| Love is no doubt an essential part of parenting, but it | | | | and etiquette. |
| has to be judiciously mixed with knowledge, patience, | | | | Children, the author warns, may not always be angels. |
| courage, consistency, and the virtue of learning from | | | | They can be quite problematic at times. Patience and |
| own mistakes. A well-behaved child is not the result of | | | | courage are attributes, which, rank high up on the |
| luck, stresses the author in her informative and | | | | virtues needed to be good parents. Children, in their |
| practical book 'The Art of Successful Parenting'. | | | | own little ways, can be manipulative, scheming, |
| She advises parents to keep an open mind as any | | | | vengeful and violent in speech and behaviour. They |
| preconceived notions may prove obstacles to | | | | are imitating their elders and enacting scenes they |
| effective parenting. What applied to them in their | | | | have witnessed. Parents need to ensure that they |
| childhood, maybe out of place today. For one, most | | | | themselves do not teach children through their own |
| families have gone nuclear. They do not have the | | | | habits, wrong undesired behaviour. Children learn from |
| support system provided by the large network of | | | | their environment. They observe their parents and later |
| relatives found earlier. Today, in many families, both | | | | teachers. |
| parents are working, which draws away their | | | | Parents should not be spiteful. Even in misbehaviour, |
| exclusive attention from their children. | | | | children often repeat what they have seen. Parents |
| The author has dealt with the need for parents to be | | | | need to keep an open mind, correct and admit their |
| good role models for their offspring, helping children | | | | own shortcomings, and cooperate with their children in |
| take their own decisions, developing self esteem, | | | | developing and creating a progressive and positive |
| inculcating responsible behaviour, motivating them, | | | | environment at home. The Art of Successful Parenting |
| assisting them in home work difficulties, maintaining a | | | | teaches us how to enjoy bringing up your children, and |
| cordial family atmosphere, educating correct manners | | | | providing the offspring with a joyful, fruitful environment. |