There’s no doubt about it, parenting has its ups and downs. Some days, you are in a state of pure joy, happy in the knowledge that you are doing right by your child and he or she is as happy as can be. Other times, it’s normal to feel worried, apprehensive and stressed about whether you are raising your child properly.
Being a perfect parent is impossible, that’s for sure. But, you should always be doing your utmost to make sure you’re being the best parent you can possibly be. In this article, you will receive expert tips on improving your parenting, as well as some explanation on how to better understand your child.
Toddler Frustration is Hard
Heard of the “terrible twos?” The frustration of dealing with young children as they start to find their feet in this world is one of the hardest stages of parenting. Suddenly, your child is developing a personality – and the ability to throw tantrums! So often, at this age, kids refuse authority as they learn to do things for themselves. This is totally normal, but it can be hard to relax during these times.
One of the top tips constantly recommended is to first understand your child’s tantrum, then gently distract them with something new. Understanding their frustration is key, but, if you want them to stop, sometimes distraction is the only way. There are plenty of toddler gear reviews with top tips for grabbing the attention of toddlers. Using some simple tricks, toys, and gadgets you can steer your child’s attention away from whatever they are frustrated with and direct it into something educational or fun.
Build a Solid Foundation
Even before their toddler years, building a great relationship is essential. It has been shown in various studies that children who feel loved and nurtured from a young age have fewer emotional and social problems as teenagers or adults. Cultivating a loving, honest, and happy home is essential for your child’s emotional development.
How do you do this? Well, at a young age it’s all about attention and love. Devote as much time to your child as possible, showing how much you love, care for, and protect them. As they get older, encouragement in their hobbies, showing an interest in them, and great communication all help.
Communication is Key
So, how do you build good communication with your child? Firstly, listen. It can be all too tempting to speak over your child in an “I know best” kind of way. This is not constructive. Though, it is very difficult sometimes! Understanding starts with listening, absorbing, then taking time to think about your response. Try not to jump down their throat and instead, try to see things from their point of view whenever possible.
Another key element of communication is being honest about your own mistakes and flaws. Good parenting goes hand in hand with making mistakes. But, being an excellent parent means explaining those mistakes to your child, owning them, and apologizing. This is a great way of teaching your children.
Boosting Self-Esteem and Praising the Good
A great way to help your child’s development involves boosting their self-esteem. We all struggle with self-esteem at times, even as adults. But, good, attentive parenting can help combat this issue. When your child does something good – at any age – shower them with praise and affection.
Reinforcing the good they do has many benefits. Firstly, it helps them learn well from bad. Praise for good, balanced with discipline for bad. Secondly, it boosts their morale and helps them learn what they like about themselves. Thus, boosting self-esteem and confidence as they age. Whether it’s music, math, art, or science, praise their skills and they will thrive.
Be Fair and Consistent With Discipline
As mentioned, praise needs to be balanced with discipline. Being a disciplinarian is not a fun part of parenting. But, it is an essential one. The only advice here is to make sure your disciplinary actions are fair and consistent. Make sure that the same actions are punished the same ways, while more extreme “wrongs” get harsher punishment.
Each punishment should come with a measured and reasoned explanation, helping teach your young ones why you have told them off. Once the dust settles, have a good conversation with your kids about what happened and why they were punished.
These parenting tips can help you with the basics of educating, understanding, and helping your children grow. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for every kid, but these tips can be applied across the board. Parenting is a long and winding road, but with tips like this, you can help keep everything moving forward.