Principles and Practices of Parenting with Nonviolence: A Compassionate Guide to Caring for Younger Human Beings

by Ruth Beaglehole and Kim Pesenti

Principles and Practices of Parenting with Nonviolence is a social justice call to action in support of younger human beings, the world’s biggest silent minority. It is a guide to resisting childism, a form of oppression that is deeply embedded in the values of the dominant paradigm and its approach to raising children. In this guide, we aim to shift the paradigm as we envision a world that holds the physical and emotional well-being of all human beings, without the pain of disconnection, violence or neglect.

The guide advocates an active shift from using the manipulation of punishment and rewards to developing compassionate respect for children’s feelings and needs, with the recognition that behavior is a strategy to meet those needs. Parenting with Nonviolence asks adults to intentionally model the human qualities they value, to reflect on their own childhood experiences and to develop a practice of self-regulation in order to co-regulate with their children. Raising younger human beings is a practice we do with them.

Principles and Practices of Parenting with Nonviolence lays out a framework that honors the power of emotional intelligence. It is a practice that urges us to honor our role as peoplemakers who demonstrate a deep respect for the core dignity of a child’s mind body and heart. Transforming how adults and institutions see children becomes an investment in the future: as younger human beings grow up, they become the adults who raise children with kindness and empathy, building the practices and principles of nonviolence through generations.

Principles and Practices of Parenting with Nonviolence: A Compassionate Guide to Caring for Younger Human Beings has been written in a format for parent educators.* However, we encourage anyone who cares for children to read the guide and join us in our commitment to change the paradigm. Whether you are a social worker, therapist, pediatrician or nurse, whether you work in education or the criminal justice system, this guide demonstrates how adults can actively shift from using power over children to using power with children.

*We are pleased to announce that we are in the process of adapting the guide as a handbook for parents.

book coming soon