Are you a good parent?
There’s no such thing as a perfect parent, but research has shown there are things you can do to increase your chances of raising a happy, healthy, and well-adjusted child. According to experts, a few of the most important things you can do to help your child include:
- Making sure your child has a healthy diet—Today, 1 in 3 children in the US are obese, which is closely linked to serious diseases later in life. Healthy eating habits should begin at birth, with parents limiting a child’s access to processed foods. Research shows that children fed healthier diets early on have slightly higher IQs, while those with heavier junk food diets have slightly lower IQ.
- Reading to your child at least three times a week—Many studies have shown that children who were read to (even newborns) have a larger vocabulary than other kids their age. There’s also a direct link between how many words a baby hears each day and language skills. Experts say to try to aim for at least three times a week.
- Limiting television—The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children don’t even start watching TV until they turn two years old, and after that their time in front of the tube should be limited to two hours or less a day. Research shows that children who watch four hours or more of TV per day have lower grades, read less, and exercise less.
- Being consistent—Experts all agree: Children need structure. Setting mealtimes, nap and bed times, and rules not only lets them know what to expect, but also makes them feel safe and secure.
- Setting a good example—Who’s your child’s number one role model? You! Parenting experts say that what you do is even more important than what you say. So if you don’t want your kids to hit one another, then you shouldn’t hit them. The same goes for any other bad behaviors, such as smoking, drinking and drugs, yelling and being disrespectful to others.
- Spend regular time together as a family—Spending time together, even just during mealtime, has many proven benefits. It increases communication and bonding with your children. Studies show that children and teens spend consistent time with their parents do better academically and have lower rates of drug, tobacco, and alcohol use.
Takeaways
- While there is no such thing as a perfect parent, there are things you can do to help raise a healthy and happy child.
- Eating a healthy diet and reading to your child often can boost your child’s health and intellect.
- Children need consistency so they feel safe and secure on a daily basis.
- The ultimate role model for your child is you, so watch your words and your actions carefully.
Just be confident in yourself and if your ever doubting yourself ask your kid to give u a mommy report and yal talk about how your doing, that is of course if your kid can talk and understands.
Like the idea of a mommy report! Especially with preschoolers, who can verbalize their feelings and are always honest. 🙂
I do at least half of these things listed but the things I don’t do doesn’t seem to affect my son, he’s a happy healthy 5 yr old. I am the softy tho bc I let him get away with some stuff but when I do get after him, if he ever cries I make sure to talk to him and let him know y I got mad at him and that I still love him. No matter what I say or do he still says I’m the best mom and I make the best food even if it just heating up stove food. So I would say overall I’m proud of myself bc my son and fiance let me know I’m doing a good job.
If it were up to me I would immediately say YES! Yes I am a good parent. But then I think of all the times I yell and lose my temper. The times where I just want to lock myself inside my bedroom and whatever happens does not really matter. Right? I am sure that is how some others feel more often than not. But what It really comes down to in my opinion is exactly what the article speaks of. Do I try to feed my child healthy nutritious meals, do I try to provide as much structure and routine that the hours in the day allow? I can say yes to most of these things. My son and I eat dinner together everynight. We both eat the same meal, whether it be mac n cheese and spinach, at least it is together, the television time is limited and we do read. But do I set good examples? I yell. I raise my voice and sometimes i give him a spanking. I do have my glass or two of wine nightly and every time I lay my head down to go to sleep I wonder “was I a good mom today?” And then the list of things comes flooding my brain…I could have should have, but didnt. I believe the guilt we have as parents hinders us from seeing clearly. I AM A GOOD MOM. If I could just get past my own feelings, i wold be that much more wonderful (my son says I am wonderful). This is a constant struggle in my mind. If only it was based on the few topics mentioned above…
I too do not always hit each of these goals every day, every time. Don’t tell anyone, but just the other day we had Dairy Queen for dinner, and not a hot meal they serve as well. We had an ice cream blizzard for dinner! It wasn’t the most nutritious meal but is was fun. And I yell, my kids yell, we all lose it from once in a while. We can’t be perfect all the time. It is not a matter of if but when we are going to slip. So when we do just pick yourself up, admit it and try better next time. These are goals to strive for. I think most parents worry if they are “good enough”. Are we doing the best we possibly can for our children given our circumstances? Only you, and your son, can truly answer that question. It is that “guilt” you mentioned that can either propel us forward to work harder and be better or hold us back. Be confident! You are a good mom. As your son tells you, you are “WONDERFUL”!
Thank you! We are all good parents. I dont think any of us think to themselves “i am going to have a baby and be a crappy parent.” Right? Some of us may slip and priorities may be different, but we all try. Ateast I know that I do! Even harder when I slip.