A soft-handed approach

15 May 2014

We know that law change is only part of changing attitudes about use of physical punishment with children.  While law change is a significant component of changing attitudes about hitting children it should ideally be accompanied by effective distribution of information about the harms physical punishment can cause and about positive discipline.  Here is a novel idea:

In the Philippines, Save the Children has partnered with a local company called Indigobaby on a public awareness campaign called “Softhands”   The company has developed a hand lotion called “Softhands” which they give away for free at parenting events, mall  booths, and other promotional events – if parents take a pledge to not use corporal punishment.   Each bottle has an explicit message about the harms of corporal punishment and calls for “a soft approach.”.