EP 855 Lighthouse Parenting Shows Us the Way to Maintain Lifelong Connection with Our Children

 The metaphor of a lighthouse–steady, reliable and guiding without being overbearing– is the framework to provide a balanced alternative to extreme parenting trends.  If applied consistently it equips families to raise emotionally healthy children who thrive academically, build resilience and maintain lifelong connections with their parents. A leading proponent of this approach, Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg describes the approach in his new book “Lighthouse Parenting: Raising Your Child with Loving Guidance for a Lifelong Bond.” And while there are many faddish trends in the field of parenting, like helicopter parents or tiger moms, the lighthouse framework is durable and sensible, almost in a sense the Goldilocks approach–getting it just right as you enforce rules but given children room to develop and make mistakes.  All of this takes place against a backdrop of unique hurdles in parenting today: both parents working, the ever-present screens, the positive and negative impacts of social media and fears around school violence.  If you’re looking for a practical and compassionate approach to navigating this uncertain moment, then please listen to this podcast.

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