From the minute that our children are born, their health becomes one of our highest priorities. We as parents are wired instinctively to every sneeze, scratch, sleep disruption, etc. Not a single cough or check-up escapes our radar.

Parenting can very often feel like a Rubik’s Cube, deceivingly simple at first before you get into it, but seemingly impossible to understand and figure out when you’re in the thick of it. Instead of dealing with and figuring out what color toy or clothes they should get their child next, they find themselves dealing with variables relating to the upbringing, the expectations that come with raising a child and wading through the ocean’s worth of parenting information available all at once; and all of these on top of the gargantuan task of taking each child’s needs, wants and challenges – on an individual level.

In the never ending, uphill puzzle we call parenting, listed below are 5 parenting techniques to help you raise emotionally healthy children. These techniques are backed by some of the leading experts in the fields of positive parenting and behavioral sciences.

1. Connection Is Paramount:

   At our very core, at the very roots of what makes us human is the need for connection. It is present in our wiring at birth. While most parenting techniques focus on making our children compliant, research seems to suggest that we are overlooking and ignoring our main source of influence – a strong

2. Self-Reflection Is Key:

   Most parents want to be responsive to the actions and behavior of their child rather than being reactive. In order to do so, parents must be in tune with their own emotions, along with their child’s. This is so that our emotions and thoughts from our daily interactions are not proving to be a hinderance to our parenting and thus, our children.For example, if we are feeling resentment or anger for something that happened the day prior, we may be incapable of handling and dealing with an emotional outburst from our child. It is when we become self-aware and conscious of ourselves, our emotions, thoughts and actions that we will be able to parent our child at our optimum capacity. We can achieve a heightened level of consciousness by looking inwards.

3. Look At Negative Behavior From A Different Perspective

   The knee-jerk reaction of most parents to their child’s actions and behavior is on a surface level, and this has a notable impact and effect on our parenting and disciplining methods. This surface level interpretation of the child’s actions leads to misunderstanding their actions and behavior. However, by shifting our mindset to seeing their actions from a different perspective, trying to understand the “why” behind their actions, peeling the layers behind their actions and seeing what our children are trying to communicate to us, it will have a life altering positive impact on our parenting.

4. Pay Attention To Your Child

   A task as simple as listening can be an extremely powerful parenting technique. While the advice of listening may not sound groundbreaking, unique or even helpful, but it truly is. The act of listening is a powerful and impactful one, making your child feel heard and recognized.When parents take the time to stop what they’re doing and paying attention to their child, listening to what they have to say is empowering for the child. The message this conveys to your child is that they’re being heard and are cared for. It will surprise you and is truly amazing to see how your children work through their challenges when they’re given the space to do so.

    
5. Get To Know & Understand Your Child

   There are times when parents forget their child is unique and amazing in his/her own way – each having their own unique gifts, talents, interests, passions, etc. that drive and push them forward. And as parents we have the honorable task of discovering this spark and nurturing it. Children go through a myriad of developmental stages throughout their childhood years as they interact with the world and environment around them. If we aim to help and support our kids, we will have to understand them and to do so, parents will have to grow along with their children too.

   Positive parenting techniques will help steer your child towards a more mentally and emotionally healthy future.

   Look for books for babies, and read aloud to them. Infant books and picture books for babies are a great way of spending quality time together, going over the pictures, discussing with them and talking to them as you would to grown-ups. Listening to audio stories for kids together enthuses babies. Share this enthusiasm with them. Do some basic math activities for kids together. All these go a long way in helping kids learn the concepts.

   The Learning Time A+ Program from Learning Time has some great stuff for early learning. Have a look, ask for a free presentation. You’ll love it!