There is no wrong way to raise your kid. There are so many different styles, and a lot of it can be overwhelming to understand. Plus, there is a lot of mixed advice, and confusion on what the style actually is. For example, gentle parenting often gets confused with permissive parenting.
Many parents feel like they need to commit to one parenting technique, but that’s not true at all. I myself plan to use a mix of different methods based on my child’s needs. I’m not going to outline techniques that are wildly seen as negative, such as Authoritarian style parenting where the parent decides everything with no input from their child. However, I will be reviewing a few popular techniques and how you can implement them.
Authoritative
People confuse this method with authoritarian quite a bit, but they are pretty different. This method involves a lot of structure, which can be very beneficial to children. Schedules, classes, bedtime routines, all of that has been proven to be good for development. However, unlike authoritarian parenting, this style also has a lot of flexibility. The idea of it is that you work around your child’s needs and meet them where they are. Your children have input, and can decide what classes and sports they want to be involved in, and discuss their needs often.
The best way to use Washtenaw County resouces for this parenting technique is to make use of extracurricular activities. You can sign them up for classes, sports, and other activities based on their needs. You can also lean into the Ann Arbor Center for any mental health support your child may need.
Attachment-based parenting
Attachment-based parenting is used to form an attachment to the parents. This can look like contact naps, talking through emotions and always being there for your child’s needs. Some people confuse both this and gentle parenting as having no boundaries, but that isn’t the case. The main point of this is having a secure attachment style and your child always knowing they are safe with their caregivers.
Strong Roots is perfect for this style since they have pillars that follow this type of parenting. As for classes, there are music and swim classes that include both the parent and child that can help foster that sense of attachment.
Gentle parenting / Montessori
Gentle parenting is about following your child’s lead while expressing positive boundaries. It involves a lack of yelling, recognizing children’s behavior as simply being children and helping them through their big emotions in a gentle way.
This doesn’t mean you never say no to your child. It only means you meet them where they are. It steers away from punishment and works more in the realm of “what can we do better next time?”
Related: Back to School the Gentle Parenting Way — 10 Suggestions for Smooth Routines
If you’re looking to gentle parent and want some resources in Washtenaw County, you should turn to the Montessori method. Montessori is quite similar since it’s a bit more child-led.
It pushes for independence and letting children learn how to do things hands-on, including making their own food (age appropriately), discovering things on their own, and pursuing whatever interests the child.
There are multiple Montessori schools in Washtenaw County, but you can also incorporate so many trails and parks. You can have your kids pick up trash on a trail, or discuss different flowers that you see.
I plan on incorporating this by growing vegetables as well, and teaching my daughter that process from start to finish. A great way to do that would be joining a Community Garden.
Waldorf
Waldorf is all about imagination. A lot of the early stages of this is about play and exploration. There is usually a lot of art involved, as well as pretend-time and play like dressing up as fairies, telling stories or creating something new.
As your child grows, this play continues but is more structured. It uses music and art to tell stories. For example, photosynthesis might be told as the story of a specific plant.
Since my daughter is young, my plans for incorporating the Waldorf method have a lot to do with the fairies in Ann Arbor. There are fairies doors in Ann Arbor and some surrounding counties. Having her be involved in our own fairy garden and always looking out for fairies creates this ongoing story.
I also plan on introducing her to plays, letting her be immersed in art, and tell whatever stories she wants to tell, but one of the driving forces will be the idea that there is magic.
There are other methods out there, of course, but these are some of the most popular right now. I love to dabble in different techniques and mix and match for my child’s needs.
