| Parenting is a subject that drives intense emotion, | | | | effectively raise this child. |
| raises important questions and is unique to each family. | | | | Distracted parenting is sadly, a major cause of death |
| Parenting means different things to different people, | | | | for children in the United States. Mothers leave infants |
| but ultimately, parenting is a skill that needs to be | | | | in hot cars to suffocate, mothers and fathers forget to |
| learned and mastered. There are no set rules, no | | | | check the whereabouts of their children before |
| official handbooks, no how-to-raise-a-child kit that | | | | backing out of driveways and parents lose track of |
| teaches tips of positive parenting skills. There are | | | | children who go missing, wander into unsafe areas or |
| plenty of guidebooks, magazines and websites | | | | are taken by strangers. |
| devoted to the subject of parenting, where a parent | | | | SELF CONTROL |
| can turn for advice on tips of positive parenting skills. | | | | Exhibiting self control in front of a child does two things. |
| As a mother of two, I've learned a few lessons of my | | | | It shows a child by example how to govern their |
| own. | | | | emotions and how to act accordingly. Second, it |
| First, nobody is right all of the time. | | | | protects a child from potential abuse that results when |
| Second, each child is unique and a parenting formula | | | | explosive emotions drive a parent's actions. By learning |
| that works for one may not be right for another. | | | | to control your own behaviors, you will give your child |
| Third, you're allowed to make mistakes. | | | | the tools they need to ascend to a responsible |
| There are a few skills however, that are essential to | | | | adulthood. |
| parenting in a safe, effective and positive way. Here | | | | GET INVOLVED |
| are a few of my tips of positive parenting skills. | | | | Parenting is a social behavior and the most important |
| FOCUS | | | | social interaction you can have is with your child. Get |
| In our busy world, there are plenty of distractions. | | | | involved with their life, volunteer at their school, talk to |
| Televisions, telephones, doorbells and the minutia of | | | | them every day and know their friends. Do these |
| daily life. To parent a child requires focus. Pay attention | | | | things in a positive way, to show your child that you |
| to your child. Do you know where they are? Are you | | | | care. Teenagers, especially, may resent your intrusion |
| aware of their existence? Can you outline what | | | | but don't stop. Routinely tell them you love them and |
| happened to them that day? | | | | that your involvement is your parental responsibility. |
| It seems basic. By focusing on our children, we can | | | | These three tips of positive parenting skills do no more |
| address their needs, wants and assure their safety. If | | | | than cover the very basics of parenting. But, by |
| we concern ourselves with our children, we can | | | | developing these three core skills, you can adapt your |
| discern the things that need to be done in order to | | | | unique parenting style to every child. |