PARENTING SKILLS - THRIVING TO MAKE OUR KIDS THRIVE

In the quest to give our child the best, let’s talk about parenting skills today. Parenting skills encompass a broad range of abilities and attitudes that contribute to the well-being and development of a child. Through my journey with my two year old boy, there are a few things that I have experienced to be the best forces to effectively raise my child for his betterment.

Effective parenting involves a combination of emotional support, communication, consistency, and setting appropriate boundaries. Parenting is an ever ongoing learning curve, everyday teaches you something new in relation to your child and also about the environment you are raising your child in.

KEY FACTORS

Communication

Strong communication is fundamental to parenting. Listening actively to a child's thoughts and feelings fosters trust and helps build a healthy parent-child relationship. Effective communication involves both expressing love and understanding and teaching children how to express themselves. It is important to be there for your kid on a day to day basis. Being a working mom myself I realize the difficulties we face in giving time to our child, while trying not to hamper our work space or productivity. But believe me moms, even an hour of effective communication with your child goes a long way. Speak the language of unconditional love to your child :

·       Thank you for being you

·       I appreciate you

·       I always want to know what you think and feel

·       I am so lucky to be your parent

·       I see you

·       I love spending time with you

·       I am lucky to get to see you everyday

·       I love you in every way and every single day

·       There is nothing you can do, that will make us/me stop loving you

Empathy

Empathizing with a child's emotions and experiences is crucial for fostering emotional intelligence. It helps parents connect with their children, providing comfort and guidance through life's challenges. I also feel that when we empathize with our children, or put ourselves in their shoes, our reactions to their tantrums, their mistakes become mellow and we deal with such situations in a far more effective manner.

Consistency

Consistency in rules and expectations creates a stable environment for children. When parents are consistent in their responses to behavior, children learn what is acceptable and what is not, promoting a sense of security. It is important to establish boundaries for our kids and let them know what is right and what is wrong. Having said that, it is important to allow kids to make their own mistakes and learn from them. An extremely shielded environment hampers more than encourages.

Positive Reinforcement

Encouraging good behavior through positive reinforcement, such as praise and rewards, helps reinforce positive habits. Many times we find our kids doing things which are not right for them or might harm them in some manner, but it is important to note that in such times one shouldn’t lose their cool or be negative towards their child in a moment of anger. Positive reinforcement might take time but it will ensure promotion of a child's self-esteem and motivate them to continue a positive behavior in the long run.

Setting Boundaries

Establishing clear and reasonable boundaries help children understand limits and develop a sense of responsibility in them. It is essential for creating a safe and secure environment where children can thrive.

Adaptability

Parenting requires flexibility and adaptability. Being able to adjust strategies based on a child's individual needs and developmental stage contributes to effective parenting. One must remember that every child is different and so are their needs. We as moms must pay attention to our child instead of comparing our little one with other kids, harming our sanity and our kids’ too in the process. If I am to confess, I have been guilty of doing this time and again till I realized it adds no value to my motherhood or my upbringing.

Role Modelling

Parents serve as primary role models for their children. Demonstrating values, empathy, and positive behavior sets a strong example for children to follow. I read an interesting quote somewhere which has stayed with me ever since, “Be careful of how you behave in front of your child, for they are learning how to be just by looking at you.” I know it can be a lot of pressure but I believe we owe this to our babies.

Problem Solving

Teaching children how to solve problems and make decisions empowers them and promotes critical thinking skills. Parents can guide children in finding solutions rather than imposing decisions. Also, as parents, we tend to run to our kids as soon as we see them stuck in a problem, and that’s understandable because we don’t want to see our kids struggle. But this usually has an adverse effect on the child instead of a positive one. We need to give our kids time to try and get out of a situation themselves unless it is something that can cause harm.

Self-Care

Taking care of oneself is often overlooked but is crucial for effective parenting. Parents need to prioritize their physical and mental well-being to be emotionally available for their children. Oftentimes we think that till the time our child is happy everything is right in this world, but our happiness is primary as well, because sooner or later a lack of joy will cause us to get frustrated with our kids which is never right. So moms, please don’t forget to look after yourselves. You’re doing a fabulous job, incase nobody told you this in a long time!

In the end, all I would say is that we as parents do a lot for our kids and find our solace in the same. So let us keep doing what we are doing and let us hope we raise kids who are kind and strong, ready to take on anything that comes their way! 

So here is to us parents, making mistakes, learning from them and striving to do the best for our children on a daily basis. And speaking of best,

DIVE INTO THE WORLD OF WUV BUG KIDS AND ELEVATE YOUR LITTLE ONE'S WARDROBE WITH OUR COLLECTION OF LUXURY AND STYLE.

EXPLORE