Being a Good Parent
There are many ways to raise happy, well-adjusted kids, but science has a couple of tips for making sure that they turn out fine. From keeping it interesting to allowing them leave the nest, here are 10 research-based methods for good parenting.
Slow down
The hectic schedule of adulthood doesn't constantly vibe with all the relaxed pace of childhood, according to Klein. Children move at a slower rate, and parents should try and match that pace, Klein said. By scheduling additional time for the little things, like a bedtime routine or a visit to the supermarket, parents could turn feverish chores into more meaningful time with their kids, she said.
Be Positive
No real surprise here: Children who say negative emotions toward their infants or handle them roughly are likely to wind up with competitive kindergartners. This 's bad news, because behavioral aggression at age is connected to aggression later in life, despite prospective romantic partners. So if you find yourself in a cycle of angry parent, angry infant, angrier parent, then try to break free. It'll ease your problems in the long term.
Limit distractions
Do you assess e mails or scroll through your social networking feeds while spending quality time with your kids? Since you shouldn't, Klein said. It's hard to be very engaged with your children if you're distracted by a bunch of different things. And this distracted presence can take a toll on children, who may feel as if you're not actually there for them when you're focus is broken, Klein Explained Children don't want their parents' attention 24/7 and 100 percent of their time, she explained. But when your children do need your entire attention, you should give it to them without any caveats.
Keep in Mind, teenage tantrums are actual
When the pops of your kid 's toddler years look like ancient history, you can anticipate such emotional outbursts to make another appearance. Teen children (ages 11 to 19) deal with a great deal of social, psychological and mental stress they don't yet have the ability to process or deal with, based on Johns Hopkins' Sara Johnson. This may lead to some severe tantrums, which might surprise the unwary parent. In situations like this, parents should stay calm and listen to their kids, said Sheryl Feinstein, author of Inside the Teenage Brain: Parenting a job in Progress (Rowman and Littlefield, 2009.) Modeling levelheaded behaviour is a great way to teach your teen the proper method to manage all that stress.
Let Go
When the kids fly the nest, research indicates that it 's best to let them go. College freshmen with hovering, interfering helicopter parents are more likely to be anxious, self-conscious and less receptive to new experiences than their counterparts with much more relaxed mothers and dads. This doesn't mean you should kick your offspring into the curb in 18, but should you find yourself calling your kid 's professors to argue about his grades, it could be time to step back.
