Gentle Parenting

What is Gentle Parenting?

An approach to parenting focused on raising happy and confident children. The approach is based on four main components.

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1. Empathy - Awareness and consideration of a child’s feelings

2. Respect - “If parents respect their children and, most importantly, their child’s unique feelings and personality, then the child, in turn, is more likely to respect the parent.”

3. Understanding - Awareness that children and teens do not have the same brain and skill capabilities as adults. Awareness of how our behaviors as parents influence our children.

4. Boundaries - Teaching our children out of respect, passion, and understanding is key. Setting limits or boundaries for those things that matter and always enforce them. “Discipline is done to teach the child and also with their level of brain development in mind.”

The term Gentle Parenting was created by Sarah Ockwell-Smith, who specializes in the psychology and science of parenting and attachment theory. Ockwell-Smith is a mother of four children and has written thirteen parenting books. She received an Honors Degree in Psychology and specialized in child development. After five years of working in Pharmaceutical Research and Development and becoming a Mom, she changed career paths and retrained as an Antenatal Teacher, Hypnotherapist, Infant Massage Instructor, and Doula. 

For more information on Gentle Parenting or Sarah Ockwell-Smith go to: 

Facebook: @sarahockwellsmithauthor

Twitter: @TheBabyExpert

Instagram: @sarahockwellsmith