New/Parenting/What Makes a Good Parent?

Bringing up children is a difficult thing to do, and there is no secret formula for doing it right. In any case, certain principles are a vital piece of parenting. Parenthood is undoubtedly a challenging task, especially when you are a first-time parent. Everyone carries their definition of being a good parent. Most of us spend our lifetime in adjusting ourselves to the widely accepted cultural definitions; which are apparently different and vary with time. In this article, we will throw light on a question which bothers many parents- "What makes a good parent?".

Here is a rundown of tips to be a good parent-

1. Encourage Individuality:

It is a self-contradicting reality. The real aspect of our responsibilities as parents is to stop being possessive about their children. Most importantly, we have to encourage our children to get things done for themselves. We have to show them to think autonomously, take care of their issues, and accept challenges in their particular capacities. Spoon-feeding your child is not what makes a good parent.

Ironically, parents tend to get things done for their kids that the children could without much effort and improve the situation themselves. With an end goal to protect them from distress, we take charge and protect our them beyond the limits. This approach prevents them from learning from their mistakes. When a child is as young as 2, he/she can dress himself. Apparently, he/she should be instructed how to wear the clothes. However, so many of parents keep on dressing and spoon-feeding their children; it denies the toddlers of the chance to get hold of their abilities and relish their achievements. Also, it's essential to urge kids to consider the outcomes of their activities than to attempt to shield them from committing errors.

It is difficult to watch your child bobble and falter. However, it is even more important to make them noticeably certain, competent, and autonomous people - which ought to be each parent's objective.

2. Encourage Extracurricular Activities:

Parents should constantly encourage extracurricular activities in their child's routine. Play activities are essential for the overall well-being of children.

Early play activities like peekaboo teach kids about the importance of connection. Dream play enables kids to investigate their identity and who they need to be. Play wrestling ensures physical strength. Hurling a ball forward and backwards enhances athletic capacity, sportsmanship, and participation. Playing is a way that enables children to express themselves. They reenact essential feelings with their dolls or action figures.

Busy parents may find it difficult to take out time to play with their children. It is the time that they do because play can help children release their suppressed feelings. When we draw in energetically with our youngsters, we find that we have more energy and feel better about ourselves and our children. The play makes us a companion in our child's reality which is an essential factor in his/her holistic development.

3. Know How to Say No

We love our children so much that it's hard to be firm with our kids. Often parents try to set certain principles as a part of imparting discipline in their child but end up failing. The truth of the matter is, whenever we give up to our child's whims and tantrums, we are causing harm to our children. Permissive parenting might seem reasonable at first but is harmful in the longer run. Authoritarian parenting does not help either. What makes a good parent is the authoritative parenting.

When kids are youthful, they pine for limits. They look for genuine principles, not the temporary ones. When they reach teenage, they don't see their parents as expert figures. This leads them to search somewhere else for a set of principles. They seek for a 'second family 'among peers and colleagues. Once you fail to say no to your children, it will become a routine, and your child will carry on to flout rules. They will lie without blame; explore different drugs and liquor; engage in sexual relations at shockingly early ages, and so on. They do these things because, in the realm of their second family, such conduct is satisfactory.

The ideal approach to shield kids from the external impacts is for guardians to attest their power with consistency from time to time. Indeed, doing as such can be exhausting- in light of current circumstances. We are suspicious of being excessively inflexible because we recall harsh child-rearing ourselves or we see that it doesn't work.

So what's the appropriate response? The key is to strike a harmony between offering our kids support and sympathy - and at the same time giving a consistent set of rules to be followed. Through clear indications of how we might want them to act, we can make a balance in such a delicate relation. Being able to say no is what makes you a good parent.

4. A Great Parent Is an Exceptional Role Model

Each parent wishes to see his/her child grow up to be dependable, merciful, reliable, and kind.

An ideal approach to ingrain good values is to be a good example yourself. A lifetime went through with a liberal grown-up makes another generous adult. Adolescence in which material merchandise aren't overemphasised produces a youngster who comprehends that she can't purchase everything at the shopping centre. Guardians who practice the behaviour they want to impart in their child know how to present themselves as good examples.

Qualities don't originate from a reading material or exchanges about conceptual ideas. Kids learn values sometime before they can read about them or talk about them. Good values are taught on an everyday basis. On the off chance that a kid likes and regards you and your values, he/she will grasp them and absorb them as his/her behaviour. What makes a good parent is his/her good qualities and reasonable thinking.

5. A Great Parent Shows Endless Love

Demonstrating unconditional love to your child is at the centre of being an extraordinary parent. Luckily, this comes effectively for most mothers and fathers; nature has customised us to love our younger versions.

We demonstrate our adoration through love, obviously. Cuddling an infant, covering a little child with kisses, or offering a preteen a consoling grin are non-verbal approaches to indicate the adoration. We additionally demonstrate our affection by understanding what our youngsters require at each phase of life, and giving it to them. For a new-born child, that includes being a wellspring of security; for a baby, that implies giving everlasting consolation, and for a school-age child, it means being an active educator of life's lessons. In case of adolescents, it means giving auspicious and wise advice.

Most importantly, we should demonstrate our adoration by portraying strength, dependability, and mindful nearness in our child's life. This implies investing quality energy - and investing expansive amounts of time. A Good parent is the one who keeps in mind the overall well-being of their child. Perhaps, by now you have got your answer to the question- "what makes a good parent?"

A Note To The Reader

I have tried my best to include the qualities which anyone with kids should have. Since childhood, I was always troubled by this question- "What makes a good parent?". The same reason prompted me to write this article. There are no proper guidelines to be a good parent. Parenthood has many faces and is a fluid term across cultures and geographies. Erase everything from your mind and think from a neutral perspective; the key to becoming a good parent is to think about your actions and decisions impacting your child in a long run. Not to mention never letting yourself to be influenced by others. In the end, your parenting has long term consequences.