25 Things That Great Parents Always Do
Just like children, no mom or dad is the same, which means there isn't one singular thing that makes a parent "good" or "bad." Clinical psychologist Erica Reischer understands that it's most parents' goal to be the best mom or dad they can be, but also how incredibly difficult that actually is. In her new book, What Great Parents Do: 75 Proven Strategies for Raising Fantastic Kids, Erica describes essential parenting practices for enhancing a child's physical, emotional, and social development.
From looking internally and making necessary changes to recognizing how to treat their child, these are 25 important things parents can do to elevate them from average to amazing.
- Follow through and actually do what they told their kids they were going to do.
- Work on changing themselves first.
- Understand that parenting is a skill — and strive to improve it.
- Allow their kids to make mistakes and experience failure in order to grow.
- Understand that they aren't perfect and that no parent is.
- Strive to respect and understand their child's reality.
- Help kids understand that they can feel their feelings but that doesn't have to dictate their actions.
- Accept, support, and love their children for exactly who they are.
- Remain consistent.
- Recognize that even reasoning has limits.
- Be willing to give their child the benefit of the doubt.
- Aim to avoid labels.
- Take charge but with a warm attitude.
- Stay transparent with decision making.
- Own their feelings and act as their child's emotional coach.
- Notice what they say, how they say it, and the impact of their words.
- Understand that a child's brain works differently.
- See the difference between goals and methods.
- Try to avoid drama.
- Remain flexible and pivot to meet their child's needs.
- Defend and protect playtime.
- Support risk-taking when it's sensible.
- Take care of themselves, too.
- Refuse to engage in power struggles.
- Show their child endless, unwavering love.