From your parents and grandparents, to television shows, books and magazines, there is no shortage of tips and advice on how to be a successful parent. The first and foremost rule to remember is to love, care for and nurture your child. As your child grows, teach her lessons that are valuable and lifelong. Shower him with affection and attention and surround him in the most positive and healthiest environment that you can.
Quality Time
Thanks to long commutes and even longer days at the office, working parents most often want to come home and collapse in a heap on the couch. Even if you don't feel like it, spend quality time with your children. As much as you have on your to-do list, actively listen whenever they tell you a tale. Play a game with them or read them a story. Kathryn Kvols, president of the International Network for Children and Families, explains that children can sense negative attention, like when you pretend to listen to them. Ignoring your child or neglecting quality time will most definitely cause your child to misbehave.
Independence
As a baby, your child solely depends on you for food and care. As they grow up, children seek independence and to be valued, characteristics that are required to live as a happy, healthy and competent adult. Encourage your child to be more independent. Teach him new skills, such as how to set the dinner table or how to bake a cake. Ask her for advice about what shirt she should wear. These simple decisions will help reduce the power struggle many parents experience as children get older.
Discipline
For some parents, there may be a fine line when it comes to the difference between discipline and punishment. Mental Health America explains that, whereas punishment forces children to act a certain way with no explanation or lesson learned about what they did wrong, discipline teaches your children the consequences of their actions and acceptable behavior. As children grow up, discipline will permeate throughout other areas of their life including school, work and social behavior.
Other Characteristics
There are plenty of characteristics that lead to successful parenting. When you teach children to respect their parents, they will later respect elders and authority figures. When you teach children to communicate their feelings, instead of screaming their heads off, they will learn the lessons and tools on how to communicate effectively as they get older. Other valuable lessons to teach your children include positive reinforcement such as praise for a job well done, as well as kindness, politeness and unconditional love.
