What is Positive Parenting?

What is Positive Parenting?

What is positive parenting? Have you ever asked yourself this? Is it really any different from a typical parent scene? In the last three years, I have learned a ton about being a parent. And I will tell you I do not have all the answers. But how I parent my children today definitely differs from how I parented them 76 years ago. That is because I am always learning what works and what is necessary when raising children.

We want to encourage our children and help them grow into the people God created them to be. But how we parent our children can play a part in how they grow up. So, I choose to be a positive parent. 

I look at positive parenting as encouraging our children and their gifts, their attributes, and what they are capable of. (Read now: How to Explain Intrusive Thoughts to Your Kids.)

Why be a Positive Parent?

 

It is a great way to build up your child. I Love the quote that it is easier to build up strong children than to repair broken adults. How true is that?

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know that I blog about peaceful parenting. I believe that positive parenting and peaceful parenting go hand in hand. Because we are building our children up and encouraging them as their parents, it will become easier for us as moms to be more peaceful.

Can you break away from reactive parenting and become a more positive mom or dad while raising your children? 

Absolutely! Being a reactive parent will drag you down and your household down. It’s easy to be a reactive parent. I’ve been there. When we let our emotions control us, it’s easy. It takes work and commitment to say no. I will not be a reactive parent; I will not give my emotions control over me, and I will make the decision to be a positive and peaceful parent. 

Seven Tips to Start Practicing Positive Parenting

Use Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement can sometimes get a bad rap. But I’m all for encouraging our children to behave well. Most people would much instead be rewarded for the behavior that they want to see and then punished for the behavior that is not acceptable.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I genuinely believe in discipline. But I believe that discipline is different than punishment. I believe that positive reinforcement can be a major factor in your discipline techniques. Here are some great resources for positive reinforcement.

Work on Connecting with Your Child’s Heart

As I stated above, I believe that discipline is 100% important when it comes to parenting. But it’s not the same thing as punishment. You can connect with your child in their heart while correcting their misbehavior. It is possible.

Focus on connecting to your child’s heart while you’re correcting them. You will see a huge difference in how discipline plays out.

Set Boundaries

When children have clear guidelines and boundaries, there is less likely to be a lot of pushback. Set healthy and positive boundaries within your household. Here are some significant boundaries ideas for young children.

Model Respect by Giving Respect

I fully believe that children are individuals and persons. They are deserving of respect just like adults. I don’t think it’s difficult to give a child respect. If you want respect, a great way to get it is my motherly respect for them.

You can also model respect to authority and other adults in your lives, showing your children what respect is, how you give it, and who gets it.

You can be respectful and disagree with somebody. Being respectful is not being a doormat. This is an important concept to teach our children, and it’s possible without being passive and losing yourself.

Pay Attention to Your Child’s Triggers

Pay attention to your child’s triggers. What upsets them? Are they tired? Are they hungry? These are questions that you can ask yourself to figure out what is really going on during your child’s tantrum.

This will help you become more peaceful and positive while parenting them through a meltdown rather than reacting to the meltdown with your own emotions and frustration.

Stay Consistent 

I always say consistency is key. Your child must know what to expect. If you expect something from your child, you need to expect it 100% of the time, not half the time.

If you are not consistent, then your child will start to see that they can push Mommy into getting what they want. And when that happens, you have released control of your rains at the house over to your child.

Discipline Peacefully

It is possible to discipline peacefully. Can you do it 100% of the time? I don’t know, but I think it’s possible with practice and determination. Nobody is perfect, but it is possible to discipline your child peacefully.

You can do this by putting away your own emotions, stopping giving into reactive parenting, and focusing on connecting to your child’s heart.

Why Positive Parenting Can Change Your Household Around

Positive parenting can change your household because it will help you say goodbye to reactive and cranky mommy. When mommy is reactive and cranky, the whole house feels like. But with Mommy, it is peaceful and joyous, and the house also feels it. Who doesn’t want a peaceful house? (Now Read: How to Stop Being a Reactive Parent.)