropriate approach to modern life’ such as long working hours and lack of flexibility which negatively impact quality of life and the family unit as a whole.

It is therefore crucial that there are effective and supportive policies to enable modern families to fulfil their roles in achieving SDG 4 and contributing more generally to the 2030 Agenda. Such policies must involve shared responsibility between the state, corporations and society.

Going forward, recommendations from this year’s International Day of Families include legislation that empowers parents to carry out their social functions, tackling specifically issues of paid family leave, working time regulation and early childhood education and care provision; funding should be made available for education, juvenile justice and social protection; more cooperation between parents and schools; effective parent education programmes; and awareness raising among parents about how their communication with their children affects their development.

There is a clear need for intersectional policies and programmes that will empower families and parents. However, it is important to note that there are no all-encompassing solutions, and every country is different. In saying that, while child development requires shared responsibility, the family has the primary responsibility for nurturing, protecting and educating children.

To learn more about the Division's work on families click here.

Source: UNDESA DSPD