Parenting principles primer.

Abstract

A good understanding of parenting principles helps clinicians to advise parents how to optimally support their child's brain development. Parenting principles include co-regulation, attachment, and the five universal parenting strategies that produce self-regulation and attachment. This primer provides updated knowledge translation from evidence-based literature, by integrating interpersonal neurobiology with parenting intervention research. Secure attachment to the parent decreases a child's stress responses and increases their emotion regulation skills. The child needs support from their parent when stress exceeds their self-regulation skills. Emotion regulation is foundational for all aspects of cognitive and interpersonal functioning. Parent empathy and problem-solving are required to support development of the child's self-regulation and problem-solving, which in turn foster communication of empathy toward others and development of other skills. The warmth and structure of the five universal parenting strategies provide a straightforward conceptualization of authoritative parenting, which builds secure attachment and self-regulation described by interpersonal neurobiology. Parenting principles are simple to remember when integrating the five universal parenting strategies (attention and empathy, predictable daily routines, consistent sequence within the routines, household rules, and coaching skills) with the four S's of attachment (Seen + Soothed + Safe for Secure attachment).