|
A recent article in Scientific American Mind summarizes research into what makes a good parent. While some characteristics are pretty self evident, others were surprising: not all of the competencies even involve kids! If you want to improve the bond with your child and become a better parent, here are the ten competencies:
- Love and Affection: being physically and emotionally supportive and present.
- Stress Management: reduce the effects of stress through relaxation and positive thinking strategies
- Relationships Skills: maintain healthy relationships with spouse or co-parent, coworkers and others
- Autonomy and Independence: Treat your child with respect and encourage her to be self-sufficient and self-reliant.
- Education and Learning: You promote curiosity and learning in and out of school
- Life Skills: you provide for your child, have steady income and future plans
- Behavior Management: You use positive reinforcement and punish only when other methods of managing behavior have failed
- Health: you model a healthy lifestyle, such as regular exercise and good nutrition
- Religion and Spirituality: You support religious or spiritual development and activities
- Safety: You protect your child by using proper caution and staying aware of your child's activities and friends.
Want to see how you are doing? Take the SciAm author's parenting test
|
