It is so rewarding watching your child grow up into a fine, independent little human being, isn’t it? Yet no one said the journey was an easy one. In fact, parenting is one of the hardest things there is. It is financially, emotionally, physically, and socially taxing. Regardless of all this, you can’t give up on your beautiful, tiny version of you. All you can do is continue learning and improvising as you go. In that light, here are helpful tips on things that you shouldn’t overlook so that you become a more mindful parent.
Emotional Support
Sometimes, we get stuck in the whirlwind of being providers. All our day-to-day activities need to be done; we need to make money, and we need to clean, cook, clothe, and look after our children all at once. Due to this, it may be very easy to overlook the fact that your children still require your emotional support. You need to take time to listen to your children’s feelings and thoughts. You need to let them know that when they are facing difficult situations, they can always count on you to provide an emotional anchor. This not only helps your children become capable of good emotional regulation, but it also strengthens your relationship.
Routine
One of the most important things when it comes to parenting is staying organized and structured. You should not overlook the fact that this does not only apply to you. It also applies to children. Teach them the importance of a routine while they are still young so that it can imprint on them early. This will help them understand your expectations while picking good habits like time management. Don’t become too fixated on this, though; remember that they are just children, so you need to leave the room and be flexible, allowing them to learn while still being the children that they are.
Family Time
Children grow up so quickly. It’s as though you just blink and they are already off to college. You don’t want to regret being too busy to spend time with them, do you? You should set boundaries when it comes to your work life and make time to spend quality time with your children. Don’t be the absent parent whom they will resent when they grow older. Take time to do even the silliest of things while spending time with them and making memories when you still can.
Observational Learning
Never doubt the power of observing when it comes to it being a tool for children to learn. Children can not merely learn from being told to do something. Rather, they mimic what they see. This means that they are likely to act out the behavior that they see you exhibiting. Are you conscious of how you act in front of them? If you weren’t, this is your duty to be mindful of that. Be kind to the people around you, pick after yourself, and greet other people if you want your child to do the same. By seeing you do all this, they will adopt similar traits.
Teach Independence
You know how children can be very slow in doing things such as wearing shoes, fetching water, or picking up their toys before bedtime? Then you decide to'save time’ by just doing it yourself since you’ll do it perfectly either way. Well, stop that. This may not seem like it, but you are continuously teaching your child to become dependent on you for everything. Encourage them to do age-appropriate tasks on their own. In cases where they make mistakes, such as spilling water, allow them to find solutions on their own. This encourages critical thinking and independence in your children.
Open Communication
That thing of parents being the only people with a say in matters is so conservative and toxic. Move away from that and become the better parent that you wish you had. Freedom of expression doesn’t just start in the world but at home. With a non-judgmental attitude, allow your kids to express how they feel and articulate certain aspects of a home. Even the hardest subjects need to be tackled because if you don’t do that, someone else may find an unhealthy way to do it. Let your children know that you are their safe space and that you will listen to them. Openly communicate with them as well, and allow this channel of communication to always be open.
Pay Attention
One thing about a child that you need to know is that the little details matter. It may be in terms of behavioral change, health, academics, or actions. You need to stay attentive and pay attention when it comes to all aspects of your life. We have heard so many tragic stories that ended in suicide, addiction, and abuse where parents say they did not notice drastic changes in their child’s behavior. However, changes don’t have to be drastic for you to pay attention to your child. Pay attention and investigate the small details. Whether it's bumps on your child’s face, insomnia, a change in behavior, your child’s attitude towards things, or academic decline, Just make sure you investigate this and be ready to take action. Don’t let your child endure things alone.
Positive Reinforcement
This will help model your children’s behavior. Take notice of their improvements, achievements, and good deeds, and ensure that you reward them so that they know the importance of good behavior. When they do good, tell them that they have and thank them. This will not only improve their behavior but make them act in the same manner as others.
Yourself
Just because this is at the bottom of the list doesn’t make it less important. You should prioritize your health and well-being regardless of your being a parent. You need to treat yourself well and prioritize self-care. Children can notice when you are burnt out or strained. So you need to take care of yourself in order to take care of them.