Active parenting
Parenting is science, it’s an art, a philosophy and a life story too. It’s a responsibility and a huge one.It’s a big job.It requires not just knowledge, but also commitment, skill and aptitude for it. This is one job role which is taken up by millions each year.However, there are very few who are completely ready or trained for it.What is actually that we would want to be ready for?
Here are a few steps which are applicable to each and every parent in this world and can be applied across cultures.
Respect your Children
Respect is one of the earliest values which the parents teach their children.Showing love and respect towards the child is the stepping stone for getting the same in the long run from them.It is not something that the child needs to earn. It’s rather a gift that is to be given to the child.But how can parents respect their child?There are few small deeds That can be done by the parents which covertly show the parents respecting the child:
Boundary setting for your children
Setting healthy boundaries is one of the most important lessons for any child.This is one such lesson which is not clearly taught in school, but only at home.Resetting brings clarity to the child’s mind.When the child learns to set boundary, he or she knows his or her own limits and also knows when and what to say no for.This can easily be done by small efforts like – Putting forward clear expectations, enforcing limits, respecting your child’s personal space and educating your child about people’s intimate and personal boundaries.
Use positive disciplining strategies
Surely discipline is an important lesson that a child needs to learn. What matters more than learning the lesson is how it is taught to the child.A part of children, learning the discipline is them breaking the boundaries.So a parent needs to be prepared for those incidences as well and design healthy ways of dealing with such instances.
Be consistent
Inconsistency confuses children.This holds true even with regard to disciplining strategies.If your child has been told that a certain action has consequences, even if you are occupied when the action has happened, make sure that you acknowledge the act and convey the decided consequences. Consistency will help in the process of disciplining your child.
Proportionate strategies
Disproportionate action and punishment will Confuse and hurt the child a lot. The punishment or the consequence to a certain action should be in proportion to the action itself. Harsh punishment for a minor action makes children feel that the parents are unreasonable.Unreasonable consequences also don’t last long.Stainable disciplinarian approach consists of proportionate consequences to clearly defined actions.
Communication is the key
The bridge to any relationship is communication of expression.A mutual sharing of what one feels enhances any relationship.Especially a parent child relationship wherein there is not only a difference of years but also generations, it is important that both parties healthily communicate with each other.
Common times set apart for communication and connection with your children really help.
Acknowledge their uniqueness
Parents acknowledging their child’s uniqueness really helps the child in individualizing. Acknowledgement of uniqueness also helps the child stay secure in all the relationships.The parents should avoid comparing their child either in superior or inferior ways with others, especially other children.Parents acknowledging their child’s uniqueness helps the child become creative.It helps the child have trust in his or her actions and self.
Stay Engaged with your children
Parental engagement with the child is of utmost importance.Negligent parenting leaves the child not only confused, but without primary scaffolding.A child needs a structure to develop his thoughts, believes, and the way of living.This is what the child vicariously learns from his or her own parents.Most learnings of children comes from the engagement with parents and not the overt teachings.
When the parent is engaged with the child, the child will share the areas in which he or she is having difficulty.Engagement being the sole basis of connection, will help the child feel connected and this will be the core of his or her holistic development.
Make children a part of the tasks you do as much as possible. Children love it and feel worthy when parents respect them enough to work with them or do daily chores with them.
In a gist, active parenting is about being completely involved for the holistic development of your child, in a way that is best for your child.A secure, healthy and loved environment nurtures the child to its best. A parent who is able to ensure that constantly is an active parent.
Here are a few steps which are applicable to each and every parent in this world and can be applied across cultures.
Respect your Children
Respect is one of the earliest values which the parents teach their children.Showing love and respect towards the child is the stepping stone for getting the same in the long run from them.It is not something that the child needs to earn. It’s rather a gift that is to be given to the child.But how can parents respect their child?There are few small deeds That can be done by the parents which covertly show the parents respecting the child:
- Allowing children to express themselves.
- Being an active listener to their expression.
- Encouraging your child to be what they want to be.
- Appreciating and praising your child.
Boundary setting for your children
Setting healthy boundaries is one of the most important lessons for any child.This is one such lesson which is not clearly taught in school, but only at home.Resetting brings clarity to the child’s mind.When the child learns to set boundary, he or she knows his or her own limits and also knows when and what to say no for.This can easily be done by small efforts like – Putting forward clear expectations, enforcing limits, respecting your child’s personal space and educating your child about people’s intimate and personal boundaries.
Use positive disciplining strategies
Surely discipline is an important lesson that a child needs to learn. What matters more than learning the lesson is how it is taught to the child.A part of children, learning the discipline is them breaking the boundaries.So a parent needs to be prepared for those incidences as well and design healthy ways of dealing with such instances.
Be consistent
Inconsistency confuses children.This holds true even with regard to disciplining strategies.If your child has been told that a certain action has consequences, even if you are occupied when the action has happened, make sure that you acknowledge the act and convey the decided consequences. Consistency will help in the process of disciplining your child.
Proportionate strategies
Disproportionate action and punishment will Confuse and hurt the child a lot. The punishment or the consequence to a certain action should be in proportion to the action itself. Harsh punishment for a minor action makes children feel that the parents are unreasonable.Unreasonable consequences also don’t last long.Stainable disciplinarian approach consists of proportionate consequences to clearly defined actions.
Communication is the key
The bridge to any relationship is communication of expression.A mutual sharing of what one feels enhances any relationship.Especially a parent child relationship wherein there is not only a difference of years but also generations, it is important that both parties healthily communicate with each other.
Common times set apart for communication and connection with your children really help.
Acknowledge their uniqueness
Parents acknowledging their child’s uniqueness really helps the child in individualizing. Acknowledgement of uniqueness also helps the child stay secure in all the relationships.The parents should avoid comparing their child either in superior or inferior ways with others, especially other children.Parents acknowledging their child’s uniqueness helps the child become creative.It helps the child have trust in his or her actions and self.
Stay Engaged with your children
Parental engagement with the child is of utmost importance.Negligent parenting leaves the child not only confused, but without primary scaffolding.A child needs a structure to develop his thoughts, believes, and the way of living.This is what the child vicariously learns from his or her own parents.Most learnings of children comes from the engagement with parents and not the overt teachings.
When the parent is engaged with the child, the child will share the areas in which he or she is having difficulty.Engagement being the sole basis of connection, will help the child feel connected and this will be the core of his or her holistic development.
Make children a part of the tasks you do as much as possible. Children love it and feel worthy when parents respect them enough to work with them or do daily chores with them.
In a gist, active parenting is about being completely involved for the holistic development of your child, in a way that is best for your child.A secure, healthy and loved environment nurtures the child to its best. A parent who is able to ensure that constantly is an active parent.
