Good parenting is that sacred art which prepares the way for the development of a well-balanced, self confident, productive, and socially responsible person.
Here we are going to explore the 12 most important secrets every parent should know for great parenting. These are an attempt to help our children become better individuals…at least better than ourselves! These great tips can make the parenting experience a marvellous success.
Secret No 1: Express Your Love
The most important secret every parent should know is…Never be modest in expressing your love to your child. Your love is their strength; the more you love them, the better they would feel. It is never enough.
Take them in your lap, give them a warm hug or a pat on the back…these are a few simple gestures that are decoded by the kids as an evidence of your love, along with your repetitive reminders like Mommy loves you! You are dad’s princess; I love you no matter what happens!
These warm, verbal assurances along with affectionate gestures release loads of good feelings and a robust of self confidence within the child.
Secret No 2: Focused Involvement With Your Child
Another great secret that every parent should know is to allocate some time for your child on a routine basis. This special time slot should be focused only on your little one. No phone calls or chats in between, no TV catch-ups, no cooking or washing chores during this period. Spend this time as they want to spend it. If they want to talk their heart out, give them a listening ear; if they want to play outside, be a sport and show your excitement; cook with them, run with them, play around, watch movies…be a kid with your kid! This special time would not only become the most sought after & cherished time for your child but would also add up to the positive attributes of emotional, social, and intellectual development.
Secret No 3: Eat Together…Stay Together
There is an old saying that: Eating together promotes love and happiness. Smart parents know this secret and bring the family together, at least for one meal in a day. And this meal time then becomes fun time. All the members share and pool in their day’s experiences. A window opens into everyone’s life happenings and the sense of belongingness strengthens..a simple and easy secret.
Secret No 4: Family Time…Fun Time
Family time can become a strong cementing factor for all the relationships in a kid’s present & future life. The fun & excitement in washing the car with mom & dad, fishing and collecting pebbles with them, going for a nature walk, playing board games, family parties, and get-togethers with grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins…has no parallel at all. These group activities become valued gems in the treasure of the memory chest.
Secret No 5: You’re Their Role Model
Action speaks louder than words. Our kids copy us, intentionally and unintentionally.
A contradiction between what the parents tell the kids to do & what they actually do promotes negative behaviour and confusion. So be the person you want your child to grow into… Be their role model.
Secret No 6: Positive & Negative Reinforcements
Smart parents always appreciate & encourage their child’s good behaviour to reinforce it. A warm, appreciating smile for the little princess who’s helping mom to lay the table or a pat on the back to the young lad who’s unloading the grocery bags from the car….are all positive reinforcements that transform the desired act into a well-established behaviour.
On the other hand, the more attention you give to a problematic behaviour, the stronger that behaviour is likely to become. To extinguish a negative behaviour, you need to ignore it as long as it is not harming the child.
Secret No 7: Set The Limits
Kids should know their limits well. Children who are brought up with clearly defined rules and regulations, become civilized, law abiding members of the society. With rules and limits, a child learns to respect rights of others and develops a strong sense of self control.
Secret No 8: Cut Down On Your Dos & Don’ts
Some parents like to boss around and set irrational rules for their children. It gives a sense of power and authority to them. But for the kids, it shrinks the horizon of learning and experience. They cannot explore freely or experiment on their own
You should give them the liberty, in some cases, to learn through the trial and error method; this would add up to their self confidence.
Secret No 9: A No Means No!
If a child learns to exploit your feelings and knows that a little pout, a few trickling tears or a frenzied tantrum is potent enough to transform your No into a Yes, then believe me… you have lost it!
No emotional outburst, no tantrum… no matter how high pitched it is, should change the firmness in your No.
Otherwise, you’ll be going through a never ending series of emotional calls… to cancel a dentist’s appointment, to avoid a school test or to get an ice cream before bedtime.
This list can be as crazy as it can get.
So remember NO means NO!
Secret No 10: Respect Them
Take your kids as individuals. Give them respect by being polite, by giving attention to what they are saying, by giving importance to their opinion, and by giving attention to them in public. If parents give respect to their lids, they will give importance to others as well.
Secret No 11: Reverse Psychology Works Wonders
Your little one is throwing tantrums like never before… and there’s no way you can make him eat the cereals. Don’t worry! Just put the cereal bowl a little higher from his reach and say that it is not for him. The very next moment, this bowl of cereal would be the most desired thing on the planet.
Oh Yes! Reverse Psychology works wonders with problematic behaviour.
Secret No 12: Take a Break Before You Break!
Parenting…A very tough job indeed!. Your nerves, your body, and your time… all feel exhausted. Whenever you are too exhausted to carry on, take some time out. Go out with your partner & spend some quality time together. It will refresh your mind and body and you will be able to face the challenges of parenting with a renewed spirit.
These are the incredible secrets that every parent should know and practice to bring the best out of their child and to make parenting a marvellous experience.
Happy Parenting!
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