Parenting comes with lots of opinions, advices and confusions. It’s common for parents to feel overwhelmed and pressurized due to the expectation of providing the best possible care to the child. In today’s article we’ll focus on understanding what our little ones require out of us in order feel safe and loved. Here are some tips to consider:
- EXPRESS BY SHOWING, NOT JUST TELLING
Kids are observational learners, they grasp best by watching you practice what you preach to them. Become their role model.
- AVOID LABELS
By labelling your child you are putting them in boxes. It’s common to see parents referring to their kids as “bossy” “trouble maker” or “attention seeker”. Such labels allow children to obsess over the unhelpful terms and keeps them away from their authentic self.
- MAKE CONSTANT USE OF ENCOURAGING WORDS
Use reinforcing words such as “well done” “I knew you could do it” and “I am proud of you”. This would create a lasting positive change in the behavior of the child.
- PROVIDE ENOUGH AFFECTION
There is nothing like too much love, show your kids as much affection as you can. Love never spoil children, what spoils them instead is the materials or things we give in place of love. Express love through hugs, kisses and spending quality time together.
- PRACTICE KIND YET FIRM DISCIPLINE
Show kindness in order to make the child feel respected and acknowledged while remain firm to show regard towards what is required to be done in the given situation.
- PRACTICE ACTIVE LISTENING
Sometimes kids just wish to vent out to you, try to understand where they are coming from with an open mind by showing empathy rather than resorting immediately to the age old practice of lecturing.