THE POWER OF POSITIVE PARENTING:
11 Guidelines for Raising Healthy and Confident Children
- Give Children Warmth, Acceptance and Respect
- Praise good behavior
- Encourage your children
- Enjoy Child Development and Be Alert to Special Needs
- Learn about the different areas and stages of child development
- Read child development books, visit parenting websites like www.babycenter.com
- Use Fair and Firm Leadership
- Remind children of the rules
- Give clear instructions in a firm voice
- Whenever possible, try to find solutions that are agreeable to both you and your children
- Avoid Spanking and Verbal Abuse
- Take time out when things get heated
- Talk - Discussing the problem and reminding children of the rules
- Take a breath and remember you are the adult
- Start Early in Preparing Children for School
- Read to your child and tell them stories
- Become a partner in your child's school
- Create a Home Life that Supports Education
- Find out what teachers expect
- Set an area aside at home for studying
- Be an Active Partner in Your Children's School
- Make sure your children get to school on time
- Attend parent-teacher conferences
- Teach Children About Their Own and Other Cultures
- Expose your children to other cultures through books and by visiting the local library
- Make friends with people of different cultures
- Take Charge of Your Child's Media Exposure
- Limit how much and what your children watch
- Set a Good Example for Life-Long Learning
- Set goals for your own personal development
- Maintain a Healthy Life Style
- Eat a balanced diet
- Get enough rest, relaxation and exercise
- Have regular medical check-ups
(Dr. Kirby T. Alvy, Ph.D., founder of the Center for Improvement of Child Caring -
www.ciccparenting.org)
