Is it time you cleaned out your tool box and took a look at your parenting tricks and tools? Just as with anything, we can get stuck in a rut and continue using worn-out techniques, or trying to apply strategy to parenting our kids that either no longer works, or maybe it never really worked but we haven’t taken the time to find something better. How about doing some “spring cleaning” with your parenting skills?
This Blog and the Web site here at Families.com is a good place to start brushing up on your parenting skills–with so many experienced parents, we seem to have acres and acres of informative articles, tricks, ideas and parenting strategy that have been tested and tried. Of course, every child, family and parent is different and what works for one may not necessarily work for another–but if you are doing something that isn’t really working now, perhaps it won’t hurt to try something new.
There are also so many parenting manuals, books, magazines, and television programs where a parent can get some new ideas. I’ve found that some of my best new parenting strategy, however, have come from talking to friends, coworkers and mentors. It seems, that nothing really beats first-hand knowledge and I’ve had some good luck supplementing my parenting repertoire with the tried-and-true methods shared with me by another battle-scarred parent. Another great source of new parenting ideas for me over the years, has come from teachers. I remember my children’s preschool teachers as being especially helpful during those trying preschool years! After all, these folks are experts on dealing with children’s behavior.
It can be incredibly hard to let go of old habits–and parenting choices can become a habit just like anything else. You might just find, however, that sprucing things up and trying something new is enough to catch your child off guard and put you back in the driver’s seat!
See Also: Parents Have Emotions Too and Just Say Yes