| Positive Discipline |
| What does positive discipline look like? It's gentle, positive, respectful and biblical. It is not permisive neither is it punitive. Punishment does not work. Believe us, we've tried it. Before we came across the concept of positive discipline we used a mixture of Ezzo, Pearl and Dobson. All these styles of parenting promote an adverserial and detached relationship between the parent and the child. We prefer to be a coach for our children. If you are playing on a baseball team a good coach will encourage you to get up and try again if you make a mistake. Children make lots of mistakes! It is MUCH easier to take an authoritarian approach and have our children obey *instantly* everytime. Sometimes though I think we expect way too much from them. After all, do we always obey straight away? You say, but spanking works! Yes it does - in the short term. If your spouse hit you everytime you did something they did not like you'd stop the behaviour, right? So it worked!! But it does not breed a very loving and respectful relationship! Would you not prefer your spouse to come alongside you and gently let you know that what you were doing was frustrating them? Tell you what they would rather you do? I know I prefer this. That's what positive dicipline is all about. Getting along side our children and helping them to obey. Not letting them get away with negative behaviours but showing them appropriate ways of dealing with their big feelings. Check out our links page for some sites with great tools. HAPPY PARENTING!!!! Some PD links (A link to a particular site does not mean I endorse everything on that site) * Arms Of Love Family Fellowship * Gentle Christian Mothers Forums * Empathetic Discipline * Positive Discipline Rescource Centre |