Positive Discipline
The principles of positive discipline as well as the many proven and effective positive discipline tools can help you raise resilient, capable children. Positive discipline promotes cooperation, family togetherness and treating all family members with mutual respect. Children that experience discipline that is positive are more likely to develop social and emotional skills.
By choosing positive discipline for your family, you can actively help your child feel capable and ready to tackle life’s challenges.
Positive discipline models to children the value of being helpful, caring, responsible and cooperative.
Positive discipline also encourages families to focus on problem solving and making agreements which promotes critical thinking and creativity and responsibility.
Positive discipline does not rely on rewards and punishments and instead uses the power of active listening, relationship building and understanding your child through empathy and validation to promote positive behaviors.
What is Positive Discipline? How Is Positive Discipline Connected with Positive Parenting Connection?
The Positive Discipline approach is based on the very popular work of Jane Nelsen, D.Ed. and has it’s roots in the works of psychologists Alfred Alder and Rudolf Dreikus. Ariadne Brill, founder of the Positive Parenting Connection is a member of the Positive Discipline Association and certified as a Positive Discipline Parenting Educator.
The following description of the five criteria for positive discipline is directly based on the work of Jane Nelsen, D.Ed.:
THE FIVE CRITERIA FOR POSITIVE DISCIPLINE
- Kind and Firm at the same time: Guide your child by being respectful and encouraging even when misbehavior happens.
- Promotes in children a sense of Belonging and Significance: Help your child feel a strong connection to you and family.
- Solutions and actions are Effective Long-Term: The goal is not to just stop behaviors with punishments (short term) but to help children develop positive, new and acceptable behaviors through solutions and learning.
- Teaches valuable Social and Life Skills for good character: Encourage your child to be respectful, show concern for others, learn how to problem-solve, have accountability, contribute and cooperate at home, school and community.
- Invites children to discover how Capable they are and to use their personal power in constructive ways.
With the tools and concepts of Positive Discipline, children and parents can develop a meaningful connection and strive for cooperation and respectful interactions every day.
Positive Discipline focuses on:
- non-punitive solutions
- encouragement
- respectful interactions
- effective communication
- connection & play
- building self-esteem, capability and empowerment
Experts in child development and psychology now know that children are wired to connect with their parents. From the very moment of birth, your child seeks connection to you and the stronger that connection, the more responsive to your teachings and guidance your child will be.
“Positive Discipline is based on the understanding that discipline must be taught and that discipline teaches.”
– Jane Nelsen, Author of Positive Discipline Series
