The Progressive Teacher Vol 02 Issue 04

parenting
Children are born
with an inborn
temperament, a
preferred style of
relating to people and
events. Temperament
is indicated by
behaviour that can be
classified into three
categories – Easy,
slow-to warm up and
difficult. Thus, it is
true that there is no
single correct method
of raising children.
Parenting is a
process that involves
a certain amount of
discretion. Children
need different
levels of attention,
expression of love
and toughness.
– Rajkumar Sharma
Raising children is one
of the toughest and the
most fulfilling jobs in the
world. As a parent we are least
prepared for this job. Learning
on the job how to be a parent
can be fraught with pitfalls. So
instead of talking about good
or bad parenting, I think of
it as Effective or Ineffective
parenting. The best way to raise
positive children in a negative
world is to have positive parents
who love them unconditionally
and serve as excellent role
models.
While there are no easy answers
Building Healthy
Relationships
in parenting, the following
strategies may help you support
your child, while reducing the risk
of serious harm to your child.
Disciplining
school-going children
A) Get your child involved in
setting limits and rules --
Children in the age group of
4-7 are able to talk about
their feelings and are able to
understand why some rules
are necessary. They begin to
develop better self control.
But you should expect some
steps forward and some back
for they are still young.
B) Speak to your child the way
you want him to speak to you,
don’t shout and remember to
say please and thank you.
C) When a child is misbehaving,
talk to him when he is
peaceful. Ask him about what
was making him unhappy or
what he was thinking and
feeling.
D) Focus on behaviour you want
to see, not what he is doing
wrong. So give Do’s instead of
Don’ts.
E) Children at this stage are able
to understand rules, but avoid
going into too much detail.
Long explanations can be
confusing.
F) Be consistent and firm. If you
waver, he will know he can
push boundaries again the
next time.
Tips for busy
parents of Teens
Today’s busy parents are not
always able to make time to
find out what is going on in the
lives of their teens. The following
parenting tips can offer help in
this area -
1) As a parent you must help
your child to do his/her home
work but don’t do it all
yourself.
2) When a child does something
wrong, don’t freak out. Talk
to your child about it when
you are alone with him.
3) Children must spend time on
sports and with their friends,
but they should also have
time for the family and take
up some home responsibility.
4) Don’t trap your child. Some
parents look to ‘catch
their child in the act’ of
misbehaviour that the child
is indulging in. This will not
work.
5) Spend quality time with
your child. This enhances the
child’s self-esteem.
6) Be consistent, follow
through–use actions, not
words instead of nagging or
16 The Progressive Teacher Sep/Oct 2015