In today’s episode Wendy & Terry interview Debbie Zeichner, LCSW, is a local Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Parent Coach living in San Diego, CA. She has specialized in working adults, children and families for over 20 years. Debbie is a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator, a Certified Redirecting Children’s Behavior (RCB) Parent Educator and a Mindfulness Instructor.

Three ways to use positive discipline to foster creative solutions are discussed on today’s episode:

1. When you want to use positive discipline
   • Not only when misbehavior arises, but in every interaction we have with our children
   • The heart of positive discipline is helping kids choose to do the right thing when no one is watching, forcing, or bribing
2. Why you want to use positive discipline
   • It creates & strengthens connection between child & parent
   • It aides in critical thinking skills, develops responsibility
   • It builds up our kids’ character by teaching them valuable life & relationship skills
   • It empowers our kids, which leads to greater cooperation & deeper learning & responsibility when misbehavior does arise
   • It leads to kids who mature into grown adults who can come up with their own creative solutions to real world problems
3. How we want to use positive discipline – with real life examples
   • Be a parent who seeks to understand
   • Ask more than you tell
   • Use your own mistakes as a parent to teach your child
   • Connect before you correct
   • Make agreements with your child ahead of time
   • Allow children to feel their feelings

Inspired by her own parenting challenges, Debbie developed a passion for all things parent-related and began a quest to educate herself and others on positive, mindful approaches to enhance and foster healthy and harmonious family relationships.

In This Episode Wendy & Terry Chat With Debbie About:

• Our kids are our teachers
• Positive discipline is solutions focused & based on connection
• It is a sign of normal, healthy development when our kids test limits & boundaries
• Teaching our kids to understand their value simply based on who they are, not based on how they behave
• Responding to our kids instead of reacting to them takes lots of practice and there will never be a perfect parent
• Having compassion for our kids requires having compassion for ourselves as a parent
• Our kids learn to manage & regulate their emotions by how we manage & regulate our own
• Fear vs. respect in our homes
• Modeling true power & respect to our kids
• Creating an environment where kids are seen, heard, understood, & accepted leads to more cooperation

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Fresh Start Family Online
• FSF’s Membership Program – The Bonfire
• FSF’s Positive Parenting Course –  The Foundations Course
• Connect with Debbie Zeichner
  • Facebook
  • Instagram: @debbiezeichnerlcsw
  • Twitter: @debbiezeichner
  • Mindfully Empowered Program