Top 12 Parenting Tips

by Dr Sal Severe

Parenting requires countless sacrifices and continuous hard work, but the rewards are plenty. To be successful parents, Dr. Sal offers these tips:

1) Welcome change in yourself and your children. See change as positive. Seek self-improvement.

2) Possess good judgment. Know the difference between mischief and misconduct.

3) Have a sense of humor about raising children.

4) Believe that discipline is a teaching process. It is not simply punishment. Discipline is everything you do to teach children to be responsible and think for themselves.

5) Focus on the positive attitudes and behavior in their children. Call attention to positive qualities.

6) Use self-esteem as motivation. "You made a good choice. You should be proud of yourself!"

7) Behave yourself . Provide good example by being responsible, not perfect.

8) Behave consistently. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Follow through. Do not give in to misbehavior demands.

9) Behave proactively. Anticipate problems and plan to avoid them.

10) Use punishments that teach better decision-making.

11) Stay calm when your button is being pushed. Understand that anger gets in the way and makes conflicts worse.

12) Have patience for the time it takes to see change in yourself and your children.