By: Heather S. Lonczak, Ph.D. | 6/12/2021

"Most adults will become parents at some point in their lives (i.e., around 89.6% of the adult population worldwide; Ranjan, 2015).

And while most of us strive to be great parents, we may also find ourselves confused and frustrated by the seemingly endless challenges of parenthood.

As both parents of toddlers and teenagers can attest, such challenges are evident across all developmental stages.

But there is good news— numerous research-supported tools and strategies are now available for parents. These resources provide a wealth of information for common parenting challenges (i.e., bedtime issues, picky eating, tantrums, behavior problems, risk-taking, etc.); as well as the various learning lessons that are simply part of growing up (i.e., starting school, being respectful, making friends, being responsible, making good choices, etc.).

With its focus on happiness, resilience and positive youth development; the field of positive psychology is particularly pertinent to discussions of effective parenting. Thus, whether you are a parent who’s trying to dodge potential problems; or you are already pulling your hair out— you’ve come to the right place.

This article provides a highly comprehensive compilation of evidence-based positive parenting techniques. These ideas and strategies will cover a range of developmental periods, challenges, and situations. More specifically, drawing from a rich and robust collection of research, we will address exactly what positive parenting means; its many benefits; when and how to use it; and its usefulness for specific issues and age-groups.

This article also contains many useful examples, positive parenting tips, activities, programs, videos, books, podcasts – and so much more. By learning from and applying these positive parenting resources; parents will become the kind of parents they’ve always wanted to be: Confident, Optimistic, and even Joyful.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Relationships Exercises for free. These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients build healthy, life-enriching relationships.

What is Positive Parenting?
Before providing a definition of positive parenting, let’s take a step back and consider what we mean by “parents.” While a great deal of parenting research has focused on the role of mothers; children’s psychosocial well-being is influenced by all individuals involved in their upbringing.

Such caregivers might include biological and adoptive parents, foster parents, single parents, step-parents, older siblings, and other relatives and non-relatives who play a meaningful role in a child’s life. In other words, the term “parent” applies to an array of individuals whose presence impacts the health and well-being of children (Juffer, Bakermans-Kranenburg & van Ijzendoorn, 2008).

Thus, any time the terms “parent” or “caregiver” are used herein; they apply to any individuals who share a consistent relationship with a child, as well as an interest in his/her well-being (Seay, Freysteinson & McFarlane, 2014).
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Fortunately, parenting research has moved away from a deficit or risk factor model towards a more positive focus on predictors of positive outcomes (e.g., protective factors). Positive parenting exemplifies this approach by seeking to promote the parenting behaviors that are most essential for fostering positive youth development (Rodrigo, Almeida, Spiel, & Koops, 2012)."

By: Pregnancy and Postpartum TV | August 12, 2021

'These are great daily pregnancy stretches (a stretch routine) to keep away pregnancy aches and pains and help pregnancy symptoms. Guide to cope with pain in labor: http://bit.ly/31MnU5Q 5-min warm-up to do before this stretch routine: https://youtu.be/bJSrELdWksM "

By: Science Insider | October 17, 2021

"High-risk obstetricians Laura Riley and Dena Goffman debunk 16 postpartum myths. They talk about how breastfeeding will not prevent pregnancy, why baby bumps don't disappear right after you give birth, and how breastfeeding doesn't always come naturally. They also debunk the myth that you'll need to keep having C-sections if you've previously had one.

Riley is the chair of OB-GYN at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. She specializes in maternal fetal medicine. You can learn more about her work here: https://weillcornell.org/laura-e-rile...

Goffman is the chief of obstetrics at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia University. She is also a maternal fetal medicine specialist. You can learn more about her work here: https://www.columbiaobgyn.org/profile..."

By Lauren Hale | December 15, 2015

"Jingle bells, jingle bells, mama had a baby. Now she’s sad but she must look glad, oh my will she ever survive?
Oh, the holidays. The holidays when we are supposed to be so happy, festive, and joyous even when we do not feel up to the task at hand. Sound familiar, my fellow Perinatal Mental Health mamas? I don’t know about you, but I dreaded the holidays when I was in the thick of it. Dreaded them.

When we are in the midst of a battle for our mental health, for our sanity, it isn’t simple to choose peace. We cannot choose peace any more than someone who has cancer can choose to be cancer free. We wait and hope for the best, hope for a light at the end of the tunnel. Once we find our light, however, we carry it with us through our lives and it makes us a stronger person. It changes us deep down.

Hard days make me grateful for my experience with Postpartum Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Grateful that despite the horrid darkness into which I sank, I rose above it with the help of others. I am grateful for the silence and the magic of the world around me and being able to choose to see the beauty instead of ruminating on the what ifs of chaos.
Speaking of chaos, as we head into the holiday season, many are struggling to keep anxiety and other issues at bay due to the increased social expectations. Above all else, please remember to take care of yourselves.
Here are a few tips to help keep your holidays (and you) sane.
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Holiday survival tips for moms with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders

• Know your boundaries. Defend them. If you are visiting others, scope out the location when you first arrive for a quiet corner to which you can escape if that chest-tightening ball swells suddenly in your chest and throat. (Bathrooms are fabulous for this as no one questions it!) Have a friend you trust on standby to text if things start to get intense. Or, heck, use an emergency phone call to rush out of there.
• Remember to breathe. Deeply. Breath is essential. It does far more than keep us alive. Deep breathing helps us soothe anxiety.
• Talk with your loved ones, particularly your partner or someone you are close to; develop an exit strategy if things get too overwhelming.
• Do not be afraid to say no to a gathering if you know it will be too much for you. See the first tip—know your boundaries.
• Do not answer questions you do not want to. Remember that you are not required to give an intimate description of how you are doing unless you are up to it. Change the subject. Or better yet, smile and walk away. Maybe to that quiet corner."