Parenting

The Parenting section of The Body Optimist supports moms, dads and every kind of family through everyday life with kids: raising children, emotions, school, relationships and the mental load. Advice from child development professionals, explainers and personal stories approach parenting without guilt, whatever your family looks like.

What you’ll find in the Parenting section

• Raising kids: teaching children to share, setting limits without yelling, praising effort over intelligence, with ideas drawn from positive parenting.
• School and bullying: helping your child feel good at school, spotting the signs of bullying and knowing how to respond.
• Postpartum for both parents: your body after birth, the exhaustion and loneliness of new mothers, and postpartum depression in fathers, still too little known.
• All kinds of families: single-parent, blended and same-sex parent families, parents with disabilities, with more stories in our LGBTQIA+ section.
• Family relationships: your bond with your own parents, toxic families, overbearing grandparents, sibling rivalry.
• Life choices: wanting children, or not, discussed without judgment or social pressure.

How do you set limits for your child without yelling?

Setting boundaries without yelling relies on clarity and consistency more than strictness. Keep instructions short and positive (“we walk in the hallway” rather than “don’t run”), get down to your child’s eye level and look at them. Announce transitions ahead of time to head off meltdowns when an activity ends. Name your child’s feeling without giving in on the rule: “You’re angry because the screen is turning off. I get it, and it’s bath time.” When tension rises, stepping out of the room for a few seconds beats raising your voice. Some parents even sing their instructions to keep things light. No parent is perfect: apologizing after you lose your temper also teaches your child how to repair a relationship.

Our take on parenting

Parenting doesn’t rest on mothers alone: we also talk about dads, co-parents, blended, single-parent and LGBTQ+ families, and people who choose not to have children. There’s no single model or “perfect mom” here: our articles share guidance without making anyone feel guilty. For any concern about a child’s health or development, your pediatrician, family doctor or a child psychologist remains the best person to ask.

Where to start

• What to say instead of “stop crying”: five phrases that help children express their emotions.
• The monster under the bed: what this classic childhood fear really means and how to respond.
• Eldest daughter syndrome: what research says about the responsibilities often placed on firstborn girls.
• The pressure to “bounce back” after birth: one mother speaks out against the demand to stay thin.
• Posting photos of your kids online: what to know before you share.

Frequently asked questions

Can fathers get postpartum depression?

Yes. Some fathers go through sadness, irritability or anxiety after a baby arrives, sometimes called the “daddy blues.” When these symptoms last for several weeks, it may be paternal postpartum depression, a condition recognized by health professionals. Intense fatigue, feeling useless or withdrawing from others are warning signs: talking to a doctor is the first step toward getting support.

What is positive parenting?

Positive parenting, close to what is often called gentle parenting, guides children through listening, explanation and encouragement rather than punishment, yelling or humiliation. It isn’t the same as being permissive: rules still exist, but they’re set with respect. A growing number of countries have also banned corporal punishment of children, spanking included.

How can you tell if your child is being bullied at school?

Several signs can raise concern: refusing to go to school, repeated stomachaches or headaches in the morning, slipping grades, damaged or missing belongings, isolation, trouble sleeping, mood changes after using their phone. Start the conversation calmly, without dramatizing, then contact the school. Many countries also have helplines dedicated to bullying and cyberbullying.

Keep exploring: all our psychology topics on emotions, Self-confidence to find your footing again after a baby arrives, Body positive to see your body with kindness, and Pregnancy for the months before birth.