| There is no such thing as a perfect parent. It's a very | | | | make them feel safe and protected. There is nothing |
| tough job, and I think most of us will agree it's much | | | | more comforting to your child than a safe and loving |
| tougher than we ever thought it would be! That's one | | | | home. |
| reason why we sometimes want some advice; to | | | | - A good parent creates a structured environment. |
| reinforce what we are already doing right, as well as | | | | Your children need this routine whether they think they |
| pick up some additional skills to be better. Like anything | | | | do or not. They may complain about brushing their |
| else, good parenting takes practice and these skills can | | | | teeth or making their bed or doing their homework, but |
| be learned over time. The following are some traits of | | | | these routines and expectations provide order in their |
| a good parent: | | | | lives. |
| - A good parent is loving to his or her children.There | | | | - A good parent is proud of his children and tells them |
| are lots of ways to show your kids that you love | | | | often. You don't need your kid to score a touchdown |
| them. Saying "I love you" is just part of it. You need to | | | | or get an A on his spelling test to be proud of him. You |
| be supportive and available, respectful and never too | | | | can just be proud of him for being a great kid. Tell him |
| busy for them. | | | | this on a regular basis. |
| - A good parent is also a good listener. And there is a | | | | - A good parent has a set of rules and expectations |
| big difference between active listening and passive | | | | and sticks to them. The most important point here is to |
| listening. Your kids will know the difference. By actively | | | | be consistent. If there are two parents involved they |
| listening, you not only hear what they are saying but | | | | both need to be on the same page. It's confusing to |
| you are engaging them in conversation about it. | | | | the child otherwise, and provides too many |
| - A good parent provides a feeling of safety and | | | | opportunities to pit one parent against the other. |
| security. We can't hang onto them forever but we can | | | | |