Positive Parenting Tips

3 Tips to help you and your little ones get off on the right foot.

Parents want the best for their children. A good, early start that begins at birth offers the best opportunity for families to develop strong and secure relationships. Here are a few tips for positive parenting practices to help you and your little ones get off on the right foot!

3 Positive Parenting Tips

1. Not Just Praise, but Encouragement 

Positive parenting focuses on empowering your child. It’s common to use praising statements with your child, saying things like “You did great!” or “You’re so good at drawing”. With encouragement, you focus your words on the positive action, behavior, or improvement you’d like to promote, rather than only on the result. For example, instead of just using the praise, “I’m so proud of you!”, you can try saying, “You used the potty on your own, good job!”. Encouragement teaches them to be proud of themselves because of what they have accomplished or done without the need for praise from others. 

2. Setting Boundaries vs Control

Boundaries give your child a sense of security and contribute to their well-being. Control on the other hand can make your child feel unhappy, confused, and anxious. Healthy boundaries with your child can look like setting a bedtime, limiting screen time, or having rules about homework and chores. Setting these boundaries with kindness, using encouragement, and leading by example can help teach your child how to be mutually respectful, appropriate, and caring in any relationship. Boundaries are specific and predictable, while to your children control can feel like rules without a purpose or meaning.  

3. Creating Routines

Familiar activities can provide comfort for both adults and children during challenging and uncertain times. Just like for adults, routines give infants and toddlers a sense of safety, security, and stability. Young children gain an understanding of everyday events and procedures and learn what is expected of them as routines make their environment more predictable. A daily routine with your child can be as simple as having a certain bath time routine, a set bedtime, or family playtime.  

Ready to Learn More?

At Champions, Our Positive Parenting & Partnership (P3) program helps parents learn the skills to be the best parent they can be! The program has a free 8-week workshop to help parents gain the tools, skills, and confidence they need to improve their family relationships, like encouraging positive behavior, managing problem behavior, improving communication, and resolving conflicts. To learn more and sign up, visit: https://cfctb.org/program/positive-parenting-partnership/
You can also call our Parent Warm Line for live, no-cost parenting support. The warm line is answered by one of our parenting experts who will answer your questions, share advice, help you enroll in our programs, or connect you hassle-free to someone who can help. Call 813-673-4646 ext. 7, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.

Links to Resources:
Encouragement vs Praise
Boundaries vs Control
Setting Routines