Parent-Child Bonding Day at Ivory Co., Ltd.: Working Parents Learn to Listen to and Support Their Teenage Children

Nearly 100 parents—who are union members and workers—and their children aged 10–18 participated in the Parent-Child Bonding Day at Ivory Co., Ltd. in Thanh Hoa Province on February 1, 2026. This activity is organized by The Research and Training Centre for Community Development (RTCCD), in coordination with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and the Thanh Hoa Provincial Federation of Labour.

The activity was implemented as part of the No-VAC Project, “Together for Change: Creating a Violence-Free Environment for Children of Industrial Zone Workers in Thanh Hoa Province”, funded by the United Nations Fund (UNF) and the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).

With most workers engaged in shift-based work and having limited time with their children, maintaining strong connections with teenagers remains a significant challenge. The psychological and physiological changes during adolescence, if not properly understood, can easily lead to distance and conflict within families. Therefore, the program focused on a key objective: helping parents enhance their awareness and communication skills with teenagers, especially active listening and emotional companionship.

When parents reflect on their own reactions

During the session “How to communicate with teenagers”, many parents acknowledged that they often react emotionally—showing impatience, anxiety, or being overly controlling—in response to their children’s changing behaviors.

Through the “5 yes – 4 no” principle and practical scenarios, parents were guided to:

• Listen fully before responding
• Avoid judgment, comparison, or blame
• Recognize and regulate their own emotions before addressing their children’s behavior

By analyzing the relationship between emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, parents came to realize that many family conflicts do not stem from “difficult children,” but rather from a lack of mutual understanding between generations.

One parent shared: “After today, I will listen to my child more actively—not just to respond, but to truly understand them and help them feel trusted, close, and open.”

Listening – a foundation for meaningful companionship

One of the most noticeable outcomes of the program was a shift in parents’ awareness of their role during their children’s adolescence. Instead of focusing on controlling behavior, parents were encouraged to move toward emotional support and companionship.

Through shared parent-child activities—such as mini-workshops on the “5 love languages” and writing messages to each other—many families experienced, perhaps for the first time, open and heartfelt conversations. Parents are often deeply moved to realize that what their children need most are simple things: a word of appreciation, a hug, or a few uninterrupted minutes of genuine attention.

At the same time, teenagers also learned how to recognize and manage their emotions, enabling them to communicate more clearly and positively with their parents.

Bringing parenting support closer to workers

The program at Ivory Co., Ltd. was specifically designed for industrial zone workers. Implementing such initiatives within the workplace helps bring parenting skills and mental health support closer to workers—a group that often has limited access to specialized training opportunities.

Nearly 100 families actively participated and engaged enthusiastically throughout the program. The message “Listen – Understand – Love” was not only emphasized but became a genuine commitment to change among participating parents.

When parents learn to listen and adjust their reactions, the family becomes a strong support system for teenagers during a critical stage of development. This, in turn, contributes to building a positive and sustainable living environment for workers and their families in industrial zones.