Empathy, understanding, and respect are the hallmarks of gentle parenting. Empathetic parenting involves understanding a child's abilities as an individual. The goal of this approach is to promote parent-child cooperation through effective communication.

Parents who follow gentle parenting are mindful of the feelings and needs of the children. They understand the reason for a child’s behavior rather than lashing out in anger or making harsh remarks. Mutual respect is a must. Parents who treat their children with respect teach their children to respect others.

As some parents fear, taking a gentler approach does not signify a lack of discipline. Boundaries are an important aspect of gentle parenting. They help to teach children how to do things efficiently. Setting a few rules for the family ensures order and consistency.

Gentle parenting does not use rewards or punishments. Children are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and become independent individuals.

How to Practice Gentle Parenting

Discover how you can embrace gentle parenting.

• Listen

Listening is the first step to understanding someone. A child's thoughts and feelings are similar to an adult's. A problematic behavior or rebellious act may be the result of certain factors. A gentle parent listens to the child attentively to understand the root cause for their behavior.

• Practice positive communication

Parents and children should be a team, which means parents should not make decisions for the latter based solely on their wishes and preferences. Young children have the same rights as adults. To work as a real team, pay attention to the language you use for your child. Instead of saying things like, “Don’t do that,” “Stop running,” and “Bring me the cup, please,” use positive phrasing to invite for an action. Such direct commands leave no room for negotiation and teamwork. Explain the situation to your child and ask for their suggestions before making one. It will help them develop their cognition and decision-making skills.

• Set a positive example

Practice compassion and empathy at home if you want your child to be kind and empathetic as children learn through observations. Demonstrate respect to them so they will be respectful toward you.

• Be gentle yet firm

Being a gentle parent does not mean giving in to your child’s demands. Set reasonable limits for your child to aid their learning and development. Say a firm no when you have to without being mean or yelling.

To stop unwanted behavior, remove the child from the environment that triggers it. They will calm down once they feel safe. Avoid punishing such behaviors as they only instill fear for punishment rather than teaching them a valuable lesson. Your words should be clear and consistent.

• Start early

Early childhood is a crucial stage of development. The experiences of young children profoundly affect them even in adulthood. Although you can transition to this approach later in life, it is best to begin right from the beginning. Prioritize responding to their needs and exhibiting positive behavior that you want them to learn.

Recommended reading: What’s Wrong With Strict Parenting?

Pros and Cons of Gentle Parenting

Pros of gentle parenting

• This style of parenting will lead to a strong bond and improve communication to find better solutions with the child.
  • Being mindful about praising will make the child outgrow self-validation levels.
  • In the process of avoiding punishments and harsh emotional responses, parent tends to find alternates which itself shall enhance the parenting style.
  • The focus is on raising kids without high expectations and unnecessary consequences.

Cons of gentle parenting

• Practicing this parenting style sometimes may lead to misinterpretation of not having clear boundaries, which is not true.
  • Being empathetic and patient is a continuous necessity in gentle parenting, which can stressful and challenging sometimes.
  • When practicing gentle parenting, the parent is expected to keep a continuous check on self and emotional responses, which might be stressful at times.
  • In the process of giving choices to kids, defining boundaries to their desires might get tricky.

Remember,

Gentle parenting requires a great deal of patience and practice as children take time to learn, but it has long-lasting benefits.

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