10 Tips For Good Parenting

It is the parenting that is generally blamed for the behaviour and personality of a child. Many times parents try to inculcate good habits in their kids verbally, but did you know, a child learns and adopts both good and bad things not from what the parents teach, but by his/her own observations and what is going on around them.

Parenting may be a difficult task, but with a little patience and teamwork, both parents can inculcate good habits in their children. Earlier, people used to live in joint families, where parenting was not just limited to the mother and father only. But in the current scenario, where nuclear families are becoming a trend, both mother and father, especially the new ones, are facing a tough time teaching their kids good behaviour and habits.

Senior Psychiatrist Dr. Veena Krishnan says that children may not learn what their parents want to teach them, but they learn most of the things by watching their parents. Therefore, first and foremost, it is important that the mutual behaviour of the parents should be positive and respectful. Only then the kids will be able to have a happy childhood.

There are many other ways in which kids can be taught good manners. Different experts recommend different tips on how to be good at parenting. Some of those tips are as follows:

1. Experts believe that parents should always try to keep the atmosphere of the house respectful, pleasant and positive. In a healthy environment, the child develops a sense of happiness, respect, satisfaction and security.
2. Regularly spend quality time with the child, talk to them and moreover listen to them with proper attention. This strengthens the bond and affection between the parent and the child.
3. More attention should be paid to your child's good attitude or positive behavior. The more a parent scolds their child for his bad behavior, the more he/she is likely to do something similar again. This is called a negative attitude or negative approach in parenting language. So, as far as possible, instead of scolding, patiently explain to them what is right and wrong. However, if the situation is serious or if necessary, you may scold them as well. However, remember not to be abusive to your child or use any derogatory words while scolding.
4. It is very important for children to learn the habit of sharing. Teach them to share even small things like school tiffin, stationery, books, etc., because if the child learns this habit then it will have a positive effect on his/her personality.
5. It is usually seen that because of work stress, parents lose control over themselves and unknowingly take their frustration out on their kids, which isn’t good. Such behaviour from the parent’s end can mentally affect children and make them angrier and stubborn. At the same time, the kids start becoming distant and disrespectful towards their parents.
6. As much as possible, avoid shouting at your child. If you wish to explain something to them, first try to understand your child’s point of view and their feelings and then tell them what is right.
7. If you wish to make your child a responsible person when he/she grows up, you have to begin from now. Ask them to help you out with small household chores. Ask for their opinions and involve them in making general household decisions. This will boost their confidence level, as well as they will become self-confident and self-dependent.
8. If you want your child to learn something, let them do it themselves. He/she may not be able to do it properly at first, but gradually, he/she will learn it by themselves.
9. Teach your child to face challenges in a positive way. Experts say that people who take the challenges in a positive manner, definitely succeed. On the other hand, those who carry a negative mindset tend to give up early and usually run away from facing them at all.
10. Too much control can hinder the development of the child. Thus, parents must try to be their friends or guide. Also, you do not need to have an opinion on everything they do, especially when they are in their teen years or are older. Moreover, do not try to make your child just like you. Let them be themselves and accept them as they are.