WELL PARENT | Do Positive Parenting Techniques Really Work?

Parenting without rewards, bribes, nagging, yelling or taking away screen time? Is it even possible? Many parents hear about Positive Parenting or Positive Discipline and think 'that would never work for my kid'. Well Parent has been running Positive Discipline parenting workshops in Beijing and online for two years. We asked some of the participants about the impact that this course has had on their family life. Thank you to all the people who shared.

  FRANCESCA - MOM OF TWO BOYS 

"I was at a time in my life when I felt I could only scream and couldn’t relate or connect with my kids anymore. I was constantly hearing myself ordering the kids around and losing control if things were not going as planned. I was going to sleep at night thinking how badly I handled the situations, or feeling guilty and ashamed because I punished my kids. I was asking myself why does everything need to be so difficult and stressful, even the smallest tasks to get out the house to go to school?

So when I first heard of Rebecca’s workshop on Positive Discipline, I thought that’s it, I’ve got to try it.

Rebecca helped us navigate many aspects of dealing with kids in a kind and firm way which is so much better and more effective than the screaming and the punishments that I was using before. Through the role play we did in the workshop I finally got a glimpse about how my kids may be feeling when we fight or use a harsh tone.

I learned to connect with them before any correction taking place and to treat them with respect, as you would with any adult in your life.

Positive Discipline has many effective tools: routine charts being one of these. We were able to create it together with our kids and to implement it every morning to get out of the house, efficiently and quickly. I am so grateful for that.

Positive Discipline has helped us to build more trust between us (the parents) and our kid. As a result I can see my eldest son being more playful and relaxed around me, coming to me to talk more, and share his ideas about the things he would like to do during his time with me.

He’s still fighting with his little brother and having his tantrums, but we have learnt to deal with them, and we go through the process of validating the feelings he is having in the moment, recognizing there are no “bad” feelings.

What I loved the most about the workshop was the great feeling of meeting people every week that were experiencing the same kind of issues and problems as me. There was a community feel of not being alone, and we would support each other during the session and in the WeChat group during the hardest times at home.

The Parents Helping Parents part of the session was really helpful. One parent or couple would share their challenge and all the other parents would brainstorm about possible Positive Discipline tools and solutions. This helped me a lot to share the most difficult moments and challenges that we face every day as parents.

Rebecca was there to help and guide us. She has been so resourceful, kind, and patient, to explain and provide many examples to understand better our kids’ behaviors and the Positive Discipline approach. She kept us focused and motivated in this difficult and rewarding journey.

I am inspired by Rebecca’s way of dealing with what seemed problems to me, for her, were more opportunities to learn, and I will always cherish this positive attitude towards my kids and our way of parenting.

I would definitely recommend taking this workshop together with your partner or spouse, it helps a lot to be on the same page when implementing new tools with kids. I want to thank Rebecca for this experience, my family is more relaxed, and we are laughing more and more!"

  CONOR - DAD OF A 'SPIRITED' 3 YEAR OLD  

"From the very first session, I was able to learn and discover new techniques to better engage with my young daughter on her level.  Learning the theme of the course “kind and firm,” gave me the courage and resolve to know when to hold the line but deliver the message in an empathetic manor. 

Parents will be given “Parenting Tool cards,” mechanisms specifically catered to help with a wide range of behavioral issues.  Rebecca explained how to identify the messages hidden underneath our children’s behaviour and therefore be able to better diagnosis the real issues at hand. 

In her weekly summation, Rebecca would employ “Parents Helping Parents” where each parent had the opportunity to raise specific issues they had dealt with during the week and the group brainstormed possible solutions.

Since taking the course, our relationship with our daughter has only strengthened and I believe she feels more comfortable expressing herself to us with honesty and trust.  You will find quickly you are not alone in your struggles and make some new friends in the process :)

I would highly recommend Rebecca Archer’s “Positive Discipline” parenting course to anyone with young children."

  WANT TO JOIN THE NEXT SESSIONS?

  FOR PARENTS OF 5-12 YEAR OLDS  

7-WEEK WORKSHOP SERIES: Tuesday mornings 9:30-11:30am. Nov 30, Dec 7, 14, BREAK, Jan 4, 11, 18, 25.

WHERE: Online using Zoom. Webinars will be recorded so if you miss one, you can catch up.

  FOR PARENTS OF 2-6 YEAR OLDS  

7-WEEK WORKSHOP SERIES: Thursdays morning 9:30-11:30am. Dec 2, Dec 9, 16, BREAK, Jan 6, 13, 20, 27.

WHERE: Sanlitun, Beijing

  PRICE 

2,000RMB / 50% off for prior participants. 

Well Women and Bumps 2 Babes members receive an additional 10% discount.

Get a group of 4 or more together and receive 20% off. 

  WHAT YOU’LL GET  

• 7 x weekly 2 hour workshops with 'Parents Helping Parents' problem-solving session

• Simple weekly tasks to implement in your family life

• Weekly hand out with summaries, reminders, exercises

• Supplementary reading handouts

• Private supportive WeChat community

• Access to monthly ongoing support webinars only for participants who have completed 10 hours of Positive Discipline training.

Scan the QR code to chat with Rebecca or to sign up.

Want to learn more? Check out these articles:

  MEET THE FACILITATOR  

Originally from New Zealand, Well Women Co-Founder Rebecca Archer considers herself a global citizen, and has lived in Australia, Canada, Nigeria and Indonesia and spent time in many more countries. She is just as at home paddling on the Delta Rivers in the Papua New Guinea jungle, as she is eating jianbing on the streets of Beijing. Rebecca is a certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator, Positive Discipline Advanced Trainer Candidate, qualified teacher, and mom of 3 energetic kids. She offers Positive Discipline classes and online workshops to the expat community.