Renowned content creator Murugi Munyi recently took to her Instagram page to share insightful tips on gentle parenting, shedding light on the significance of understanding and empathizing with children’s emotions.
In times when traditional disciplinary actions still prevail, Murugi’s perspective offers a refreshing take on nurturing a child’s emotional well-being.
In a poignant post, Murugi challenges the conventional belief that children should be reprimanded for exhibiting human emotions. She emphasizes the need to allow children the space to experience grumpy moods, bad days, and even moments of disrespect without facing punitive measures.
Acknowledging her own moments of faltering in the face of her children’s irrational behavior, Murugi advocates for a shift in approach. She advocates for granting children permission to feel their emotions without fear of retribution. By validating their emotions, Murugi suggests a more empathetic stance that fosters a deeper connection between parent and child.
“Someone said ‘So often, children are punished for being human. Children are not allowed to have grumpy moods, bad days, disrespectful tones, or bad attitudes, yet we adults have them all the time! We think if we don’t nip it in the bud, it will escalate and we will lose control,” she said.
Adding; “Let go of that unfounded fear and give your child permission to be human. We all have days like that.” Don’t you agree? 🥹 I definitely do. And while I still have moments where I snap when I feel my kids are being irrational, I’m definitely more inclined now to allow them to feel their feelings without punishing them for it!”
Moreover, Murugi delves into the concept of tantrums, reframing them as a natural expression of overwhelming emotions rather than inherently negative behavior. She dismisses the need for punitive measures when confronted with a child’s tantrum, stressing the importance of providing understanding, compassion, and a secure environment for the child to release their emotions safely.
“A lesson in gentle parenting that I have been learning lately; Tantrums are not bad behaviour: Tantrums are an expression of emotion that became too much for my child to bear. No punishment is required. What my child needs is compassion and safe, loving arms to unload in,” she said.
