Definition
Parenting while staying present in the moment, understanding of the child’s behavior, nonjudgemental, compassionate, accepting response.
Benefits and Practices
- Reduced anxiety and stress in whole family
- Help with social decision making
- Less aggression
- Improve parent-child communication
- Improve satisfaction in family
- More parental involvement with less effort
- Active Listening
- Nonjudgemental acceptance
- Emotional awareness
- Empathy
- Self-awareness
- Self regulation
- Compassion
- Respond constructively
- Develop healthy relationships
- Boost mental wellness
Strategies
- Practice mindfulness personally in the present moment with the child
- Try not to be impulsive with reactions. Acknowledge your emotions before responding.
- Name your feelings
- Slow deep breaths
- Practice active listening with child and express empathy
- Be authoritative but not authoritarian
- Spend unstructured time together
- Practice gratitude