Nothing else makes a parent happier than knowing that their parenting game is on point and that they’re doing a good job raising their tiny little human. But, raising children is not easy; rather it is one of the most difficult jobs out there.
No matter how conscientious or careful parents generally are, they are bound to get irritated, worked up, irate and angry when their children misbehave or don’t listen. If you’re also tired of nagging & yelling at your children and also feeling like a failure as a parent, then it’s time that you give positive parenting a try.
What is positive parenting?
Positive parenting is a powerful ideology that encourages parents to be firm and compassionate to their children without spoiling or over-coddling and the primary focus is to teach children rather than to punish them. Positive parenting is based on the following three points:
- A child’s need to feel like they belong and that he/she is significant.
- All behaviors have a root cause and they don’t happen randomly.
- A misbehaving child is a child who is struggling.
The key to positive parenting is to proactively prepare and ward off future misbehaviors rather than focusing on how to punish or deal with the misbehavior afterwards.
How you can use positive parenting?
Spend undivided time with your child.
All children require their parents’ love, attention and time. When they don’t receive it, it might show up as tantrums or misbehavior because either you give it to them willingly or they take it from you on demand. Positive parenting encourages you to give your child undivided time during the day even if it’s 15-20 minutes so they feel emotionally charged and connected to you.
This time should solely be for you and your child, away from technology and other distractions where they have a chance to be the center of your attention.
Show your child that they are significant.
A positive parenting technique is to make your child feel significant and you can do this by asking for their opinions and letting them make some of the important choices and decisions in the household. A great way is to also set chores in the family where the child knows how meaningful their contribution is.
Make your child feel that they belong.
Many times, children feel sad or anxious about their place in the family. This might happen more in times when you are exceptionally busy, if there is a baby in the family or a divorce is taking place and when the child begins to question their worth as a family member. Positive parenting encourages parents to instill a sense of belonging in their children before they start questioning their worth or showing misbehavior. You can do this by reminding them how much they are valued, loved on a daily basis and letting them know how important they are to you.
Showing physical affection.
Hugs, pats on the back, tussling of hair, smiling, giving thumbs up and cuddling can all do wonders for children and it’s a great positive parenting habit to get into by giving your children lots of physical affection. Children crave physical touch and when you do it before they ask for it or show the need for it, it will surely help them feel calmer, less anxious and behave nicer.
