How to Advise Kids

A hard parenting lesson involves learning when to actively guide and advise your child and when to hold your tongue and just offer loving support without words. When you determine that you need to advise a child, proceed carefully to ensure that you offer encouraging and appropriate advice that will help him make a sound decision. From your position as cheerleader and staunch ally, your youngster is likely to receive your advice positively.

Instructions

    • 1

      Listen before you advise your youngster. If your child is explaining details, maintain eye contact and stay attuned to what she̵7;s telling you. Ask questions to clarify and make sure you understand the situation.

    • 2

      Ask questions to get your child thinking, advises WebMD. When you ask for information, you help your youngster explore a situation from angles he may not have considered before. Once these new thought processes occur, he may not need your advice.

    • 3

      Wait for your child to ask for advice, suggests research professor Dr. Peter Gray, writing on the "Psychology Today" website. Unsolicited advice might feel like an effort to control or direct actions, which a child may not appreciate. By waiting for your child to ask you what you think or suggest, your youngster maintains a feeling of control over the situation.

    • 4

      Provide a few possible suggestions as you advise your child, suggests author and parenting expert Naomi Aldort. By giving your child more than one viable suggestion, you help her develop some self-sufficiency and self-assurance by weighing options and choosing what fits for her.

    • 5

      Encourage your child̵7;s decision-making skills by sharing your confidence in his ability to solve the problem or resolve the situation. If necessary, you might suggest that he verbalize his thought process to help him focus his thoughts and make a decision, suggests the SchoolFamily website.

    • 6

      Follow up with your child after the decision to see what happened. If negative consequences occurred, step back and allow her to manage the situation because this will enable her to learn from her mistakes.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Age-Appropriate Chores With Rewards and Consequences
      Teaching children to do chores will allow them to grow up knowing how to take care of themselves and the place they live. Kids benefit from have chores because it gives them responsibility, which they crave, according to psychotherapist and parent ex
    • Camps for Kids With Behavior Issues
      Day and summer camps are a fun way to introduce children to people and activities not normally experienced on a daily basis. For parents of children with behavior issues, however, there are special considerations. According to Dr. Karen Fleiss in a F
    • What to Do About an Overbearing Child
      If your child behaves in an overbearing manner, he may have trouble interacting with others and keeping friends. It can be difficult to watch your child struggle with peers, especially if others reject him because he doesn’t know how to interac