7 Divisive Topics For Parenting Fitness
The Introduction
Parenting is a lesson that continues as your child grows up. It is a healthy way to grow your child to be fit for society. No two children are the same. It is evident in the way children turn out later as in gay lifestyles in dating and other types of lifestyles.
Handling Your Child
If you have certain household rules, one child may adhere while the other child may be rebellious and pushing the envelope, so to speak. Just like someone would learn how to sweet talk a sugar daddy, you have to know how to handle the two. This doesn’t mean that you have to change your rules to please your children. Each child grows and develops at their own pace, often getting to certain milestones before parents even realize what is happening. Soon, your child will be telling you to shut up if you are not careful to notice the change from that doting toddler to that teenager. If you have a good understanding of why your child behaves a certain way, you will be better able to handle the challenges that may come. This also helps you to steer your child in the right direction for the desired behavior. To prepare you for parenting, here are 7 divisive topics that challenge parenting skills.
No Spanking
No child likes to get a spanking. Yet your child will still do things that are deserving of some kind of punishment. Every parent should choose a way to discipline their child, whether it be time out, spanking or taking something away, it is going to be a choice. Once you administer a specific method of punishment stick to it. Don’t crack or buckle. Your child will find all kinds of ways to test your authority. You better believe it. Spanking has been a topic of controversy among parents, but it need not be since as indicated before, every child is different. If you are going to spank your child, though, make sure you tell him/her why you are doing so. Then the next time, the child will know what is coming if he/she exhibits the same behavior. Parents will always debate this topic, but it is a parenting choice that you make for your child; depending on the type of parenting style you use. Who knows your child better than you do? However, many experts think that you can do harm to your child if you spank when you are angry. So be careful not to get out of control with your discipline.
Spending Big Money
Many parents find themselves spending big money on their kids by purchasing heavily-priced cell phones, play stations, Xbox and the most expensive gadgets. Some parents use this to keep children occupied. However, is it good for a child to sit in front of a game console all day without talking to his parents? As a parent, how will you communicate with a child that is so distracted? What would a 10 year old be doing with an iPhone 6 plus anyway? Spending so much money on your kids can bring guilty feelings as you wrestle with the idea of ‘when is it enough?’ You may want to make your children happy, but at the same time, does happiness only dwell in material things? Some children would rather you do things with them. If you are going to buy the play station, then why not sit and play with your child, ending the game when you think it is feasible to do so? This gives your child some guidelines on how to manage their time.
Home Alone
Did you watch that movie, “Home Alone?” Can you imagine leaving your child alone at home and strangers try to break in? How would you live with yourself if something happened? The movie might seem comedic and harmless, but bad things can happen to unsupervised children. Make sure that your child is always left in the care of an adult. You will feel more relieved to know that your child is being adequately cared for.
Keep Your Child Safe
While it may be scary for a child, it is wise to talk to your children about predators and the how to react when confronted by a stranger. Reassure your child that most people won’t bring harm, but it is best to be protected. Remind the child that household rules and boundaries are put in place to protect them. Encourage your child to come and talk to you about anything – not to keep secrets that make them feel uncomfortable or nervous. If you and your child are watching something on television, use the opportunity to discuss the movie, helping your child to understand real life situations.
Helicopter Parents
Many parents are overprotective of their children. While nothing is wrong with this, you have to be careful that you do not stifle the child. I remember when I was younger, my mother used to lock us up in the house and prevent us from going out to play with the neighborhood kids. It made me sad at the time, but now I understand that she was just trying to protect me. A kid doesn’t understand this. While your intentions are good, your anxiety about keeping your kids safe may be hurting them. You are essentially protecting your own fears. If you expect something to happen, it will!
Time To Let Go
In a child’s life, there is a time when parents have to let go, but for some of us, it is very difficult to do so. This is especially true for children in their pre- adolescence and adolescence stage of life and having behavioral problems that you cannot seem to get a handle on. Soon, you may have to disconnect from your emotions to get through to your child. As parents of teenagers, you should step back and become teachers and coaches while still loving your child, but offering the space that they need to learn, sometimes, the hard way. Letting your children go once they have passed a certain stage in life will not only help them, but also help you to see that you have done your best as a parent. It is now the child’s responsibility to grow into a potentially productive adult. You have done your part.
Don’t Fix It
Many parents tend to want to fix things for their kids instead of showing them how to do it. Don’t clean your kid’s room, do their homework or pick up after them. It is easy to do this if your child doesn’t hear you yelling, ‘clean up your room.’ However, once you start doing this for your child, he/she will always expect it. I recall a mother who would do her children’s homework every night. Another mother would fix snacks for her son while he watched television, even though; he could make the snack himself.