What is Basic Parenting? The Knowledge and Understanding that Develop Good Parenting Skills

1. Children love play.
   
   
2. They possess tremendous mental and physical energy.
   
   
3. Childhood is a stage of rapid physical and mental
   growth. Therefore, kids are changing at a rapid rate.
   
   
4. Youngsters need more sleep than adults, but many parents
   don't know sound sleep stimulates increased growth hormone
   production and aids memory.
   
   
5. They are dependent on adults for care, protection,
   education, etc.
   
   
6. They imitate others more and are more prone to be
   influenced by their peers and technological devices, like
   television, than adults are.
   
   
7. They are much more prone to imagination and acts of
   creativity than adults.
   
   
   

1. Many children are not getting enough playtime for optimal
   mental and physical growth and happiness.
   
   
2. Mentally, children are more sensitive and vulnerable
   than adults. Hence, they are more prone to psychological
   injury. For example, the so-called "cry baby" grows up to
   be a tough as nails macho man to compensate for his
   sensitivity at a younger age.
   
   
3. Young children, in particular, are likely to see parents
   almost like gods than the human beings they are.
   
   
4. Extra brain stimulation for very young children is now
   thought to be unnecessary. Dr. William Greenough argues
   that the rich stimulatory environment of a rat is about
   equal to the every day environment of most young
   children. Mobiles, flash cards and extra music lessons
   don't create more brain synapses.
   
   
5. Positive emotions positively influence learning.
   
   
6. Positive parenting works for the same reason learning
   does. The good feelings created by positive parenting help
   kids learn what their parents are teaching them.
   
   
7. Children who receive unconditional love are more likely
   to have confidence in themselves and grow up to be happier
   adults.
   
   
8. Research by neuroscientist, Dr. Brian E. Walsh,
   indicates there exist two critical periods in a child's life:
   At two years of age when the child, realizing that he
   exists as a self independent from his parents, begins
   saying no, and at fourteen when his impulsivity rises to
   break the parental bonds in preparation for adulthood. Dr.
   Walsh says that this is all hard wired into our brains.
   
   Knowing these two developmental land marks is critical to
   developing answers to the question, what is basic parenting?
   
   
   

• Adding together the fact kids are more psychological
  vulnerable and sensitive than adults, with the fact
  fourteen years of age is a critical and impulsive time,
  helps us understand why teenagers are prone to suicide.
  
  
• This impulsivity issue adds more weight to the prohibition
  against teenage drinking or drug abuse. One can, also,
  understand why teenagers would be less safe driving.
  What's more, teenagers are easily influenced by their peer
  group. This explains the importance of parents seeing that
  their children pick the right friends.
  
  
• Children's, and particularly, teenager's impulsivity, along
  with their greater psychological sensitivity and
  vulnerability, adds weight to the admonition that parents
  get their children into counseling immediately or "sooner"
  if they suspect a problem.
  
  
• The greater psychological sensitivity of the child explains
  her greater vulnerability to the influence of television,
  computer and video games. Youngsters greater imitative
  tendency explains why they may be more liable to act out
  what they see on TV.
  
  
• The rapid changes of the teenage years explains why parents
  are apt to miss a serious change for the worse.
  
  
• It's so easy for over worked, stressed parents to take for
  granted that their youngsters are like themselves, when, in
  fact, often, they aren't.
  
  
  

• Focus more on their feelings, challenges, and needs,
  rather than their behaviors
  
  
• Demonstrate that you value their uniqueness and
  independence
  
  
• Support their drive to expand their confidence and social
  skills
  
  
• Take a deep breath, and think before you speak. Your
  words have a lasting impact.
  
  
  

1. Infants are born understanding parent's emotions. We
   parents need to think about this when communicating with
   them because we have the power to influence them positively
   or negatively.
   
   
2. Youngsters are great imitators. We need to think about
   this imitation the next time we turn on the TV, or let them
   play with computer and video games. Remember too, they
   possess vivid imaginations that can sometimes confuse
   fantasy with reality. What are they learning from these
   devices?
   
   
3. The impulse ridden, critical teenage period that begins
   about fourteen years of age bears attention due to the
   potential for self-harm or suicide.
   
   
4. It must always be borne in mind that youngsters are more
   psychologically sensitive and vulnerable than adults. They
   often do not snap back like adults from psychological
   challenges like they do from physical injuries.
   
   
5. The fact the younger the child, the more apt she is to
   perceive an adult as a god-like figure, is important for
   parents to bear in mind since by actions and communications
   they can influence their youngsters either for the good or
   the bad.
   
   
6. Reading stories and storytelling is vital to a child's
   learning because the child understands the world and
   communicates that understanding through storying.
   
   
7. IQ may be a measure of computer ability rather than
   human intelligence. Storying ability may be more a measure
   of human intelligence. This suggests effective education
   should more mimic storying than computer rote learning
   tasks.
   
   
8. Old fashioned outdoor play may be more stimulating for
   brain learning than indoor play with technologically
   advanced toys and games.
   
   
9. Creating and maintaining positive emotions in our
   youngsters results in greater learning and easier parenting.
   
   
10. By definition normal play results in children experiencing
    positive emotions since play is fun. However,
    it is understandable how television, computer and video
    games can have negative influences on children by causing
    them to feel negative emotions, like aggression and
    frustration, which can interfere with both parenting and
    learning.
    
    
    

1. For the reasons already mentioned, parenting is probably
   the most challenging job on earth. Now you know that, and
   you know why. Many parents don't. So give yourself credit
   for learning more about parenting by accessing this site.
   
   
2. Parenting is complex and requires skill, but you're ahead
   of the game because you've learned a number of the pitfalls
   and where to go if you need help.
   
   
3. You now know how to influence your child for the better.
   You can utilize this knowledge to help your child and
   improve your relationship.
   
   
4. Much of parenting healthy children has to do with
   bringing positive influences into your youngster's life.
   You too will benefit from these positive influences. For
   example, it feels good to be a positive parent.
   
   
5. Furthermore, the success you experience, utilizing some
   of the skills and knowledge mentioned herein, should give
   you a positive feeling of competency and confidence as a
   parent.
   
   
6. As you discover, learn and integrate the information at
   this site, and it displaces some of the outdated assumptions
   of the past, you may find yourself, not just appreciating
   your youngster's uniqueness, but the mysterious, awesome
   individual he or she is. What's more, marveling at your
   child, you may realize that you too, as the parent, are part
   of this unique and mysterious story.