Positive Parenting

When it comes to parenting young children, it can be easy to fall into the habit of using the words “no” and “don’t” on repeat. Children, after all, do a lot of things we don’t want them to do—drawing on walls, for instance, or going for a ride on the family dog.

Using “no” as the sole approach to communicating boundaries and limits can lead to frustration for all. Hearing a regular chorus of “no” and “don’t” can leave children feeling frustrated with themselves and the adult who is trying to manage their behavior.

However, sometimes parents swing the pendulum too far away from the word “no” by attempting a more gentle parenting approach. While incorporating more gentleness into your parenting style is always a good idea, it can also run the risk of not helping your child change their behavior.

Somewhere between screaming “No!” and being too soft with your approach, there is a third option: telling your baby or toddler exactly what you’d like them to do. By using specific directions and modeling the behavior you want to see, you’ll be able to work with your child in a way that reflects the positive parenting strategy you are probably striving for.
Each of these age-specific examples demonstrates a way of saying no without saying no: