02 Apr Five Ways Active Parenting Helps to Prevent Child Abuse
The 5 Protective Factors
Every parent wants to provide a safe, loving home, but the stresses of daily life can sometimes feel overwhelming. This April, during National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we are focusing on how to strengthen families before a crisis occurs. At Active Parenting, we believe the most effective way to achieve this is by fortifying the 5 Protective Factors—the research-based framework known to reduce the risk of child maltreatment.
By providing parents and leaders with the “how-to” for the Strengthening Families approach, our evidence-backed programs help to build these essential factors:
- Parental Resilience
- Social Connections
- Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
- Concrete Support in Times of Need
- Social-Emotional Competence of Children
Active Parenting Helps to Prevent Child Abuse 
Active Parenting Helps to Prevent Child Abuse by providing parents with the tools they need to communicate and empathize with their children, foster independence and mutual respect, provide encouragement, and employ methods of non-violent discipline. These tools help to build the parents’ own courage and self-esteem and lead to more positive relationships.
Child Abuse Facts:
- According to the CDC, 1 in 7 children experienced child abuse or neglect last year.
- Childprotect.org reported:
- Approximately 5 children die every day because of child abuse.
- 1 out of 3 girls and 1 out of 5 boys will be sexually abused before they reach age 18.
- 90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way. 68% are abused by a family member.
- Most children become victims of abuse and neglect at 18 months or younger.
- “Globally, an estimated 1.2 billion children aged 0–18 years are subjected to corporal punishment at home each year.” according to the World Health Organization.
There are different types of child abuse (source: CDC):
- Emotional abuse: name-calling, shaming, rejecting, withholding love, threatening or behavior that damages a child’s emotional well-being or self-worth.
- Neglect: failure to meet a child’s basic physical needs such as housing, food, clothing, education, and access to medical care. Neglect includes failing to meet a child’s emotional needs such as having feelings validated and responded to appropriately.
- Sexual abuse: forcing or manipulating a child to engage in sexual acts or exposing a child to sexual activities.
- Physical abuse: hitting, kicking, shaking, burning, or any use of force against a child that can result in injury.
According to the CDC, 1 in 7 children experienced child abuse or neglect last year. 90% of abuse is committed by someone the child knows. 68% of victims are abused by a family member as reported by childprotect.org. “Around 60% of children aged 2–14 years regularly suffer physical punishment by their parents or other caregivers” globally according to the World Health Organization.
Why do some parents physically abuse their children?
The short answer is that it is an interaction effect brought about by a number of risk factors, including:
- outside stress (more stress equals shorter fuses)
- psychological issues in the parent (“unresolved anger” from old wounds, often the parent’s own childhood abuse)
- the child’s temperament (some kids are just more challenging than others)
- the parent’s attitudes about parenting; and the parent’s parenting skills
How can we prevent child abuse?
The Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) developed the Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework. It is a research-informed, strengths-based approach designed to prevent child abuse and neglect by building five key protective factors within families. The CDC cites enhanced parenting skills that promote healthy child development as an effective way to prevent child abuse. Here are five core ways our curriculum empowers leaders and parents to build the courage, connection, and social-emotional competence children need to thrive:
- Active Parenting teaches parents an authoritative style of parenting. Calm, Non-Violent Discipline (Parental Resilience).
Outside stress is a major risk factor for abuse; more stress often equals a shorter fuse. In addition, many parents believe in the use of corporal punishment (spanking) as an effective form of discipline. This attitude says children must be spanked into submission for their own good can escalate into psychological or physical abuse when a parent becomes angry and stressed over other issues in their lives. Active Parenting builds Parental Resilience by teaching an authoritative style of parenting that replaces reactive hitting or shaking with effective, non-violent tools. With the proper tools, parents can use misbehavior as a chance to teach instead of just reacting. Teaching parents a model of parenting based on mutual respect and participation, the Active Parenting programs include non-violent discipline methods that correct misbehavior without the risk of morphing into abuse. In Active Parenting 4th Edition, parents are not only taught seven good reasons NOT to spank, but also skills such as logical consequences, “I” Messages, problem-solving, and other non-violent intervention techniques that offer a better, non-violent, alternative. The bottom line is that corporal punishment is a risk factor for abuse. It is an unnecessary risk because there are many effective forms of non-violent discipline.
To guide behavior instead of escalating it, parents can:
Stay calm: Avoid the “high” of venting frustration, which can become habit-forming.
Be consistent: Use a “consistency with an effective approach” to set reliable expectations.
Teach, don’t punish: Use the Problem-Handling Model (Polite Requests, “I” Messages, Firm Reminders) and Logical Consequences to correct behavior without damaging the relationship.
- Active Parenting teaches parents how to encourage, rather than discourage, children.
One of the pioneering parent educators of the 20th century, Rudolf Dreikurs, once famously said that “children need encouragement like plants need water.” In addition to strengthening an attitude of encouragement in parents, Active Parenting teaches concrete parenting skills for how to encourage and motivate children. This means learning to increase positive comments that “build on strengths” (vs.focusing on mistakes); “showing confidence” in their child (vs. expecting too little); “valuing the child as he or she is” (vs. expecting too much). This is particularly important when considering that “inappropriate expectations of children” is another variable that has been linked to the risk of child abuse. A child growing up in an environment of encouragement is not only motivated to listen to their parents but also feels validated and loved so there is no need to act out. Less misbehavior leads to less need for discipline. Parents can use more effective forms of non-violent discipline taught in all the Active Parenting programs when discipline is needed. - Active Parenting teaches parents how to foster independence in children. (Knowledge of Parenting & Child Development).
Understanding Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development helps parents set age-appropriate boundaries. The “Active” style of parenting is based on the concept of “freedom within limits.” It teaches parents to empower children through such methods as choice, participation, and problem-solving within limits that are appropriate for their age and level of development. This method fosters independence that grows with the child. The “Dictator” style of parenting focuses on restricting a child’s power and independence through tight, limit-setting discipline that can escalate into abuse. The “Dictator” DEMANDS obedience and control through fear. The “Doormat” style of parenting overcompensates by being overly protective and regularly doing for the child what the child can do for herself which robs a child of power and independence. The “Doormat” HOPES for cooperation. The solution is the balance of the “Active” parent who employs expanding “freedom within limits” to raise children who grow into independent, confident adults who love and respect themselves and others. In this way the “Active” parent TEACHES cooperation. - Active Parenting teaches parents how to empathize with children. (Social-Emotional Competence)
“Low level of parental empathy towards children” is another risk factor of child abuse. Active Parenting is based on Adlerian theory, which might be seen as the predecessor to what is now called “cognitive-behavioral” theory. Adlerian theory has always been supplemented in Active Parenting programs with skills derived from communications theory and relationship-building training. The emphasis on teaching parents to identify and respond to children’s feelings is coupled with empathy-building activities to teach parents this essential parenting skill. New science on brain research shows that empathy (the experience of feeling what another person is feeling) releases the hormone oxytocin in both parent and child. This hormone, sometimes called the bonding hormone, creates a sense of well-being and trust. As such, empathy is a counter to stress that produces the hormone, Cortisol. Prolonged stress, such as is often suffered by abused children, can damage brain functioning and reduce the child’s ability to effectively handle stress. An adult who can handle stress effectively is less likely to solve problems with violence and more likely to continue the cycle of non-violent discipline with their own children and so on. Leading with empathy not only nurtures the bond with your child but models the Social-Emotional Competence they need to handle their own stress. - Active Parenting builds the parents’ own courage and self-esteem.
Active Parenting builds character in both parents and children. Parents learn methods and attitudes that promote the building of responsibility, cooperation, mutual respect, courage, self-esteem, and more in their children. It is not surprising that some of these lessons are also “caught” by the parents themselves. As one parent put it, “Active Parenting not only made me a better parent. It made me a better person.” Seeing oneself as improving is a hallmark of self-esteem (holding oneself in high esteem). Parents who see themselves as improving their parenting skills and themselves, in general, are less likely to become discouraged. Such parents are less likely to turn to abuse when their children’s behavior becomes stressful. In addition, courage and confidence fuel resilience and social connection. When parents build their own inner strength and confidence, they often find it easier to reach out to others. This creates a powerful cycle called the “Virtuous Cycle”: your confidence helps you build a support network, and that network provides the backup you need to stay resilient during tough times.
Ultimately, Active Parenting recognizes that no parent should have to navigate the complexities of raising children in isolation. Active Parenting encourages parents to view seeking concrete support not as a sign of weakness, but as a courageous step toward building a healthier family dynamic. Whether through professional guidance, peer support groups, friends, family, or community resources, finding a reliable support network provides the resilience needed to face challenges with confidence. In fostering these vital social connections, parents create a foundation of courage and responsibility that benefits both themselves and the next generation.
For Parents
Ready to build your skills and gain confidence? Find an Active Parenting class near you to learn these non-violent discipline skills firsthand and help prevent child abuse by improving the attitudes and skills that you bring to the parenting process.
RAISE AWARENESS WITH OUR PREVENT CHILD ABUSE TOOLKIT
Help raise awareness for child abuse prevention by downloading our free Prevention Poster and Social Media Toolkit to share in your community.
MORE RESOURCES:
- FOR CHILDREN: Rules for Safety (poster and coloring & activity book from SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center)
- FOR TEENS: Teen Dating Safety (from SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center)
- FOR PARENTS: Information/Safety Information (from SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center)
- CDC: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect
Active Parenting Publishers founder and president
Michael H. Popkin, Ph.D. has been providing
research-based education programs with an
emphasis on nonviolent discipline, mutual respect,
and open communication for over 35 years. He is
widely known for his expertise in the field of parent
education and has appeared on over 100 TV programs,
including CNN and The Oprah Winfrey Show.
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