Correcting five biggest parenting challenges

Children don’t arrive with instructions for care. What’s more, they are all different, so even if we figure out how to handle certain situations with one of our children, the next one veers off in a different direction. In short, parenting can be challenging.

Here are five of the most common parenting challenges, with suggestions from author Philip Mountrose, on how to correct some of those common errors.

The first challenge is inconsistency with rules. If parents don’t follow through, children learn that they don’t really mean what they say. The old advice is still sound: Tell young children what you want them to do and then have them do it.

Another area to look for is talking too much. We often hear the complaint that children don’t listen. This begs the question: How did young people acquire these poor listening skills? Parents tend to dominate discussion with children, but lecturing is a sure way to have children tune out their parents. A good rule is to talk less and listen more.

It is also a mistake to use words that do not match your actions. Too often young people see adults blaming, denying, and excusing instead of owning up to mistakes. Children welcome it when adults admit they made a mistake or don’t know something, acknowledging that they struggle, too. Children then become free to learn from their own mistakes.

Another challenge is failing to explain personal boundaries. Children need to learn to respect other people’s bodies and possessions. Parents can help children control their impulses to touch things that don’t belong to them and can educate them about other subjects that need to be approached with caution, like talking about other people’s age, income, weight, physical disabilities, and the like.

Finally, the biggest common concern is not spending enough quality time with children. Most parents do the best they can with the demands of their daily schedule. But it’s important to always be on the lookout for ways to do better in this area. Find ways to have fun with your children. Ask them what they want to do. Discover activities that everyone in the family enjoys. Enjoy the silent times, as well, when you are simply together.

Parents who recognize any of these common behaviors can identify areas where they want to change. If you can improve in just one of these areas your family will be able to experience considerably more enjoyment together.