Came across this article on positive parenting
When parenting a young child, think of the relationship you want when he or she is a teenager and let that be your guidepost, says Xie Wanyun, a coach in positive parenting and founder of the Popsicles and Play website. She shares her tantrum-busting tips with CNA Women.
cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com
So far, I've never caned my kids. How many parents still believe in the saying “spare the rod, spoil the child”?
I'm glad to hear you don't subscribe to harsh discipline methods! To answer your question, unfortunately, it's hard to say whether parenting styles have generally become more proactive and positive in Singapore because there will always be a spectrum of different parenting methodologies reflective of each family's beliefs and cultural influences. However, I can share with you why positive parenting resonates with me personally, which might give you some insight into why some parents, like me, lean towards this philosophy.
I believe that every behavior serves a purpose, including my children's tantrums. When my kids have meltdowns, I know that something is wrong, and this realization helps me to remain compassionate, even when it's challenging. Often, my daughter's tantrums are due to her inability to communicate her needs or frustration with her limitations, whereas my son is typically overtired and craved more physical attention from us. Understanding their causes helps me respond with empathy because I know it's not just "bad behavior."
I'm sure you've probably experienced this, too! It can be draining to constantly react to these situations, but over time, I've found that remaining calm and using gentle, kind techniques helped my kids learn to regulate their emotions and develop emotional intelligence. So, for me, positive parenting works - it strengthens the parent-child relationship and encourages open communication, which I believe lays a vital foundation for their future independence and emotional well-being.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you find that being understanding and calm can effectively replace disciplinary actions?