Building strong and healthy relationship through Positive Parenting

Author: Karina Parikh

“To be in your children’s memories tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today.”- Barbara Johnson

Parenting can be one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences in life. While raising children brings immense joy and fulfilment, it can also be difficult to navigate the various challenges that come with it. From managing behavioral issues to balancing the needs of multiple children, parenting can be a constant source of stress and frustration. However, with a positive parenting approach, parents can turn these difficulties into opportunities for growth and learning for both them and their children. Positive parenting focuses on promoting independence and fostering a supportive and nurturing environment for children.
Positive parenting is a style of parenting that focuses on building a strong, healthy relationship with your child based on mutual respect, communication, and emotional support. Experts believe that positive parenting is essential for the healthy development of children.
According to research studies, positive parenting is successful in enhancing parent-child interactions, decreasing behavioural issues in kids, and fostering healthy growth. Children of all ages, from new-borns to teenagers, have been shown to benefit from positive parenting. Also, research have demonstrated that positive parenting outperforms authoritarian parenting styles that emphasise punishment and control.
One of the main benefits of positive parenting is that it helps children develop a positive self-image. When children feel loved, respected, and valued, they are more likely to develop a sense of self-worth and confidence. This, in turn, can lead to better academic performance, better social skills, and better mental health.
Positive parenting helps children develop empathy and emotional intelligence. When parents provide emotional support and communicate openly with their children, they learn to understand and express their own emotions and the emotions of others. This can lead to better relationships with peers, teachers, and family members.
Positive parenting also helps children learn appropriate behaviors and problem-solving skills. When parents use consistent, positive discipline techniques, children learn to understand the consequences of their actions and make better choices in the future. This can lead to better behavior and fewer behavioral problems in the long run.
Finally, positive parenting reinforces children to develop a sense of security and attachment. When parents provide physical and emotional support, children feel safe and secure, and this can lead to better mental and physical health.
Benefits of positive parenting What positive parents do How it benefits both parent and child
Stronger bond with child Show love, affection, and support Improve child’s self-esteem and happiness
Improved behavior Encourage positive behavior and use positive discipline techniques Reduce behavioral problems and increase cooperation
Better communication Listen actively, express empathy and validate feelings Foster open and honest communication and trust
Increased autonomy Encourage independence and provide choices Promotes problem solving skills and self-confidence
Resilience Teach coping skills and provide support in dealing with challenges Help develop resilience and ability to handle stress
Emotional intelligence Teach emotional regulation and empathy Enhance emotional intelligence and social skills
Reduce conflict, stress, and parenting guilt Focus on positive reinforcement rather than punishment or negative comments Reduces conflict in the relationship and helps to prevent stress and parenting guilt
Benefits of positive parenting What positive parents do How it benefits both parent and child
Stronger bond with child Show love, affection, and support Improve child’s self-esteem and happiness
Improved behavior Encourage positive behavior and use positive discipline techniques Reduce behavioral problems and increase cooperation
Better communication Listen actively, express empathy and validate feelings Foster open and honest communication and trust
Increased autonomy Encourage independence and provide choices Promotes problem solving skills and self-confidence
Resilience Teach coping skills and provide support in dealing with challenges Help develop resilience and ability to handle stress
Emotional intelligence Teach emotional regulation and empathy Enhance emotional intelligence and social skills
Reduce conflict, stress, and parenting guilt Focus on positive reinforcement rather than punishment or negative comments Reduces conflict in the relationship and helps to prevent stress and parenting guilt

Here are a few techniques of positive parenting that can help build a strong, healthy relationship with your child:

1. Active Listening: This technique involves truly listening to your child and trying to understand their perspective. For example, if your child is upset about something that happened at school, instead of dismissing their feelings, you can actively listen by saying something like “I can see that you’re really upset about what happened at school today. You can tell me I am listening.”

2. Positive Reinforcement: This strategy involves rewarding good behavior and positive actions. For example, if your child completes their homework on time, you can positively reinforce that behavior by saying something like “Great job on finishing your homework on time, I’m proud of you!”

3. Emotion Coaching: This method involves helping your child understand and express their emotions in a healthy way. For example, if your child is feeling angry about something, you can emotion coach by saying something like “I can see that you’re feeling really angry right now. It’s okay to feel angry, but it’s important to find healthy ways to express that anger.”

4. Consistent and Clear Limit Setting: This strategy involves setting clear and consistent limits and boundaries for your child, and enforcing them calmly and consistently. For example, if your child refuses to do their homework, you can set a clear limit by saying “I understand that you don’t want to do your homework, but you need to complete your homework so you can learn and do well in school. Let’s work together to get your homework done.”

5. Positive Problem-Solving: This method includes helping your child find creative solutions to problems and challenges. For example, if your child is having trouble making friends, you can help them find positive solutions by saying something like “I can see that you’re having trouble making friends. Let’s come up with a plan to help you make new friends.”

6. Showing Empathy: This technique involves putting yourself in your child’s shoes, understanding their feelings, and responding with compassion. For example, if your child is upset about something, you can show empathy by saying something like “I understand that you’re upset right now, that must be really hard for you. I’m here for you and I care about you.”

7. Give Choices: This strategy includes giving children some level of control over their lives, by giving them choices and options. For example, if your child is refusing to eat their vegetables, you can give them choices by saying “I understand that you don’t like vegetables, but it’s important for you to eat them for a healthy diet. Would you prefer to have broccoli or carrots with your dinner tonight?”

These are just a few examples of positive parenting techniques, and it is important to remember that every child and every situation is different. Positive parenting is an ongoing process that requires patience, understanding, and a willingness to adapt to the unique needs of your child.

Techniques of Positive Parenting
Active listening
Positive reinforcement
Emotion coaching
Consistent and clear limit setting
Positive problem-solving
Showing empathy
Give choices

In conclusion, positive parenting is a helpful parenting approach that supports children’s healthy growth. It is founded on respect for one another, free exchange of ideas, and encouragement. The promotion of healthy growth in children and the improvement of parent-child interactions have all been demonstrated benefits of positive parenting. It is a suggested parenting strategy for all parents, regardless of the age or temperament of their children.

REFERENCES:

Lonczak, H. S., PhD. (2022, December 28). What is Positive Parenting? 33 Examples and Benefits. PositivePsychology.com. https://positivepsychology.com/positive-parenting/ Li, P. (2022, December 25). 9 essential positive parenting tip, the definitive guide. Parenting For Brain. Retrieved February 24, 2023, from https://www.parentingforbrain.com/what-is-positive-parenting/

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