THE AWARE PARENTING PHILOSOPHY 

Being a parent is probably one the most difficult tasks one has to face throughout his adult life. This is mainly because people are not prepared for that role and when they become parents they lack the support needed to overcome daily obstacles. Today in many cases both parents are involved in child rearing and thus parent support has become a necessity not only for mothers but also for fathers.

The Aware Parenting approach to parents' couselling is a parenting philosophy by Dr. Aletha Solter, a Swiss-American developmental psychologist, an expert on attachment, trauma and non-punitive discipline.

In short the aware parenting philosophy is about:

• Patiently and lovingly accept the child’s tears and temper tantrums as a natural way to release stress and pent-up feelings
  
•  Helping children flourish in their own pace following their lead and their cue
  
• Child and parent bonding through attachment play not only during babyhood but throughout childhood
  
• Setting firm limits lovingly
  
• Using non-punitive and non-rewarding discipline methods
  
• Becoming a democratic parent instead of an authoritarian or an over-permissive one
  
• Helping children recover from past traumas through cry, rage and laughter
  
• Trying to figure out ways in which both the child’s and the parent’s needs are met
  
•  Nurturing yourself and taking care of your own needs as a person
  

Parenting is a challenging role. It is a "work" in progress as parents grow and mature along with their children. When a parent gets all the support he needs to meet the daily challenges of being a parent, he will be more capable in bringing up the best in his children.

Venia Delikaterini
June 2014