Parenting is an incredibly enriching yet terribly bewildering journey; it is an experience as rewarding as it is challenging. Of the many approaches towards child rearing, gentle parenting is distinguished by its focus on nurturing the parent–child relationship.
By nature, gentle parenting is an empathetic method that fosters respect, validation, and compassion. Instead of punitive approaches, there is a focus on positive discipline: encouragement, solving problems collaboratively, and guiding children in how to manage their feelings constructively.
This philosophy involves setting clear boundaries, yet in a gentle manner, and giving children choices wherever possible within the boundaries set. This can be an effective means of helping children make good choices and taking responsibility. At the core of gentle parenting is the relationship-building component: creating a deep, trusting relationship with your children that encourages open communication and provides a safe space for expression of emotions.
For instance, if my children ask for junk food, I refrain from saying an outright “no.” Instead, I involve them in the understanding of gut health by telling them, in a playful way, how good bacteria thrive on nutritious food and help in defending the body, while unhealthy food feeds the bad bacteria that weaken our immunity.
By embracing such mindful strategies, we develop a respectful and cooperative relationship with the children, and at the same time, help them learn lifelong values of responsibility, self-awareness, and empathy.
Priyanka Patil
Mother of Riya V Patil (4D)
