Over the past several decades the job of being a parent has changed.
The rules have changed.
Laws have changed.
Technology has changed.
What used to be acceptable is no longer.
So what do you do? How can you be the best parent you can be?
As times change, your approach to raising your kids should evolve too.
As science comes up with new inventions, kids seem to develop intelligence earlier and earlier. As a parent, it's your job to ensure you can keep up with everything that's happening with your children. It's important to keep yourself in the loop so you can relate well to your kids as they’re growing up.
With this in mind, below are strategies to help you be a great parent today.
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Keep abreast of technology.
At the rate at which technology evolves, it's important that you keep up with it. Remember that your kids now rely on technology for virtually everything. Knowing what they are doing with technology can help you relate better to your kids.
- While apart from your children, split your communication time between the phone and the internet. Get involved with social media, email, and other means of electronic communication. It makes you seem "cool" to your children and helps you to keep up-to-date on their activities.
- When shopping for gifts, think technology. Even things like reading can be achieved through technology. As far as kids are concerned, e-readers are cooler than paperbacks. Embrace their idea of coolness while encouraging the age-old practice of reading.
- Learning new technology with your kids opens their eyes to new interests.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - While apart from your children, split your communication time between the phone and the internet. Get involved with social media, email, and other means of electronic communication. It makes you seem "cool" to your children and helps you to keep up-to-date on their activities.
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Continue to respect tradition.
Even though there are new ways of doing things, it's important to stay true to tradition. Avoid forcing your children to do things the same way you used to do them, but at least expose them to how things were before.
- Explain to your kids how you used to communicate. Teach them letter-writing skills, for example. Show them that they can still achieve basic tasks even in the absence of technology.
- Get them involved with "old school" games. Take them outdoors and play hide-and-seek. Get out the board games at family parties.
- Sensitize them to the simple fun they can have outside of video games.
- If there's a power outage, you want to avoid having your kids see it as a catastrophe!
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - Explain to your kids how you used to communicate. Teach them letter-writing skills, for example. Show them that they can still achieve basic tasks even in the absence of technology.
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Promote physical and mental toughness.
In this fast-paced world, you'll need to come to terms with how easily your kids can be damaged. Access to information exposes them to things you never knew as a child.
- Allow them to learn, but encourage them to be tough just in case they aren’t able to achieve the desired outcome.
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Encourage and embrace their opinions.
The modern parent encourages kids to give opinions. Living in the information age means kids are exposed to just about everything. As such, it's important to embrace those heart-to-heart conversations with them.
- Talk with your kids about the birds and the bees or discuss how they can approach someone they like at school.
- Hear their point of view first and then give yours.
- Discuss the pros and cons of an issue and then allow them to decide the best approach.
- Give your child freedom to make decisions after getting your advice. Allowing your kids the space to make choices may ultimately result in them taking your recommendation in the end.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - Talk with your kids about the birds and the bees or discuss how they can approach someone they like at school.
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Learn from other parents.
As a parent, it's pointless to try to reinvent the wheel! Sure, you probably want to be known as "the world's best parent," but it has already been done many times before.
- Do you have friends or siblings who are already parents? Spend some time with them to see how they handle parenting scenarios.
- If you're stressed out about a parenting issue, call up a friend who’s a fellow parent to get advice. They can tell you how they’d handle the situation. Use that guidance to help with the solution for you and your kids.
- Check around to see if there are parenting groups in your community. These groups can help you develop the kind of leadership skills needed for parenting.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - Do you have friends or siblings who are already parents? Spend some time with them to see how they handle parenting scenarios.
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Keep lines of communication open.
It's vital to keep communication with your kids open. Even if their actions are irritating, be ready to communicate.
- It's important to remember that you're fully responsible for your child. As such, it's not a good idea to be the one to shut off.
- Promote open communication by encouraging your kids to talk to you regardless of the situation. They have to know that you'll be supportive. Kids tend to hold back when they feel their parents might not understand.
- Take the time to share how you feel about their actions. It can be done without you getting angry
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - It's important to remember that you're fully responsible for your child. As such, it's not a good idea to be the one to shut off.
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Use your own childhood experiences.
One of the most direct sources for advice is you. You were a child once, so you can draw on your childhood experiences.
- How did you think as a child? What mattered to you? Are there things that your parents did with you that you would do differently or the same with your own kids?
- Can you think of a stage when you gave your parents a hard time? If you can, then you can understand why it's happening with you and your child!
- Patience goes a long way in successful parenting. Get feedback from your parents about how they coped with raising you.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - How did you think as a child? What mattered to you? Are there things that your parents did with you that you would do differently or the same with your own kids?
