How to be conscious parents 2026

To be conscious parents and practice conscious parenting, the first thing we have to be clear about is that we need to be in the paradigm of “noticing”, and practice full attention in the here and now with equanimity, observing things as they are, with acceptance and without passing judgment. It is about living the present moments with full awareness of what is happening, what is happening to me, what is happening to you and what is happening to both of us in the interaction. Being aware of what we feel, what we are thinking, what defense mechanisms are being activated, seeing if the reactions are correct... all this implies being on a more conscious level.

As parents, we must see ourselves as our children's guides, those little teachers who push us to the limit to teach us things about ourselves, current things or unresolved issues from our past. We need to position ourselves from Being to Being, from an equality in essence, although we place ourselves in a role of Guide, which does not imply that we are superior to our children, we only have more responsibility, especially to create the appropriate circumstances so that they grow up healthy and happy and be themselves, not preventing them from living their own experiences, which They will nourish and will have an impact on their evolutionary process.

Amazon Essentials by Sofia Grainge - Summer 2026 Promotion

Differentiate "protect" from "educate", if these circumstances imply a serious danger for their person, we have the obligation and it is our responsibility to protect them from these threats, but as long as there is no real danger, we must enable them to live their own experiences, in a safe environment and analyze with them if necessary the results obtained from their experience and its possible consequences, so that real and experiential learning occurs.

It is essential to connect and tune in, we must establish a deep connection from Being to Being with our children, to be able to tune in with them, with their emotional and affective needs, otherwise we will not find out what is happening to them and we will not be able to help them. For this, it is very important to connect with ourselves and identify our own needs, desires, fears, concerns... so as not to project onto them things that are ours. It is a connection with ourselves to connect with the other and from there enter into a mode of attunement and empathy, of deep understanding. "I can feel myself to feel you."

Anchor ourselves in the present and be present

The time that we are with our children and that we are preoccupied with work or personal issues, past or future, that absorb our energy or connected to the cell phone solving matters or for pleasure, is time that we are not actually with our children, our body is close to them, but we are not there and they perceive this clearly, it is not surprising that many children have bad behavior at home with their parents, it seems that they are shouting for their attention, asking them to come back and be present!!

Choose moments of the day, conscious spaces, where we can share our day, recognizing that in each experience we have done the best possible, recognizing and validating all the emotions that have been at play and that everything we have experienced brings us learning and growth. Honesty and being honest with ourselves is important, above all, being consistent with ourselves will make us be consistent with the rest and this will have an impact on generalized coherence and harmony.

Our children need support and containment. We must see it as a way of expressing all the love we feel towards them, they need limits and this containment must be given from a loving firmness, not from authoritarianism, not from anger...responding and not reacting...Providing security and unconditional support.

We will have our gaze focused on the Being, not on the behaviors, showing ourselves available and compassionate, from unconditional love, even if the behaviors are not the desired ones. We must let them be, allow them to live their own lives and help them connect with their inner wisdom, positioning ourselves as Guides of their own self-discovery, facilitating their own connection with themselves and their own worth, without the need for external approvals, enabling them to connect with their gifts and with their limitations, making them responsible for their own lives, so that they can build themselves to be their best version.

Article prepared by Patricia Beltrán, child and adolescent psychotherapist at Psiccologías Pozuelo.