Parents talk about positive approaches to guiding children’s behaviour.
Parenting doesn't have to be a battleground. It really can just be two people talking about their perspectives, negotiating their way through it.
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Transcript
I don't need to be the one who's got all the power. I can sit down and talk to this little person as if they're a person.
And I'm not the boss. That we can get through this together. It's a democracy that we live in. So, I think if you see your family more in that way, where we can sit down and negotiate.
It's different to giving in all the time to their demands. It's making sure that everyone gets what they need and what they want.
My job is to support and guide my child through life, not to direct them and be a disciplinarian.
Parenting doesn't have to be a battleground. It really can just be two people talking about their perspectives, negotiating their way through it, and coming to an outcome which hopefully satisfies both of you. Knowing that sometimes, unfortunately for kids, what parents want to happen is what needs to happen.
And that's been okay too, because we've just said sometimes, I acknowledge where you're at and what you'd like to do and we can look at doing that at another time and another place, because we know it's important to you. But right now, we need to do this and most of the time they’re really understanding.
The concern was if I'm soft, he’s going to take advantage of it. But I found that it wasn't the case.
I was surprised that he became more cooperative when I gave him an instruction rather than an order. To get the feeling that he was deciding to do it, not because I forced him to do it. And this satisfies his pride.
You can find out more information about positive approaches to guiding behaviour on the Parenting SA website.