Every parent has a goal to raise a healthy child that will turn into a good and productive adult.
However, that process is not always easy since every child is different, with their own set of dreams, wishes, and little bugs that bother them.
It might seem like you need to be perfect to be a good parent, but that’s very far from the truth. Since no child is perfect, they also don’t require perfect parents.
However, working towards improving your parenting ways is always welcome. So here’s how you can improve your parenting skills and help your kids become better humans:
Be a good listener
Oftentimes, we’re so busy or tired that we don’t even notice our kids are trying to tell us something. This is an unfortunate event that happens to all parents.
However, you can become a better listener by spending time with your child without distractions. We all have many things to handle, but try to provide your child with the attention they need.
Pay special attention when they try to tell you about their worries, fears, and stressors–this will show that you care and that they can always come to you with their issues.
Set good examples
Children are like little sponges that are especially sensitive to unwanted behaviors. Therefore, don’t do things in front of them that you don’t want to see repeated.
If you do things that you wouldn’t be proud to see in your kids, it’s a good sign that you should alter your behavior.
Even if it doesn’t seem so, your kids watch you do chores, communicate with other people, go to work, give love, etc., and it’s important to give every task your all, so they learn hard work.
This is especially important with eating healthy and being active because a proper diet and exercising are crucial for kids.
Stick to your rules
If you want to show your kids what’s right and what’s wrong, you need to set certain rules. But don’t think you’re exempt from them just because you’re an adult.
You need to follow your rules as well if you want your kids to take them seriously.
If you’re unsure about your rules, you can consult with a parenting coach and get top advice on how to set and stick to rules and what to do when kids choose to break them.
Talking to professionals is a great way to get new parenting skills and brush up on the old ones, so don’t hesitate to sign up for sessions.
Additionally, your discipline should be clear, simple, and consistent. Constant changing of rules is not good for your kids, because they won’t know which ones to follow.
Kids are very sneaky in noticing soft spots and loopholes and will not hesitate to use them, so your rules must always be enforced.
Control your emotions
It’s crucial to always be cool and collected, especially in stressful situations.
If you lose control of your emotions in front of your children, they may develop certain fears and anxieties, especially at a young age when they are not aware of what’s going on around them exactly.
So no matter if you’re having a little disagreement with your partner or trying to negotiate a refund with a customer service professional, never be mean in front of kids.
When you get angry and start to yell, or even worse, get into a physical altercation, your kids will conclude that this is appropriate behavior in stressful times and that violence can solve your problems.
Instead, demonstrate how one can solve issues calmly and politely and teach them emotional intelligence.
Spend quality time together
Each child in your family deserves some alone time with their parents, as well as time spent together as a family.
Spending quality time with just the two of you will allow you to get to know your child better and deepen your emotional bond.
While spending time together, make sure to encourage them in all different ways instead of using the time to correct or teach new lessons–just try to spend a relaxing hour or two having fun and sharing stories and emotions.
Show unconditional love
If there’s one thing your kid should know it’s that you love them unconditionally.
And don’t assume your child knows this automatically because they don’t–you need to show that your love is always present.
It’s amazing for the child’s confidence to know that they always have someone to have their back and provide support.
Also, show love to your spouse frequently, because your child will see it and know that this is what a healthy marriage looks like.
Take your job as a parent very seriously, but don’t strive for perfection. Just do your best, improve your methods and remember to love your kids, and you’ll do just fine.
Sandra is a health blogger based in San Diego, California. She is passionate about living a healthy lifestyle. She loves being outdoors and exploring new places with her husband. She is a mom of two awesome kids and a dog named Luna!