【Parenting Support Services】Nurturing Care for Parent-Child Interaction at Parenting+ Centers
* https://nurturing-care.org/
* https://www.unicef.org/media/107616/file/UNICEF-Programme-%20Guidance-for-Early-Childhood-Development-2017.pdf
A Good Friend in Your Neighborhood
Strong connections within the local community are especially a critical source of parenting support. However, through years of operating Parent-Child Centers, the Child Welfare League Foundation (CWLF) has observed that children ages 0-3 in Taiwan lack adequate community-based spaces for early childhood activities.
In response, CWLF has established “Parenting+” community service centers dedicated to parenting support. These centers not only strengthen individual families, but also help families build a shared, supportive network, fostering mutual care, collaboration, and a sense of collective well-being within the community.
Growing Together in a Supportive Space
As a child’s caregiver, have you ever found yourself wondering, “What is my child trying to tell me?” “What should I do when my child keeps crying?” “How do I play with my child?” When caring for young children, many parents wish for a kind of magic that would help them understand their child’s signals.
Parenting+ Centers offer spaces for parent-child play, courses on responsive caregiving, and one-on-one parenting consultations. Here, CWLF has thoughtfully created safe, age-appropriate play environments where children can freely explore. Parents and children play together, easing the stress of caregiving while strengthening their bond. Through a series of responsive caregiving courses, children grow and learn through play, and parents gain practical, everyday parenting skills they can use with confidence.
The core principles of responsive caregiving are observing, interpreting, and responding—an approach to parenting that Parenting+ Centers are committed to promoting.
Why Responsive Caregiving?
Responsive caregiving refers to a caregiver’s ability to notice and understand a child’s needs, and to respond in a timely and appropriate way. When caregivers are attentive and responsive, children feel supported and understood. Over time, this sense of being seen and cared for helps children develop trust and a strong sense of safety, forming a secure attachment. Experiences of feeling loved and cared for have lasting positive effects on children’s relationships with others, emotional regulation, and the development of self-worth.
Parenting+ Centers bring together the expertise of social workers and early childhood professionals to guide parents through three key practices—observe, interpret, and respond. Through this process, parents learn to better understand themselves and their children, strengthen secure parent-child attachment, and support infants’ and toddlers’ social and emotional development. By integrating responsive caregiving into everyday parenting in a natural and practical way, Parenting+ Centers aim to build caregivers’ capacities over time, contribute to primary prevention in child protection, and help families find a shared path toward positive, supportive parenting.
Learning to See Differently: The Story of Xiao-Lu’s Mother
Xiao-Lu’s mother came to a Parenting+ Center seeking support for her child’s emotional challenges. At first, everything felt unfamiliar. She was unsure how to interact with other parents and teachers and felt a little out of place in this new environment.
During an art activity, Xiao-Lu reached out with her bare hands, picked up a sponge, and dipped it into paint. Seeing this, her mother quickly stopped her and said, “If you use the sponge, your hands and clothes will get dirty.” She hurriedly handed Xiao-Lu a paintbrush, but her child ignored it. As the moment grew tense, her mother became increasingly anxious.
At that point, a Parenting+ staff member gently reminded the mother, “It’s okay. Take a moment to really look at your child.” She paused and began to observe more closely. She noticed how focused and confident Xiao-Lu looked as she explored the paint with the sponge. Perhaps Xiao-Lu truly wanted to paint this way. Maybe it simply felt more natural to her than using a brush.
Letting go of her insistence, Xiao-Lu’s mother smiled as she saw her child’s joy—sharing in that happiness together.
Responding to Your Child—and Yourself
Through CWLF's services, we have seen caregivers gradually come to view Parenting+ Centers as a second home. Children greet the space by happily calling out staff members’ names, and caregivers feel comfortable sharing the ups and downs of daily life with social workers and early childhood professionals.
We hear mothers say things like, “Caring for my child can be overwhelming. When I feel exhausted and don’t know who to talk to, I think of the teachers at the Parenting+ Center—they understand what I’m going through.” In other cases, caregivers seek support when they feel stuck with a child’s ongoing emotional challenges. Our teams support them by helping caregivers recognize their child’s strengths, explore responsive ways to meet their needs, and find approaches that work for their family.
Becoming a trusted place where caregivers can share their joys, express their concerns, and seek guidance is central to the work of Parenting+ teams. Just as important is walking alongside caregivers as they recognize their own strengths and discover parenting approaches that feel right for them. Through ongoing support, we gradually see caregivers relate to their children in new ways, with greater appreciation and understanding.
Looking ahead, CWLF plans to expand these services to more communities across Taiwan where parenting resources are limited. Building on this foundation, we will develop more diverse, community-based service models so that Parenting+ Centers can continue to grow alongside families nationwide and become a second home for caregivers and their children.
Learn More about Parenting+ Centers
What support can you find here?
- One-on-One Parenting Support: Personalized family consultations with early childhood educators and social workers to discuss your child’s needs and everyday parenting challenges.
- Responsive Caregiving Parenting Courses: Interactive courses that help children grow and learn through play, while parents gain practical parenting skills they can use at home.
- Parent-Child Play and Interaction Spaces: Safe, age-appropriate play environments designed for children to explore freely, where parents and children can play, connect, and learn together.
Who is this for?
- Expectant parents
- Children under age 3 and their families
Where can you find us?
Parenting+ Centers operate multiple service locations across Taiwan, including New Taipei City, Keelung, Miaoli, Changhua, Kaohsiung, Taoyuan (Kaohsiung), Pingtung, Hualien, and Taitung.
For a full overview of Parenting+ Centers and our services, please visit:
https://plus.children.org.tw/ (in Traditional Chinese)
https://www.children.org.tw/english/service/Childcare (see the “Parenting+ Center” section)
With your support, Parenting+ Centers can reach more families.
Learn how you can help:
