Parenting Tips for 2021

Do you find yourself looking up parenting tips? Parenting can be difficult! However, with a few easy to follow tips, the journey could be better in 2021.  Last year was a crazy and unpredictable situation.  Parenting is stressful enough, but throw in becoming an instant teacher along with the stresses of a pandemic it can be overwhelming.  Below are some tips that can help not only manage the extra stress of a pandemic, but help your relationship grow with your children.

Healthy communication can be helpful in many different types of relationships.  A relationship with her child is no exception.  Taking the time to communicate with your child and hearing their perspective will help create a bond. Allowing your child to communicate their feelings will give them the voice to participate in the relationship.  Also, it will give them the tools to build their own meaningful relationships as they grow.

You know that old saying, some things are easier said than done.  That truly applies here.  As a parent, I understand that it can be hard not to get frustrated when a child is not listening or following instructions, especially since many parents have become teachers overnight.  Remembering to breathe and not over react will help your relationship grow with your child, demonstrate good coping mechanisms for your child, and show your child that even parents get upset sometimes.

Being aware of our own behavior/reactions is a major way to impact our relationship with our children.  It can be the smallest of things that we do like talking under our breath, complaining about our family members/friends, or how we handle a disagreement.  Children are very observant and pick up on how we react to different situations.  Remember that children are watching and demonstrating what they see.

Now that there is awareness for behavior and how children are always watching, now it is time to take action.  Parents have the ability to control their behavior most of the time.  Especially when individuals are around the children action needs to be taken to show the proper reactions, empathy for others, understanding for ourselves, and grace towards our children.  For example, if you forget to send an email, jump on a zoom call, or stub our toe, if we scream out some obscenity and become frazzled, children might think that this is how they are meant to react.  Next time you or your child are late for a zoom meeting/class imagine if they began cursing or became irritable and did not change their behavior, would that be helpful for them?

When behavior cannot be controlled, it is very important for action to be taken to show children how to correct or fix the situation.  If we make a mistake or say something inappropriate, demonstrate compassion, apologize, or reconcile the behavior.  React to the situation how you would want your child to react.  For instance, if someone cuts you off while driving, a gut reaction could be to curse or yell at the other car.  If you do, take this opportunity to show your children that it is ok to make a mistake, and to make a correction.  You could explain that maybe the other car had an emergency or apologize to the other car.  This can feel silly at times to apologize to a driver that cannot hear you.  But your child heard you.