Respect and empathy are stressed in parenting, but it isn’t easy.
Gentle parenting is like parenting’s Goldilocks. Nor too strict, nor too lax. It advises parents to respect children’s feelings and create limits. The gentle parenting movement, which has grown in popularity for almost a decade, has much to appreciate.
The primary downside: Gentle parenting needs patience and tranquility, which few parents have when they’re late to drop-off. It may be worth trying: Gentle parenting may make kids happier and more confident, say experts.
What Is Gentle Parenting?
Gentle parenting stresses compassion, respect, and understanding. Setting healthy, age-appropriate limits is also encouraged.
“The emphasis is very much on being responsive to your child’s emotions,” says UTHealth Houston Children’s Learning Institute associate professor Cathy Guttentag, Ph.D. “Respect your child’s needs and satisfy them in a good, affirming manner.”
Although gentle parenting concepts have been around for a while, the word is frequently credited to Sarah Ockwell-Smith, who authored The Gentle Parenting Book in 2016.
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Characteristics Of Gentle Parents
Gentle parenting emphasizes four main points:
- Respect
- Empathy
- Understanding
- Boundary setting
“Respect for the kid is key to gentle parenting,” adds Guttentag. “That doesn’t imply you treat or expect them to behave like adults. It shows you value them as a child.”
But that doesn’t imply letting your youngster do everything. She thinks gentle parenting sets expectations and keeps your kid and others safe.
Pros Of Gentle Parenting
Gentle parenting may help children:
- Develop solid parent-child relationships. According to a study, empathetic parents are more likely to connect with their children.
- Reduce anxiety and tension. “Parents who exhibit a comprehension of their child’s thoughts and emotions also tend to produce children who are more secure and can better handle stress,” says University of Virginia psychology research scholar Jessie Stern, Ph.D.
- Respect others. Guttentag states “Children whose parents are gentler [are] likely to have strong self-esteem and regard and empathy for others.”
Cons Of Gentle Parenting
The drawbacks of gentle parenting can be: