Do you ever wonder how in the world a child of yours became so disrespectful? Maybe you were the parent who swore up and down you would never have one of “those” kids. Now, you do and you need some answers. We live in a society where disrespect is becoming all too common, especially among kids. The reality is though, that for most people, parenting is not a skill that comes naturally. It takes a lot of self-education and even then, there is always room to grow. Do not feel guilty about that. You could be the best parent in the world but have a child who has struggles that they just need to work through. Do not lose heart, remain steadfast and keep focused on the “big picture” for why you parent the way you do. Here are some of my favorite parenting tips for how you can practically influence your children to one day be well-functioning adults.

1. For polite children, be a model of politeness yourself. Children will learn from those around them and you can set the tone by using the words and manners you’d like to see in your children! If you are not doing it yourself, do not expect anything different from your kids.
2. For children who express themselves well, read to them! Reading benefits your children in so many ways. In addition to being entertaining, studies also show that reading to children at a young age will boost their vocabulary by leaps and bounds. Yes, even just from having books read to them!
3. For respectful children, be consistent with them. Children need to know what you expect from them every time. If you are not consistent with your expectations, your child may get confused and may not know what is expected of them, and this may be why they act out or are not respectful.
4. For obedient children, keep them on a routine. Children naturally need and crave routine. In fact, when it comes to bedtimes for example, maintaining routine is one of the best things you can do. The amount of sleep kids get can impact their health and overall well-being. Check with your pediatrician to see just how much sleep each of your children needs and then make it a priority to stick to that schedule as much as possible.
5. To really know your children, spend time with your child’s friends. Your child learns a lot from his or her friends (good and bad). You can spend time with them by engaging in the same activities they are, especially as they are younger, and then even being friends with them on social media as they get older. Bottom line, if you know your children’s friends, you will gain a deeper understanding of your children too!

The most important consideration for learning any new parenting skill is its effects. We have such an awesome responsibility and privilege to raise our children to be well-functioning adults and the journey begins now! I hope the tips we have provided this week will hit home and be a source of encouragement and inspiration for you.