With the theme of “Parenting with Mutual Respect and Trust”, the Counseling Unit of BRAC University hosteded a Seminar on Parenting on Saturday, 15 July 2017 from 02:30 pm to 05:30 pm at BRAC University Auditorium. The main objective of the seminar was to promote a healthy relationship between parents and children based on empathetic understanding. Both the parents and children participated in this seminar.
The seminar was facilitated by Professor Mehtab Khanam, Chairperson, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, University of Dhaka and the Adviser of the Counseling Unit of BRAC University. At the beginning of the seminar, Mr. Shami Suhrid Coordinator, Psychosocial Counselor and Lecturer of Counseling Unit, BRAC University briefly described the objective of the seminar and the activities of the Counseling Unit. The Director of the BRAC Institute of Languages and the Head of the BRACU Counseling Unit, Lady Syeda Sarwat Abed, discussed about the significance of parenting for the overall development of adolescents. Shortly after that Professor Mehtab Khanam facilitated the seminar where the students of BRAC University and their parents shared their barriers of communications with each other. In the second phase of the seminar, Professor Mehtab Khanam gave a presentation on the significance of nonviolent communication and empathetic understanding for the healthy parent-child relationship. Overall, the seminar was a professional platform to share and discuss about the diverse experiences of parent-child relationship. Moreover, it was an opportunity to explore the idea to make this significant relationship a healthy one with trust and respect. Both the parents and children expressed that the seminar was insightful for enhancing a healthy parent-child relationship. They also felt that such types of seminars need to be hosted more. Around 130 participants attended the seminar.