Parenting Principles

Posted by Barbara Gibson Oct 12, 2006

Whoever said parenting is easy was probably not a parent. If you're a parent that is facing challenges with your children, try the following strategies to smooth your parenting path.

Be firm- Have you ever heard someone use a tone that made you sit up and take notice? Every parent needs such a tone. This isn't a tone that should inspire fear; instead it is a tone that springs from confidence, authority and love. Use this kind of tone rather than one that suggests begging, uncertainty or anger.

Be fair-While children don't have equal life experience they do have equal value and worth. Do your best to treat children respectfully and fairly with every interaction.

Be consistent- Let the rules rule every time, all the time. It can be confusing for children if the rules matter on bad days, but not on good days. Children need to know what they can count on and expect from you. When the rules feel arbitrary it's hard for them to know what is okay to do and even harder to know how to behave.