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Parenting Advice - parenting advice 2 |
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Parenting Advice information Parenting advice 2 Where to find good parenting advice
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Parenting advice 2Never has the old adage of "those who can, do those who can't teach" been so true or so accurate than in the context of parenting. Whether you are already a parent or currently expecting a baby soon, no doubt, you will be almost smothered by the constant backseat parenting and parenting advice that well-meaning friends and relatives will offer. The intention is there, but this parenting advice can get to be a major drag after a while, as it seems that the givers of the advice seem to think of themselves in some way superior to you. In reality, it is misplaced concern and affection, your friends and relatives are trying to share their own experiences with you, and sometimes it is best to just grin and bear it. Your friends and family are not doling out parenting advice in a bid to undermine your confidence, but are simply trying to prepare you for the challenges ahead, so try not to feel too resentful, parenting advice is intended to help, not condemn. The problem with unsolicited parenting advice is that among all of the phrases, buzzwords and infuriating clichés and platitudes there is often a small gem of information that actually presents an excellent way to handle one of the many challenges and difficulties you as a parent may face. If a person is becoming a bore with their parenting advice, then si0mply politely thank them for their concern and input and change the subject. Most times, people will get the message and stop their barrage. The major problem with unsolicited parenting advice is that is totally subjective, based purely on that persons personal beliefs, values and experiences in life and which will not be likely to have a huge amount of relevance to your situation. A typical example is an elderly relative who will make an over-generalization about youth today, and how they would not have behaved like that when they were young. Times change and so do people, so parenting advice, in order for it to be effective, relevant in addition, worthwhile, must encompass the various challenges people face in a modern society. The people who are best qualified to give parenting advice is other parents, they know exactly the traumas and difficulties of parenting. If you have a child with some sort of behavioural condition, such as hyperactivity or ADHD, then seeking parenting advice from parents whose children suffer from the same sort of conditions can prove to be an invaluable resource. Whether it is on how to best avoid triggers that set off a bout of misbehaviour, strategies to retain their attention, or ways to help improve their concentration, this is parenting advice at its very best. In order to be a good parent, you yourself have to treat your child with respect and dignity, and master the art of communicating with them. Parenting is a two way process, it is not simply you as the parent constantly dominating the child who listen passively and functions like a life-like robot. Instead, you must nurture a relationship of mutual respect and understanding between you and your child so that you child can feel comfortable in confiding in you with their problems and concerns as well as anxieties. Children are exceptionally sensitive and vulnerable to criticism, so if you show signs of exasperation because they struggle with their homework then all you are doing is undermining their self-esteem and making them doubt their abilities and their worth. The best parenting advice of all is not to just love your children, but also let your children know this as often as possible. It is nice to be valued! A piece of parenting advice that crops up repeatedly is: try to take an active interest in your kids. Nurture their hobbies and their interests whatever it maybe, honing/developing a hobby is a great way to develop their self-esteem because as they become steadily more proficient over time they will be able to take some satisfaction from the fact that it is their hard work which has brought such great results. Sometimes, you will need all the parenting advice you can feasibly get, one such situation is divorce. Divorce is a real messy affair, emotions can run high and things can get very unpleasant. A typical attitude of children is that the divorce is somehow their fault that they are somehow to blame, and all the parenting advice guides advocate that you make sure that the children are supported throughout the divorce. Much of the parenting advice literature will also advocate use of a counselling service to give the children a way to express themselves, in a safe, non-threatening and neutral environment. Sometimes at home, children will be inhibited about speaking up and expressing themselves freely, and having a counsellor present both to arbitrate and mediate will give them a chance to express themselves more readily. The counsellor may also be able to offer parenting advice and strategies to help the kids settle down and handle with the stress of the divorce, you may find it of some use getting parenting advice from other families who have also underwent a divorce. Who better to advise, than those who have suffered firsthand? Parenting advice from couples who have endured a divorce can be a form of therapy for them as well, talking about the trauma maybe cathartic for them. Another frequent repeated piece of parenting advice is BE consistent. Be consistent with boundaries, punishment, deadlines, curfews, etc. Do not reward bad behaviour, discipline your child there and then and make them realise that their conduct is unacceptable, and that they have to behave in a certain way. Do not play favourites with your kids, so do not treat one child more leniently than the others, as this is a sure fire way to cause tension and friction not only between the kids but it also seriously undermines your authority as well. |
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