Is 'gentle parenting' good for your child's mental health? How to make it work

What is the right way to raise a child in today's world? Throw this question to the winds, and a million opinions will rise in response. However, the generation of parents today, especially those who have experienced tough parents and their punishments, often prefer to be gentle parents themselves. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the gentle parenting style aims to raise happy, confident, independent children through respect, empathy and healthy boundaries. It prioritises age-appropriate development. 

What's wrong with traditional parenting style?
Traditional parenting thrives on power dynamics and controls the child through punishment. This style emphasises dominance, and the parents' decisions are forced on the child. Studies show that traditional parenting styles may not be enough to raise children into well-mannered adults. 

Gentle parenting focuses on developing qualities such as kindness, respect, and emotional stability in children. Instead of harsh punishment, this method helps the parents understand the reasons behind certain behaviour and guides them to positive decision-making skills. Moreover, gentle parenting fosters a close emotional bond between the child and the parent.

Trying to understand the real reason behind the child’s arrogance and anger will help them develop emotional intelligence. It wouldn’t be wise to react the same way back to the child if he/she gets angry or arrogant. Peaceful conversations will improve the child’s ability to control themselves. Besides, open conversations will build a strong bond between the child and the parents, grounded in trust and respect. So, a gentle parenting style plays a key role in making the child confident.

How gentle parenting helps
Children who are used to gentle parenting have the ability for self-control, brim with confidence and possess impressive emotional intelligence, according to experts. A strong, loving bond is nurtured between the child and the parents, leading to long-term emotional growth and stability. Moreover, it affects the child's emotional development and mental health. 

Patience is key
For gentle parenting to work, parents need to have incredible patience and consistency. It would be difficult to show patience and restraint in certain stressful situations. Gentle parenting should be adopted only if the parents have the time and patience to practice it consistently, as the sudden shift to another parenting style will fill the child with a looming sense of insecurity.

Each child is different; so, a unique parenting style that sets strict boundaries while exhibiting kindness will yield good results. It is important to understand that the ultimate aim of parenting is not to control your child's behaviour. Instead, it is to raise them to become kind and responsible adults.