Raising children is one of the most important and fulfilling things a person can do. However, many parents feel under prepared at various stages because they do not know how to navigate them. In this article, we will look at some tips for effective parenting.
Boost Your Children’s Self Esteem
Children start developing their self-esteem when they are babies and they do so by seeing how their parents treat and talk about them. Babies observe body language, tone of voice and expressions to know how you regard them. All these things combined give them the foundation to build their self-esteem.
Praising accomplishments and giving them some independence as they grow older shows that you care and trust them, which are both critical ingredients for building self-esteem. Belittling them, on the other hand, can make them feel worthless and cause them to develop poor self-esteem.
Make Time for Your Kids
Our lives have become so busy that many parents do not find the time to sit down for a meal with their kids, let alone do something together. Many kids want their parents to spend more time with them, even if that means an extra ten minutes in the morning or evening. Research has also found that kids want attention, so they will misbehave or act out so their parents can give them this attention.
As a parent, you can plan something regular, like a movie night on a specific night or a visit to one of your city’s attractions. If you live in or would like to visit Manchester, there are many things to do in Manchester with kids, and you can be sure that your kids will love at least one of them.
Although it might not seem like it, teens also require attention from their parents so find ways to spend time with them. Doing so shows them that you care about them while also allowing you to understand what is going on in their lives.
Notice When They Do Something Good
Most parents are guilty of noticing bad actions and words from their children and not seeing enough positive things. A more effective approach is to watch for times when your children do something positive. When they do, compliment and praise them. Doing this has been shown to be more effective at reinforcing positive actions, behaviours and words than scolding them when it comes to reducing negative actions, behaviours and words.
Be a Good Role Model
Children primarily learn to talk, act and interact with others by watching their parents. Younger children also take more cues from their parents than other kids. Before saying or doing something, think about how you would want your child to react in that situation. They will act just like you because they are learning from you. Parents should cultivate the traits in themselves that they would like to see in their children. Be friendly, tolerant, respectful, truthful, honest and unselfish, and your kids will be the same. Lastly, treat your kids how you would want other people to treat you.
Every parent should aim to be the most effective parent possible. Doing so differs from parent to parent and from child to child, but the foundational tenets are the same. While there is much more to learn, the tips above should get you started.
