How to Be a Well Balanced Parent

The way you parent your child can determine the kind of person she turns into. Kids who have well-balanced parents are more likely to be successful, have a higher level of confidence and learn the social skills necessary to adjust to any situation, according to Laurence Steinberg, Ph.D., and author of the book, ̶0;The Ten Basic Principles of Good Parenting.̶1; Being a well-balanced parent can also help your child develop discipline, good morals and a strong code of ethics.

Instructions

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      Practice good parenting by considering professional opinions as well as your own gut instincts. For example, calling the pediatrician to discuss your concerns over your toddler̵7;s sudden lack of desire to do anything is good. Asking for a second opinion when the pediatrician tells you nothing is wrong but your gut instinct tells you something is wrong is also good. Well-balanced parenting means asking for advice and questioning it if you are uncertain about it.

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      Behave the same way you want your kids to behave, advises Steinberg. Remember that your kids are always watching, and if you don̵7;t want them to do something, don̵7;t do it in front of them. For example, if your kids are driving you crazy and your first instinct is to turn around and tell them to just be quiet and leave you alone, take a deep breath and come up with a better plan. It̵7;s okay to be frustrated with your kids, they̵7;re kids after all. However, it̵7;s not okay to take out your frustrations on them.

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      Raise your kids how you see fit and make decisions that you feel best fit your family's needs rather than doing what everyone else is doing. According to WebMD, someone is always going to find fault with your parenting and being a well-balanced parent means doing what works best for your family and moving past the judgment of others. For example, if being a well-balanced parent to you means taking a break from the kids a few hours a week for date night, do it. Some parents need that break to enjoy each other's company and come home feeling more focused and content.

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      Be consistent about everything, advises Steinberg. For example, you want to be consistent when it comes to disciplining your kids when they break the rules. You also want to be consistent when it comes to praising your kids for a job well done and you want to be affectionate as often as possible. Being well-balanced means being able to discipline your child when she's wrong while still showing you care about her. Say she breaks the ̶0;no running in the house̶1; rule and breaks your favorite photo frame. If you can look at her and tell her she̵7;s grounded and also tell her you̵7;re proud of her for admitting she broke the frame, you̵7;re demonstrating well-balanced parenting.

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