Growing Great Relationships

We Choose Our Behavior

jane — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 11:30:43 +0000

In order to understand why our children misbehave we must figure out how their behavioral choices are need fulfilling even when those choices bring negative results. Family Centered Parenting provides a framework for figuring out what needs your children are … Continue reading →

Spanking Doesn’t Work

jane — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:30:06 +0000

Many parents believe that a quick spank is an efficient way to correct a child’s misbehavior. In Family Centered Parenting we explain the difference between efficient and effective. We believe that although spanking is efficient it is not effective discipline. It is a punishment that never gets to the root of the misbehavior. Also spanking teaches kids that physical violence is an appropriate way to solve a problem.

Negotiate is Not a Dirty Word

jane — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:30:51 +0000

Some parents think that negotiating with their children erodes their authority as parents. In Family Centered Parenting, we attempt to teach parents how to negotiate win-win solutions to issues with their children. When children participate in rule setting their input … Continue reading →

Family Centered Parenting Fits a Variety of Family Situations

jane — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:30:19 +0000

Family Centered Parenting is more a process than a program and is sufficiently flexible to be adapted to variety of family situations – single parents, special needs children, gifted and talented children, blended families and ranges in age of children.

Learn Family Centered Parenting Actively

jane — Wed, 30 May 2012 11:30:18 +0000

Family Centered Parenting is more than a narrative, it contains real-life examples, dialogues and activities to help parents refine their skills and grown in confidence as they navigate the parenting journey.

Don’t parent from the seat of your pants

jane — Mon, 28 May 2012 11:30:07 +0000

We often approach parenting reflexively, relying on what we learned from how we were parented. Family Centered Parenting offers families a model which will help parents develop a parenting style that reflect their unique values while providing guidelines, strategies and … Continue reading →

Kids Don’t Arrive With An Instruction Book

jane — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:54:45 +0000

Children don’t arrive with an instruction book. Raising children and providing for their physical as well as emotional need is a difficult job for which we receive little training. Family Centered Parenting is your guidebook for growing great families.

Tell Them What You Need

jane — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 12:00:33 +0000

This is an example of a parent making her needs known so as to change the status quo in the life of a family. “I must tell all of you how I feel lately. I am unhappy and frustrated in my role as a mother. The way we communicate with each other, with frequent arguments and threats, is personally very upsetting. I don’t feel our love, caring and support for each other coming through. I would like to see this family as place where we all feel connected to each other in a close and positive way. I see our family as a kind of sanctuary from the hardships of life and a place to get the energy to face the challenges life presents. I am committed to doing what is necessary to work with you to make this happen. How about it?”

Persistence And Patience

jane — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:00:05 +0000

It is safe to say that implementing Family Centered Parenting will require persistence and patience but that the rewards will far outweigh the effort needed to bring about change. Clearly, those families with relatively young children will have an easier time because the status quo is not yet entrenched. Logically, therefore, families with teenagers will likely experience the greatest resistance to change. In these families patterns and habits are well established. On the other hand, older children do have additional life experiences to bring to the table. Furthermore, the conflicts surrounding the management of teenagers in of itself are often of sufficient magnitude to alter the status quo. This creates the opportunity for change and the creation of new systems within the family.

Parents Are The Change Agents

jane — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:28:55 +0000

The status quo can evolve into a pattern of inconsistent fulfillment of responsibilities, parental disapproval, punishment and no change in the overall pattern. Disrupting the status quo by adopting Family Centered Parenting practices will require an initial investment of extra time and energy by parents. Remember that punishment is quicker. Therefore a child will most likely resist having to examine his behavior and to commit to a plan for change. As parents we often experience the dissatisfaction with the status quo before our children. We might have an image of a harmonious family in our minds, either as a result of our own growing up or an ideal we have set for ourselves. Our children might have never experienced or imagined this possibility. Their reality is the day to day life of the current family. Therefore, a parent will most likely be the proponent of change before the children. If this is the case, and it often is, there will be resistance and suspicion about implementing Family Centered Parenting.