Positive Parenting and How It Can Make Your Child More Resilient

Positive Parenting

and How It Can Make Your Child More Resilient

Considered an extremely effective parenting style, the premise of positive parenting is to focus on the strengths of your child instead of his/her weaknesses. Dr. Ali Ali, Consultant Family Medicine reveals how this parenting style works.

Dr. Ali Ali

Background

Positive parenting is the result of Austrian psychologist Alfred Alder, who in the 1900s, felt that children inherently need to feel connected to their environment and to those around them. Children thrive when they are in a responsive and interactive environment and this sets the tone for adulthood. According to Dr. Ali, positive parenting is a method of caring for a child where the parent is sensitive to the individual child’s needs, addressing the challenges that are more common during childhood. He adds, “Examples include where the parent does not use harsh punishment to correct problematic behavior, but instead would proactively address the child’s emotional needs through positive interactions. Another good example is praising specific actions through words instead of using bribes or rewards.”

The impact of positive parenting

Research published in the Journal of Clinical Adolescent Psychology showed that positive parenting led to much lower instances of childhood depression compared to harsher styles of discipline, points out Dr. Ali. “We also know that through positive parenting, the stress of parents could be reduced and is likely to increase a happier environment at home,” he says. “Positive parenting leads to better trust between the child and the parent as well as a much more approachable communication channel between the two; this ultimately helps develop the child’s own self-esteem as they adapt to the environment surrounding them.” Giving regular reassurance to the child as opposed to punishment can help the child have a positive approach to life as they grow. They will develop positive behavior because they will see mistakes and imperfections as opportunities for improvement rather than negative things that bring punishment and detract from their self-esteem.

The best ways to discipline children

The best way to discipline your child when there is unwanted behavior, explains Dr. Ali, could include things such as saying no to rewards, disciplining and not punishing as well as trying to get to the root of the problem and addressing it. “Many experts believe that there is commonly something motivating a child’s negative behavior.”

Tips for Creating a Positive Parenting Experience

Focus on what you can control as a parent. Discipline and not punish, they are two different things. Be consistent and fair in your approach to the child. Try to get to the root cause of the child’s negative behavior, wherever possible. Seek medical help if you are really struggling, including family counselling where appropriate. H (Credit: Dr. Ali)