#044 Why gentle parenting is about connection instead of control

I talk a lot about connection on the podcast, it is at the heart of the Hand in Hand Parenting approach. And then I realised I’ve never done an episode dedicated to talking about connection.

So here it is - long overdue.

I often hear people ask - what exactly is gentle parenting? Or maybe they call it peaceful parenting, conscious parenting, respectful parenting or attachment parenting.

For me, gentle parenting is all about moving from control-based parenting to connection-based parenting.

Are we trying to control our children’s behaviour or are we trying to build cooperation through relationship and connection?

In this episode I discuss:

• Why gentle parenting means something different for everyone
• What control based parenting is and why it has been the dominant parenting style for so long
• How Hand in Hand Parenting takes a very different approach to understanding children’s behaviour
• The neuroscience of connection and how that impacts on children’s behaviour
• Why we can trust children’s true nature without having to control it
• How to respond to children when they’ve lost their sense of connection
• When connection doesn’t seem to be enough, what else can be getting in the way
• Why it can be so difficult to parent without control, especially when we are exhausted, stressed or under-resourced
• How to put all of these ideas into practice using the Hand in Hand Parenting tools.

To find out more about how to bring more connection and cooperation into your family, sign up to my free Why Your Kids Won't Listen Masterclass and follow me on Instagram and Facebook.