Parenting resolutions for the new year

Parenting resolutions for the new year
Parents who struggle with knowing how to improve their parenting skills, here are some simple tips:
Teens who spent seven or fewer hours a week with their parents were twice as likely to use alcohol or drugs as those who spent 21 or more hours a week with their parents.	1. Family Dinner Teens in families that eat dinner together at least five times a week are more likely to say they have a high-quality relationship with their parents and siblings. Other studies show children from families that eat meals together have lower rates of obesity, better overall health and have better eating habits.
2. Patience In the study, young children were given an option to eat a treat immediately or to wait 15 minutes and then receive an additional treat. Study results showed that only one-third of the children were able to wait. Patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can — working, hoping and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well.
3. Give time Teens who spent seven or fewer hours a week with their parents were twice as likely to use alcohol or drugs as those who spent 21 or more hours a week with their parents. When parents sit on the bench and view their children's gravity-defying antics on the monkey-bars, that is one level of quality time with children. However, a game of tag with children chasing their parents is light-years ahead of just watching children play in terms of the connection that is created by engaging in an activity simultaneously.
4. Get a pet Responsible pet ownership is challenging. Animals need daily care and attention, but they can also help children learn important life lessons. Developing positive feelings about pets can contribute to a child's self-esteem and self-confidence. Positive relationships with pets can aid in the development of trusting relationships with others. A good relationship with a pet can also help in developing non-verbal communication, compassion and empathy. Among the other benefits of pet ownership: Pets can be safe recipients of secrets and private thoughts — children often talk to their pets. Pets provide lessons about life: reproduction, birth, illnesses, accidents, death and bereavement. Pets help develop responsible behavior in the children who care for them. Pets provide a connection to nature. Pets can teach respect for other living things.
5. Read with your children Parents who often read books with children show markedly higher scores in exams than students whose parents read with them infrequently or not at all.