How will you pick the parenting style that brings out the best in you and your child when there are so many different parenting alternatives available?

There is no single  answer to this, and as you learn what works best for your family, it’s likely that you’ll (intentionally or unintentionally) combine a number of various parenting philosophies. This article will give you an insight into What  is gentle parenting, and how can you apply it to your own life? Here is all the information you need to know about gentle parenting, from its roots to its benefits and drawbacks.

What is parenting

Parenting is the act of bringing up a kid and ensuring their safety and well-being in order to ensure their healthy development into maturity.

From infancy through adulthood, parenting  foster and support a child’s physical, emotional, social, and intellectual growth. Parenting encompasses all aspects of raising a kid which is not only  related to a biological bond.

The biological parents of the child in issue are the most frequent caregivers. An older brother, a stepparent, a grandparent, a legal guardian, an aunt, an uncle, other family members, or a close acquaintance could still act as a surrogate. Governments and society might also play a part in raising children.  Orphans and abandoned youngsters frequently receive parental care from non-parental or non-blood relatives. Others might be given to foster care, adopted, or placed in an orphanage. A parent or substitute who has good parenting abilities may be referred to as a good parent.

Parenting practises differ depending on the historical era, race or ethnicity, social status, preference, and a few other social characteristics. Additionally, research suggests that parental history, particularly in the wake of negative experiences, can have a significant impact on parental sensitivity and child outcomes. This is true both in terms of attachments of varying quality and parental psychopathology.

What Is Gentle Parenting

In contrast to the typical authoritarian “old school” parenting technique, gentle parenting is a calm and constructive method of parenting.

Parenting from this perspective is characterised by empathy, respect, understanding, and boundaries.

A gentle parenting approach encourages a relationship with your children that is based on their willingness and choices rather than on demands and rules that you as the parent impose.

Instead of using fear or punishment, it teaches kids to do what is right by being positive and patient.

 Gentle parenting is built on a the basis of:

• Understanding your child’s need

• Empathizing with then

• And giving them respect

• Setting boundaries

Moreover it’s  about recognizing your child as an individual and responding to their basic needs.

How will gentle parenting help your child

The foundation of gentle parenting is the belief that youngsters don’t genuinely possess the same level of self-control as (most!) adults. Neuroscience explains that their brains simply aren’t yet formed or mature enough to handle the onslaught of emotions. Then, as a means of coping with an underlying need or other sensations brought on by the feeling or emotion, children “behave” in a certain way. Punishing the ‘behaviour’ is equivalent to judging a child based solely on the outside of their personality; gentle parenting digs deeper. Children’s regulating abilities and emotional literacy are being developed by putting a special emphasis on knowing and empathising with them. We are assisting them in identifying bodily feelings and how those emotions feel to them.

Why Should You Do It?

Contrary to most mainstream parenting approaches, where benefits are nearly invariably to the parent’s detriment, gentle parenting has many advantages for both the parent and the child.

Benefits include:

• Parents are happier

• Children have more self-esteem

• Children are smarter

• Children have better emotion regulations

• Children are more independent

• Children are more sociable / have a better conscience

• Children are better at school

• Children are more imaginative

• Children are more empathetic

• Children have better brain development

• Children have better self-esteem

• Children are less likely to have mental disorders as they get old

• Children are less likely to engage in risky behavior as teenagers

• Children are less likely to commit substance abuse

• Children are less likely to be violent

• Children rarely keep secrets from their parents

• Children are less likely to develop an eating disorder

• Children are more likely to have healthy relationships with adults as they grow up