Via Google

Parenting is hard. There is no denying that. When it comes to your children, you are always going to do every single thing you can to make sure you are doing it right. But sometimes you can pick up habits that aren’t necessarily the right way to go about helping your children, and some habits can last a lifetime. We’ve put together a few things to avoid when it comes to your babies.

Discipline

Children need discipline. Sometimes it is easier to ignore your child’s behaviour or clean up their mess for them because you just can’t deal with asking them to do it themselves for the 700th time. We get it. By letting your child get away with not listening just a three times, this can make it even harder to get them to listen the fourth or fifth time, thus creating an endless cycle where you as the parent as the loser. In the long run, not disciplining your child is going to cause endless struggles, so stick to your guns, Mumma and Daddy, YOU ARE IN CHARGE (we promise!).

Via ok.co.uk

Using technology as a babysitter

This one is a tricky one. Sometimes you just need thirty minutes to cook dinner. We get it. But using technology as a babysitter too often can have long lasting effects on your child. Things such as neck pain, headaches, brain development and addiction issues are all things that you risk by allowing your child too much screen time. Instead, try encouraging your child to read or draw or engage in some type of self-sustained play to give you a little breather. 

Via Google

Not listening

While we’re on the topic of technology, it is also important to limit your own screen time. By constantly using your device, you are teaching your child that it is okay to spend this much time using technology. You wouldn’t let them do it, so why should you do it to yourself? 

More importantly than this, screen time distracts you to your surroundings, meaning you are only partially aware of what is going on around you. When your child is near, make sure you put down your phone when talking to them. Make sure they know they come first and that you are fully engaging in what they are doing or saying.

Via psychologytoday.com

Empathise

Has your child been screaming for two hours because they didn’t have jam on their sandwich, or because they had the “wrong shoes” on? We’ve all been there, trust me. If they are crying, frustrated or angry, they aren't trying to make your life harder. They are having a tough time and they don't have the skills to know how to cope with it. If you take a moment in this stressful situation to empathise with your child about why this particular little Via scarymommy.com thing is making them so upset, you may be able to avoid it in the future. This will also help to build trust between you and your child, so they will know that they can come to you in the future with their troubles.

Punishing your child to discipline them

So, we talked about disciplining your child, but what is the best way to go about it? Helping them build the tools to self-regulate their behaviour. When a child has self-control, they are able to recognise the rules and structures around them and do the right thing because they want to, not because they are being forced too. This involves teaching your child how to stop, think, choose and move forward with the right choice. Otherwise, your child is likely to go into the world and make decisions based on whether doing something will get them into trouble. 

Via acpeds.org