Ready To Be The Best Parent You Can Be? Here's How!
August 17th, 2017
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Being a parent is one of the most important things you will ever do, so here are a few basic tips that will take you through the long haul. Watch these work on toddlers to teens...and beyond.
Maybe you already know these four basic parenting principles. If so, consider this a refresher course. If you’re a new parent, try practising these effective strategies in your parenting plan:
1. Look.
Look at children when you talk to them. Look at them when they talk to you. That doesn’t mean you must always stop chopping carrots, folding laundry or fixing the car. But, give as much eye contact as possible. Even when very young, ask your children to look your way when you speak to them. Both listener and speaker communicate love and respect for each other when they main some level of eye contact.
2. Listen.
Kids need to feel comfortable talking to their parents. Let them talk without interrupting or reacting. You can give counsel later. This doesn’t mean you must approve or agree with them. Author Catherine Wallace says, "Listen earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what. If you don’t listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won’t tell you the big stuff when they are big. Because to them, all of it has always been big stuff."
Maybe you already know these four basic parenting principles. If so, consider this a refresher course. If you’re a new parent, try practising these effective strategies in your parenting plan:
1. Look.
Look at children when you talk to them. Look at them when they talk to you. That doesn’t mean you must always stop chopping carrots, folding laundry or fixing the car. But, give as much eye contact as possible. Even when very young, ask your children to look your way when you speak to them. Both listener and speaker communicate love and respect for each other when they main some level of eye contact.
2. Listen.
Kids need to feel comfortable talking to their parents. Let them talk without interrupting or reacting. You can give counsel later. This doesn’t mean you must approve or agree with them. Author Catherine Wallace says, "Listen earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what. If you don’t listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won’t tell you the big stuff when they are big. Because to them, all of it has always been big stuff."
3. Love.
Communicate love in your tone of voice and choice of words. Show respect for them as a person. How do you feel toward a boss or acquaintance who is always putting you down or correcting you? How do you respond to a friend who is constantly encouraging you? We all need truthful praise and encouragement. Coming from you, the parent, those loving words are powerful.
4. Lead.
Parents need to be the leaders of their children, not the followers. It’s okay to call your child "Buddy," but your child is not your peer. Sometimes, you must say "No!"...and they need to know that you mean it.
Lead also by your example. Be the person you’d like them to be. Your example speaks louder than a thousand of your passionate words.
"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them."
― James Baldwin
We all need help being the best parent possible…so please share your favourite parenting strategy below!
Communicate love in your tone of voice and choice of words. Show respect for them as a person. How do you feel toward a boss or acquaintance who is always putting you down or correcting you? How do you respond to a friend who is constantly encouraging you? We all need truthful praise and encouragement. Coming from you, the parent, those loving words are powerful.
4. Lead.
Parents need to be the leaders of their children, not the followers. It’s okay to call your child "Buddy," but your child is not your peer. Sometimes, you must say "No!"...and they need to know that you mean it.
Lead also by your example. Be the person you’d like them to be. Your example speaks louder than a thousand of your passionate words.
"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them."
― James Baldwin
We all need help being the best parent possible…so please share your favourite parenting strategy below!
Lisa x
