Saturday, August 11, 2012

Parenting: Tips For Reaping The Many Rewards!

By Dorsey T. Emanus


There is no manual or guide that can tell you the proper way to be a parent, because every child is different and should be treated as such. Although that is true, there are some great tips you can employ to make parenting a much easier job than it has been.

One of the most important tips that can be offered when it comes to parenting is to be consistent. Never say you are going to do something then not carry through with it. This will lead your children to believe that you are not serious which could be very harmful when it comes to serious matters.

Know your child's friends. Your child is learning a lot from their friends. They are also spending a significant amount of time engaging in the same activities that their friends are. If you know their friends, you are more likely to know your child. Stay informed and be involved.

What experts say is true-- reading books to your child is very important. Children learn just about everything by reading, from colors and numbers, to shapes and letters. Experts believe that 30 minutes of book reading each night could have your child on the way to reading before they even reach kindergarten!

While the advice of close friends and family can be very helpful, you don't need to listen to the unsolicited tips from every aunt, cousin and coworker. Of course they may mean well, but at the end of the day the child is yours. The same goes for parenting tips from any other source, take them with a grain of salt.

Discuss things with your teenager, rather than lecturing them. Discussing a wrong doing helps your teen to understand what they did that you don't approve of. It also gives them the opportunity to state their point of view. Your child will know that you are there for them, but won't feel smothered by an overbearing lecture.

Treat your child the way you'd want your parents to treat you. If you hated it when your child screamed at you, your child will, too. Talking in a calm, rational manner is more likely to get you heard than screaming. Show your children how you would like them to behave when they are angry.

An important part of parenting is the setting and enforcing of clear boundaries. Consistency is critical, so once a line is drawn on a particular behavioral topic, the consequences for crossing that line must always be upheld. By following this course of action, your child will have predictable rules under which to operate, and will always be aware of what is acceptable and what is not!

Let kids have their say. When parenting a child no matter how young or old, listening is a very underrated yet important skill that a parent should learn. Make yourself available, and if your child makes it clear that they want to talk, give them your undivided attention. Don't interrupt, and don't agree or disagree, until they have had their say. This way, you won't come off as judgmental. No matter what your child has told you, remember to thank them for talking to you, so that they understand that their opinion is important.

In order to be a good parent is important to promptly admit mistakes when you are wrong. Simply say "sorry" and let the child know that what you did was wrong. You might be his parent but that does not keep you from making mistakes. This will also build character in the child.

While this is all great advice, some of these methods may not work with your children. That does not mean to give up. It just means that you should switch gears and try to find the methods that will help you to be the best parent your child could possibly have.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment