Reminders For Life: Ten Parenting Rules You Cannot Miss

Parenting is a job that never really stops. Here is a beautiful, simple list of ten essential parenting messages you must not forget!

We parents always lay down rules for our kids to follow. But in this post, I would like to put down some parenting rules. I am no expert on parenting, and certainly not a perfect parent. I make mistakes, too. But in the course of raising my soon to be 4 year old, I have learnt some important lessons which I would like to share:

1.   Never lose your cool in front of children.  You may pretend to be angry but don’t really be. A parent in a fit of rage is the worst sight for a child. Moreover children ape parents, so if you hit them they’re more likely to hit you back.
2. Just as you reprimand your child for bad behaviour, appreciate good behaviour too.
3. Difficult as it is to control your temper when your kid is throwing a tantrum, refrain from throwing one yourself – for this will only make matters worse. Instead, divert their attention (and yours), and things will automatically cool down.
4. You may have had a bad day, or be upset about something or at someone, but don’t take it out on the child. Children find such erratic behavior from parents very hard to comprehend, and it confuses them.
5. You have got to become a child sometimes when dealing with children.  Sometimes scolding and yelling does not work. Instead, explain to them in a way that they understand, and that will do the trick.
6.  When your child is telling you something, don’t ignore it as useless blabbering, but listen. And I don’t mean just hear what they say, actually listen to them and try to sort their problems. However small and insignificant it may seem to you, those might be the biggest problems they have.
7. If you promise your child something, keep the promise.  This will not only build their trust in you, but will also go a long way in inculcating the quality of keeping their word.
8. Rather than trying to keep your kids away on a busy day, involve them in your work. Give them small tasks to do. This will keep them out of mischief and also help you bond with your child. Plus, children love it when parents involve them; it makes them feel important and wanted.
9. If you want your child to do something, tell them not to do it and 9 times out of 10, they will do it. Not only children, adults also have the tendency to do exactly the opposite of what they are told, so this works  almost every time!
10. And finally, you need immense patience while dealing with kids. Kids take their own sweet time for everything, whereas we adults are always dictated by the clock.  Don’t let this become a cause of battle between you and your child. Let your child be a child.

Pic credit: gem fountain (Used under a CC license)

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