The Parenting Secrets You Wish You Had Known From The Start!
If only kids came with a set of instructions, life could be so much easier! Every parent has had moments in which they simply do not know which way to turn. Fortunately, the article that follows includes several useful tips sure to make any parent’s life just a little bit easier.
Nothing beats the physical and mental presence of parents when it comes to fostering a sense of love and security among children. You need to make it your first priority to not only be with your kids physically, but also to engage emotionally and intellectually with them at all times. Children are very perceptive and they know when your mind is elsewhere and your attention is not on them. This can lead to a sense of alienation or neglect that is sure to have unfortunate consequences down the road.
Divorce is a sad reality for many sets of parents, but that does not have to mean that the parenting relationship is irreparably fractured as well. Do everything within your power to maintain a healthy co-parenting relationship with your ex, even if your own relationship with them is not a happy one. Never allow your children to pick up on harsh feelings or resentments between their parents, as this creates confusion and sadness that can easily manifest itself in other areas.
Always make it a point to become well-acquainted with your children’s friends as well as their moms and dads. Playmates can play a significant role in your children’s growth and development, and you need to ensure that your kids are not being subjected to negative or unhealthy influences. If your kids spend a great deal of time in someone else’s home playing with their children, be certain to verify that they are in a happy, nurturing environment that will contribute to their upbringing, not undermine it.
Engaging in creative and educational play with your kids is an essential part of good parenting, and is something you should do each and every day. Whether you are putting together a puzzle, playing a board game or dressing up in funny costumes, this type of collaborative play is a vital part of your children’s upbringing. By spending time in this way, you can foster imagination, logic, math skills and other key traits that will serve your kids well for years to come. In addition, you are sure to have lots and lots of fun.
Finally, even though you may want to be your kids’ best friend, you really do need to incorporate a good amount of discipline in your relationship with them. Parents need to parent, and that often means laying down the law if misbehavior occurs. Kids not only need boundaries and limits, they also desire them, even though it may not always seem that way. Therefore, by doing what is hard and enforcing rules, you will help set them on a path toward becoming honest, happy adults who function well in society.
When you keep your ability to laugh in tact, exercise some fundamental logic and add in a great deal of love, you have all of the critical elements of successful parenting. Try to never become too discouraged when things get tough, and you will be well-positioned to raise great kids and have lots of fun along the way.
