Parenting Hacks

I am happy to offer a guest post this week from Samara over at Tiny Fry.

“Why didn’t I think of that?” is something you hear parents say all the time. That’s because sometimes the simplest solutions are right in front of our eyes, it just takes someone else to point them out. With that in mind, we urge you to freely share your parenting tips and tricks.

As the times change, even the most seasoned parents need help preparing kids for the modern world. As technology advances, young minds will become preoccupied with “the next best thing.” So, while you can still capture your kids’ attention, learn these parenting hacks that will impart tried and true tenets.

Although some skills are inherent (meaning we’re born with them), often the most important ones have to be taught. This article addresses five traits that we can teach our kids, starting at a very early age.

GRIT

First, let’s talk about the value of hard work. Certainly, we’ve all been frustrated by difficult tasks (both physical and intellectual) and we’ve all enjoyed feelings of accomplishment when we’ve finally completed what we set out to do.

Kids today have a harder time staying focused and they tend to give up on projects when things become problematic. We can’t blame them entirely given that their day-to-day world is so fast-paced and stimulating; however, we can discuss the benefits of steady work and illustrate the rewards of follow through. 

INDEPENDENCE

One of the major goals of parenting is to prepare our kids to survive on their own. Although it seems like it’ll be ages before your little one will leave the nest, it’s never too soon to foster independence. How can you do that? By allowing your children to make mistakes and encouraging them to try again and again until they succeed.

DISCIPLINE

Of course, when you’re maintaining your distance and allowing your kids to problem-solve by themselves, you do need to keep one eye on the scene. When it’s necessary, don’t hesitate to step in and provide guidance or even discipline. The idea is to find a balance between freedom and instruction.

CHARACTER

When your kids exhibit extra kindness and diligence, let them know you’re pleased by their actions. In addition, it’s up to you to demonstrate ways to build character and urge kids to follow your examples. Certainly, recognizing and promoting positive behavior goes a long way to forming well-rounded children.

PRESENCE

Throughout it all, if your kids know you’re invested in their well-being – if they sense your involvement and presence even when you aren’t right a their side – they’ll feel more confident and inspired to be the best they can be.

Bio

Samara Kamenecka is a New York-born freelance writer and translator living in Madrid. When she’s not busy trying to mold her two kids into functional, contributing members of society, she can usually be found enjoying a glass of wine (or three), or eating ice cream straight out of the container. You can find her blogging over at Tiny Fry, and you can also connect with her on Facebook or Twitter.