When you reach the end of your rope and you are having doubts about your parenting skills you may feel like like you have failed. You haven’t! Every parent at some time has felt defeated and yet almost all parents come through this challenge better people (and the kids end up doing fine). Here are some tips on how we’ve dealt with a variety of parenting problems and survived.
Show physical affection for your child. Human beings naturally crave touch. Whether it’s a hug or a kiss or just a simple pat on the head, touch can be a great way to connect with and show affection for your child. Touch is especially important when they’re sick or feeling sad, since it will comfort them.
If your child is having trouble with homework, do your best to help them. If you are not able to help them, talk to the teacher about alternatives. The teacher might be able to provide extra help or point you in the direction of a great tutor that could help your child with the homework.
When your child does something wrong, make sure that you always criticize the behavior and not the child. Don’t tell them that they were bad for doing something. Instead, explain why what they did was wrong, and then explain what they should have done instead. Try to phrase your explanation in positive terms.
Do not be the short order cook for your picky eater. If you make special meals for him every time he refuses to eat the meal that you have cooked for the family, he will not learn to accept different foods. Instead, let him choose from what you have prepared for the family. If he refuses to eat anything, he will become hungry very soon, and will accept other foods more readily in the next mealtime.
A great parenting tip is to not spoil your child. If you give your child too much money or all the latest things, they’ll start attracting the wrong friends. Kids will start to use your child. You want your child’s friends to like him or her for their personality, not just for their money or cool stuff.
Part of parenting is teaching life lessons through fun activities. One way to do this is to get creative in the kitchen. Allow your child to select and use cookie cutters to cut nutritious food into fun shapes. Let them enjoy a shark-shaped grilled cheese sandwich with their low-sodium tomato soup. This makes eating nutritious food fun and teaches your child good nutritional habits.
An important tip for parents is to become acquainted with your children’s friends as well as their parents. By getting to know your children’s playmates and also their moms and dads, it is possible to develop a sense of comfort and confidence in the types of influences to which your sons and daughters are regularly exposed.
Whenever possible, give your young child an opportunity to choose something. For example, give him two choices of a vegetable for dinner. When he makes a choice, he is less likely to complain about it. Offering your child choices will give him a sense of control and empowerment over his own little world.
Stand your ground when it comes to your child’s bedtime. If it’s past their bedtime and they’re begging you for just one more TV show or book, stand your ground. An hour less sleep per night reduces a child’s ability to function the next day, affecting their concentration at school. Teenagers need eight to nine hours of sleep per night, whereas younger school-age children should get a minimum of ten to twelve hours.
While this article still does not provide you with an instruction manual for raising your children, try some of the suggestions to help make parenting easier. Every child is different and every age presents different challenges, but these tips can help you through problem areas or challenges with a different perspective.
Do you need school backpacks for your kids? Be sure to periodically inspect their backpacks. You’d be amazed at how often backpacks need replacing due to wear and tear and or bad smells.