Raising kids is among the toughest and most fulfilling jobs in the world — and the one for which you might feel the least prepared. The following child-rearing tips that can help you feel more fulfilled as a parent.
Boosting your child’s self-esteem
Your tone of voice, your body language, and your every expression are absorbed by your kids. Your words and actions as a parent affect their developing self-esteem more than anything else. Praising accomplishments, however small, will make them feel proud; letting kids do things independently will make them feel capable and strong.
Choose your words carefully and be compassionate. Let your kids know that everyone makes mistakes and that you still love them, even when you don’t love their behavior.
Catch kids being good
You might end up criticizing far more often than complimenting. The more effective approach is to catch kids doing something right. Create a point of finding something to praise every day. Be generous with rewards — your love, hugs, and compliments can work wonders and are often reward enough. Soon you will find you are “growing” more of the behavior you would like to see.
Set limits and be consistent with your discipline
Discipline is necessary in every household. The goal of discipline is to help kids choose acceptable behaviors and learn self-control. They may test the limits you establish for them, but they need those limits to grow into responsible adults. You might want to have a system in place: one warning, followed by consequences such as a “time out” or loss of privileges. A frequent mistake parents make is failure to follow through with the consequences.
Make Time for Your Kids
It’s often difficult for father and mother and kids to get together for a family meal, let alone spend quality time together. But there is probably nothing kids would like more. Kids who aren’t getting the attention they want from their parents often act out or misbehave because they’re sure to be noticed that way. Adolescents seem to need less undivided attention from their parents than younger kids. Do not feel guilty if you’re a working parent. It is the many little things you do — making popcorn, playing cards, window shopping — that kids will remember.
Make Communication a Priority
You can’t expect kids to do everything just because you, as a parent, “say so.” They want and deserve explanations as much as adults do. Make your expectations clear. If there is a problem, describe it, express your feelings, and invite your child to work on a solution with you. Be sure to include consequences. Make suggestions and offer choices. Be open to your child’s suggestions as well. Negotiate.
Parenting or raising the kids is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, financial, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood. So be flexible and there for your kid when he/she needs you.
