When it comes to parenting, there are a plethora of different philosophies and beliefs that can help you curate your own approach to raising your children. Reading and researching the do’s and don’ts of modern parenting can be overwhelming, which is why we created this article to consolidate our best psychology-backed recommendations just for you! Let’s dive into how to raise happy and successful children, without experiencing emotional burnout as a parent.
Create a Positive Relationship
The foundation from which you raise your children is all based on creating a positive relationship from the start. The state of your relationship with your child will naturally ebb and flow. Every parent gets frustrated with their child (and vice versa), no matter how hard they try to preserve a positive relationship. Except that the state of your relationship will not always be perfect, but it is the foundation for all other aspects of positive parenting. Try to focus on creating positive elements to those relationships where you can.
Strengthen Emotional Intelligence
Educate your child on emotional intelligence and provide them with the skills to tap into their own internal dialogue. This is a great way to foster healthy emotional communication between the two of you. It also means that you need to build your own emotional intelligence to serve as a strong example. Communicate that even if your child is feeling upset or frustrated with you, they can communicate these feelings in a non-destructive way. Making sure to reflect on your own behaviors so that you can read by example is another key tip.
Communicate Values
Communicating your values as a parent, family, and household will help set realistic expectations for your child so that they can understand what behavior is appropriate. A great activity to spark this conversation is to have a family meeting and allow your child to participate in constructing these values so that they feel as though their voice is heard and appreciated.
Stop Yelling
It is almost impossible to navigate the landscape of parenthood without occasionally raising your voice at your child. Various life triggers can lead us to communicate via a stress response, that results in yelling or screaming when feeling overwhelmed and anxious. As a parent, try to be mindful of your burnout, and engage in regular self-reflection to better understand the root of your emotion. For example, if you are feeling overwhelmed at work, this can translate to raising your voice at loved ones at home due to a lack of balance.
If you do yell at your child, what matters most is how you respond. Apologize to your child, letting them know that no matter how upset you were, they didn’t deserve for you to yell at them. Forgive yourself and understand that yelling happens sometimes, then try to do better in the future.
Promote Independence
One of the best ways to strengthen the relationship between parent and child is to promote and celebrate independence. Be sure to prioritize other relationships in your life such as the one with your partner and friends, by engaging in activities with them that do not involve your children. The same goes for promoting Independence in your kids. Encourage them to sign up for after-school activities and extracurriculars that involve other students of their own age and do not require your presence.
Celebrate Wins and Progress
If you are working to repair your relationship with your child instead of building one from the ground up, it is especially important to celebrate wins and progress when you handle situations in a healthier and more productive way. Some ways to celebrate include going on a special adventure together such as an ice cream date or ballpark game. However, small acts of appreciation can be just as impactful, such as handwritten thank-you notes and big hugs after school.
We hope this article helped you better understand how to balance your parenting philosophy to raise happy and successful children. Navigating parenthood can be a challenging endeavor, which is why it is so important for you to know that you are not alone. To seek support from a professional, we encourage you to contact NeuroBehavioral Associates today.
