New law on positive parenting and the right to play is another big step towards improving the quality of life of Brazilian children

New law, the result of ChildFund Brasil’s advocacy work, establishes new strategies to prevent violence against children, through playful parenting

All children have the right to life, freedom, education, sport, leisure and a series of other fundamental rights that aim to guarantee their healthy development, dignity and well-being, but this reality is very far from being accomplished. A recent achievement that can help ensure compliance with these guarantees is the sanction of a new law, which establishes positive parenting and the right to play as priority strategies for preventing violence against children.

The technical text of the new legislation is the result of ChildFund Brasil’s political advocacy work in the National Congress and establishes that children have the right to an education based on the construction of positive relationships. The writing of the text was inspired by the Come Play with Me Project, carried out by ChildFund Brasil with the support of The LEGO Foundation and which benefited 12,500 children from zero to eight years old and more than 6,200 mothers, fathers and other caregivers in precarious regions of the states of Ceará and Minas Gerais.

 Nicolas and Vitor playing in home. Photo – Marcelo Martins  

Games enable new experiences and learning

The Come Play with Me Project was implemented in six countries (Brazil, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Uganda) and its methodology invites fathers, mothers and caregivers to exercise affective parenting permeated by playing, which is one of the main languages of infancy. Through playing, children are introduced to the world, connect with their emotions and begin the socialization process. When these activities are carried out alongside those responsible, there is a strengthening of bonds and fathers, mothers and caregivers also learn to see life with more lightness and joy.

The Come Play with Me website provides free educational materials that help those responsible to put purposeful play into practice. The content addresses the role of playing and the types of games suitable for each age group, while the games, activities and stories encourage creativity, imagination and reasoning during leisure time.

“Childhood is a time marked by the construction of references about oneself, others and the world. However, children need to receive adequate stimuli to fully develop. Playing is far from being harmless; on the contrary, it is a serious matter that deserves the attention of society as a whole. It is these moments of fun that allow children to experience new experiences, deal with conflicts, learn their first notions of life in society and exercise their imagination and creativity”, points out Mauricio Cunha, country director at ChildFund Brasil.

Domestic violence prevention strategy

By reinforcing the importance of positive parenting and playing, the new law also contributes to reducing violence against children in the domestic environment. Data from Disque 100 (Dial 100) reveal that, in 2023, 228 thousand reports of violence against children and adolescents were registered in the country, with a total of 1.3 million human rights violations. According to the Pesquisa Nacional da Situação de Violência Contra as Crianças no Ambiente Doméstico (National Survey of the Situation of Violence Against Children in the Domestic Environment), carried out by ChildFund Brasil, more than 90% of cases of violence against children happen at home.

The survey interviewed 698 people, including children, adolescents, family members and teachers of children from zero to eight years old, mobilizing different spheres, institutions, representatives of civil society organizations, partners of ChildFund Brasil and institutional representatives of the child care network in a situation of violence. The research was used as a reference in preparing the technical text of the bill.

Strengthening of the political influence

ChildFund Brasil’s political advocacy work has become increasingly consolidated. In 2022, the organization contributed to the approval of two important Bills: PL 1360/2021 (Henry Borel Law), which deals with crimes of violence against children in domestic environments and increases the penalty for those who commit them, and PL 2466/2019, which makes Orange May official as the month to prevent abuse and sexual exploitation of children and adolescents and determines the obligation for different sectors to address the topic.

The two PLs were awaiting processing in the Senate after approval by the Chamber of Deputies, and ChildFund Brasil carried out articulation work on the relevance of the themes and the need for dialogue with civil society organizations. Last year, the institution impacted around 85 thousand children, adolescents and young people and more than 38 thousand families.

“Advocacy has always been important for ChildFund Brasil, but in 2022, we defined the area as a priority. We are more aware of the relevance of disseminating our working method in favor of children’s rights to a wider audience and we have established a clearer and more objective institutional position to raise awareness and mobilize society about violence against children”, says Mauricio Cunha.

Luciana and Esther in an affectionate moment. Playing help to strengthen moments like this. – Photo – Jake Lyell

About ChildFund Brasil

ChildFund Brasil is an organization that works to promote and defend the rights of children and adolescents, so that their rights are respected and they reach their full potential. It is currently present in seven Brazilian states (Bahia, Ceará, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Paraíba, Piauí and São Paulo). To carry out this work, which has a positive impact on the lives of more than 155 thousand people, including around 85 thousand children and adolescents, the organization relies on donations from individuals, through the child sponsorship program and also donations from companies, institutes and foundations that support the projects developed.

ChildFund Brasil was founded in 1966, and its national headquarter is located in Belo Horizonte (MG). The organization is part of an international network associated with ChildFund International, present in 23 countries and generating a positive impact on the lives of 21.1 million children and their families. The organization was elected the best social assistance NGO in 2022, and the best for Children and Adolescents in the country, for three years (2018, 2019 and 2021), in addition to being present among the 100 best for six consecutive years by Best NGOs Award in Brazil. www.childfundbrasil.org.br

LEIA TAMBÉM