Charu Bhatia | Jaipur | Business Remedies | July 12,2025 | Once upon a time, “good parenting” in many households meant discipline, strict rules, and an expectation of obedience. More recently, it’s been about achievement, schedules, and preparing kids for an ultra-competitive world. But a growing number of parents today are rewriting the script entirely. Enter gentle parenting, an approach focused on raising emotionally intelligent, compassionate, and resilient children.
Unlike traditional parenting methods that rely on punishment and rewards, gentle parenting is built on respect, empathy, and consistent, clear boundaries. It treats children not as subjects to control but as individuals worthy of understanding. And as conversations around mental health and emotional well-being grow louder, it’s easy to see why this philosophy is gaining traction.
But what’s working, and where does it get complicated? Kavita Kerawalla, Vice Chairperson of VIBGYOR Group of Schools, shares insights on why gentle parenting resonates deeply with modern families, and why it’s not always smooth sailing.
Why Gentle Parenting Is Gaining Fans
1. Raising Emotionally Intelligent Kids
Children raised in gentle parenting environments often develop strong emotional awareness. Instead of being told to “stop crying” or “calm down,” they’re encouraged to explore their feelings and learn to name and manage them. This helps them build healthy coping skills for life’s ups and downs.
2. Building Trust-Based Relationships
Listening instead of reacting is at the core of gentle parenting, helping build secure attachments between parents and kids. “When children know they’ll be heard, they’re more likely to open up, cooperate, and respond respectfully,” explains Kerawalla. The result? Homes that feel safe, predictable, and emotionally nurturing.
3. Focus on Root Causes, Not Quick Fixes
Gentle parenting looks beyond surface behaviors like tantrums or defiance. Instead, it asks, Why is my child upset? Addressing underlying needs fosters real change rather than temporary compliance. It’s about teaching, not punishing.
Where Gentle Parenting Faces Challenges
1. Blurred Boundaries
One of the biggest misconceptions, Kerawalla says, is that gentle parenting means never saying no. “Boundaries are essential,” she emphasizes. “Kids still need structure, limits that are firm but delivered with warmth.” When parents avoid setting boundaries in the name of kindness, it can leave children feeling confused or insecure.
2. It Can Be Draining
Remaining calm in the face of meltdowns or defiance is tough, especially for parents balancing work, relationships, and daily stress. Gentle parenting doesn’t mean suppressing your own feelings; it’s about modelling healthy responses even when things go off track. That can be emotionally exhausting.
3. Pushback from Older Generations
Many parents trying this approach face criticism from grandparents or older relatives who were raised with stricter discipline. “Comments like ‘you’re too soft’ or ‘they’ll never learn’ are common,” says Kerawalla. Navigating these intergenerational differences takes confidence, and a supportive circle of like-minded parents.
The Big Picture
“Gentle parenting recognises that mistakes happen, it’s how we reconnect and move forward that counts,” says Kerawalla. “It’s about pausing before reacting, listening before lecturing, and seeing each challenge as a chance for growth, not just control. Perhaps its greatest strength is that it humanises the parenting journey itself.”
It’s clear why gentle parenting continues to attract families: it’s not necessarily the easier path, but it aligns with the kind of empathetic, emotionally healthy world many parents hope to create for their kids. Because at the end of the day, gentle parenting isn’t just about raising good kids, it’s also about raising kind, self-aware humans, and maybe even gentler parents in the process.
Written & Edited By:
Charu Bhatia
