Good parenting means being responsive to the hand you’ve been dealt.
-Dr. Ross W. Greene
I really enjoy reading articles about parenting and the latest fads regarding families and bringing up children.
There have been a lot of information thrown at parents, in particular in the last 10 years or so. So many theories and ideas. Some work and others don't.
The most important thing is to find what works for your family and that is not always easy. Also, each child is different and has different needs so one approach that fits all is generally possible.
I came across Dr. Ross Greene recently and really like what he teaches. His approach to dealing with behaviourally challenging kids seems so logical and makes sense. It has been tried with huge success in schools and homes in America and I would love to see it here too.
By meeting a challenging child with empathy and willingness to find solutions, the child learns coping strategies and how to solve these situations by themselves. Every child prefers to do well and when encourage and heard, they will do their utmost to do so. It's counter productive to punish and discipline when we don't know what their frustration is about. We and them have to understand the reason behind the behaviour and then teach the child to solve it themselves. With these coping skills, they can learn to handle difficult situations and grow to become independent and responsible.
By asking specific questions we can find out what the lagging skills are and then define the unsolved problem. Include details related to who, what, where, and when. Ask; What expectation is the child having difficulty meeting?
For more information please go to https://www.livesinthebalance.org/paperwork
It's worth the read.
