Principles of Positive Parenting
Positive parenting has been termed as the best parenting technique. This parenting technique focuses on establishing a good relationship between a child and the parent. It is a gentle approach to disciplining a child with love. It is also referred to as positive discipline and gentle guidance. Children should be treated with respect as emotional beings. No fear should be instilled in them. Positive parenting advocates for children to be corrected with understanding, love and care.
Positive parenting is based on various principles. The principles are the guiding rules that help a parent be able to instill positive discipline to the child. They help the parent in overcoming anger that might make him/her act hard on the child. Below are some of the principles that are applied in gentle guidance.
1. Focusing attention to the child.
Children require regular and focused attention from their parent. Parents should provide emotional care and attention to their children. If there are two parents being involved in the life of a child, both should be there emotionally for the child. They should show interest in the welfare of the child.
2. Compassionate understanding.
Parents should be compassionate, and should show understanding to their child when the child gets out of control. Sometimes children do not make mistakes out of ignorance. It is due to their innocent curiosity. A parent should understand that and discipline them with stern patience and understanding.
3. Emotional attachment.
There should be an emotional attachment between the child and the parent. It should be nurtured from infancy and last even after the child has matured. A child should feel that he/she is a valuable part of the family. The sense of belonging is what makes children have confidence to face the world. It builds up their self-esteem.
4. Principle of forgiveness.
A child should be brought up in a way that he/she will understand that they should forgive themselves and forgive others. It means that they will understand that all human beings are prone to making mistakes. A parent should best demonstrate this by showing forgiveness to the child when he/she makes a mistake.
5. Give the child reasonable freedom.
An emotionally healthy child will struggle to get more freedom from his/her parent. This is a healthy way of expressing their natural drive towards being independent. As a parent, you should moderate your powers on your child, and allow some sort of decisive power sharing. You should allow your child to make some choices from structured decision choices.
Positive parenting is the best way to bring up a child. It guarantees the emotional wellbeing of the child in their future life. It is the best way to bring up an emotionally healthy next generation.