There are alternatives ways to discipline your child and the parents at the Samoa Victim Support Group conference held on Friday believe that violence is not the answer to discipline.

The event hosted 10 parents from several villages around Samoa and they had a chance to share on what they had learnt from the SVSG ‘Positive Discipline Parenting’ trainings carried out in the last two years.

Iopu Lui from Faistoo Tai is a father of seven and has learned a lot from these training programs. He said that ever since he joined, he has become a fervent believer in not using physical discipline in his family.

“I have five daughters and two sons that I want to raise properly. I do not want any of my children to learn how to be violent from me,” said Mr. Lui.

“I sternly tell them off and I believe that that is all I need to do and they listen to me and behave themselves. I believe that is the way we should discipline our child has change in the current times.”

Leao Vaioa is an expecting mother and said that the modules they went through during the workshop will help her raise their first child.

“The lessons I’ve learnt can help me raise my new born baby and I am very thankful that I now know how to. I was raised in a single parent home and I know how hard it can be for a child,” said Mrs. Vaioa.

“I want my child to grow up well and in a family with both parents. I believe these lessons will go a long way in making a peaceful family.”

Another parent, Feagaimaaiga Tupuola, said the lessons in this workshop are indeed very valuable but physical discipline is important and very effective.

“The traditional practice of physical discipline is important but shouldn’t be done in anger. I think once you are able to control your anger you can give out the punishment with just enough to make sure the child doesn’t misbehave.”  

More than 300 parents from the seven communities have participated in the Positive Discipline Parenting over the last two years and it is safe to say that many of them have learnt a lot. Just as the idiom states, there is more than one way to skin a cat, there is more than one way to discipline a child.