Being a parent is the hardest job you’ll ever love. To make your first few months as goof-proof and enjoyable as possible, follow our troubleshooting guide and avoid these mistakes.
Going for immediate rather than long-term results.
Punishment may work to stop the behavior right now, but has detrimental long-term effects.
Protecting kids from natural consequences
We gain wisdom through experience. Allowing kids to experience the loss, pain, and frustration of natural consequences helps them link their behavior and decisions with certain outcomes.
While you may want to be a good parent and protect them from hurt feelings or disappointment, these lessons are how they ultimately learn not to touch hot stoves, to turn in their homework and to be respectful.
Not Expanding A Child’s Freedom As They Age
Like most things, personal freedom gets easier to handle with practice. That’s why it’s crucial to give children increasing room for independence as they age.
Not Challenging Their Kids
Dismissing our children’s emotions
As bona fide grown ups, we know there’s no valid reason to be scared of the big sliding board and that, in the grand scheme of things, it really doesn’t matter that they’re out of the pink donuts with purple sprinkles.
So when our children express strong reactions of fear, disappointment, or frustration to such menial or illogical situations, we tend to brush them off.
Giving Them Too Many Choices
Many parents think children always should have endless choices, when the reality is kids can be overwhelmed if they’re always given so many options.
Praising Them For Everything They Do
It’s very common now to see kids who are almost junkies for praise. They won’t do anything unless there is a payoff for them.
