Thanks for saving me time. Let me explain: You obviously already know what it takes to make a change in your child’s behavior happen. You have to change the way you communicate with your child and I am glad to know that you are looking for effective parenting skills. Too many parents think that change doesn’t have to come from them and that if their child doesn’t understand when they are being hit or yelled at, they have a problem. Understanding that mastering some effective parenting skills can have results in your child’s behavior is a key step toward a major change in your relationship with your child.
Being a good father simply means giving our children all the love we have and all the values and tools so that they become responsible, sensitive, tolerant adults, capable of expressing their feelings and solving problems. We cannot react impulsively to actually teach our children something. That’s why the following 5 effective parenting skills will help you.
1. Be a role model for your child. Remember that he imitates you, discover the world and precisely the adult world through your own behavior. Be the adult you want your child to be.
2. Always keep calm. You don’t teach anything if you yell at your child. Never react impulsively in front of your child. Hold back your outbursts. Feeling angry is normal. Cool off in another room if you need to. Keep your voice low but speak in a firm tone when necessary. There is no need to yell.
3. Always explain to your child the consequences of bad behavior. Tell him what you say no to. Reward his good behavior. Children often continue to misbehave because they don’t understand. When they do, they can choose how to behave knowing what the consequence will be, how you will react, what they will get out of it. This is one of the most effective parenting skills in the long run. Start now.
4. Encourage your child to develop self-esteem. Tell him that he is capable of doing things but show him that making mistakes is okay. Don’t look for perfection. Pay attention to what he does, to what it costs him, notice when he makes an effort. Don’t do things for him. Let me try.
5. Tell and show your unconditional love for your child. Always express to him that you love him no matter what. Some of his behaviors are not acceptable, so you punish them, but those punishments never diminish your love for him. Kiss and hug his son and tell him “I love you.” It’s very important.
But what if my situation is more difficult and my child’s behavior is intolerable?
When bad behavior has already become a habit in your child or adolescent and you no longer have control or authority over it, you should apply some effective guidelines as soon as possible. Unfortunately, time is always against you and in such a situation, you need more than a few tips. The good news is that some parents and therapists have created very effective parenting programs that you can easily apply.