Gentle Parenting Techniques You Need To Be A Better Parent

Parenting is a challenging try, no matter what approach you take. As a parent, you're concerned about your child's well-being and want what's best for them. You want them to be happy and well-adjusted and raise them into compassionate, empathetic adults. And gentle parenting techniques are one way to achieve these goals.

Gentle parenting is about creating a strong bond with your child and communicating well with them. By using this method, kids grow up feeling confident, secure, and better at handling their feelings.

Plus, gentle parenting helps kids develop kindness and understanding, which are valuable traits for their whole life. If you're interested in pursuing a soft parenting style, read on to learn more about these gentle parenting techniques and what it is.

What is gentle parenting?

Gentle parenting, also called attachment parenting, is a way of raising kids where the focus is on building a close emotional connection between the parent and the child.

Gentle parenting uses gentle discipline tactics instead of punitive ones. Peace parenting is about bringing up kids to be happy and confident, so they become caring and understanding adults. You can use several gentle parenting techniques to achieve these goals.

Instead of using physical punishment, a popular method is to reward good behavior and give sensible outcomes for mistakes when teaching your child. The Bestselling Classic That Revolutionized Parent-Child Communication should help you to able to help you better communicate with your child.

Gentle parenting techniques that you need

Put empathy first

Gentle parenting starts with empathy. It needs to be a part of everything you do because it is essential to the kind of person your child grows into.

It's vital to your gentle parenting approach because your children are not just little robots programmed to follow orders. Kids are people who think, feel, and need things just like we do. Understanding the world from your child's point of view can be helpful. Maybe even try to remember what it was like to be a kid.

The wonderful thing about this gentle parenting technique is that we have already been little. Therefore it is a lot simpler to understand our kids. Primarily if we treat them how we feel, we should be treated as a child.

Your child's feelings are important

To incorporate gentle parenting, you should never dismiss your child's feelings. Acknowledging them is essential, even if you disagree with how they are feeling.

By doing so, kids learn that negative emotions are natural and teach them what to do with their own feelings. It also makes your child feel seen and understood. Try saying something like, "I see that you are feeling _ about _."

A strong emotional bond is a key to a healthy parent-child relationship. It teaches children that you understand and care about their feelings by being attuned to their emotions. This bond is essential for gentle parenting to be successful.

Punishment is not the answer, practice positive discipline

Gentle parenting techniques focus on using positive reinforcement instead of punishment. Punishing your child will have long-lasting and damaging effects such as;

• antisocial behavior (towards peers, siblings, and adults)
• aggressive behavior
• poor cognitive achievement and developmental outcomes
• an insecure attachment style
• little/lack of relationship with parents
• depression
• anxiety
• suicidal ideation
• low self-esteem
• poverty
• low social status
• high risk of living in disadvantaged neighborhoods

Instead of punishment, try to raise children using positive discipline techniques such as setting limits and boundaries, providing choices, and using natural consequences. This, however, doesn't mean you should apply permissive parenting by allowing them to get away with anything. 

For example, if your child is exhibiting unwanted behavior, you could set a limit by saying something like, "I can see that you're feeling frustrated. It's okay to feel that way, but it's not okay to hit. Let's try taking some deep breaths together."

As gentle parents, you should instead provide choices to help your child feel more in control. For example, you could say, "It looks like you don't want to put your shoes on. Would you like to put your shoes on yourself, or do you need help?"

Set reasonable and age-appropriate boundaries

It's important to set reasonable and age-appropriate boundaries with your child. This will help them feel safe and secure while also giving them the freedom to explore their world. For instance, you could set a boundary by saying, "You can play in the front yard, but you need to stay where I can see you."

You can also use gentle discipline techniques when enforcing boundaries. An example would be if your child is having a tantrum, you might say, "I can see that you're upset. I'm still here and love you, but you need to calm down before we can continue this conversation."

Explain your reasons for boundaries

It's also essential to explain your reasons for setting boundaries for your child. This way, you can avoid authoritative parenting and pushing your child away.

It will help them understand why certain behaviors are not allowed and help them feel respected and valued. For example, you might say, "I know you want to stay up late, but it's important for you to get rest so you can be energized and ready for school tomorrow."

Remember to say "yes" sometimes

Of course, it's also important to say "yes" sometimes. Otherwise, your child will feel like they are constantly being told what they can't do.

To be a gentle parent, make sure to give them some choices and allow them to make some decisions for themselves. For example, you might say, "Do you want to wear a blue or green shirt today?"

Remain calm

One of the core tenants of gentle parenting is that words are more impactful than actions or tones. Raising your voice can subconsciously teach children that it's acceptable to speak to people that way - even when they're angry or upset.

Similarly, if you use physical punishment as a form of discipline, you're teaching them that it's okay to resort to violence when they're feeling frustrated. Instead, gentle parenting relies on verbally setting clear boundaries and expectations and then consistently reinforcing those boundaries through positive reinforcement.

This may require more patience in the short term, but it will ultimately lead to more transparent and respectful communication within the family. And that is something from which we can all benefit.

Remember that there needs to be mutual respect

There must be respect in any and all relationships. That's true whether it's a parent-child relationship, a boss-employee relationship, or even a friendship.

Respect is fundamental in a parent-child relationship because children need to feel like their opinions and feelings are valued. When they don't feel respected, they're more likely to lash out – which isn't suitable for anyone.

It's important to remember that even though you are the parent, your child is an individual with their own thoughts and feelings. Being younger doesn't mean they don't have valid points of view.

So, make sure you listen to your child and consider their feelings – even if you don't always agree with them. This will go a long way toward building mutual respect.

Help your child learn from their mistakes

All children make mistakes – it's part of growing up. And while it's important to teach your child right from wrong, it's just as important to let them learn from their mistakes.

Punishing your child every time they do something wrong will only make them resentful and discouraged. Instead, try to help them understand why their actions were wrong and what they can do to correct them. This will help them learn from their mistakes and become better people.

Be consistent with your approach

One of the most critical aspects of gentle parenting is consistency. If you're inconsistent with your parenting style, it will only confuse and frustrate your child.

So, if you've decided to adopt a gentle parenting approach, it's essential to be consistent. This means using the same techniques and methods every time your child misbehaves.

If you're not sure how to be consistent with your parenting, there are a few resources that can help, like these gentle parenting books;

• The Gentle Sleep Book: Gentle, No-Tears, Sleep Solutions for Parents of Newborns to Five-Year-Olds
• The Gentle Parenting Book: How to raise calmer, happier children from birth to seven
• Break Free from Reactive Parenting: Gentle-Parenting Tips, Self-Regulation Strategies, and Kid-Friendly Activities for Creating a Calm and Happy Home
• 1-2-3 Magic: Gentle 3-Step Child & Toddler Discipline for Calm, Effective, and Happy Parenting

Admit to your own mistakes

Gentle parenting also means being honest with your child about your own mistakes. This shows them that it's okay to make mistakes and that everyone makes them – even adults.

It's important to apologize to your child for making a mistake. This will help them understand that it's not a big deal to make mistakes and that they can trust their instincts, as explained by Romper.

Be patient

One of the most essential aspects of gentle parenting is being patient with your child. This means not getting angry or frustrated with them, even when they're misbehaving.

It can be challenging to remain calm when your child is acting out, but remember that they're still learning to control their emotions. They'll eventually learn to better deal with their feelings and behave more appropriately.

To help them learn better self-control, we recommend teaching them to use a journal.

Connecting with your child must be a priority

To practice gentle parenting, you must have a solid emotional bond with your child. This means spending quality time with them, listening to them, and being there for them when they need you.

It's also important to express your love for them regularly. Tell them how much you love them, give them hugs and kisses, and tell them that you're always there for them. Playing board games with your child is a great way to bond with them.

Conclusion 

Gentle parenting emphasizes building a solid emotional bond with your child and using peaceful discipline tactics instead of punitive ones. To be a better parent, you should consider adopting this parenting style.

By doing so, you'll be able to raise happy, confident, and well-adjusted children who will grow up to be compassionate, empathetic adults.

Answers and questions

1. Research Gate: Gentle Parenting
2. National Library of Medicine: The Influence of Parenting and Temperament on Empathy Development
3. National Library of Medicine: Dismissing children's perceptions of their emotional experience and parental care
4. MSD: The State of Research on the Effects of Physical Punishment
5. Better Health Channel: Young Children And Communication
6. National Library Of Medicine: CHILDREN'S CONSTRUCTION OF CONCEPTS
7. National Library Of Medicine: Development of Respect in Children and Adolescents
8. Harvard: How to Help Kids Learn From Mistakes
9. Romper: 5 Reasons You Should Always Admit To Your Kid When You're Wrong

⚠️ Disclaimer: The content of this video is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Consult a qualified health professional for any medical concerns.