In today’s societies in which children and youth receive a lot of information and influences (often conflicting ones) from outside their homes, it is important that they learn to be active and develop their ability to think independently and critically.

In this kind of diverse and changing environment, authoritative ways of parenting do not meet the ‘future survival needs’ in a best possible manner. Instead, parents should be co-learners who may negotiate with their children, learn from children’s experiences and draw from their own knowledge resources and experiences for the best interest of the child.

The role of parents is to be sensitive and responsive to child’s needs and opinions. This is the way in which a child assumes an attitude to active citizenship already in early childhood. Interaction with a child should be characterized by mutuality and reciprocity. COFACE supports this approach, called ‘positive parenting’, as a form of good parenting.