Communication is key to keeping violence out of your kids’ lives – that’s the message behind the VRU’s latest poster campaign, run jointly with ParentLine Scotland

The posters feature ParentLine Scotland’s free, confidential helpline number (0808 800 2222), where parents can get support when they feel at the end of their tether.

Anne Houston, chief executive of CHILDREN 1ST, which runs the helpline, said: “We know that the harsh, hurtful things parents say can stay with a child for life. Our helpline receives many calls from parents who feel guilty for shouting at or hitting their children, and who are looking for less damaging ways to discipline.

“We would encourage any parent who is stressed, frustrated or worried to give us a call, talk through the alternatives and take the first step to breaking the cycle of violence in Scotland.”

Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan, Head of the Violence Reduction Unit, said: “We’re not trying to tell parents how to bring up their children, and we’re not saying don’t discipline your child. But we recognise that being a parent isn’t straightforward.

“Everybody knows that children imitate the behaviour of their carers. And if they learn to resolve conflict with violence or anger, then we should not be surprised to see them carry on that pattern of behaviour with their own children. What we want to do is to get people to think about their behaviour, the things they say, and the impact that that might have on their children.”

The posters will be sent out to schools, nurseries, playgroups, doctors’ surgeries and libraries across Scotland. They form part of the Violence Reduction Unit’s early years’ initiative, which aims at preventing violence through education and attitudinal change.