Good parenting skills are learned. They are something parents develop over time. Good parenting skill is a lifelong asset for your family. But our goal as parents is simply to be good parents.

So what makes a good parent?

As parents, it’s our job to provide food, provide shelter, educate our kids, and love our kids. It is our job to provide for our children’s basic needs until they can meet their own needs.

Parenting Styles

There’s a good chance your parenting style will influence everything about the way you parent your children.

Good Parenting Skills Are the Key to a Happy, Centered Family

When we become parents, our intuition kicks into high gear and guides us. If you’re anything like me, you’ll read the books and listen to the experts, but even with all that, you just knowhow to best care for your child.

Good parenting skill is developed based on our instincts and intuition and we must listen.

You know the best way to raise your child. What can get in our way as parents is when we start listening – exclusively – to outside sources. And many parents can fall into the trap of thinking someone else knows what’s best.

The parenting books and parenting experts have their place – in moderation. But you are the #1 parenting expert…trust yourself.

Child Discipline

Child discipline is something every parent struggles with at one time or another. Parenting experts tell us not to spank, then studies tell us that spanked children grow up to be pretty well-adjusted adults. The super-nannies all have various techniques that are “guaranteed” to get your child in line. Don’t get me wrong, I lovethe super-nannies of the world! But experts and nannies and child discipline is not “one size fits all.”

So how do you effectively discipline your child?

In my experience, each child requires different attitudes and discipline methods. This means we need to listen to our instincts and intuition to learn what child discipline methods will be best for our families. When you intuitively decide what discipline methods will work best for you, you’re setting up a win-win-win situation. You win with successful child discipline, your child wins because he learns healthy limits and lessons, and your family wins by becoming strong and centered.

Spanking Children

Spanking children is a touchy subject these days. Some parents are dead set against it and even consider it abuse. Some consider spanking children not only acceptable, but use this form of child discipline exclusively. I believe most parents are somewhere in the middle, thinking that some situations may call for a child to be spanked and knowing there are other, more effective methods for disciplining children.

Information is essential for making good decisions about child discipline. So refine your decision making skills and learn as much as you can about parenting. Informing yourself and listening to your intuition will help you make wise decisions, causing you to feel more confident as a parent.

Handling Temper Tantrums

Handling temper tantrums can be a cinch! If you know what your options are. And if you think temper tantrums are for infants and toddlers, think again. Both younger children and older children have temper tantrums, but each age expresses themselves differently. So it will be up to you to learn how to handle temper tantrums during the different stages of your child’s life.

One of my favorite parenting methods is Love and Logic, which teaches children about consequences, responsibility and real-life when they’re being disciplined. Love and Logic teaches wonderful techniques for handling temper tantrums and other discipline issues.

Good Parenting Skills

As you can see, you need not have a degree in child development or psychology to have good parenting skill.

The skills you do need are simple and basic:

• Have patience with yourself and your children
• Provide for your child’s basic needs until they can provide for themselves
• Understand your parenting style
• Trust your instincts and intuition
• Inform yourself – learn from parenting experts, parenting books, and other parents you know
  
  
  

  Help Other Parents Develop Their Parenting Skills

  Good parenting skills are developed with help from others. How are your skills? Have a brag to share? Have a question? Share with us!