When you look up empowerment in the dictionary you’ll find that to empower is defined as “to invest with power, to equip or supply with an ability.” Today, the term empowerment has become very popular in the health services field in the United States where many programs claim to empower people, yet in practice the word has become so common with a meaning so broad, that it is hard to say exactly what it means at times. After examination, it appears that empowerment is a complex, multidimensional concept that is better described as a process instead of an event.
When it comes to attempting to find effective, positive, and preventative ways to deal with disruptive behavior, rebelliousness, resistance, and other discipline problems with young children and teenagers, empowerment can be an effective alternative to external controlling discipline systems. Parents and teachers can employ empowerment to turn the control over to the kids so they will have control over their own lives, and hopefully begin to make better choices about their own behavior and school work. In this way, discipline in the form of empowerment can be used to create a caring and respectful climate that fosters the development of caring and respectful young people.
Empowerment is a complex concept with a number of qualities based on the idea that growth and change are perpetual and self-initiated, and having access to more information and resources allows a person to develop better decision-making powers. In turn, this increases one’s positive self-image and creates a feeling that the individual can make a positive difference. With kids and teens, this process often requires the redefinition of relationships in order to emphasize the feeling that the individual is part of a group and belonging to a defined community of family and friends.
Turning control over to the kids often involves a parent to control their own behavior and responses first, and then deciding to do what they will with dignity and respect, and finally following through with kindness and firmness. When parents give their kids information instead of orders in an atmosphere of respectful communication, it can lead to agreement and joint problem solving. When discipline issues are approached with love and encouragement kids will be more able to learn from their mistakes and ask for help when it is appropriate. In this way, empowerment can be used to create an environment of mutual agreement about behavior, instead of one-sided opposition to the rules.