Parenting is really hard and there are some skills that, if you do not possess them naturally, you need to work hard to develop as you go. Many parents simply raise their kids the way they were raised, which does not always produce the best results. In this article, we’ll be looking at some of the major skills that every parent should acquire.
One of the most important things that you can do as a parent is to set a good example for your children. It is a lot easier to simply tell your kids not to do or to do something than it is to be a good role model but this is what they need the most. It is important to match your actions to your words because kids learn more by observing you than by listening to you.
When you’re a parent you are naturally going to be your child’s first role model so if you set a good example, you have a better chance of having your child actually live up to your standards. Parents who simply tell their kids not to do something, like using profanity, but then are always doing that thing themselves will find that it is the actions and not the words that the kids heed.
All parents get frustrated and mad and even just overwhelmed sometimes. Take a break when you feel this way. It is better to put some resources in place so that you can ask someone else to watch your son or daughter if you need to take a breather. You can ask babysitters, friends, family members and even your own partner for help here. Ideally you should have a lengthy list of people you can count on as not everyone is going to be available all the time. Even if you haven’t yet reached your breaking point, you need to have some free time to spend by yourself. Sometimes there isn’t a lot of time to have but even a fifteen minute walk around the block can help you renew your perspective. You’ll be a much better parent if you allow yourself some “you” time and don’t focus on being perfect all of the time.
Some parents seem to think that dropping kids off at school means that the school is then 100% responsible for the child. While this is somewhat true it doesn’t absolve you from needing to know or be involved in your child’s education and school environment. The same is also true for extra curricular activities your child takes part in like clubs or sports or summer camps. Whenever you are able, volunteer some time at your child’s school, take part in meetings and attend parent-teacher conferences. Sure you’re busy and won’t be able to be at everything but you do not want to be the parent who has no knowledge of what goes on in your child’s world when he or she is out of the house. Your child experiences many important things at school and other places, and as a parent you should be involved or at least aware of these.
While some aspects of parenting come naturally to us, we all have areas where we need to develop our skills. You’re not going to be perfect but do what you can to learn from your experiences. Remember: just because you’ve behaved in a certain fashion in the past or because your parents behaved in a certain way that does not mean that you are doomed to repeat those things; you can make the adjustments you need to make. Parenting is, among other stuff, a constant learning experience.