There is nothing that adequately prepares us for the most important job there is parenting. Children and teens do not come with an owner's manual, and most of our training is on the job.เธขย With our own parents as our most prominent role models, we tend to repeat what we have learned about parenting from them.เธขย We do our best, learn as we go, and make our own mistakes along the way; but we don't have to leave our parenting to chance.
We can become more effective parents.We can parent with more confidence instead of frustration.เธขย Parenting can be enjoyable and rewarding instead of stressful.เธขย Following are some parenting tips for improving communication and building healthy and respectful relationships with our children and teens.
(1) Show interest in your kids One of the best ways to get anyone to talk is to show interest in them and what is important to them.เธขย Sports, music, or any other activity provides great ways to connect and share.เธขย Become engaged in whatever it is your child or teen enjoys.เธขย It can be anything--watching a football game together, listening to songs and talking about favorite artists, watching your child draw or build model cars, or helping your daughter with her hair and nails.
(2) Initiate conversations Often parents begin conversations with a question instead of simply sharing their thoughts.เธขย Kids are more likely to engage in conversations when they do not feel they have to explain or defend themselves.เธขย Letting them know you are thinking about them and that you care about what is happening in their lives are good ways to initiate conversations. Timing is important as well.เธขย Good times to talk might be bedtime, while driving, or at dinner.
(3) Make yourself available Sometimes parents get so busy and donot realize that their children feel there is no time left for them.เธขย They do not express this directly saying, เน‚โ‚ฌยœYou know, Iเน‚โ‚ฌย™ve been feeling neglected lately.เธขย It seems youเน‚โ‚ฌย™re so busy with everything and everyone else and donเน‚โ‚ฌย™t make time for me.เธขย And when you are with me, you seem preoccupied and distracted.เน‚โ‚ฌยเธขย เธขย They might, instead, distance themselves or act out for some negative attention.เธขย Making time for kids can be a sacrifice, especially for very busy parents, but the investment is well worth it.เธขย Developing a good relationship with oneเน‚โ‚ฌย™s children requires time both quality time and quantity of time. Planning weekly one-on-one time with no distractions is a good idea.เธขย Kids want to know that they are important and valued.เธขย Making yourself available to them communicates this loud and clear.
(4) Be a good listener You know you have heard someone correctly when they feel understood.เธขย One way to do this is to repeat what you think you heard back to them. They will clarify what they meant if they think you are genuinely interested and trying to understand them.Kids also need to feel safe when sharing their thoughts, with no fear of judgment, being cut off, or causing an angry reaction. เธขย It is important to resist arguments and criticism.เธขย When there are disagreements, parents can express that it is okay to disagree.เธขย Although their thoughts and feelings differ, they are not rejecting their child.เธขย Parents and their children will encounter many differences in opinion.เธขย However, being a good listener lets your children know that you understand where they are coming from without lecturing or threatening.
(5) Use words to motivate If you see your children and teens as winners, beautiful, and full of potential, they will know it and act on it.เธขย It will show in how you treat them and what you say.เธขย As a result, they will believe in themselves as well.เธขย Your words have power.เธขย The words of a parent can motivate and empower for a lifetime.เธขย They can also discouraged and break a childเน‚โ‚ฌย™s spirit if they are negative and critical.เธขย We can all recall things our parents have said about us that we have carried with us throughout our lives, such as:เธขย I believe in you.เธขย You can do anything you set your mind to.เธขย You are so smart and creative.เธขย Or, you will never amount to anything. You do not have what it takes.เธขย You are the ugly one of the family.
Let us choose our words carefully.เธขย Speaking good things over them, blessing them with our words motivates them to fulfill their purpose in life. It is not easy parenting children and teens and knowing what to say or how to bring out the best in them. เธขย Feeling connected and getting along with our kids takes time and effort.เธขย The goods news is that parents and teens can have healthy connections that are founded upon trust and unconditional love. The parenting tips provided above are a good start to better communication and a more rewarding parenting experience.เธขย For more tips or help with problems, parents may benefit from parenting classes or family counseling
No comments:
Post a Comment