An important tip to consider when parenting is to focus on the positive as a way to improve the negative. This is important because the best way for someone to learn is by means of positive reinforcement. Use the positives and build on good habits from there.
Be friends with your child on any social media sites to help you monitor their other friends and activities. While some kids may complain about their parent being able to see everything they post, remind them that social media accounts are a privilege and not a right. Being friends on-line is a non-intrusive way to keep an eye on their activities.
As the parent of a young child one of the most important things to take into consideration is how to "childproof" your home. Make a checklist of items in the home that need to be childproofed. Avoid sharp edges on desks and tables and don't leave out small gadgets that a child can swallow. Make sure all cupboards and cabinets are both out of reach and securely fastened. You can never take too many precautions when it comes to the safety of your child.
A great tip to help you become a better parent is to not hide things from your child. No matter how big or small, if you hide anything from your child, they're likely to figure it out. This can lead to a general mistrust that won't be quick to go away.
If your child comes and asks you a question about something and you do not know what the answer is you should be completely honest about that. Making up something is not going to solve the issue, so it is best for you to say you do not know and offer to help them find the answer.
An important tip to consider in terms of parenting, is to try to put yourself in the shoes of the child, to understand why they react to you in certain ways and why they do the things they do. This is important because it will help to curb your frustration as well as guide them better.
Learn to breastfeed your baby in public so that you will be able to breastfeed for your child's first year of life. Mothers who have not learned how to discretely nurse in public tend to start offering bottles and that is usually the beginning of the end of a breastfeeding relationship.
An important part of parenting is the setting and enforcing of clear boundaries. Consistency is critical, so once a line is drawn on a particular behavioral topic, the consequences for crossing that line must always be upheld. By following this course of action, your child will have predictable rules under which to operate, and will always be aware of what is acceptable and what is not!
Allowing your child to socialize with children of the same age is important. You should make an effort to get to know your kid's friends and those friends' parents. Cultivating social contacts between parents will help ensure your child is supervised in accordance with your wishes. A network of closely-connected parents can be a powerful child-rearing resource.
Be aware that labeling your child can have detrimental effects, even if the labels are positive, such as "our smart one." Children may feel pigeonholed into certain roles or feel like failures if they do not live up to their labels. It is better to praise or address specific behaviors.
Listen to your kids! Even when they are infants their chattering can tell you much about how they are feeling. Whether they are an infant or a teen, however, what a child is saying or not saying is often a dead giveaway as to what might be wrong. All you have to do is listen closely and use your intuition.
Getting involved at your child's school is a great way to improve your child's performance in school. Volunteering at school can send your child a positive message about how much you care about their education. It will also give you a first hand look into your child's environment away from home.
Want your child to have a large vocabulary? Talk to her! Studies show that parents who spend significant amounts of time talking with their children about everyday events have children with larger vocabularies than their peers whose parents spend less time talking to them. So turn off the TV, put down your book, and start a conversation!
As was stated in the beginning of this article, being a good parent is really a matter of proper education and information. If you know the right ways to handle the struggles of parenting, it doesn't have to be as difficult as it is made out to be. Apply the advice from this article and you'll be well on your way to being a great parent.