Effective parenting might sound like the gold standard for child-rearing but no parent can perfectly deliver their best day in day out. Effective parenting might be a tall order for adults who have different responsibilities to juggle or first-time parents who are still learning.
So, how do parents then establish effective parenting when there is no concrete guide? According to Standard Media, moms and dads can take small and simple steps by focusing on instilling three values in their kids: love, truth and freedom.
Love teaches children how to relate to others. Truth teaches discipline and gives the kids structure as they learn the reality around them. Freedom helps young boys and girls learn about responsibility.
When parents instill these three values, then they will eventually mold children with good moral character. The goal of effective parenting, after all, is to raise kids with a strong moral compass.
From love, the children will learn to connect and empathize. From truth, the children will encounter hurt and disappointment but they will gain wisdom. From freedom, the children will learn competence and develop a sense of achievement that will drive them to succeed.
According to the Professor's House, parents should not be pressured to always be effective. The job of parenting is exhausting as it is and to constantly agonize over the little things could become counterproductive. It's important to realize that one bad day in parenting isn't a wasted day.
Effective parenting isn't also about multitasking or immersing children in different activities, believing that they should experience everything. These experiences won't matter if the kids do not have good characters. So, circle back to those three values and use these as the roadmap of how to raise children effectively.
What are your thoughts on effective parenting? Do you have any techniques for other parents? We'd love to hear from you in the comments!
