For as long as I have been a mom, it seems punishment and praise have been the subject of much debate.
A revolution is happening in parenting today.
Science has validated what many have known for years - that connection trumps control.
This focus on building children's emotional intelligence contradicts behaviorist theories, which use punitive measures and evaluations to control children’s behavior.
[Update: I wrote this when my daughter was 3. She's 12 now (2018), and she is still kind, compassionate, and even more emotionally intelligent, responsible, hardworking, and self-regulated (her teacher's words - not mine). She's experienced many consequences in her life, but she's never been punished. I say all this not to brag about my kid, but because our kids don't need punishment to understand right from wrong. They don't need to feel punitive adult-imposed pain to learn. In fact, they learn better when we stick with limits and natural consequences.
Being a conscious parent can be frustrating. Using empathy instead of punishment isn't a magical fix, and there is no simple path to growth.
We must remain present in the moment while also staying thoughtful, compassionate, and creative to get everyone through the moment.
