Parenting Tips & Strategies

Parenting is an extremely rewarding job. Unfortunately, there are no preparatory classes to ready you for every challenge that comes with the full-time profession of raising children. However, there are tips and strategies that experts and other parents have devised to help you raise well-rounded, happy and healthy children. With a little patience and a lot of love, your little bundles of joy will grow into beautiful adults.

Positive Reinforcement

Children love pleasing their parents. One of the best ways to promote positive behavior is to encourage it through rewards and praise, advises Dr. Elise Abromson, child psychologist in Frederick, Maryland. When your child does something well, let her know she did a great job by praising her genuinely. When you want her to follow a certain set of rules, sit down with her in advance and agree on a reward that she would like to earn in exchange for the desired behavior. When she follows the rules, follow-up with the reward she requested. "Children love to earn things, and they are so proud when you are proud," says Abromson.

Look in Their Eyes

When you have something important to say to your child, kneel down and say it eye-to-eye to him, advises Dr. Kalman Heller, a psychologist specializing in children and families. Dr. Heller notes that young children have trouble focusing on distant objects. Your message will be processed much more effectively if you are right next to your child and speaking directly to him. Dr. Heller recommends speaking softly to your children as well. A physical connection helps, too. Even a light tap on the shoulder is an effective way to get and keep your young child's attention.

Be Clear and Direct

When you want your child to perform a task, be as clear as possible. The website Parenting recommends telling your child clearly and explicitly what you want her to do and what her time frame is for completing the task. The site adds that you will have more success when you are direct and frame your request as a sentence, rather than a question. Instead of asking your child to clean her room, politely tell her to clean her room and tell her how much time she has to do it. Be calm with your requests and you will earn more respect and results than if you threaten or beg your little one.

Follow Through

Dr. Abromson advises parents not to tell their child to do something more than twice. She says the first request is the warning. Couple the second request with a consequence. If the child does not follow your order the second time, follow through with the consequence. Dr. Abromson says, "Each time you do not follow through with a punishment, the child learns there is a loop hole. Inappropriate behaviors will increase if your child keeps getting away with misbehaviors."