Being a parent is arguably the greatest responsibility anybody can have. This is because parenting revolves around ensuring that all aspects including physical, social and emotional aspects of the child are well taken care of.
For any parent, the needs of the children come first to promote healthy living, positivity in life and the desire to improve their lives. And if that’s what you’re seeking out, the parenting advice below will be helpful.
Defining good parenting
Good parenting is the art and skill of raising children in the best way possible by providing their physical and emotional needs from infancy all through to adulthood. A parent does not necessarily refer to the biological life-giver of the child.
There are other people such as older siblings, grandparents, legal guardians, uncles, and aunts that exercise parental care to children they did not sire. This may be due to circumstances such as death of the biological parent or abandonment of the child by the biological parent.
According to research studies on good parenting, children brought up warmly and with affection in a stable and non-restrictive environment. It is important to note that good parenting is far better than learning in a good school as far as the overall well-being and progress of the child is concerned.
Children brought up by supportive parents tend to lead a fairly successful life in all aspects including school work and general life progress.
Good Parenting Principles
As a parent, you have to understand that you are responsible for the wellness and overall development of your child. As such, you need to adopt responsible and good parenting principles. These principles include:
Consistency
Being consistent is the most important trait that any parent can have as far as good parenting is concerned. This is because consistency is an efficient disciplinary tool that parent can use to uphold good manners and behavior in their children. Authority as a parent is defined by the wisdom and not power as most parents assume.
Children tend to be less resistant and opposing to consistent rules as opposed to unpredictable rules. This is because consistency helps children get accustomed to a specific lifestyle instead of an ever-changing lifestyle that creates confusion for children.
Avoid violent discipline
When children are brought up in a harsh environment that is predominantly characterized by violence, they tend to accept violent reactions as a way of life. This in turn results into them being bullies and aggressively violent when dealing with other children.
Instead of violence, parents should use other reasonable but efficient methods of discipline such as a time out, denying them holidays/vacations, and refusal to favors such as movie dates and other gifts.
Respect your children
In any relationship or agreement, respect goes both ways. Likewise, if you want to enjoy a healthy and cordial relationship with your children, you should learn to show them respect as much as they respect you.
It is important to note that respecting your children is not a sign of weakness but rather shows your sense of regard of their concerns and overall wellbeing.
Avoid speaking harshly to your children, reprimanding them in a humiliating manner when they are with their friends, treating them unkindly or failing to listen and consider their opinions.
It is worth noting that the kind of relationship you share with your children defines the foundation of their relationships with other people and friends.
Mind your behaviors and actions
As a parent, you are a role model to your children. As such, you should be cautious of how you carry yourself with respect and dignity. When you are in the presence of your children, you should remember that they are watching you.
Therefore, before reacting to any situation, you need to assess the kind of influence you will have on your children.
Be up to date with the life of your child
Good parenting requires that you be fully involved in the life of your child. You need to aware of all important events taking place in your child’s life.
For instance, you should know how the child is fairing in his/her education as well as the type of friends that your child has. Being involved in the life of your child makes it easy to monitor the progress of his/her life.
For you to be at par with the life of your child, you need to sacrifice your time and rearrange your priorities. This is because you not only need to be there for your child physically but also mentally, by putting his/her needs in your thoughts and planning on how to provide the needs.
It is worth noting that neglecting your child either physically or emotionally can be very disastrous. Children tend to pull away from their parents once they realize that the parents are not there for them particularly in adolescence as they cross to adulthood.
Be a hands-on parent
Parenting goes beyond providing food, shelter, and other good products to your children. You need to be in-charge of their lives by teaching them what is right and wrong.
For instance, children become depressed by issues such as competition in school, bullying, and finding new friends. A good parent should instruct and advise the children on what to do when they find themselves in such situations.
Ensure that your child is getting sufficient sleep and rest especially during school days. This helps his/her mind to relax thereby solving most learning and concentration problems associated with most children. There is also need for the child to play and engage in sports to help relax and rejuvenate the body.
Good parenting skills require great patience, attentiveness, skillfulness, and decisiveness. Parenting creates a foundation and basis into which the child will develop and grow in the future.
Therefore, a parent should have a great interest in a child’s life to meet their educational and general life developmental needs.
Conclusion
Children who are brought up in poor parenting are susceptible and vulnerable to developing ill-behaviors and manners in later stages in life. Changes such as divorce, remarriage, and separation can negatively impact the life of a child.
This is especially if the child is unable to adapt to these changes and could experience problems such as increased emotional difficulties in the future.
