Positive Parenting Strategies

When parents take an active role in therapy, it allows the child or adolescent to have a strong support system that will meet their needs when it is time to leave therapy. Positive parenting techniques can help parents feel equipped with the tools they need to build positive relationships with their children. In individual sessions with caregivers, a therapist can teach tangible skills that can be effectively implemented at home after the in office session has ended.

Skills that are typically taught are:

• Specific praise – Look for the good and reinforce it!  This strategy helps children know exactly what is working and what your expectations are.  We are all more likely to repeat behaviors for which we receive praise.

 

• Active ignoring – Ignore the behaviors that you do not want to see any longer.  This can be hard when your child is doing these right in front of you; however, it is important to give as little attention to unwanted behaviors as possible to reduce the occurrence of that behavior

 

• Using natural consequences – When possible, let your child have natural consequences for their actions without implementing your own.

 

• Setting consistent limits – Be clear on your boundaries and do not make exceptions.  Unclear boundaries and expectations increase confusion and frustration for both you and your child.

 

• Emotional coaching – Identifying and expressing feelings is a skill that is taught.  You can become your child’s own best teacher through the use of emotional coaching strategies that also help to shape behavior.

 

In addition, parents must also explore their own stress and how this is influencing reactions and interactions with children. In our parenting sessions at Stillpoint, we provide the caregiver with a space to process their own emotional content, as well as teach distress tolerance skills and emotional regulation tools that can be used at home. As they say, when momma (or daddy or grandma or granddad or aunty, etc) is happy, everyone is happy!

Parenting is HARD! There is no rule book or instruction manual. At Stillpoint, we understand the challenges that parents face, and we are here to support you in feeling confident with your parenting skills. We want to help you find joy as you parent and as you build a relationship with your children.