Growing children is not so different from growing plants. Mandy shares why.  Read More…

1 Comment | Posted in Consensual Living, Featured, Gentle Discipline, Parenting Philosophies

The parental united front builds a brick wall, with the children locked out on the other side. When you change that to a united family, an entirely different view of problem-solving and collaboration opens up. You are forced to confront your true needs and reasons behind a direction. When those are clear, then you work together as a united family–parents and children–against the problem, with a large opening to see fresh solutions that were outside our own narrow perspective. It is amazing how talking through an issue can help everyone gets their needs met.
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1 Comment | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Balance, Consensual Living, Equally Shared Parenting, Family Structure, Featured, Gentle Discipline, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity

I sympathize with those who feel the impulse to spank or use other forms of corporal punishment and controlling discipline, but encourage all parents to seek an alternative to violence by responding with sensitivity and honoring anger before it becomes harmful.  Read More…

6 Comments | Posted in Gentle Discipline, Responding With Sensitivity

When I first began learning about gentle parenting, I spent a lot of time on parenting boards soaking up the experience and perspective of veteran moms. I noticed right away that the so-called terrible twos were viewed with nonchalance. Three, on the other hand? It is a tough age.  Read More…

19 Comments | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Gentle Discipline, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity, Routines and Schedules

A look at how parents can gently and warmly encourage young children toward independent play.  Read More…

4 Comments | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Balance, Gentle Discipline, Natural Learning, Parenting Philosophies, Playtime, Responding With Sensitivity

Children in time-out are not learning new coping or communication skills which they can use to solve problems and conflicts. What are they learning?  Read More…

5 Comments | Posted in Gentle Discipline

Charise shares five guidelines she tries to follow in order to foster her son’s individuation while still maintaining her attachment parenting principles.  Read More…

Leave a comment | Posted in Gentle Discipline

An NPN reader asks for advice (with a twist!) on gentle discipline.  Read More…

3 Comments | Posted in Balance, Gentle Discipline

My kids haven’t always had the best table manners and for many years I was okay with that. I didn’t want to force my two year old to sit through a long family dinner, and I didn’t want to make my three year old eat all the food on her plate. I was fine if my four year old wanted to stand and wiggle around between bites, and I was okay with my six year old forgetting to clear her plate. But now that my two daughters are 4 1/2 and 7, my leniency over the years is starting to show.  Read More…

3 Comments | Posted in Cleaning and Organizing, Consistent Care, Gentle Discipline, Homeschooling, Natural Learning, Practical Home Help, Routines and Schedules

Respect is a hard lesson to learn, both for child and parent. The common consensus in our society is that children must respect adults simply because they are the authority figures. I have never agreed with this idea, and knew before becoming a parent that it wouldn’t be the case for me. I believe a parent should earn respect by being equally respectful.  Read More…

3 Comments | Posted in Gentle Discipline, Responding With Sensitivity