What is Positive Discipline?
Positive Discipline: A Path to Connection and Growth
Positive Discipline, inspired by the principles of Adlerian psychology, is a relationship-focused approach that guides parents, teachers, couples, and community leaders in fostering respectful, responsible, and resourceful relationships. Popularized through the Positive Discipline book series by Jane Nelsen, Lynn Lott, and others, this model supports adults and children alike in building meaningful connections, which are key to personal and communal growth.
Core Principles of Positive Discipline
Positive Discipline is built around five core criteria that nurture a child’s sense of belonging and value within their community. These criteria apply just as effectively to adults and shape how we interact with one another. Here’s a look at these guiding principles:
Fostering Connection: The approach emphasizes belonging and significance, helping children feel valued.
Kindness and Firmness Together: Positive Discipline balances kindness with firmness, providing guidance that’s both respectful and structured.
Focusing on Long-Term Growth: It encourages a look at what children are learning, feeling, and deciding about themselves and their world, building a foundation for their future.
Teaching Vital Life Skills: Skills like cooperation, communication, respect, and problem-solving are at the heart of this model.
Encouraging Capability and Autonomy: Children are supported to develop independence and a constructive sense of personal power.
Through these principles, Positive Discipline nurtures a constructive approach to guidance and discipline—one that strengthens trust and empowers individuals to contribute positively to their communities.
A Brief History
Positive Discipline’s roots trace back to the teachings of Alfred Adler and Rudolf Dreikurs in the 1920s, who introduced ideas around respectful parenting and democratic classroom management. In the 1980s, Jane Nelsen and Lynn Lott expanded on these concepts, developing a series of books and resources that would make Positive Discipline a household name. Their vision helped establish Positive Discipline as a go-to model for both parenting and classroom management.
Positive Discipline in Action: The Evidence
Studies have shown the positive impact of this approach. For example, implementing Positive Discipline tools in schools has led to fewer disciplinary issues and a greater sense of community among students. When children feel connected, their academic performance and social well-being also tend to improve. Research has even shown that teens who experience a balance of kindness and firmness from their parents are at lower risk for various negative behaviors, demonstrating that Positive Discipline is valuable across all ages.
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