The Gold Key Parenting Tips

"Absolute Must-Do Parenting Tips"

Gold Key Tip #1:

Treat your child with love and respect and expect the same back from them.

Let your child know they are loved, valued and an important part of your life. Teach them to respect you, respect themselves and respect others both in their actions and their verbal communication.

Gold Key Tip #2:

Be a good listener.

Your child should know that you are there for them to talk to. It starts by listening to them tell you about the picture they drew or the project they made in daycare. As they start school, give them quality time to tell you about their day. As they grow up, let them know you'll listen through their good times and their bad.

Gold Key Tip #3:

Make sure your child knows the boundaries and knows who’s making the rules.

Children are learning to be adults. They don't automatically know how to make good decisions for themselves. As their parent, you need to coach them through childhood. You need to inform them of the rules and let them know where their boundaries are. Then you also become the referee, because you have to enforce the rules and remind them of the boundaries.

Gold Key Tip #4:

Tell, don’t ask.

You should be able to tell your child what is expected of them and they will respond accordingly. You shouldn't have to ask them, beg them or bribe them before they will follow your rules.

Gold Key Tip #5:

Follow through with punishments. Don’t give empty threats.

An empty threat is telling your child you will punish them in a way that is unrealistic. When a child receives empty threats, they learn that even if they're warned that they will receive a punishment, chances are they won't. It will be worth it to them to take the chance.

Gold Key Tip #6:

Be a parent, not a best friend.

Your child will meet friends around the neighborhood or at daycare, and later at school. They don't need you to be a friend, they need you to be the parent who guides them and nurtures them and teaches them everything they need to know to reach adulthood.

Gold Key Tip #7:

If it’s a struggle every time you attempt an activity, then change the approach.

For instance, if your child has a melt down every single morning when it comes times to get them dressed, what you're doing isn't working and you need to change the approach. It may mean giving the child a little more input about what they'll be wearing for the day. It may mean talking about it at a time away from the stress and figure out a routine that will work for both of you.

Gold Key Tip #8:

Make sure your child gets uninterrupted time from you.

It's easy to get caught up with your schedule and your responsibilities and forget about spending quality time with your child. You need to make a point of spending one-on-one time with each child.

Gold Key Tip #9:

Pick your battles….but make sure you always win.

A child tests a parent in many different ways to find out where they can get their independence from and what their boundaries are. Sometimes it's small issues. Sometimes it's bigger issues. Let the small issues go. Be willing to battle over the larger issues. When you choose to enter the battle, make sure that as a parent, in a battle with a child, you win. Otherwise you will have no authority.

Like stated at the beginning, these parenting tips are the absolute, every parent must-do tips. Refer to the Silver Key and Bronze Key Parenting tips for additional items.