5 Tips to help you become a better parent

Parenting is never an easy job- it is fraught with difficulties; and extreme patience is required. Yet because it is your own child, your own offspring, you’ll be, I’m sure, willing to invest all you have in him. You will learn through your own and other people’s experience how to become a better parent.

TIME:

Time is very precious and that is something you need to invest in your child. A lot of quality time, and as much of it as possible needs to be given to your child. Every day the mother and father need to spend at least an hour each playing with your child-especially at infancy. Later, as he grows into a toddler, you’ll need to spend time playing with him, talking to him, teaching him the things he needs to learn. All the basics skills are taught by you at this time.

ATTENTION:

Your child needs your attention and care. You’ll have to care for his diet, his clothing, his daily routine, his health, hygiene and above all his values- spiritual and moral. Your presence and your care are needed by your baby.

CONTROL:

Parents need to exercise control over their children in the early years. By giving into your child’s whims when he is small, you lose all authority when you try to exert it later on. When you exercise control in the early years, you’ll be able to relax later because the child will have developed self-control. If limits and controls are lacking in the early years, your child not understand your being strict in later years. He is more likely to rebel and react against any kind of control. Let the ‘No’s’ be few but consistent in love. It is important that both parents be in agreement regarding how they will discipline their child. Any sign of disunity between you will give a naughty child a chance to play up between you.

COMMUNICATE:

Communicate with your child. A child is supposed to be seen and not heard- so when you speak with your child-elicit answers. Let your talk be a dialogue. When he’s able to speak and communicate easily at home, he’ll control his tongue outside because you’ll have taught him what is good to talk about outside and what is not. When you encourage your child to talk to you, he’ll have fewer secrets from you when he grows older.

SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Develop a sense of responsibility in him. In age- appropriate ways, give him tasks that he can do-e.g.- cleaning his shoes, making his own bed, putting away clothes etc. Don’t spoil him by doing everything for him. Let him take care of himself, his things and if there are any – his siblings. A good upbringing will pay rich dividends to you.

SET AN EXAMPLE:

“Do as I say, don’t do as I do”, is not the right way to bring up your child. He will follow what you do even if he ignores what you tell him to do.

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