What is the Conscious Discipline Philosophy of Parenting?
Parenting can be challenging and doesn’t always come naturally. To help ensure that our children have a solid foundation to a lifetime of healthy relationships, I recommend learning about and applying the principles of Conscious Discipline.
Conscious Discipline is a parenting philosophy that can help us build healthy relationships with our children. It is an approach to parenting that is trauma-informed and evidence-based. It aims to teach children how to regulate and handle their emotions, allowing them to make healthy and safe decisions for themselves. For many parents, it is essential that they first learn to regulate and control their own emotions before they can help their children do the same.
Conscious Discipline often differs from the kind of discipline many of us grew up with. Instead of punishment or dismissal being the main way we deal with our children’s emotions, we should aim to connect with them and help them understand why they are feeling the way they are.
Additionally, Conscious Discipline teaches us, as parents and caregivers, to control our own emotional responses to our children throwing tantrums or going through difficult phases. When we can control and hold back our emotional responses, we can be more present to help our children and connect to them.
By following the Conscious Discipline philosophy of parenting, you can build healthy relationships with your children by removing the element of frustration from everyday parenting experiences. Instead, all of our interactions with our children can become moments for learning, connecting, and understanding.
At the end of the day, helping children build their emotional strength will allow them to develop more effective coping strategies and stronger social skills – benefits that will last a lifetime of healthy relationships.
Matthew A. Webster, MA, MS, ED.D, LPC
Martin Counseling, PLLC in Katy, TX.
Dr. Matt Webster is a professional educator, nutritionist, and therapist located in the Houston, Texas area. He specializes in couples therapy, sexuality, and maladaptive eating patterns with a focus on the role of nutrition. More About Matt >>
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