In the first session of the Positive Parenting course at The Dewey Schools, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Van Hao, educational psychology expert, opened a new and deeply humane perspective for parents. No child is born “bad”; there are only behaviors that adults may not fully understand or interpret correctly. From whining and resistance to emotional outbursts, every reaction has a root cause: the need for attention, suppressed emotions, the desire to be acknowledged, or simply the fact that a child’s self-regulation skills are not yet fully developed.
Right at the beginning of the session, Dr. Hao presented a role-play situation: an “adult” who constantly judged and corrected parents as they entered the room—arriving late, not following instructions, or forgetting to confirm their registration. Everything was said quickly, firmly, and without any interest in the reasons behind their actions. The class laughed because they saw themselves in that scenario, yet they also realized how uncomfortable it feels to be judged without anyone asking, “What happened?” And this is exactly what many children experience every single day.
From this activity, Dr. Hao guided parents toward an important lesson: children learn by observing. Before teaching a child to be calm, we must model calmness ourselves. When adults respond with steadiness and gentleness, use descriptive language instead of labels, and connect before they correct, children naturally become more cooperative. Positive discipline is not indulgence—it is the act of setting clear boundaries with respect.
“I’ve never joined a course that allowed me to practice directly with such everyday situations. Thanks to this session, I feel like I’ve found a clearer path to understand my child and adjust myself day by day,” shared Ms. Nguyen Thanh Thuy, a parent in the course.
At the end of the first session, The Dewey Schools believes that many parents have found a doorway into their child’s inner world. We hope that the knowledge and hands-on experiences from the Positive Parenting course will become a meaningful guide, helping parents accompany their children with steadiness, calmness, and love in every moment.
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For the 2025–2026 academic year, The Dewey Schools continues to offer the Positive Parenting course led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Van Hao, former Deputy Director of the Institute of Psychology – Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. Through real-life scenarios, the course provides practical strategies that help parents accompany their children with patience, understanding, and respect.
