Some Parenting Commandments to help deal with stressful situations. Try these out and let us know what really works!
Thou shall build confidence in your child
A lack of confidence and not ability holds some children back. Compliment their strengths and provide constructive feedback. Ignore negative behaviour, but really praise good behaviour. It will be a challenge, but it will be more effective. Delegate responsibilities to them so they feel like they are really contributing
Thou shall not scream
It’s a tough one! It might feel good to air the lungs, relive some stress and scream, but hold on to your socks there is a better way! Turn the Game/TV off to get their attention. Instead of fighting a battle, try to come up with different options. Try humour, like a tickle or hug or a silly dance to change the mood. Try setting a time limit and follow through. For example if they are not ready for school in 10 mins, put them in the car with their pyjamas so next time they know you mean business
Choose your Battles
Tired of fighting over everything..? It can be like pulling teeth! To keep your sanity and have a decent relationship with your child it may be best to let some of the small things go. Choose your battles wisely
Help kids appreciate what they have
Take some time out to do a charity day together. This has a twofold effect. It will improve your relationship with each other and help your child understand there are some people with a lot less than the comforts you have. Also encourage them to be thankful for what they have and encourage giving their old toys to charity
Spend time by thy self
It is a positive thing for kids to spend time by themselves to develop their imaginations, get comfortable being alone and get them ready for school.
Break bread together
Sharing a meal together is a good time to ask about their day. If anything special happened or anything else they wanted to share. You can initiate by talking about your day and go from there. Sharing meals helps the whole family connect emotionally and physically.
These are just a few tips to get you started. Stay tuned for more…