What Parents Need to Know About Positive Discipline
As a parent or caregiver, you want to raise your child in the best possible way. However, disciplining a child can be a difficult task.Many parents struggle with finding the right balance between being loving and firm.
Jane Nelson’s Positive Discipline approach is a great way to do just that.
I’m Brittany McBryde Willams, a child therapist and Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator at Silver River Counseling, and in this article I’m going to share what parents need to know about positive discipline and how you can use it to overcome the challenges of disciplining your child and parent more effectively.
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What is Positive Discipline?
Positive Discipline is a parenting philosophy that focuses on respect, empathy, and encouragement to help children learn important life skills. It’s an approach to parenting and teaching that seeks to develop a child’s social, emotional, and cognitive skills, while fostering mutual respect and a strong sense of self.
It emphasizes the importance of being kind and firm at the same time, and encourages parents and teachers to focus on solutions rather than punishment or reward.
Some of the key principles of Positive Discipline include:
- Mutual respect
- Encouragement instead of praise
- Problem-solving
- Focus on solutions
Parents and teachers are encouraged to communicate with children in a respectful and empathetic manner, to acknowledge and encourage their efforts and progress, and to involve them in the process of finding solutions to problems.
Positive Discipline also emphasizes the importance of setting clear boundaries and expectations, while acknowledging and validating children’s feelings and perspectives.
How Can Parents Use Positive Discipline?
Using Positive Discipline can take some practice, but it’s worth the effort. Here are some actionable tips to help you get started:
1. Be kind and firm: Set clear boundaries and expectations, but do so in a loving and supportive way. This can often be done in a family meeting format were you can be as creative as you need or like to be to meet the needs of your family.
2. Focus on solutions: Instead of punishing your child for misbehaving, work with them to find a solution to the problem. This will help your child see that their voice counts and they matter to you.
3. Encourage your child: Acknowledge their efforts, not just their achievements. This will build up their sense of capability.
4. Use empathy: Try to see things from your child’s perspective and validate their feelings. All children need this connection before they are corrected.
5. Involve your child: Let them be a part of the problem-solving process and encourage them to take responsibility for their actions. Teaching a child that it takes courage to make mistakes will be an important part of their development.
An example of positive discipline would be if a child breaks a toy, instead of punishing them, you can work with them to find a solution, such as fixing the toy together or finding a replacement. You can also acknowledge them for their effort in trying to fix the toy, rather than just focusing on the fact that the toy is broken.
Validating their feelings and involving them in the problem-solving process can also help them take responsibility for their actions in a positive way. The use of positive discipline requires the practice of emotion regulation so you will want to develop and practice strategies that help you keep your calm when addressing your child.
By modeling this, you will reinforce that it is okay to disagree as long as it is done in a healthy way.
With practice, Positive Discipline can become a natural part of your parenting style, resulting in happier, confident, and more successful children.
If you’re interested in learning more about Positive Discipline and how it can help you be a creative and supportive parent, schedule an appointment with us today. We can provide you with personalized support and guidance on how to implement Positive Discipline in your home.