If you feel that you have been trying to be a super mom, forget that! Your child parenting journey will be much happier and more enjoyable if you are willing to relax and learn along the way.

Be prepared to change your perceptions and believes as you go along. There are bound to be parenting problems as your child grows up from baby stage to toddler stage to teenagers and even when they are adults. You just get different sets of problems, that’s all so quit trying to be perfect!

Nevertheless, there are 10 vital tips that can help you solve your parenting problems and make your child parenting journey less stressful.

1. Exercise Positive Encouragement
Very often, parents tend to focus their attention on correcting their children’s mistakes and in their eagerness, they forget to praise their kids for the good behaviours. This is a big mistake as the child will not know what he has done wrong and the good behaviour cannot be enforced if it is not being encouraged! As parents, it is vital that you do not simply scold you children when they misbehave but you should also be on the look out for their good behaviours too. It will show your kids that you not only know and want to correct what they have done wrong but also appreciate their good behaviours too.

As the mother of a pair of twin toddlers, I try to be more observant when I am with them. I will not hesitate to stop my boy and will also scold him gently when he pushes his twin sister or hits her. On the other hand, on the occasions when he expresses love for his sister by hugging and kissing her or sharing his food with her on his own accord, I don’t forget to praise him excitedly too. In this way, he learns the right and wrong behaviours.

2. Schedule Personal Time For Each Of Your Kid
To be effective in child parenting, it is important that you build bond with your children and the best way to do it is none other than to spend time with each of them every day. You can set aside 30 minutes each day or at least 2 hours each week for a personal time. This is the period when you can talk to your kids about their day but make sure you do not get interrupted by phone calls or any other forms of distractions. If your kids are still very young, you can have family time together when both parents get play, sing and talk to your kids. You can use the time to read them a story before they sleep. Don’t forget to show your love for your children by giving them lots of love, hugs and kisses.

3. State Clear Rules
It is vital that your children are clear about your rules and expectations. You have to explain your rules so that all of them understand what they can and cannot do. You may even have to use very simple terms for very young kids. Many parents face parenting problems because they do not make their rules clear to their children and yet they get upset when a rule is broken.

4. Be Receptive
You may have been the one who set the rules in the house but you should still listen to your kids’ point of view. Being receptive to their opinions does not mean that you are a weak parent. It only indicates your willingness to understand them better and that will actually help to strengthen your bond with your children. Of course, this is more for older kids who are more likely to want to have a say in their lives but for your younger kids you may just want to stick to your rules and make sure they follow them.

5. Abstain From Physical Punishment
Gone are the days when parents use physical punishment to enforce a rule on their children. Studies have shown that children who have grown up under such harsh environment are more likely to grow up into uncontrollable and aggressive individuals. It is a more effective child parenting model to teach your children with love and reasoning rather than through physical punishment. Should any of your kids break a rule, you can make them clean up the mess or take away a privilege.

6. Creating A Stable Home Environment
Before you explain your rules and punishments to your children, discuss them with your spouse or partner first. This is to ensure that there would not be any discrepancies when you are enforcing these rules. Having a stable home environment will be less confusing for your kids.

7. Be Fair
It is vital that you try to be as fair as possible, not only in your day-to-day rules but in your treatment to your different children as well. You cannot accept a misbehaviour one day but punish your child for the same behaviour another day. That will only confuse your kids. Similarly, if you are unfair in your treatment among the children, it will only breed contempt and stir up sibling rivalry.

8. Set Good Role Models
A very effective child parenting model is to set a good role model for your kids. Although it is definitely not possible to be a perfect parent, at least show your kids that you practice healthy living in your life too.

9. Show Respect For Your Children
Even though your kids may be young, they deserved to be respected! If you respect your right from the start, they will grow to respect you too.

10. Be Supportive
As a parent, you are everything to your children so it is important that you are supportive for them. This is especially vital when they come home to you after meeting with some difficulties at school or when they got themselves into some trouble. Never sneer at them or reply them with a “I told you so!” when they approach you for advice and support or you will lose your children forever!

Child parenting is an everyday challenge but the above 10 tips will help you a long way in solving your parenting problems. Remember, if you feel that you are at wits end, do not feel shy in seeking professional help.