For most parents enrolling their children in a good school and making sure their needs are met is what parenting is all about. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg, there’s a lot more to parenting than schooling and money. It involves being in the child’s life permanently and ensuring that the child knows that you are there for him or her 24/7. Children need you to be their parents as well as their friends, their confidants, their mentors, and a whole lot more. It may seem overwhelming and It can be, but if you follow these practical tips, you can ensure that you go through parenting with ease and comfort.
LET THEM BE FREE
Every child, whether he/she is a toddler or a teenager, needs freedom and independence. The problem arises when we try to control every aspect of their lives in the hopes that they will do what they’re told, or they will avoid mistakes. That is a sure-fire way of making sure that they cut you out of their lives as quickly as possible. Instead, let them go through life on their own and just be there to help or support them.
DON’T TRY TO FIX IT
In our haste to keep our children safe, we always try to fix everything for them. Let them find their own solutions for their problems, rather than telling them everything. It will not only teach them self-reliance and resilience, but it can also help them with their creativity and imagination. It will also give you a chance to observe just how resourceful they can be.
GO WITH THE FLOW
Most parents think that spending time with their children means supervising them as they do homework or asking them about their day. That is not true, spending time means getting involved in any activity of their choosing. Play their game, by their rules and have some fun while you’re at it.
THINK DISCIPLINE NOT PUNISHMENT
These are two entirely different concepts that are often mixed up. We usually punish when we should be using discipline. Children need limits. Limits help them understand the world around them. So set your boundaries and then let them wander along, but make sure that these boundaries are not too strict, nor too lax and that the children fully understand them.
BE CALM AN COMPOSED
Often when we don’t get to hear what we are expecting, or if it is taking too long, we get frustrated and angry. Children don’t need that. Make sure that you don’t overreact and that you listen to them carefully, reassure them, and support them in every way possible. The best thing you can do is to let them see that they have a stable friend to rely on
COMMUNICATE
Have regular conversations with your child and talk to them about their day or their social interactions. Which of their friends are they getting along with and which of them are presenting a problem? How are their relationships with their teachers?
To be able to do what’s mentioned above, you should have a strong bond with your child so that he/she freely can openly share without fear. Keep the conversation as general as you can, but if you notice a problem, don’t be afraid to dig a little deeper.
UNDERSTAND BULLYING
Bullying means using aggressive and offensive actions, words, or behavior to physically or mentally harm others. Some psychologists also stated that the behavior is usually repeated or has the potential to be repeated. This includes acts like pushing, hitting, name-calling, verbal threats, spreading rumors, and excluding someone from a conversation or an activity.
WHAT IS CYBERBULLYING?
With the proliferation of social media, inappropriate behavior can now even occur outside of school hours via emails, text messages, and through social media outlets. These exchanges are called cyberbullying and they can be just as harmful and aggressive as the other types of bullying.
HOMESCHOOLING BECAUSE OF BULLYING
Bullying is one of the primary reasons why a lot of parents choose to homeschool their children. According to BBC News, the number of children being homeschooled has risen by 40% in the last three years.
In 2018 alone, the estimates were around 53,000-58,000 children were being homeschooled.
And not just in the United Kingdom, parents around the globe too are turning towards homeschooling. They are finding alternate methods of schooling for their children like home school tutoring.
FIND OUT ABOUT BULLYING
The first step that you need to take as a parent is to find out if your child is a victim of bullying, and check out for symptoms of bullying in your child.
The general symptom of bullying is physical complaints. If your child informs you about his tummy aches as well as showing fear towards going to school, then he/she might be worried. Withdrawing from aspects that can make you afraid is a common defense method. Everybody wants to quickly get rid of the elements that are increasing their stress levels.
Once you have reached the truth, here’s what you need to do:
TEACH THEM TO BE AN UPSTANDING CITIZEN
Don’t just teach them to handle people who are bullying them, also teach them to stand up for others who are in need. If your child sees a friend or someone else being bullied, he/she should have the courage to stand up for them.