Conscious Parenting is a new style of parenting, which is an incredibly primal and natural way of nurturing our children, through paying more attention to our own inner world as parents, and how that projects onto our children.

The definition of Conscious Parenting is positively acting on our own mental and physical health, which indirectly affects the health and resilience of our little ones.

Conscious Parenting can change the world.

In Conscious Parenting, we lay the foundation through self-reflection. During times of stress, emotional turmoil, or when our triggers are activated, we reflect on our own strong emotions and thoughts on our parenting journey.

I like to to view it as actively raising ourselves, unlearning what we’ve been taught, and re-parenting ourselves to see the world through our children’s eyes. We advocate for autonomous children who possess their own unique personalities, feelings, and morals, rather than believing that we know better, or that our job is to mould them.

Respecting our Children as Independent

By respecting our children as unique individuals and being aware of societal conditioning that’s influenced our behaviour, we can live more harmoniously with them. This prevents them from facing the same confusion and challenges as our past generations, free from outdated teachings and family patterns.

By actively releasing the pain we have inherited, we liberate ourselves from imposing beliefs on our children, allowing them to explore their own identity. This fosters effortless connection, as they feel safe to express their true selves.

To be a Conscious Parent is to release the hierarchy mentality that occurs within many households, where there’s an authority to the parents and a belief that because we are older, we know the best way to live and experience life.

Conscious Parenting transforms us and empowers our children by prioritizing our inner selves as individuals, separate from our parental role, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

What About Conscious Discipline?

In moments requiring discipline, conscious parenting involves mindfully assessing our reactions during intense emotions and self-regulating to avoid addressing the situation in a fight, flight, or freeze state. Learn more about regulating your nervous system here.

When discipline is necessary in our relationship with our children, the key to staying connected, as seen through the lens of conscious parenting, is to establish a safe environment where children feel comfortable expressing their feelings. Once we’ve laid this foundation, we can focus on problem-solving the situation at hand.

To stay connected with our children, we actively listen with open body language. We also assist them in regulating their emotions through activities like co-regulation, expression, spending time in nature, playing, and practicing nervous system regulation techniques like the ones you’ll find below.

By practicing mindfulness, we can better understand our children’s needs and take care of ourselves too.

Conscious parenting is an approach that emphasises mindfulness, empathy, and self-awareness in raising children. It encourages parents to be present, emotionally attuned, and intentional in their interactions with their children.

• Mindfulness: Conscious parenting involves being fully present and engaged with your child in the moment. It means paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, and reactions without judgement, which allows for more thoughtful and deliberate responses to your child’s needs.

• Emotional Awareness: This entails recognizing and understanding your own emotions as well as those of your child. It involves validating your child’s feelings, teaching them emotional intelligence, and helping them express themselves in healthy ways.

• Empathy: Conscious parenting includes empathising with your child’s perspective and experiences. It involves actively listening to your child, considering their feelings and needs, and responding with compassion and understanding.

• Authenticity: Being authentic means being genuine and true to yourself as a parent. It involves acknowledging your strengths and weaknesses, admitting when you make mistakes, and apologising when necessary. Authenticity fosters trust and connection in the parent-child relationship.

• Respect: Conscious parenting prioritises treating children with respect as individuals with their own thoughts, feelings, and autonomy. It involves involving children in decision-making processes, respecting their boundaries, and avoiding punitive or authoritarian approaches.

• Positive Discipline: Instead of punishment or rewards, conscious parenting focuses on positive discipline techniques that teach children responsibility, self-regulation, and problem-solving skills. This may include setting clear boundaries, offering choices, and using natural consequences.

• Intentionality: Conscious parenting encourages parents to be intentional in their actions and decisions regarding their children. It involves considering the long-term impact of parenting choices, setting goals for the parent-child relationship, and aligning actions with values and priorities.

• Self-Care: Taking care of oneself is essential for effective conscious parenting. This includes prioritising physical and emotional well-being, seeking support when needed, and recognizing the importance of self-care in being a present and nurturing parent.

• Lifelong Learning: Conscious parenting recognises that parenting is an ongoing journey of growth and learning. It involves continuously seeking knowledge and skills to improve as a parent, being open to feedback and new perspectives, and adapting strategies as children grow and develop.

Overall, conscious parenting is about cultivating a deep and meaningful connection with your child. This is based on mutual respect, empathy, and understanding, which ultimately fostering their emotional intelligence, resilience, and well-being.

Download your free Nervous System Regulation Guide for you to do with your children here – with 5 Practices.