Gentle Parenting 101 - “I don’t want to spank. I don’t want to yell. So what do I DO??”
Sometimes we hear a lot about what not to do, but not a lot about what TO do. And it's hard to find the time to read all those parenting books while also raising kids! This class will cover tips and strategies for raising great kids in a peaceful and gentle manner. We'll discuss approaches that compassionately break generational cycles.
Week 1: Introductions & Setting the Tone
How our “stuff” plays a part in how we parent and setting the stage for success
Trauma, ACE scores, resilience, and how to break unhealthy cycles
Avoiding the “Trauma Olympics”
Week 2: Ages, Stages, and Brain Development
10 common, lousy parenting pieces of advice to ditch (and what to do instead)
What to expect at all stages and how to best navigate them
Avoiding power struggles and enjoying your child more
The dot & circle metaphor, the feelings wheel, and the dangers of toxic positivity
Tools and strategies that invite more peace to your home
Week 3: Choice, Autonomy, & Privacy
Why rules don’t always work and what to do instead
Their voices matter - how to show it through choice and autonomy
The power of boundaries and respecting privacy
Some surprising parenting advice that is a total game changer
Week 4: Knowing and Honoring Your Kid(s)
How to value and honor who your child is
The value of a growth mindset approach
Why quitting can be a really good thing
Why rewards/punishments don’t work and what to do instead
How to harness the power of Love Languages with your children
Tools, charts, and apps to help strengthen your relationship with your child
Week 5: Communication, Boundaries, and Mutual Respect
How to best communicate with your child
How to avoid sibling rivalry
What we think about “talking back” and “united fronts” (Hint: It’s not what you think!)
More strategies for connection and the value of mutual respect and boundaries
How to keep your child safe from predators
Different kinds of parent-child relationships and which one actually works
Why obedience is problematic and what to do instead
Week 6: Screen Time Considerations
How to truly end screen time battles
The 4 foundational steps to keeping your kid safe and happy online
Tips to ensure balance
What about monitoring apps?
5 tips that are absolute game changers when it comes to screen time
The signs of health screen use
The one and only “rule” you really need to know
Week 7: Sex, Drugs, and Rock-n-Roll
7 guiding principles for talking to your kids about these issues
How and when to prepare your child for puberty
How to have these talks with kids and teens
Tips and tricks to make it easy and comfortable to discuss these topics
The books and websites we highly recommend for different ages
Things to consider about porn, alcohol, and drugs
Week 8: Fun Ideas and Traditions
Truly instilling joy in your parenting
Tons of tips on connecting with your kids individually
Fun ways to connect as a family
Really special ideas for birthdays, routines, special occasions, and holidays
Meaningful relationships and what it means to hold space