As your child develop from a baby and toddler to a schooler and teenager, many things change but basic principles remain the same. As an awesome parent, you will balance his or her maturity level and needs with rules, responsibilities, and allowances.
While the younger child is more self-centered and less understanding of other’s expectations, the teenager is more attuned to compromise, negotiation, and developing their independence and identity.
Knowing how to be a good parent is intuitive. Trust and follow your instinct. Gage and act according to your child’s display of maturity.
Create structure.
Communicate often and openly. Listen attentively. Encourage your kids to talk about their experiences and emotions.
Demonstrate empathy and trust.
Most of all, enjoy your children at whatever age they are. It is a time of learning and sharing, reaching new heights together. Be there while they grow.
Here is our parenting advice how to be good with kids so that they realize their full potential.
The best parental control app is “Find my Kids” app from AppStore and Google Play. It provides amazing features like live location tracking and listening to surrounding noises and others. The best part is that you can use it for your toddlers and teenagers.
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com
In a nutshell, effective parenting means to engage with children in a way that they develop the knowledge and emotional skills to become happy and productive adults and have well-adapted behaviors.
To be successful in a competitive world, children must learn to be honest and have self-control. They must be able to make decisions and function independently yet be kind and empathetic to others. They cooperate with others based on healthy moral principles, behaving appropriately, even in difficult circumstances.
Parents who can instill these abilities and values in their children have done an exceptional job at preparing them for the real world. Children have eight basic needs that good parent provide to make sure that they have the best chance to thrive and be happy.
Safeguard, educate, provide clear expectations and a consistent routine to prepare your child to face any challenge and transition successfully through his or her childhood development phases.
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com
As a mom or dad, knowing what skill set to have and how to apply it is a good starting point to effective parenting. The most central factor is time. Every one of the parental skills have one thing in common – time. Spending as much time as possible in your child’s company is an opportunity to invest in all his or her basic needs. Effective parents convey these qualities in the following ways.
Guide your child as much as possible rather than prescribe. Let them know your expectations. Show respect and understanding. Encourage talking about their feelings and experiences. Behave toward them in a way that you want reciprocated. When children behave badly, it is sometimes a reflection on the example of the parent.
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com
The following are additional tips on what makes a good parent.
Good parenting skills does not necessarily refer to parents who do everything for their child, but, rather, those who use effective parenting to provide a safe and caring space for their kids and guide them through their development. Good parents may not always do everything right but they are always there.
Remember that it is a journey that you undertake together. Good parenting is an important life task, but enjoying your kids are even more important to you both.
Learning how to be a better parent is not only important in good times. All families go through difficult patches. It is during these challenging times that you will truly find out what makes a good parent.
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com
According to the CDC, almost 10 percent of children between 2- and 17-years-old are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. More than 7 percent have a diagnosed behavioral problem or anxiety while more than 3 percent in the same age group have received a depression diagnosis.
Some of these conditions often occur together, which intensifies the effects and complicates treatment. Viewed together with the fact that even more children with mental health issues are undiagnosed and untreated, which have negative consequences on their health and development, the situation needs attention.
The first line of care and most important foundation of a child’s mental health is at home. When your child is consistently sad or withdrawn, threatens or tries to hurt themselves, have sudden, overwhelming fears, is uncontrollable or takes risks, or have severe mood swings it is possible that he or she suffers from a mood or behavioral disorder.
If their behavior suddenly changes or there are signs of alcohol or drug use, a parent must be alert. A child with such difficulty to concentrate or stay still that it interferes with their functioning in school or with daily tasks possibly has ADHD.
If you observe any of these patterns, talk to your child to find out what he or she has difficulty with, or if anything is bothering him or her. Seek a professional opinion if needed.
Remember that suffering from a mental health issue is not a stigma. It is an illness and not a personal failure. However, effective parenting can make an enormous difference in your child’s resilience and management of problems. Having a caring and structured environment at home gives a child the best opportunity to develop into a happy and productive adult.
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com
Although a stable and loving two-parent home is widely considered the best circumstances for a child to grow up, unfortunately, this is not always the reality. Almost half of all marriages in the United States end in divorce or separation after a median duration of just under eight years. This means that, in many cases, young children are affected.
The period preceding a divorce is typically turbulent and filled with arguments and conflict. Blame and accusations between partners are common. The parents’ anger, frustration, and emotionality are projected onto the kids.
The children can also become a source of quibble as they are drawn into a tug-of-war for a parent’s favor or custody. The most important to remember for parents going through a divorce is that children are not objects to be used in a fight with your partner.
You need to separate your negative feelings for your partner from how you treat your kids. Prevent having fights in front of them. Ensure that they understand they are not to blame in any way and are not responsible for the unhappiness and conflict.
Try to set your hurt and anger aside for the benefit of the kids and go out of your way to make them feel loved, accepted, valuable, and that they belong in both you and your partner’s lives.
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com
When you are already separated or divorced you likely have some type of co-parenting agreement in place. Respect this arrangement at all times.
Except if you have experienced serious issues like physical or emotional abuse or alcohol or drug abuse, sharing involvement in your kids’ lives between both parents is the best solution after a divorce.
Even if you now have separate live, encourage your child to spend time with and maintain a close relationship with your ex-partner. Although the shared responsibilities, coordination, and decision-making can be difficult and exhausting, kids who enjoy the company and guidance of both parents have the best chance at happiness and success.
Make sure that your arrangements are consistent and unexpected things are kept to the minimum. This will help make your kid feel cared for and secure.
A peaceful cooperation with your ex-partner will teach your kid the value of compromise and joint problem-solving.
It is important to separate the feelings of hurt and anger that you may have from your behavior in front of your child. Don’t involve your child in any disagreement or conflict.
Focus on regular, good communication with your ex-partner. Make joint decisions that affect your child. Try to function as a team and support one another when it comes to the wellbeing of the kids.
Resolve issues quickly. Compromise. Don’t let small stuff get in the way and escalate. Always do what is best for your child.
Parenting style and decisions change along with the child’s development. The needs and expectations of your baby and toddler differ from those of your schooler and teen. As their interaction with the world expands, their maturity level increases. You should always gage and balance their maturity level and ability to handle responsibility with the autonomy and freedom that you allow them to have.
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com
Infants have very basic needs and they have not yet developed the distinction between themselves and their environment. They require warmth, rest, safety, and nourishment and time to establish a bond with their primary caretaker. Their main developmental tasks are to learn to eat, sleep, and become used to their bodies and interaction with others. They are starting to develop trust. Therefore, as a parent, you should…
All too soon, your baby will become a toddler and he or she will start to move around more, explore, and interact.
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com
At the age around one to two years, toddlers start to learn to walk and talk. Discovering more of the environment and people around them, toddlers become more autonomous and cautiously test their independence. However, they are still self-centered and can be quite stubborn. At this age, their language and physical skills develop quickly. They learn to navigate rules in their world.
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com
Between the ages of about three and five, your preschooler becomes slightly less self-centered, more aware of his or her place in the world and start learning to manage their emotions and behavior. Their social skills develop quickly, which set the basis for when they venture into the world and go to school. They are experiential learners and test the boundaries of their bodies and minds.
To set your preschooler on the right path, you should…
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com
In your child’s school and preteen years, they become less self-centered, more attuned to others, and (usually) more caring and cooperative. In their formative years, the schooler needs guidance to develop emotional intelligence and self-regulation skills more than ever.
Utilize these typically reasonable years to cement your relationship and let your child develop his or her unique identity.
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com
In your child’s early teens, between 13- and 15-years, expect variable behavior and emotions as they try to settle into independence. At this point, he or she has developed a personality but may still be trying to find their stable identity.
The outside world has an increasing influence on your teen as they navigate peer relationships, look up to role models, and widen their exposure through social media and school, sports, and other events.
At this stage, the focus of the parent is on demonstrating respect and positive values, managing your own emotions, balance freedom with responsibility, and communicating regularly.
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com
Remember that engagement with your child – whatever his or her age – is the critical component in their development. As a baby or toddler, this means physical contact and care. When your child grows older, communication about their experiences and emotions become like a light to guide them to confidence.
Listening reflectively, talking about emotions, establishing boundaries and structure, and balancing independence with responsibility are very important too. Notice changes in your child’s behavior. Monitor their activities online and in the real world.
Set appropriate safeguards on social media. When your child is old enough to have a smart phone, install an app like «Find my Kids» so that you know where they are when you’re worried.
It will give you valuable peace of mind so that you can allow them more leeway to explore their independence while also staying safe and protected.
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com
Have you ever stopped to consider: who invented school? In many places around the world,…
As the school holidays begin to draw to a close, now is the perfect time…
Children's questions can confuse even the most experienced parents. Children ask very simple questions, but…
Once they turn ten, you are aware that boys aren’t small children anymore. While they…
The Second World War left deep scars in the souls of many peoples. But their…