The room buzzed with delighted shrieks as Marija Hammett made her way to a low table surrounded by six children engrossed in their pile of building blocks.

Not everyone realises that their parenting system might not work in the long term

The colourful childcare centre environment contrasts heavily with the hectic one Ms Hammett, 37, landed in on Tuesday, when she shadowed Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi for a day.

The mother-of-three won the Be Prime Minister for a Day contest, organised by the Nationalist Party, when her proposal of what she would implement as the country’s leader was chosen from among 2,000 others.

Although Ms Hammett was glad to have been given the opportunity to spend a day with Dr Gonzi, she said she could never imagine going through his stressful routine on a daily basis.

The Prime Minister, she said, had a mentally and physically challenging job that had left her exhausted when she returned home at 10.30 p.m.

With back-to-back appointments, even lunch and tea-breaks were short and timed, she laughed.

But despite the tightly packed schedule, Ms Hammett still found time to discuss her parenting skills proposal with Dr Gonzi and Family Minister Chris Said.

Ms Hammett, who runs two childcare centres, had initially proposed introducing compulsory parenting skills for couples before their children are born – on the same premise that compulsory Cana marriage courses are held.

“But I soon realised that unlike with marriage courses – where marriage can be withheld – what would you do if parents refused to attend the parenting courses?” Ms Hammett asked.

So, although parents could not be forced to follow the course, they could be encouraged to do so through an educational campaign.

Aware that the notion of parenting skills courses was not a new one – she herself has been to a few – Ms Hammett suggested these courses should be widespread and accessible to all.

She said local councils, schools and family doctors could play an important role in disseminating information about the courses and help organise them in every corner of the island.

Local councils were especially important because it was difficult to reach those in dire need of these courses through the internet or similar media.

These lifelong skills, which would include budgeting among others, could be followed up through a support line.

Ms Hammett suggested parents who follow the course should have access to a support service that would give them encouragement whenever they felt at a loss.

“It’s not a case that parents do not know how to take care of children, because every parent tries his or her best. But not everyone realises that their parenting system might not work in the long term.

“Sometimes you’d wonder: but what am I doing wrong? Through these courses – most especially when you meet other parents – you often realise you’re not on your own,” she said.

“From my experience, children are more comfortable with rules than we think.

“If a child is punished for hitting another kid at school, but is not punished at home, he could get confused over what is and what isn’t good behaviour.

“Behaviour punishment and retribution need to be consistent and this training could help spread consistent long-term parenting skills across the island.”