This article provides 5 key parenting tips that each parent should develop:
Be Motivating - Encourage your Child is Very Important
When children are growing up, their most important source of validation is their own parents. Whatever children do, be it playing a sport or getting marks on a particular test, they seek validation from their parents to satisfy their minds. Parents should be motivated and should encourage their children in whatever endeavors they take on.
It is important to differentiate between encouraging and motivating them versus blindsighting them. This implies that while parents should be there for their children even when they fail and encourage them to do better the next time, they should not gaslight them if something is actually not meant for them. Being realistic in a polite way is important.
Be Responsive - Reflection is key
Positive Psychology is an approach to good parenting. It focuses on nurturing good behavior and discarding negative thoughts and behaviors. One method of practising positive psychology is being responsive. Children behave in better ways when they feel appreciated and encouraged. Children with emotionally open parents who coach them benefit more positively than those without emotional coaches.
For babies, talk to them positively as much as you can. If they make a noise, repeat it- it will soothe them. However, it is important to never talk negatively about anything to a baby, thinking they won't understand or remember. Doing so can develop deep, lasting trauma in them for ages to come.
With Older teens, try to be as open as possible. Try making them comfortable with you for them to share anything they possibly might be thinking. It is ok to ask if they are sad, depressed, or have suicidal thoughts. If so, help your teen to seek help. This helps to stop problems before they escalate.
Imitation - Set the Example
Children do what they see. This is particularly true in case of parents. They learn a lot from their parents and instil the same values they see in them.
When a parent’s approach involves teaching, encouragement, and affection, it leads to several beneficial results. These benefits include:
-
Greater adherence to rules
-
Improved preparedness for school
-
Enhanced social and cognitive growth
-
Openness to new experiences
-
Reduced negativity
-
Lower levels of antisocial behavior
Description - Set the Boundaries (Positively)
Setting boundaries for your children is necessary, but one should not overdo it so that the child feels restricted. Overinterfering in a child's space can result in helicopter parenting, which may have a detrimental effect on the child's well-being.
Boundaries should be set positively. This means that parents should try to help their children understand why they might be saying no to a particular thing rather than just making a final decision for them. Doing so can actually help them understand better.
Be Interactive- Engage with your Children
Interaction involves expressing positivity and warmth through both actions and words when interacting with your child.
Ways to convey interaction through body language include:
-
Making eye contact
-
Giving your child hugs
-
Smiling
-
Offering kisses
Parents who engage in behaviors that demonstrate enjoyment can achieve numerous positive outcomes in parenting. Such enjoyment enhances attachment security and school adaptation, helps address problematic behaviors, and boosts overall competence.
Wrapping It up!!
Effective parenting is crucial for a child's development into a well-rounded individual. By incorporating the five key tips outlined in this article—motivating your child, being responsive, setting a positive example, establishing appropriate boundaries, and engaging interactively—you can significantly impact your child's health and well-being. By incorporating these practices, parents can help their children thrive both emotionally and academically, paving the way for their successful and fulfilling future.