The four elements of gentle parenting
To get to know gentle parenting for beginners, you must know the four elements involved: empathy, respect, understanding, and boundaries. These elements must be involved to fully practice the gentle parenting technique.
Empathy
Using empathy, you look at the situation with a lens of understanding as to why your baby or child may be acting in a certain way. There may be a specific reason behind their actions. Responding to your children with empathy can make a long-lasting impact on them. It can teach them to also consider others’ needs and concerns as they grow up.
Respect
Treating your babies and children with respect will show them what you hope to get back from them. Leveling the playing field with equal respect can help a relationship grow and strengthen. Respectful parenting is not always easy, especially in tense or stressful situations, but the outcome will likely be positive if you stick with it!
Understanding
Understanding is a huge part of gentle parenting, especially for a toddler. You have to work on understanding your child and encouraging their own understanding to raise them to be confident and secure. Maybe your child is someone who needs to eat a bigger lunch and smaller dinner, but if they don’t have that one day, they may act out. If you understand the root of this behavior you can respond with the empathy and respect they need. Importantly—if they’re old enough—you can then help them to understand their own behaviors so that they can meet their own needs in the future.
Boundaries
Many people wonder how to discipline with gentle parenting. But, discipline and boundaries are a crucial part of this parenting style. Parents using this style will set boundaries with their kids through conversation, discussion, and mutual understanding of the boundary. Boundaries are most effective when they are consistent and (when old enough to be understood) communicated.