Helpful parenting techniques include using specific praise, understanding development, setting routines, and guiding behavior calmly to support children’s emotional and social growth.
You can became a parent in an instant, but it takes a lifetime to learn to be a good parents. After all children do not arrive with an instruction manual and each child is unique. Here are a few helpful parenting techniques to get you started on your lifetime journey of parenting.
Use Praise
It is important for parents to understand that giving attention to undesired behaviors tends to increase those behaviors, while focusing attention on desired behaviors increases those behaviors. Praise should not be given indiscriminately. Parents should provide their child with specific feedback that tells the child exactly what she did that the parents liked. Praise becomes more effective when it is reinforced with an encouraging touch and/or warm smile.
Ignoring Minor Misbehaviors
Parents should learn to ignore minor problematic behaviors that aren’t dangerous, such as whining about a sibling not being fair or a toddler throwing food on the floor.
Understanding Child Development
It is important for parents to learn about developmental stages and the developmental capacities that are characteristic of each stage. Parents who are aware of what their child is developmentally capable of feeling, understanding, and doing at different ages are able to be more realistic about what behaviors to expect from their child.
Time-outs
Parents should always keep in mind that it is important to remain calm when administering time-outs. Once the time-out is completed the child should be praised for her compliance. It is important to remember that time-outs are not to be used for punishment; instead they are intended to be a time away from all reinforcement.
Preventing Misbehavior
It is important for parents to plan and structure activities to help prevent their child’s challenging behaviors. Find ways to help your child stay engaged, busy, and active when they might otherwise become restless, bored or disruptive. In addition, help your child learn how to cope effectively with the demands of the situation.
Make Time
Often the demands of day-to-day life leaves very little time, if any for parents to spend quality one-on-one time with their children. It is recommended that parents spend at least one hour a week one-on-one with their child doing nothing but paying attention to and expressing positive thoughts and feelings towards him or her.
The most effective time for a parent to create those special moments is when the child is engaging in an activity that he or she can be praised for, like coloring a picture, building a model, shooting baskets. It is important to remember that during this time, the focus is on being with the child and not providing corrective feedback, teaching, or alternative perspectives.
Conclusion
Parenting is a lifelong journey filled with learning, patience, and growth. While there’s no universal guidebook, understanding your child’s developmental needs and using consistent, positive strategies can make a meaningful difference. Techniques like offering specific praise, calmly implementing time-outs, planning ahead to prevent misbehavior, and dedicating quality one-on-one time help foster a strong, trusting bond between parent and child.
At New Horizons Wellness Services, we understand the challenges and joys of parenting, and we’re here to support you along the way. Our counseling services can help parents navigate emotional or behavioral concerns with confidence and clarity. Through our occupational therapy services, we provide tools and support for everyday routines—whether you’re seeking pediatric occupational therapy to support your child’s development or occupational therapy for adults to strengthen your own parenting capacity and coping strategies. We also offer social skills groups, which help children develop the interpersonal skills needed to succeed in family life, school, and friendships.
By staying informed and responsive, parents can create a nurturing environment that supports their child’s emotional, social, and behavioral development. Remember—no one gets it perfect, but with intention, empathy, and love, you are already on the right path. Contact us today to learn how we can support your parenting journey.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why is understanding child development important for effective parenting?
Understanding child development helps parents set realistic expectations for behavior, communication, and emotional regulation at different ages. This knowledge allows parents to respond with patience and appropriate strategies that support their child’s growth and reduce frustration on both sides.
When should parents use time-outs, and how can they be effective?
Time-outs are most effective when used calmly and consistently for behaviors that are disruptive or unsafe. They should not be used as punishment but rather as a break from reinforcement. After the time-out, parents should praise the child for regaining control and following through, reinforcing positive behavior.
How can New Horizons Wellness Services support parents in building effective parenting skills?
New Horizons Wellness Services offers counseling services to help parents address behavioral and emotional challenges, pediatric occupational therapy to support a child’s developmental needs, and social skills groups to help children improve communication and peer relationships. These services empower families to build stronger connections and healthier routines at home.
Yours in Health,
New Horizons Wellness Services8880 SW Nimbus Ave Suite C.,
Beaverton, OR 97008
- https://g.page/newhws
New Horizons Wellness Services provides a true multidisciplinary approach to mental & physical health treatments for children, adults and families.