48 Inspiring Positive Parenting Quotes on Raising Kids and Being a Better Parent

These thirty-five positive parenting quotes will inspire you to build a more peaceful and loving relationship with your child – a relationship that research shows results in better outcomes for both parent and child.

Positive parenting – also known as authoritative, peaceful parenting or positive discipline – is defined as: “Positive parenting is focused on developing a strong, deeply committed relationship between parent and child based on communication and mutual respect. Positive Parenting focuses on teaching children not just what but also why. Positive parenting means training children toward self-control.“

This type of parenting is in contrast with authoritarian parenting that is very demanding but lacks warmth or connection.

Authoritative parents tend to be impatient with children’s misbehavior and children are allowed few choices or have little say in outcomes. Research shows that children raised by authoritative parents associate obedience with success, are fearful of social interactions, and have low self-esteem.

Positive parenting is also in contrast with passive or permissive parenting.

A passive parent allows their child lots of freedom to do whatever they want, with little discipline. Research shows that children who are raised by passive parents may have trouble socially, tend to be rebellious, and may have trouble in school or later in life holding a job.

35 favorite positive parenting quotes on Self-Sufficient Kids’ Instagram page

The following quotes are the most popular quotes on Self-Sufficient Kids’ Instagram page according to likes, saves, and comments.

While the quotes below aren’t all specifically highlighting positive parenting as a philosophy, they all fall within the realm of what it means to be a positive parent.

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“By loving them for more than their abilities we show our children that they are much more than the sum of their accomplishments.” – Eileen Kennedy-Moore

“The most powerful way to change the world is to live in front of our children the way we would like the world to be.” – Graham White

“To be in your children’s memories tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today.” – Barbara Johnson

“There is no such thing as a perfect parent so just be a real one.” – Sue Atkins

“We must remember that one day our children are going to follow our example instead of our advice.” – Carolina King

“If your children fear you, they cannot trust you. If they don’t trust you, they cannot learn from you.” – Lori Petro

“So often children are punished for being human. Children are not allowed to have grumpy moods, bad days, disrespectful tones, or bad attitudes. Yet, us adults have them all the time. None of us are perfect. We must stop holding our children to a higher standard of perfection than we can attain ourselves.” – Rebecca Eanes

“The point of parenting is not to have all the answers before we start out but instead to figure it out on the go as our children grow. Because as they do, so will we.” – Bridgett Miller

“Your kids require you most of all to love them for who they are, not to spend your whole time trying to correct them.” – Bill Ayers

“Remember you are not managing an inconvenience. You are raising a human being.” – Kittie Franz

“A child seldom needs a good talking to as much as a good listening to.” – Robert Brault

“Where did we ever get the crazy idea that in order to make children do better, first we have to make them feel worse? Think of the last time you felt humiliated or treated unfairly. Did you feel like cooperating or doing better?” – Jane Nelsen

“We are apt to forget that children watch examples better than they listen to preaching.” – Roy L. Smith

“Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” – Robert Fulghum

“13 things children need more of: unstructured play, nature, hugs, freedom to explore, playtime with parents, laughter, simplicity, belief in their goodness, daily rhythms and rituals, expressed gratitude for who they are, a calm environment, compassion, a shoulder to cry on.”

“Many believe parenting is about controlling children’s behavior and training them to act like adults. I believe that parenting is about controlling my own behavior and acting like an adult myself. Children learn what they live and live what they learn.” – L.R. Knost

“If I expect my children to be kind, gentle, compassionate, and respectful, I must be kind, gentle, compassionate, and respectful. Children do not listen to the instruction of hypocrites; it is your actions that guide their actions, not your lectures or punishment.” – Rebecca Eanes

“Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.” – C.S. Lewis

“You can’t teach children to behave better by making them feel worse. When children feel better, they behave better.” – Pam Leo

“You do not have to make your children into wonderful people. You just have to remind them that they are wonderful people.” – William Martin

“If halfway through disciplining your child, you realize you are overreacting, it is OK to stop. It is OK to tell them ‘sorry’. It is OK to admit that you overreacted and tell them you’ve had a bad day causing a knee-jerk reaction. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It is showing your child that you can admit when you’re wrong.”

“The sign of great parenting is not the child’s behavior. The sign of truly great parenting is the parent’s behavior.” – Andy Smithson

If you really want your children to respect you, let them speak! Give them a safe space to say how they really feel without fear of how your pride will react. It doesn’t matter if they are always right or “good”, it matters that they are allowed to be real with you. – Brook Hampton

Seven things every child needs to hear: 1. I love you. 2. I’m proud of you. 3. I’m sorry. 4. I forgive you. 5. I’m listening. 6. This is your responsibility. 7. You have what it takes to succeed. – Sherrie Campbell PHD

Don’t raise your kids to have more than you had, raise them to be more than you were. – Unknown

It is ironic that adults want children to control their own behavior when the adults have difficulty controlling their own behavior. – Jane Nelsen

The way kids learn to make good decisions is by making decisions, not following directions. – Alfie Kohn

Children must never work for our love, they must rest in it. – Gordon Neufeld

When a child can’t calm down they need connection and comfort, not criticism and control. – Jane Evans

Instead of buying your children all the things you never had, you should teach them all the things you were never taught. Material wears out but knowledge stays. – Bruce Lee

Some of the most kind and thoughtful kids I know are raised in houses that are a mess, by parents who forget practices and wear mismatched socks. At times, I think this is may not be a coincidence. When parenting life becomes overwhelming, perhaps they knew what to let go and what to put first. Kindness matters. Socks…not so much. – Amy Pieper Webb

If you’ve told a child a thousand times and he still does not understand, then it is not the child who is the slow learner. – Walter Barbe

The more risks you allow your children to make, the better they learn to look after themselves. – Roald Dahl

Don’t tell your kids, “I’m proud of you,” tell them, “You should be proud of yourself.” – Kristen Welch

“Never do anything for a child that the child can do for himself.” This does not mean that you can never do anything for your child. It does mean that children are shortchanged when they don’t learn how capable they can be when they aren’t pampered.” – Jane Nelsen responding to Rudolf Dreikurs

Don’t let yourself become so concerned with raising a good kid that you forget you already have one. – Glennon Melton

Teach your children they’re unique. That way, they won’t feel pressured to be like everybody else. – Cindy Cashman

Being hard on children does not make them stronger. People are strengthened through compassion and understanding. No matter their age or gender. – Lella Schott

Treat a child as though he already is the person he’s capable of becoming. – Haim G. Ginott

It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken adults. – Frederick Douglass

One day your child will make a mistake or a bad choice and run to you instead of away from you. In that moment, you will know the immense value of picking and choosing your battles with your teen. – L.R. Knost

Empathy with children during a tantrum is not rewarding behavior. It’s meeting a need, the need for connection and understanding. – Rebecca Eanes

At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents. – Jane D. Hull

Having children is my greatest achievement. It was my savior. It switched my focus from the outside to the inside. My children are gifts, they remind me of what’s important. – Elle Macpherson

Too much love never spoils children. Children become spoiled when we substitute presents for presence. – Dr. Anthony Withman

Perfect parents exist but they do not yet have kids. – Unknown

Be the calm you want to see in your child. – Renee Jain

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