The gentle parenting approach may work in the favor of our Black children and help them navigate life's adversities with confidence.
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As a Black Mama, I often worry about how my son will be treated when he is old enough to go to school and starts venturing out into the world without me always being present. Sadly, we Black mothers understand the reality of the prejudices and injustices that our children may face outside of the home. Gentle parenting has become an increasingly popular parenting style, and in many ways, it is a great parenting method to help prepare our Black children for life.
Gentle parenting focuses on listening to our children’s concerns and perspectives, understanding their feelings and validating those emotions. This style of parenting encourages empathy and helps build trust with our children where they feel they can have honest conversations about difficult topics. In addition, it creates an safe environment where children feel heard, respected and valued — all essential attitudes that will help our Black kids tackle whatever adversity they encounter in the world.
Gentle parenting also strengthens our children's confidence in their capacity to handle hard things and to know that their voice matters regardless of what anyone says to them. Gentle parenting teaches practical strategies such as asking questions, brainstorming solutions, and taking action, which helps equip them with the tools they will need to feel empowered to respond effectively and appropriately even in oppressive situations.
As mothers of Black children, we have to be conscious about how we are preparing our kids for what lays ahead of them. By using gentle parenting techniques, we can create strong foundations on which our children can build on. From active listening to presenting critical thinking skills in an age-appropriate manner, gentle parenting is an invaluable tool when raising strong Black children in an era where prejudice is still rampant.
If you're interested in learning more about gentle parenting, check out Raising Good Humans by Hunter Clarke-Fields.
