Parenting Strategies
Caregivers are very influential, and kids learn by our example, as we are their role models. Here are some suggestions that can help parents create a healthy environment both in the house and outside:
We are their role models
Model and encourage respect for family
Teach them patience and how to delay gratification
Promote healthy lifestyle practices that include sleep, proper eating, and exercise
Use coping skills to help relieve stress such as breathing and relaxation techniques.
Don’t embarrass them in front of others
Accept them for who they are and encourage them to value themselves
If you promise something, make sure to carry it out
This helps promote trust
Foster problem-solving and decision-making.
Don’t jump to judge and offer solutions.
Allow them to learn from their mistakes.
Allow opportunities to take responsibility.
Acknowledge their accomplishments.
Their success builds self-esteem and resilience.
This encourages healthy communication and builds INDEPENDENCE, DECISION MAKING, and RESILIENCY.
It may be difficult and painful to parent a teen during a time of emotional and/or physical pain.
Parents can support, but cannot take on their teen’s pain
Be careful not to over-protect, and avoid passing on your anxieties to your teen
Acknowledge their worries and fears as real, even when they appear unrealistic as when there is excessive worrying and or obsessions.
Encourage, not force, exposure to uncomfortable situations, particularly with children with social anxiety. Exposure ladders are helpful.
Excess pressure on teens to succeed can lead to anxiety, and avoidance behaviours such as lying to delay parental disapproval
Make time for listening and dialogue.
Remember:
LISTEN! LISTEN! And LISTEN again!
ASK “What do you want to do about it?”.
How can I help?
Sometimes just sitting quietly or taking a walk with them, just your presence can be what they want in terms of support.
See Further Tips for parenting a child/teen with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms
See further tips for parenting a child/teen with Oppositional Defiant Disorder symptoms
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