Ten Basic Principles of Good Parenting

1. What You Do Matters

Parental actions have a significant impact, more than just genetics

2. You cannot be too loving

When it comes to genuine expressions of warmth and affection, you cannot love your child too much. It is simply not possible to spoil a child with love

3. Be involved in your child's life

Being an involved parent takes time and is hard work, and it often means rethinking and rearranging your priorities. It frequently means sacrificing what you want to do for what your child needs you to do. Be there mentally as well as physically

4. Adapt your parenting to fit your child

Make sure your parenting keeps pace with your child's development. You may wish you could slow down or freeze-frame your child's life, but this is the last thing he wants

5. Establish and set rules

If you don't manage your child's behavior when he is young, he will have a hard time learning how to manage himself when he is older and you aren't around

6. Foster your child's independence

Setting limits helps your child develop a sense of self-control. Encouraging independence helps her develop a sense of self-direction. To be successful in life, she's going to need both. Accepting that it is normal for children to push for autonomy is absolutely key to effective parenting

7. Be consistent

If your rules vary from day to day in an unpredictable fashion, or if you enforce them only intermittently, your child's misbehavior is your fault, not his. Your most important disciplinary tool is consistency. Identify your non-negotiables. The more your authority is based on wisdom and not on power, the less your child will challenge it

8. Avoid harsh discipline

Of all the forms of punishment that parents use, the one with the worst side effects is physical punishment. Children who are spanked, hit or slapped are more prone to fighting with other children. They are more likely to be bullies and more likely to use aggression to solve disputes with others

9. Explain your rules and decisions

Good parents have expectations they want their child to live up to. Generally, parents overexplain to young children and underexplain to adolescents. What is obvious to you may not be evident to a 12-year-old. He doesn't have the priorities, judgment or experience that you have

10. Treat your child with respect

The best way to get respectful treatment from your child is to treat him respectfully. You should give your child the same courtesies you would give to anyone else. Speak to him politely. Respect his opinion. Pay attention when he is speaking to you. Treat him kindly. Try to please him when you can. Children treat others the way their parents treat them. Your relationship with your child is the foundation for her relationships with others

1.

What you do matters

2.

You cannot be too loving

3.

Be involved in your child's life

4.

Adapt your parenting to fit your child

5.

Establish and set rules

6.

Foster your child's independence

7.

Be consistent

8.

Avoid harsh discipline

9.

Explain your rules and decisions

10.

Treat your child with respect