If you are a parent, you can surely agree that raising children is extremely rewarding and challenging. No blueprint shows you how your child will behave or respond to certain situations. Let’s be honest—we’re all learning as we go. However, methods can be learned so that if you are confronted with an issue, you’ll have a better idea of how to handle it in the future. One strategy that has received recent praise is called Positive Parenting.
What is positive parenting?
Positive parenting promotes a parent’s ability to guide, teach, and empower their children. By using this method, a child’s personal development and self-growth are encouraged. For example, have you ever been out at a retail store and witness a child throwing a tantrum? The parent displays a look of shame as everyone around just stares, wondering how the parent will control the situation. You have probably even whispered to yourself, “My child would never…,” or “That child is bad… .” Even in situations like those, caregivers can utilize positive parenting.
Our typical reaction to responding to our children when they act violent or throw tantrums is negative. It is common to enforce negative disciplinary approaches such as yelling, ignoring, or spanking. But, with positive parenting, you remain calm, friendly, and respectful of your child’s emotional and physical needs WHILE correcting their behavior.
How to implement positive parenting
1. Dig deeper to try and figure out the cause of your child’s bad behavior.
This allows children to reflect on their behavior and helps them deal with their feelings appropriately.
2. Communicate back to your child what they have expressed and offer an understanding of what they have shared.
This strengthens the connection between the parent and the child and helps children develop self-discipline and empathy.
3. Avoid lashing out at them
This use of modeling will hopefully demonstrate to them how to appropriately handle their emotions. Thus, children become more empathetic, enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of the world around them.
4. Let your child know that their behavior is not the best way to get what they feel they need and that there are better ways to communicate.
“I’m not buying candy for you today, and your crying isn’t going to change my mind. Next time, you can let me know that you really wanted that candy and are disappointed that you’re not getting it today. Either way, you’re not getting the candy, but it’s something we can discuss in more detail if you want to know why.”
Overall, positive parenting is about setting clear parental expectations and helping children achieve them. It strives to praise children for good behavior and avoid harsh punishment for bad behavior. It focuses on getting to the root cause of bad behavior. It will not only be beneficial to you as the parent, but it will encourage your child’s personal development.
How can positive parenting encourage personal development?
Positive parenting encourages a child’s personal development by:
- Supporting them to achieve their goals for the sake of accomplishment and not because of fear of punishment.
- Promoting their confidence and provides them with the tools needed to make good choices.
- Promoting their social and problem-solving skills while enhancing relationship quality with caregivers and peers.
- Giving them a sense of autonomy
- Fostering a child’s belief in themselves and the future
Let’s discuss! Share this post to your social media to see if other parents use the positive parenting method!
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Natalie Mangrum is the founder and CEO of Maryland Teacher Tutors. She is a reading specialist with a bachelors in elementary education and masters in education. As a parent to two young adults, and prior teacher, Natalie knows all too well the benefits of one-on-one tutoring and coaching for students. Her mission is to ensure that every aspect of MTT is done in a spirit of excellence! She enjoys alleviating the concerns of parents so they can breathe easy knowing their children are in good hands!