Sometimes being a parent can feel like a challenge or a mystery. You do not have to worry unduly about it, though. No one is born with a complete, innate set of parenting skills. Learning how to raise your kids is a natural part of the process. Here are some tips for being a better parent.
If you have a toddler who is throwing a tantrum, make a “safety fort” out of a blanket or towel thrown over a chair. Many times, toddler tantrums are related to over-stimulation, and removing the stimulation by blocking it out can help. It provides your toddler with a safe space in which they can regroup and calm down.
If you need to use the restroom, and your baby is upset at being placed in their carrier, turn on the bathroom fan and sink. Both of these noises mimic the sound of your heartbeat, which your baby was consistently soothed by in the womb. This technique should give you a few quiet minutes to take care of yourself.
Don’t constantly compare your children to others, especially when they are very young. Each child develops at his own rate and many of the earliest milestones do not mean anything about the long term traits of your child. Just because Jimmy speaks faster does not mean that he will have a higher intelligence.
To make hair washing an easier process, pretend like your child is visiting a hair salon. Allow her to lay her head up to the sink and place a towel underneath her neck. Give your child a head massage while you are rinsing her hair. Engaging in imaginative play, will make this task fun for your child.
A great parenting tip is to look at the efforts of your own parents as a base to work from and not the only way to raise your child. There’s nothing worse than repeating the same mistakes with your child that your parents made on you. Always strive to come to your own solutions.
A great parenting tip is to involve the whole family when it comes to making decisions. Start having family meetings. This will make every member of your family, including your child, feel more responsible and helpful. Don’t just think you’re the only authority and that you should make all the decisions.
A great parenting tip is to accompany your small children if they decide to go trick or treating. Young children definitely need a chaperone or parent with them when they go trick or treating because it can get hectic. You should be there for them to make sure they are safe at all times.
Engage your older children in making sure your home is safe for a baby or toddler. While older children enjoy more freedom in the household, they may not understand why their small toys or art supplies are dangerous to their younger sibling. Explain the dangers and involve them in keeping your home safe for everyone.
A great parenting tip is to make sure your child goes to bed and wakes up on time. Making sure they go to bed and wake up on time is very important because it determines how successful they’ll be in school and in their other activities. This is an important tip that all parents should consider.
Start your child’s education as early as possible. Even when a kid is little, there are tons of games you can play with them that make learning fun. You can find games to teach them math, science, reading, spelling, etc. It’s never too early to start your child’s education, and if you make it fun, you’ll make them want to keep learning.
Don’t do your childrens’ homework for them! It’s so tempting to take over a project and complete it, both so your child will get a good grade and so YOU can get it over with! It’s not worth it, you are only teaching your child to rely on others to do their work for them.
Allow your child an appropriate level of independence. For example, when your child is ready to walk to school by himself, consider whether or not it is reasonable and NOT whether or not you feel comfortable with it. You’ll never be totally at ease with letting your child do things on his own, so just relax and let him have some leeway.
Parenting Skills
Do not feel ashamed if you want to take parenting classes. These classes are made to help parents cope with the stresses and difficult decisions that come with parenting. By taking these classes, you are showing that you are willing to do whatever it takes in order to improve your parenting skills.
Developing a calming bedtime routine is one of the most important parenting skills you need to make sure that your children get the sleep they need to be their best every day. Routines can include a warm bath, a healthy light snack and a soothing bedtime story. Gentle hugs and kisses will send them off to dreamland.
To improve your parenting skills, allow your children the opportunity to develop their self-reliance by taking a step back and letting them learn how to do things on their own. Doing everything for your child can actually be damaging to their self esteem because it deprives them of the knowledge and confidence to handle situations on their own.
To improve your parenting skills, choose your fights wisely, and fight fair. Children need to feel that they have control over certain aspects their lives, and you can allow them that control by leaving some room for flexibility in household rules. If there is a rule that must be followed, explain the reasoning behind it to your child, rather than simply demanding that it be observed.
