Live ChatIdeas on bringing up children have changed, and we now know a lot more about the effects of smacking. Finding the right balance of rewards and discipline is a key part of positive parenting.
Positive Parenting
Children’s needs and behaviours change as they get older and understanding these needs will help you better understand your child.
A lot has been written about the needs of children and advice for parents, and the NSPCC cover some of the key areas here:
How can I set boundaries?
All children need love, guidance and to have rules and boundaries. Rules and boundaries help families to understand how to behave towards each other, and what’s OK and not OK. But the best way to go about this will vary based on your child’s age and stage of development. All children are different and develop and reach milestones at different rates. (NSPCC)
Rewards and Discipline
Some helpful points to think about:
Keep your cool!
It’s important to find ways to relieve your stress and manage if you’re feeling upset or angry. Lots of things, not only children’s behaviour, can make us feel stressed – from family relationships to managing a work-life balance, health, housing, poverty, unemployment and much more. You want to be the best parent you can, but being stressed is stressful!
Parenting can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging.
You can find parenting tips for all stages of your child's life, as well as advice on how to deal with difficult situations here: