Developing emotional competencies in children by allowing them to express their feelings, by teaching them to be sensitive to others emotions, and be showing them how to control their impulses. Parenting Principles Balancing Warmth and Discipline Good parenting requires balancing warmth and nurture with firmness and control. African American women are excellent examples of the correct balance of these elements. Nurture is critical to encourage the young to explore, to learn, and to feel safe in their environments. Black women are especially adept at giving children the message that they are cared for, even when disciplining.
Firmness is also a necessary aspect of parenting.
Despite their many protests about the restrictions and punishments in their lives, children need adults to control them, not only from protection from harm, but to teach children the invaluable skill of self-discipline. Firmness and discipline also gives children a sense of safety in which they can grow emotionally. Physical Punishment Disciplining children requires punishment. African American women generally utilize physical punishment, spanking, as a common way to discipline. This is another area in which Black female parents have come under criticism by social scientists and by the media.