The process of raising children and educating them from birth till they reach adulthood and even beyond at times falls under the domain of parenting. Sometimes, parents are unable or unwilling to provide such care and the care is thus entrusted to close relatives. There are also cases when it is performed by adoptive parents, foster parents as well as institutions and even godparents. The most important function an individual may have in life is often the one function least prepared for.  Parenting is the hardest job a person may ever have.  The most training people receive for this job is simply the experience of being raised by their own parents. 

The most basic parenting tip for the new parent is ‘Do not panic’.  This may seem humorous but is actually quite a practical parenting tip.  Babies respond to the environment and attitude around them.  As a parent, remaining relaxed and calm will help the infant to be relaxed and calm.  This can be hard to do as a new parent but must be achieved to keep the home more peaceful for everyone. 

It is good if the new parent can have help, for a short time, from an older experienced parent who is calm and self-assured.  Most of the time, one of the grandmothers of the infant will stay with the family to offer parenting tips and support.  New parents need to be ready to accept this help.  If the grandparents are not available, other support can be found from a neighbor or perhaps an older person in ones church.  Some hospitals may have a list of volunteer “grandparents” that will help new parents. 

Parenting Tips for the Future

The most important parenting tip for the lifetime of the parent is to realize that the child is going to make mistakes.  This is easily said but often harder to deal with in reality.  Being a parent is about helping the child avoid the most dangerous mistakes and handling failures and successes.  This begins with teaching a child the stove is hot and continues into their adulthood with career and family decisions.  Many small children, after told the stove is hot, will reach up and touch it.  As a parent, be ready with cold water for the burn and then reinforce the teaching.

A parent shouldn’t berate the child for doing what is a natural response.  A parent just needs to begin to teach the child that a parent has instruction which is valid for life.  This experience may help the child to realize that when given instruction about more dangerous things such as drugs, alcohol, and premarital sex the instruction is probably worth listening to.  No one enjoys a burnt finger and the child will want to prevent further pain. Nevertheless, there is still plenty of information available that provides age-appropriate parenting tips and which helps parents take care of their children. Some of the frequently mentioned topics include nutrition, safety, common problems and what to expect at the pediatrician.

Moms and Dads often need parenting advice that will help them deal with common problems such as sibling rivalry, potty training, getting the child to sleep at night as well as managing behavior problems and temper tantrums. There are many qualified experts out there that deal with such topics and who will be best suited to get parenting advice from for all manner of child rearing issues. Using the RPM3 guidelines and the different parenting advice available should help parents sift the useful from the not-so-useful advice to become sensible and loving parents.

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PreschoolRock.com is proud to announce that Stephanie Olsen, Preschool Parenting writer, has joined their network of preschool parenting websites.

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Have you ever wondered why no matter how you bust your mouth giving instructions, your child just does not seem to hear you? Technically, they do. The trouble is not in your child’s aural ability but in how you deliver and relay your instructions to them and how they interpret it.

So how should we parents talk in such a way that we get the desired results from our kids?

Talk in positive instructions and not in negative instructions. A good example of
a negative instruction is “Do not play with your food.” Children and even us, adults, sometimes, respond better when we are told what we can do and not what we can not do. Instead, we parents should rephrase it in such a way that it becomes a concrete and positive instruction for the kids. We can always say, “Eat your food properly the way Mommy showed you.” And since kids learn better by example, you won’t have to worry about dodging across the table to avoid being hit by your child’s baby food. Other examples would be, “Do not stay up too late.” Instead, we can always say, “Sleep early so you can have a good rest.” Kids and teens need to know the rationale behind each and every single one of your demands: because you care and love them, and not because you are a horrible monster bent on making their little lives more miserable than it already is.

Speak in a moderate tone. The more a parent raises his or her voice at the child, the more resistant the child becomes to the parent’s instructions. No matter how much we detest the idea, screaming and raising your voice does nothing but show your kids how much they have control over you and of the situation. The more you become angry and anxious, the more they feel they are winning the battle. Talking in a moderate tone tells them you are in control of the situation. Talking in a moderate manner tells them that no amount of whining or indifference from them can take you over the edge of your wits. Talking in a moderate, serious, firm but gentle tone tells them you mean business because you care.

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