4 Strategies To More Effective Parenting
There is no handbook or how-to guide given to you on how to raise your children. Every child is different and needs to be cared for in their own way. You may think you have the swing of parenting after one kid, and then you have another child. Guess what! You will feel as though you are starting all over again! There is one universal thing that all parents can agree on for all children. All parents want what is best for their children. They also want their children to overcome the tough challenges that will inevitably come their way. Even though there is no step-by-step handbook on how to raise your children, there are a few tips to help along the way. One of these tips is to practice mental strength with your children. It also helps to practice it ourselves, too!
According to Amy Morin, a psychotherapist, “Mental strength requires you to pay attention to three things: the way you think, feel and act. Thinking big, feeling good, and acting brave helps us grow our mental muscles.”
Here are five short lessons you can teach your children to help build up their mental strength:
Empower themselves.
We must teach our children to be in control of their own feelings. They should never depend on another person to feel good about their day; rather, they should choose to have a good day for themselves. If another person is in a bad mood, they should choose to not allow that person to bring them down, too.
Adapt to change.
Lately, we have all had to adapt, and it is not easy. I’m sure you can agree. This year has been a massive shift in everyone’s lives across the globe. Sometimes, we cannot control what is happening in our lives, but we can choose how we react to it. Being able to adapt to new experiences and environments will ease worries. Remember, change can be exciting!
Know when to say no.
It takes courage to stand up for yourself and tell a person no. The word “no” is not a bad word. Actually, it can keep your child out of a lot of trouble if they learn how to use it in the right situations. Learning when to say no in situations that can lead to bad consequences is critical. You will not always be by your child’s side to make decisions for them, so you must teach them how to make the right decisions for themself.
Own their mistakes.
Character building is essential in children’s younger years. Teaching your child to own up to their mistakes is key to building character. Owning up to mistakes is hard because you must endure the embarrassment of failure and suffer the consequences of the mistake. It is worth it, though. By owning up to your mistakes, you gain accountability in the eyes of your peers. It also helps you realize exactly what you did wrong, so you can prevent it from happening again.
It is easy when you are young to give up after the first try but giving up will become a habit if you do not learn how to persist in achieving your goals. Hard work is a part of life. We all must try and try again to achieve our dreams.
There is no handbook for parents because children will throw you curveballs each and every day. There is no single way to raise a child, nor should there be. Each child is unique. The goal is to raise them to have a mind of their own to make the best decisions possible for their happiness and health. Raising children is an exciting adventure, and it can be even better when you take the time to teach them these life lessons. It will help them out in the long run to become the best person they can possibly be.
