Essential Parenting: Revitalizing and Remoralizing the Family in the 21st Century

Domenick J. Maglio, Ph.D. and Julie A. Maglio, B.A.

Guiding Principles

  • Traditional Family is the Basic Unit of Society. Any attempt to replace the family with a government unit has historically failed, preceding the decline and eventual collapse of the society.

  • Purposeful Discipline is the intentional teaching or training a more accomplished person gives to another to help them on their journey through life. It is a demonstration of love.

  • Quantity Time is the length of time parents spend with their child. The greater the quantity of time the more the parents have the opportunity to share experiences and exploit the moment in order to maximize the overall positive Essential Parenting impact on the child.

  • ASAN means Essential Parenting should start As Soon As Needed. At the first sign of inappropriate behavior the parent initiates training.

  • POISE Parental Observation-Indication-Strategization-Evaluation is an on going process by which parents gain assurance and poise in their interactions with the child. Through observing the child's behavioral reactions, the parents can individualize consequences for their child.

  • Least Restrictive Yet Effective Consequence means Essential Parenting uses the minimal consequence that gets the desired result.

  • Moderation and Balanced Consequences are reasonable and measured responses to an individual behavior that attempts to remain in the middle of the continuum from ignoring to abuse.

  • Just Right Moral Consequence is an individualized approach in judiciously choosing the morally correct and meaningful consequences for a specific child's actions or expressed thoughts in a particular situation.

  • Incremental Autonomy Through Earned Priveleges As the child demonstrates constructive behavior he is gradually given greater privileges until he becomes independent.

  • Do Not Label, Instead Teach Compensation Compensation is a process by which a person who is unable to resolve a problem using a common approach employs effort, ingenuity and perseverance to overcome an obstacle rather than surrender to the problem. Labeling is a counter productive process that gives the child a built-in rationalization for accepting his own limitations and creating a victimized, "can't do" attitude.

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