PROMOTING POSITIVE PARENTING AND FOSTERING HEALTHY PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH DISTANCE EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY-MEDIATED LEARNING AND MOOCS

Strengthening positive parenting skills and optimal parent-child relationship in the
contemporary dynamic world dominated by westernization and individuation has
become important. Parenting in the Indian context in the earlier times tended to be
described as a mix of pampering during young age and strictness from middle
childhood years onwards; of indulgence and warmth by the mother and abstention
from display of affection and disciplinarianism of the father; and further
characterized by multiple caregivers in the family performing the parenting role!
With the change of time and need of the society, there have been massive influences
on the parent and the parenting process due to migration, industrialization,
westernization, breakdown of the joint family system, decline of the power of the
authority figure in the family system, and other such factors, resulting in a state of
flux. Given the fluidity of the scenario, it is hardly surprising to find that in the
contemporary era, the present-day parents tend to be on unsure grounds vis-à-vis
good parenting! The dynamic scenario of the society is irreversible, but something
has to be done to ensure that the lacunae are plugged and the support systems are
available. Taking cognizance of this need, promoting positive parenting and holistic
parent-child relationship through distance education and technology mediated
learning is envisioned, targeted particularly at the parents and family members. In

this proposed programme, the course content, faculty support, delivery mechanism,
knowledge acquisition and examination pattern should be such that accredits and
supports the learner. Even though a lot of content and jargon is available on the
internet and to some extent even through the print medium, but this information
tends to be sporadic; is generally westernized; and may not be relevant to our sociocultural
milieu. The presence of fallacies is also highly likely.
It is vital that the course content take into account the needs of the learning
community, considering their socio-cultural realities and contingencies. Education
through distance mode and technology mediated learning about positive parenting
would help the broad canvas of interested learners and prove to be a blessing for the
vast myriad of parents and other family members. Distance education and
technology mediated learning provides immense flexibility to the learners, and a
well-designed programme of study aiming to foster positive parenting and holistic
parent-child relationship offered through this mode is required as a much-awaited
response to a strong felt need. Developing MOOCs in this educational area and in
the Indian context is the social felt need of the society