Strength-based Parenting Style Helps Kids Become More Resilient.

Professor Lea Waters of the Melbourne Graduate School of Education published her findings on parenting styles and coping with stress.

In the journal, ‘Psychology’, the author concluded that children who are raised through strength-based parenting grow up better able to deal with stress.  The paper shares that children raised by parents who emphasise their strengths are more likely to develop better coping abilities.

When parents are able to amplify the abilities and talents of the son or daughter, it builds confidence in them so that later on, they cope better when they are faced with the stresses of teen and adult life. 

The paper highlights positive parenting that builds on children's resources as well as confidence. "Strength-based parenting is an approach where parents deliberately identify and cultivate positive states, processes and qualities in their children," Waters continued. 

By knowing and developing a child's skills, children are able to react positively to stress and minimizes the likelihood of children resorting to avoidance or aggressive coping responses.

"While the importance of providing love and emotional support to children is well understood, we now know the importance of deliberately identifying and building strengths in our children."

Some of the personality aspects that parents can observe and further develop include courage, kindness, and humour. In terms of skills, a strength-based approach to parenting can bolster your child's communication skills as well as capacity for problem solving. 

Knowing the beneficial effects and strength-building potential that the style offers, sheds light on the potentials of positive psychology parenting approaches. This method of parenting is a field that is worthy of more research. 

The paper is titled, "The relationship between strength-based parenting with children's stress levels and strength-based coping approaches." 

Adapted from an article in the ParentHerald.com

Jo offers workshops on Strength-based Parenting. Get in touch with her to book your workshop for your P&C or to find out when the next workshop is going to run. You will find further information on the SPAK website https://strengthbasedparentingandkids.com.au