What Is Active Parenting?

Active parenting is a philosophy that encourages parents to be actively involved in their children's lives. Learn more about the benefits of active parenting and how you can get started today!

Key Takeaways

  • Active parenting means being involved in your child's life and encourages open communication.
  • Active parenting helps children build self-confidence and problem solving skills.
  • Adlerian parental education aims to focus on teaching parents how to foster a healthy relationship with their child and instil in them beliefs of self esteem and encouragement.

What are some examples of active parenting?

Active parenting means spending time with them, actively listening to their thoughts and feelings, and communicating openly with them. It also includes setting limits and expectations that are age-appropriate, teaching children how to resolve conflicts, monitoring their activities, involving them in family life, showing affection through physical contact, laughing and joking together, providing encouragement and guidance for learning new skills, helping kids discover the hidden value of mundane tasks such as chores and managing money.

Most importantly, active parenting requires regular conversations about what’s happening in the family home – it’s an opportunity to demonstrate how to handle difficult situations in a respectful manner while demonstrating warmth and emotional stability.

Family together in the kitchen

How can active parenting help my child?

Taking an active role in parenting your little one is necessary to provide them with tools and support to help build self-confidence and psychological resilience which will benefit them into adulthood.

Active parenting proves that you are truly invested in their life, safety, and wellbeing; it also gives the opportunity for children to voice their needs and perspectives, enabling good communication between parent and child.

Spending quality time with your child to actively participate in constructive conversations, playing age-appropriate games or listening to music stimulates their developing minds, resulting in a healthy emotional connection between parent and child.

This can also include activities like attending school events as well as providing consistent discipline while still making room for learning situations.

What is adlerian parenting theory?

Adlerian theory is the psychological approach developed by Dr. Alfred Adler that focuses on a person's unique view of the world and their striving for happiness and fulfillment. This same philosophy applies to parenting skills, where the main aim is helping children develop as contributing members of society.

Although there are no one-size-fits all approaches, Adlerian parenting emphasizes positive reinforcement, offering guidance through discussion and problem solving rather than punishment or avoidance. If an issue arises, the focus should be on open dialogue between parent and child guided by a mutual respect.

Ultimately, parents who use Adlerian principles will strive to provide children with a feeling of belonging and significance in order to nurture strong self-esteem and confidence.

Mom and son joking around

What is unique about adlerian parent education programs?

Adlerian Parent Education Programs provide a positive, client-centred approach to parenting. These programs focus on teaching parents how to foster a healthy relationship with their child and instil in them beliefs of self esteem and encouragement.

This type of parenting education program recognizes that each family is unique and offer strategies tailored to individual needs while also showing techniques such as problem-solving approaches, developing positive routines and proactively assessing the benefit of certain approaches.

In general, this is a parenting education program designed to be beneficial for all families as they ensure children grow up feeling secure in their relationships, supported to face challenges and understand that mistakes can lead to learning opportunities.

Active parenting: Building good behavior instead of responding to bad times

How can family members assist in active parenting?

Family has the responsibility to provide a supportive environment for both parents and children. This support can come in many forms, from providing knowledge and resources on parenting concerns, offering assistance with the daily tasks of running a home, to attending events and activities together as a family.

These actions allow for deeper relationships and bonds to form that nurture meaningful conversations. When it comes to raising children, emphasizing love, communication, limit setting and positive encouragement through family unity can ensure healthy development of children. Ultimately, by having active support from family members, both parents can be confident they are doing their very best at parenting!

Dad running around outside with his small daughter

What is the difference between active parenting and positive parenting?

Active parenting and positive parenting might sound similar but, in reality, there are a few major differences. Active parenting involves setting rules and actively following through to make sure they are being followed, whereas positive parenting focuses on fostering healthy relationships between parent and child as well as developing social skills.

An active parent might use punishment such as taking away privileges or grounding their child if the rules are broken while a positive parent would be more likely to talk through the issue with their child to help them better understand why their behavior needs to change.

Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages with active parenting giving order and structure while positive parenting emphasizes communication and understanding that can create long lasting positive growth in the relationship between parent and child.

What are natural and logical consequences?

Natural consequences occur naturally in response to the child’s actions - for example, feeling hungry if they have skipped dinner, or getting wet after playing outside without rain gear.

Logical consequences give the child choices that can lead to desired outcomes and help them learn from their mistakes.

Both types of consequence have overlapping goals – teaching responsibility, accountability, problem solving skills and decision-making capabilities as well as prevention of challenging behaviors.

Even though this may often feel harsher than traditional punitive methods of discipline - when used consistently with guidance and love - they can be an incredibly powerful tool for active parenting!

Happy mom at the dining room table with son and daughter

Does an active parenting style contribute to school success?

Studies demonstrate that when parents are involved in their child's schooling--through attending parent-teacher conferences, participating in school activities, and etc.--they feel more connected and empowered by their educational environment.

Those who have this connection tend to feel affirmed by their parent's support and may strive harder to excel academically resulting in more school success later on. This doesn't necessarily mean children must have 'helicopter' parents who hover over them all the time; rather, by simply talking about school and showing interest in what they're learning, you as a parent can make a real difference in your child's academic attainment.

Family learning and playing together

Our final thoughts on active parenting

Active parenting can be summed up in one key principle: lead by example. Parents who show their children how they should behave, manage stress, and interact with others at home demonstrate the importance of these values to their kids.

When left to their own devices, children often don't think of how their decisions or actions may affect others—active parenting is essential to teaching children compassion and empathy. Additionally, actively engaging with your child and being attentive to their needs strengthens family bonds and encourages development.

Active parenting requires effort, but it paves the way for healthy relationships throughout a child's life.

Also Read: Cognitive Development In Babies
Mom outside with a baby and a small child
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