As a parent, you want to give your child the best. You know what’s good for them and what isn’t. You can teach them many things, but as a parent, it feels like there’s only so much you can do to help them grow into the kinds of people that you want them to be. It’s incredibly challenging to be a parent. Sometimes we feel like we have so little control over our kids and how they think and act. But somewhere in the back of your head, you remember the advice of your parents and grandparents. Parenting is not an easy job, but with the right attitude and willingness to change as your kid grows, there is no doubt that you can also be one hell of a great parent — if not the best parent ever!
#1 Be A Consistent Parent
Consistent parenting is one of the most important things you can do for your kids. Your child will feel lost and unsure of what to expect if you are consistently inconsistent. They won’t know what’s okay and what’s not okay. They’ll be confused about what’s expected of them. You might think it’s a good idea to be inconsistent with keeping your kids on their toes, but that’s a bad idea. Kids thrive on consistency. They need the rules to be clear and constant.
#2 Ask your child what they want to learn.
Kids want to learn. They always want to know more and do more. They are curious creatures, but how much they want to learn and what they want to learn is different for every child. Ask them what they want to learn about or what they would like to try out. You might be surprised at what they want to know.
#3 Give your child time and space.
Kids need time and space to be kids. They need time to play and explore. They need time to build things and create things. They need time to be bored. This is important. This is how they learn to solve problems, find their creativity, and activate their imagination. If you don’t let your child be a child and have the time and space to be a kid, they will feel stressed out. They will feel like they are under constant pressure to perform. And they will never truly thrive.
#4 Don’t be afraid to let go.
You want to protect your child and keep them safe as a parent. You want to shield them from all the bad things in the world. But the problem with this is that you protect them from good things. You are keeping them from growing and expanding their horizons. You are keeping them from being challenged and growing as a person. Don’t be afraid to let go of your kid. Let them make mistakes. Let them experience the world. Let them be themselves.
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As a parent, you want your child to be close to you and your family. You want them to be a part of your everyday life. You want them to share your passions and interests. You want them to be with you as much as possible. You don’t want them to grow up, have their own lives, and make their own decisions. You want them to stay with you and not venture into the world. But this is not a good thing. It would help if you let them go out into the world. It would help if you let them explore things on their own. It would help if you let them make their own decisions. Let them go out into the world and discover what they want to do with their lives.