Parents, Let’s Invest In Appreciation!

“It is strange that sword and words have the same letters, even more, strange is that they have the same effect if not handled properly” –Anonymous

As parents, you love to see your kids grow up in the right way, with the right manners and the right behaviour. Our children learn their first lessons in life from us. We as parents are their first gurus. We aim at teaching our kids everything. And to make them the best version of themselves, we have to correct them when they make mistakes. Usually, parents do it by pointing out their errors, to make them realise that what they did is wrong and how they need to improve on it.

But, have you ever realised that it might bring out a negative side to it?

We want our children to listen to our advice, and accept them wholeheartedly. But that’s not the case all the time. Children, especially teens, tend to act out when challenged and do exactly the opposite, to fulfill their whims and fancies. They don’t listen to what you say or maybe don’t even follow your instructions.

This situation definitely irks you. Isn’t it? So, what would you do in such situations? Shout at them or get angry? That’s the normal reaction…

But, is that the right thing to do? Well, it isn’t. Your frustration comes from the improper dealings. In anger, it is very easy to lash out. Because, when your ego gets hurt, your emotions are vulnerable. This is a result of the poor communication with the other person, and in this case they are our children. It may happen that your body language, certain actions or words may hurt our child’s sentiments.

Now if you think that in this case should we always speak about things that don’t upset the other person and be nice irrespective of the situation? That also does not seem right, because life will become calculative for you then instead of being natural.

Yes, you might be wondering if avoiding a confrontation is the key, or being nice to your children all the time would help. It is not. Because it will set a wrong standard and your kids will not respect your authority. So, what to do in such scenarios?

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Co-Parenting as Divorced Parents? Know If It’s good for Your Children

Separation is sometimes inevitable, but for the good. But when there are children involved, it becomes difficult for the parents to part ways amicably. And to add insult to injury, there will be people giving unsolicited advice to the parents about ways to bring up their children.

So, how do you shield your child from all that negativity and yet ensure that they have an equal presence of both the parents while growing up?

At We Positive Parenting, the parenting guides offering counselling for divorced parents in Ahmedabad, suggest Co-parenting.

Unless there has been a serious issue of domestic violence or abuse, Co-parenting is the answer for this question!

Co-parenting is when two or more adults share their duties and work together to raise their child without being in a marital union. Basically, it is a child custody agreement which is unfortunately unknown to many couples in India. This parenting technique requires a high level of cooperation and collaboration between the estranged partners in order to benefit the children.

Here’s why co-parenting can be a game changer in the upbringing of children of separated or divorced parents

1) Children are less likely to feel torn between their parents

When a couple gets divorced, the children tend to feel abandoned in the tussle. With a planned schedule for the children to spend time with their parents, overseen by the law, co-parenting gives children the space to bond with both the parents. But, healthy co-parenting also needs guidance at every step for the wellbeing of the kids.

Consider taking Parenting counselling services from Ahmedabad’s We Positive Parenting and learn the ropes of co-parenting, on how to make the children understand the new dynamics of the family, and that they can still have a loving relationship with both of the parents despite them living separately.

2) Reduces stress & conflict in children

Witnessing the dissolution of marriage can be traumatic for children of all ages. A study on ‘The Impact of Parental Separation and Divorce on the Health Status of Children’ stated that such children tend to suffer from depression, higher frequency of violence, learning and social deterioration along with high risk for suicidal attempts.

In recent years, more research showed that the divorce process further affects the state of physical illness in children. These can have a long lasting effect on the children.

Co-parenting reduces the risk of mental health challenges in children. This method of parenting helps the children to feel safe & secure despite everything happening around them, as they see their parents work together to provide everything to them. They grow up with reduced conflicts in their lives.

3) Enhances problem solving skills

Marrying too young, unrealistic expectations, lack of commitment, and other reasons lead to divorce. And when children see their parents co-parenting them despite all these issues, they are more likely to learn how to solve any problem peacefully on their own. As co-parents cooperate with each other, they become a healthy example for their children and establish a life pattern that can be followed by their children in the future. They get a better understanding about relationships and conflict resolution by learning effective communication.

Usually, the children of healthy co-parents know that their parents may not always agree on everything, but believe that they get along. They feel that the parents make efforts and show respect to each other.

Now, let’s talk about the obstacles that may come in the way of co-parenting.

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5 reasons why you shouldn’t hit your child

Don’t answer back, else I’ll give you a tight slap!

This has been the standard reaction from parents towards their children, when they respond back with denial or defy their advice and ideas. What parents from that generation never understood is that this style of disciplining can have serious effects on their children for the longest time.

A study on Effective Discipline to Raise Healthy Children published in the Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics further states that physical punishment is linked to an increased risk of negative behavioural, cognitive, psychosocial, and emotional outcomes for children.

Let’s look at why corporal punishment, or hitting children to discipline them is not the right way, and some words of advice from Ahmedabad’s best parent counsellor at We Positive Parenting

a) Corporal punishment weakens the bond between the parent & child

Hitting a child will never teach that the road they are on is unsafe. It instead plants the seed in their mind that the person hitting them is unsafe to be with. This is one of the reasons why children who were brought up with corporate punishment start distancing themselves from their parents as they grow up.

It is human nature to dislike someone who hurts. Hence, when a parent hits their child, it drives an emotional wedge between them. The practice may look like it’s working on the child. But it only produces superficial good behaviour in the child, which is born out of fear. When parents showcase their authority on the basis of fear, the child tends to lose respect for them.

On the other hand, a bond based on love, respect and empathy grows stronger with time.

b) It makes children more aggressive

The Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment conducted to study the Impact of observed violence on children’s behaviour showed that children imitate or copy the aggressive behaviour of adults around them. If they see an adult acting aggressively, they are likely to act aggressively even when the adult model is not present. This means, when parents hit their child, the child can become a hitter eventually. Moreover, when kids or teenagers are not able to get even with their parents, they take their aggression out on others.

Hence, it is important for parents to set an example of empathy, towards them and others, in front of their kids.

c) It harms the self-esteem of the children

“Stop crying or I’ll hit you again”.

When children hear such comments from their parents, they tend to feel helpless. Their self-worth is damaged by the actions of their parents as they feel like their cries for help are being ignored and they are being humiliated by the people who are supposed to love and protect them. They not only feel betrayed but also feel like they don’t have any control over their own life.

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6 Tips for Parents of Children with Special Needs

The birth of a child brings joy into the lives of the parents and their families. But not every child is born in the healthiest form. They require special needs, attention and care while growing up, and a large majority of parents in India do not have the knowledge or the resources for it.

Our qualified parenting counsellors in Ahmedabad at We Positive Parenting understand these challenges and have come up with a list of 6 tips for parents with children requiring special needs, to help them in their upbringing and make their lives easier and harmonious.

1. Ask for help

You may have heard it, but it is worth repeating. ‘Asking for help does not mean you are weak’. Rather than struggling to figure out your child’s special needs all by yourself, seek help. Open up and talk about it to gather more and more information. There are high chances of you realising that your parenting techniques were right all along, but all you just needed more information on it and some support to sail through.

And the best way to get started is by seeking help from a parenting counsellor or guide. They are equipped with the knowledge, experience and resources to help you and your child.

2. Join support groups

We know, it gets frustrating, when people with absolutely no idea about your struggles as a parent of a special needs child start giving you advice on how to do parenting.

Knowledge grows when knowledge is shared. And challenges become easier to achieve when they’re shared with like-minded people. We always encourage parents with special needs to be part of various support groups where other parents with similar challenges and struggles come together.

Joining such groups or communities will make you realise that other people are also walking the same path as you. This will help you discover their coping strategies and new resources. Moreover, you will also get support from other parents who ‘actually get it’ and learn how to seek hope and strength by their stories.

You can feel free to get in touch with our parent counsellors at We Positive Parenting to know about such groups for parenting in Ahmedabad or in your city of residence.

3. Take breaks

Taking a break does not mean you do not care for your child. Your body just needs to take rest regularly as mental exhaustion is a thing. Don’t over work yourself and give yourself a chance to recuperate. Be it drinking coffee in silence, be it reading a book or be it just lying down to rest. Recharge yourself by doing what you like.

You can even put your child in a stroller or wheelchair and take a walk with a friend. Both you and also your kid will benefit from the change of the scenery. And it gets refreshing to break away from the monotony of you everyday tasks

The parenting guides at We Positive Parenting have also created special programmes to help parents of children with special needs to learn how to deal with stress and the additional responsibilities.

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