Rearing kids is no cake walk. It requires a calculative and careful approach along with a subtle touch of love, care and affection. Parents need to be effective and ameliorate in understanding their child’s psyche and approach accordingly. Let’s have a look at some of the most efficacious ways, parents can adopt for an effective parenting.
Nurturing kids’ confidence and self esteem
As a parent, you should approach your kids very carefully. Always keep in mind that kids view themselves through your eyes. Your vocal tone while having a conversation, eye contacts, facial expression and body language, everything is closely monitored and taken as your outlook towards them. Always praise their achievements, big or small. This instills confidence and makes them feel worthy. At the same time, never come down heavily on him for his mistakes. This deters his mental and emotional confidence and he might dislike your behavior. Be sympathetic and soft towards him. This would help your child learn from his mistakes himself.
Be consistent in ensuring discipline
Discipline is one of the most essential and effective element in raising a child. It’s often laid out in order to make kids switch on to acceptable and decent behavior. Disciplinary rules might take him through testing times but will eventually help him to grow into a more responsible and sensible individual. Parents can start off with simpler and easier rules. For example, no TV till done with homework and other assignments, no hitting or hurtful teasing and calling names to siblings or friends. If case he flouts any of these rules, reprimand him in strong yet soft words. It’s very important for you to stick to what you say. Amending rules more often will bemuse him.
Spend quality time with kids
Try to cut a few hours out of your schedule exclusively for your kids. Apart from dining out together, spend a considerable part of the evening with your kids, helping him in studies and playing wee games. Kids who get little parental company, exhibit irritating and aggressive behavior. Take your kids out for dinner every weekend and leave it entirely upon them on how to spend rest of the day. Provide a personal touch by leaving a handwritten note in his notebook or lunchbox. Take kids out for movies, games and concerts. It will ease up the channel of communication. Simple activities like preparing toast for him, playing games, little bit of window shopping does the magic.
Try to be a role model
Kids idolize their parents. They grow up watching the behavior and attitude of their parents. The younger a kid, the more cues he would take. Make sure you behave politely whenever he is around. Think twice before throwing fits of rage on anyone or yelling on top of your voice. He might be left bewildered and bemoaned. Every parent loves to see basic human traits in their child. You need to make sure you wear traits like respect, honesty, tolerance, friendliness, kindness and unselfish behavior. Always treat your kids in the same manner you expect to be treated by others.
Put more emphasis on communication
The process of communication plays a pivotal role in shaping up a healthy relationship between parents and kids. Maintaining a smoother and proper channel of communication is pretty essential, especially with teenagers. Parents need to sit down and hold friendly conversation in order to impart their message in a clear and easy way. Generation gap also acts as a major hitch at times. Parents should keep this in mind whenever a conversation is on. They should carefully introspect their child’s suggestions rather than dismissing straight away. Once parents succeed in making their child feel the weight they threw behind them, the purpose gets served to a large extent.
Always adopt a flexible stance in parenting style
Don’t stick on to a single approach for an extended period of time. Be open to amend your ‘rules’ according to the changing times and situations. Teenagers tend to follow their friends and ignore parents. But you should not take this as negative aspect rather keep on providing him the guidance, encouragement along with a passage for him to move freely but in a disciplined manner. You will have to look out for every single opportunity to connect with him.
Make your kids feel your unconditional love
As a parent, you carry an enormous responsibility of guiding and taking care of your kid. How you express your love plays a crucial role in strengthening the bond between you and your child. Whenever you are confronting your child, try not to blame or criticize and find fault. This might blow off his self esteem and confidence. Show love and care even when you are scolding or reprimanding him and make it clear what you expect from him is secondary. What matters most is you love him with no conditions attached.
Recognize your needs and confinement, being a parent
This is arguably one of the toughest facts for you to face as a parent. But as soon as you are convinced that even you are not that perfect as a parent, you become familiar to your strengths and weaknesses. This should be done step by step instead of rushing off with multiple priorities at one go. Even you need to take your time off from parenting and fetch some quality space exclusively for yourself. If you care for your well being, it would serve as an effective example for your children as well.
