This is from last week’s “Gentle Parenting” day, when I posted articles supporting positive parenting (also called gentle guidance or gentle discipline).
Dr. Laura Markham > How to Use Positive Parenting: This is one of the articles that made me finally decide to try positive parenting. Learning that how I treat my children will color how they treat themselves really hit home for me, because it is so true of my own life.
“How you treat your child is how she will learn to treat herself. If you’re harsh with her, she’ll be harsh with herself. If you’re loving with her while firm about setting appropriate limits, she’ll develop the ability to set firm but loving limits on her own behavior.”
Welcome to Attachment Parenting International: Positive Parenting is the 7th of Attachment Parenting International’s Principles of Parenting. API’s post about positive discipline gives great ideas for what parents can do in different situations. Do any apply to you now? Also, lists great books to read for further guidance.
Ten Reasons Not to Hit Your Kids – The Natural Child Project: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Cyprus, Croatia, Latvia, Israel, Germany, Bulgaria, Iceland, Romania, Ukraine, Hungary, Greece, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Uruguay, Venezuela, Spain, Republic of Moldova, Costa Rica, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Tunisia, Poland, and Kenya: countries where it’s illegal to spank a child.
peaceful parenting: Gentle Discipline ~ Staying the Course: “An essential survival skill for gentle discipline is to give it to yourself, too. Developing skills take time. We may need a lot of practice with problem-solving with children, slowing down to see things from their perspective, and communicating respectfully. And we also need to be in a frame of mind in which we can be the adult.”
This was what was hindering my progress with gentle parenting – I wasn’t making sure that MOM was ready. Know your triggers and love yourself. ♥
Positive parenting is the best way to communicate with our children. I hope you find these articles useful whether you’re trying to prove this to someone in your life, or trying to remind yourself that it’s worth all of your effort. I know how frustrating it can be at times, but I’ve also seen how effective it is at bringing harmony to my family. Much love to you and your children.
Helpful links — trying to do more “positive parenting” with our babies – it sure seems to make our days go smoother!