Best parenting advices

Every parent has his or her own way of doing things. And while a lot of the time, it’s best to trust your own instincts, sometimes you might need some outside advice on how best to tackle a situation. Check out this list for some of the most effective techniques and tricks for being a good parent.

1 – Be a role model

Your children learn by your example. If you want them to be free-spirited and adventurous, be that way yourself. If you want them to be ambitious and focused, then be that too. Your kids are watching you all the time and if you want to show them how it’s done, then just do it yourself. There’s no better instructor than a live one!

2 – Show patience

You’re not a mind reader, so there’s no way for you to know what other people are thinking or planning or going through. So don’t assume the worst or begin playing nanny too early. It’s best if you try to wait it out, and give people the benefit of the doubt until they’ve proven how unworthy they are of that much respect.

3 – Set ground rules

Establish rules from the very beginning and make sure your kids know what is okay and what isn’t. For example, you might say no fighting, no hitting, no lying, etc.. And then stick to it! If your children get in trouble for doing something that isn’t allowed, punish them severely (but not physically!) because this will teach them to follow your rules.

4 – Don’t treat your children like children

Your kids are little adults, so treat them as such. You can put away the high chair and pack away that sippy cup! The only difference is that they will be a little less coordinated and a little smaller. Otherwise, they should act just like you. The sooner they learn to do things themselves, the better!

5 – Don’t spoil your kids

Even if you didn’t mean to, giving your kids too much stuff or letting them get away with murder because it makes you happy is exactly the same thing as spoiling them. If you want to keep your kids in line, you need to start being strict and making them work for what they have!

6 – Don’t make decisions for your kids

Your kids are going to spend their entire lives making impulsive decisions and getting into trouble. So why not start them out early? Let your children make as many dumb mistakes as possible so that they can learn from them on their own. It’ll also help them grow up more quickly.

7 – Set an example by being imperfect yourself

No one’s perfect. Not even you, which is why it’s important that your children know that you’re a normal person who makes mistakes just like everybody else. Talk and act just like your family members and friends, so that your kids can see that you’re a real person, capable of doing good things but also bad things.

8 – Let them learn from their own mistakes

Kids who are forced to figure out the consequences for their own actions will be much better off than kids who are just told to be wary of the dangers out there. So give them a chance to find out what happens when they disobey you or hurt someone else. If they listen, then you might be proud of them!

9 – Set guidelines, not rules

If you want your children to grow strong-willed, then make sure that they don’t know what’s coming next. For example, if you tell your kids that it’s okay to stay up late tonight, then don’t give them the reason why. If you say no eating in the living room, don’t explain why that rule exists, and so on.

10 – Let them experience new things

Don’t simply provide your children with all their needs. Make sure they learn how to provide for themselves as well. The sooner kids can fend for themselves (and not be dependent on their parents) the better! Do things like buying them a pet and telling them they have to take care of it on their own, or put them in a situation where they have to get along with other children but don’t help out much.

11 – Don’t do their homework for them

Having a child do your taxes is bad enough, but doing their homework for them is just wrong! Pay for professional help if you have to, but at least give your kids the opportunity to have some fun and learn a little, too.

12 – Don’t be so strict that they don’t even try

On one hand, you need to teach your children not to get into any trouble. But on the other hand, you also need to let them know that it’s okay to make mistakes and have an adventure. If you’re cracking down on everything all of the time, then they might think that doing things wrong means that they won’t make it in life.

13 – Be the number one parent in your home

Outsiders may think that you’re the ideal parent because you have boundaries, but your kids might not measure up to your standards and it’ll only make them question what is actually important. They will always come up with their own ideas on how to act and behave, and having one person who sets the rules from the start is best so that they learn to follow them from day 1.

14 – Don’t let them be bossy or rude

Parents who go overboard with being overprotective often teach their children to be bossy and rude. This makes a child stand out in a negative way, which leads to bad friends, negative peer-pressure, etc.. Instead, you need to let your children experience these things and take responsibility for how they react.

15 – Don’t act too strict so they don’t know when they’ve done something wrong

By the same token, don’t be too relaxed either, because then your kids will never know the difference between right and wrong. They need to figure out what’s appropriate on their own and it won’t happen overnight! Be consistent with how you punish your children (and don’t allow others to sway that decision), but other than that let them rely on their own judgment from time to time.

16 – Don’t compete with your children

Although it’s natural for parents to want the best for their children, you shouldn’t allow yourself to become jealous of how successful and well-liked they are. If you get too upset and jealous that your kids are doing well in school or working on an important project, it will make you judgmental of them. This will give your kids the wrong idea about what parents actually think about them.

17 – Smile more often!

You might think that because you’re a strict parent that smiles are just unnecessary, but this is a huge mistake! A smile goes a long way when it comes to making your child feel loved and supported. If you’re not a naturally cheerful person, try doing things that make you feel happy and fulfilled. Self-improvement is another great way for you to increase your positive attitude about life!

18 – Don’t put pressure on them too soon

Many parents want their kids to do well in school so that they can go to a good college and get a valuable degree that guarantees success. This pressure is often too much for a child to handle, and can cause them to make poor choices. Instead of providing that pressure, simply encourage your child and let them know that they’re going to be okay no matter what happens. You can even help out with their work if you think it’s necessary, but just don’t stop them from trying their best.

19 – Don’t always give them a reason

Sometimes kids just need a hug to know that everything is going to be alright. Sometimes they just need to see that it’s fine for them to be friends with a person who isn’t white or Christian. Sometimes they need you to show that it’s okay for girls to like sports, even though boys are usually better at it. Sometimes kids just want your love and support, but don’t always need an explanation for why.

20 – Allow them to make their own mistakes

Again, don’t keep your kids from learning how to function on their own. Let them experience their first heartbreak, let them get in trouble for the first time, and let them make a few mistakes along the way. A big part of growing up is learning from your mistakes, and if you shelter your children too much then they won’t be able to live as full a life as everyone else.

 

Most parents will do all of the minimum legal requirements for their children, but there are many more options that you can take. For example, choose your children’s education, what kind of friends they make and how they spend their time with those friends. You want to guide them in life and make sure they don’t make the same mistakes you did or you made yourself.