Tip #5 Teach Responsibility and Independence
Being a better parent means helping your children become independent. Teaching your children to be responsible and independent is vital to their development. When children are encouraged to find their independence, they learn to solve problems. While you can — and should — support them in finding solutions, allowing them to handle things helps them build confidence so they feel prepared to face challenges later in life.
Do this by giving age-appropriate chores, offering autonomy to make their own decisions, and letting them learn from their experiences and make mistakes. You can start with simple tasks—making their bed or wiping down the sink in the bathroom once a week—and gradually increase the responsibilities as they become ready to take on more. Encourage them to take ownership of their jobs so they can feel a sense of pride in accomplishing tasks and doing well.
Why this works: Teaching kids to be responsible and independent offers them essential life skills for their future. They’ll learn time management, organization, and accountability, often without even knowing it. Independence teaches children to be self-reliant. When they trust they can solve problems on their own, they gain critical thinking and decision-making skills, boosting self-esteem.
Tip #6 Show Unconditional Love and Support
Unconditional love and support are the foundation of healthy parent-child relationships. When children know your love for them is unwavering, regardless of their behavior, it helps them feel secure and valued. A constant and steady show of support reinforces the idea that you’ll be there for them during times of success and failure. Essentially, it develops a pattern where they understand your love is not contingent on performance.
Why this works: Unconditional love helps build confidence and resilience in children. Research shows that children who grow up in a home with unconditional love are more likely to have better stress resilience and healthier brain development.
Tip #7 Model the Behavior You Expect
Children learn by watching. When your actions are positive, healthy, and kind, kids will want to emulate that in their own behavior. Studies show positive parenting practices influence a child’s development and behavioral outcomes. To model the behavior you want your children to adopt, be mindful of your actions and words. Be willing to apologize when you’re wrong, and live by the values you want them to develop in their own lives.
Why this works: Children naturally want to emulate their parents. If they see you consistently acting in ways that align with the values you’re hoping to pass on, they’ll be much more likely to behave similarly. Modeling positive behavior also helps children develop healthy emotional and social skills, like communication and conflict resolution.
Tip #8 Educate Yourself on Child Development
There is great power in educating yourself on how children grow and what they need at different stages in life. Tailoring your parenting style to align with their needs will ensure you can successfully support their emotional, physical, and cognitive development. You can read books, take a parenting class, attend workshops, and even get therapy to help you understand where your child is at.
Why it works: Knowing how to support your child based on their growth and developmental stages might just be the most powerful tool you have as a parent. Staying educated about your children’s needs can also reduce stress and increase your confidence about being a good parent.
Tip #9 Maintain Consistency in Discipline
Discipline can be one of the most challenging aspects of parenting, but it’s important to be consistent with it. Consistency means making rules known, enforcing them, and ensuring that all caretakers are on the same page. Being consistent and following through can be difficult, but it pays off. When children understand that rules apply to them and not following them will result in some form of discipline, they learn that their actions have consequences.
Why this works: Maintaining consistency works because children thrive in a predictable and stable environment where they know what to expect and have clear boundaries. This type of environment helps them feel secure and regulate their behavior.
In the long run, being consistent with discipline helps kids develop self-control and a sense of responsibility.
