The philosophy of Aware Parenting

Aware Parenting is a philosophy of child-rearing that has the potential to change the world. Based on cutting-edge research and insights in child development, Aware Parenting questions most traditional assumptions about raising children, and proposes a new approach that can profoundly shift a parent's relationship with his or her child. Parents who follow this approach raise children who are bright, compassionate, competent, non-violent, and drug-free.

Aware Parenting is based on the work of Dr. Aletha Solter. For more information, please see Dr. Aletha Solter's books, The Aware Baby, Helping Young Children Flourish, Tears and Tantrums, and Raising Drug-Free Kids.

The 3 aspects of Aware Parenting

The 10 principles of Aware Parenting

The 3 aspects of Aware Parenting

(French version, Spanish version)

Aware Parenting Consists of:

Attachment-style parenting

Natural childbirth and early bonding

Plenty of physical contact

Prolonged breast-feeding

Prompt responsiveness to crying

Sensitive attunement

Non-punitive discipline

No punishments of any kind (including spanking, "time-out", and artificial "consequences")

No rewards or bribes

A search for underlying needs and feelings

Anger management for parents

Peaceful conflict-resolution (family meetings, mediation, etc.)

Healing from stress and trauma

Recognition of stress and trauma (including unmet needs) as primary causes of behavioral and emotional problems

Emphasis on prevention of stress and trauma

Recognition of the healing effects of play, laughter, and crying in the context of a loving parent/child relationship

Respectful, empathic listening and acceptance of children's emotions

The 10 principles of Aware Parenting

(French version, German version, Spanish version)

1. Aware parents fill their children's needs for physical contact (holding, cuddling, etc.). They do not worry about "spoiling" their children.

2. Aware parents accept the entire range of emotions and listen non-judgmentally to children's expressions of feelings. They realize that they cannot prevent all sadness, anger, or frustration, and they do not attempt to stop children from releasing painful feelings through crying or raging.

3. Aware parents offer age-appropriate stimulation, and trust children to learn at their own rate and in their own way. They do not try to hurry children on to new stages of development.

4. Aware parents offer encouragement for learning new skills, but do not judge children's performance with either criticism or evaluative praise.

5. Aware parents spend time each day giving full attention to their children. During this special, quality time, they observe, listen, respond, and join in their children's play (if invited to do so), but they do not direct the children's activities.

6. Aware parents protect children from danger, but they do not attempt to prevent all of their children's mistakes, problems, or conflicts.

7. Aware parents encourage children to be autonomous problem-solvers and help only when needed. They do not solve their children's problems for them.

8. Aware parents set reasonable boundaries and limits, gently guide children towards acceptable behavior, and consider everyone's needs when solving conflicts. They do not control children with bribes, rewards, threats, or punishments of any kind.

9. Aware parents take care of themselves and are honest about their own needs and feelings. They do not sacrifice themselves to the point of becoming resentful.

10. Aware parents strive to be aware of the ways in which their own childhood pain interferes with their ability to be good parents, and they make conscious efforts to avoid passing on their own hurts to their children.

Aware Parenting is based on the work of Dr. Aletha Solter. For more information, please see Dr. Aletha Solter's books, The Aware Baby, Helping Young Children Flourish, Tears and Tantrums, and Raising Drug-Free Kids

Copyright © 1994 by Aletha Solter

This page was created on October 1, 1996; last updated on October 25, 2007. Copyright © 1996-2007 by Aletha Solter. All rights reserved. No part of this web site may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,electronic or mechanical (including copying to other web sites, and including translations), without written permission from Aletha Solter, with the exception of printing pages for personal use. This copyright applies to all the pages and articles from the Aware Parenting Institute web site and Shining Star Press.