Parenting Strategies

Communication

It is important that you develop clear communication with your child so that they feel comfortable communicating with you as well. This can support positive behavior. Becoming angry, yelling, or threatening shuts down the flow of communication. Stay calm, be clear, and be firm. Try to understand their point of view by asking them questions, and taking the time to listen to their concerns. If you need time to think about your response that’s ok!

Regular Encouragement

Encourage your child to learn new things. Encourage them to try their best. This can help build self-esteem and it builds a positive relationship between you two. Focus on their efforts, not just their outcomes. Try to avoid comparing your child to other kids, focus on what makes them unique and their skill sets.

Negotiating Problems and Finding Solutions

Allow your child to make mistakes. When they face a problem, talk about it with them. Come up with strategies to address the problem but allow for your child to lead in finding the solution. It’s very important that your child gains the skills they need to handle a problem and find a solution.

Setting Limits

Kids at any age need structure. Setting clear expectations, routines, and limits are important for their development, decision-making skills, and safety. Setting limits teaches self-control and responsibility. When setting a rule make sure it is clear and simple, your child understands your rules, and they understand the consequences. Make sure to be consistent, if you set a rule you need to stick with it and the consequences.

Communicate with your child often, and as they get older you can work together on adjusting the limits. Respect and understanding are important, explain to your child the reasons behind your decisions. Your child may not always like it but they’ll hear you.

Supervision

Supervision becomes challenging as your child gets older. Have clear expectations and rules such as:

• Calling/texting you when they go somewhere.
• Set a curfew.
• Get to know your child’s friends and their parents.
• Make sure you know where your child is. If they’re going to a friend’s house do you know the address?
• Set up a plan with your child if there is an emergency and what they should do. You won’t always be there but you can prepare them to make a safe decision.

Knowing Their Friends

Get to know your child’s friends! Stay involved with your child’s activities. Peer pressure is a common reason why kids engage in risky behaviors. If your child is going to a friend’s house make sure you know the address, the friend’s phone number, and who the parents are. Encourage your child to have their friends over at your house. Get to know other parents and work together to ensure that your children are making good decisions.

Quality time

Spend time with your child. Doing fun activities such as going to the movies, going out to eat, going to the park, or going to community events is important.

Building a relationship with your child, spending quality time, and getting to know each other creates trust, respect, and happiness. Spending time together at home is important too, you can teach them valuable skills such as cooking, fixing cars, gardening/yard work, cleaning, or decorating.

Chores can be a moment of quality time if you do them together, and you can make it fun by playing music. Family time creates more moments for conversation and learning.