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Every parent wants what’s best for their children. They want them to be strong and capable individuals who know how to be kind and independent. But as the years go by and you stumble across challenges and hurdles with your little one, it can be hard to lose sight as to what you are preparing them for. And although there isn’t a set manual for parenting, sometimes even parents need to be brought back to the basics so that they can recognise what to implement in their parenting styles and what behaviors they need to leave behind. Parenting effectively doesn’t have to be complicated and frustrating, especially if you have a list you can keep going back to for reference every now and then. And we’re here to provide you with just that. Keep reading to know what’s on our list to be a more effective parent.
1. Boost Your Child’s Self Confidence
You can’t imagine how much a little self esteem will do for your child. People function better and are more productive if they possess some self confidence, and parents play a huge role in the development of this trait. Your children start developing their sense of self from the time they were little babies and they see themselves through their parent’s eyes. They observe everything you do and absorb your body language, tone of voice and expressions. This is why it’s important that you are enthusiastic about your child’s efforts and accomplishments and encourage them when they face failure.
2. Acknowledge When Your Kids Are Being Good
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Parents are so quick to call out bad behavior. The minute your little one steps out of line, you’ve probably got a few choice words tumbling out of your mouth. And yes, children ought to be disciplined. But they also need to be acknowledged when they are being good and doing the right thing. Now most parents don’t see why as this is simply behavior that they expect of their kids. But children don’t know that. Oftentimes, they can’t even tell good behavior from bad, as these notions are socially informed. So, the next time your kid does something good, kind or positive all by themselves, acknowledge it and encourage them to keep at it!
3. Set Limits And Be Consistent With Discipline
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Speaking of discipline, this is a hot topic amongst parents today. But no matter what form of discipline you subscribe to, we can all agree that prevention works better than correction. This is why it’s so important to lay down well defined limits in every household. This way your kids know what acceptable behavior is and what the consequences of stepping out of line are. And these consequences have to be implemented when your kids test the boundaries and limits laid down for them. So establish house rules and have a set system in place with regard to the things that your kids find especially challenging to comply with. And if they don’t adhere to them, come up with some age appropriate punishments that will drive the point across. Now this may look different for each household. But that’s okay, as the parent, you know what works best for your child.
4. Be Willing To Adjust Your Parenting Style
You may know your child well. But not all your kids are the same. In fact, usually they are all extremely different and therefore, need different things from you as a parent. And this is when flexibility in parenting styles come into play. If you feel let down by your child, maybe you should work on managing your expectations of your child. If you feel like one child is taking too much liberty with the freedom you give them, they might need more attention and someone to be accountable to. You need to be able to accommodate the needs of your children as they grow.
5. Show Them That Your Love Is Unconditional
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Yes, your kids need to learn to behave in socially acceptable ways and they need discipline. But more than anything else, they need to know that at the end of the day you will love them no matter what. This is the core of parenting. This is how your children know that you want the best for them and therefore why they trust you to correct them when they falter. So when you are confronting your child avoid blaming and criticizing them. Instead, sit them down and explain why what they did was wrong. Remember to be kind and empathetic to your kids as they are still young and learning.
Being a parent is a tough job but it doesn’t have to be an impossible one. All you need are a few key steps so that you parent effectively in order for your children to turn out to be happy and healthy. Happy parenting!
