| Progress to August 17, 1998Basic Parenting Fact Sheet/Card Preliminary Topics
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Principles (What you know) |
Skills (What you do) |
| Care for self |
Being a parent is for life.
Being a parent can be stressful.
Being a parent can be very satisfying.
Parents have to care for themselves too.
No matter what your past, you can become the parent you want to be.
You can be imperfect and still be a good parent.
Every parent needs someone to talk to.
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Set aside some time for yourself every day.
Calm yourself when you feel stressed.
Offer kind words to other parents.
Build on your strengths first.
Spend quality time with a friend.
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| Understand |
Every child is born a unique, special person.
Every child is born with a special temperament.
All children have special talents that make them happy.
Children mature at different rates.
Children become capable of doing some things only when they are ready.
Children think differently from adults.
Some things children do are a result of what they learned.
Experiences can affect children long after they have past.
Some things children do are the result of their surroundings.
Healthy children are curious and like to explore their surroundings.
Friendships mean a lot to children at all ages.
Adolescents need to clearly separate themselves from their parents.
Rapid physical changes at puberty can cause dramatic changes in a teen's behavior.
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Take time to listen to your children.
Take time to watch and learn about your children.
Study child development.
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| Guide |
Discipline means teaching children self-control.
Children need to know what their parents believe is right and wrong.
Healthy children need to say "NO!" occasionally.
Your behavior sets an example for children.
Communicate at eye-to-eye level.
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Make your requests simple and clear.
Set reasonable limits.
Be consistent with your limits.
Say "please" and "thank you" to your children.
Respond to children's actions immediately.
Demonstrate the desirable behavior yourself.
Set only those limits that are necessary.
Use more do's than don'ts.
Make important requests firmly.
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| Nurture |
Every child needs to be touched.
Children need to form a close relationship with at least one loving and committed person.
Children need to feel part of their family.
Children need to know their personal and family history.
Children need a sense of connection to the spiritual, the mysterious in life.
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Show your children you understand how they feel.
When appropriate, share how you feel with your children.
Talk to children about your spiritual beliefs.
Listen patiently to children's stories.
Use kind words to encourage your children.
Do things with your children you can both enjoy.
Talk positively with children about their past and future.
Talk to children about their family's history.
Say "I love you" to your children.
Create situations that encourage and allow children to be kind.
Keep a Memory Chest for each of your children.
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| Motivate |
Young children learn through play.
The capacity to think and solve problems is just as important as learning the three "Rs."
The capacity to use one's imagination creatively is just as important as learning the three "Rs."
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Provide inexpensive resources that will foster children's learning.
Have realistic expectations for school success.
Focus more on learning than achievement.
Use open-ended questions to encourage your child to think.
Play with your children.
Establish a partnership with your child's teachers.
Read to your young child at least once a day.
Look for informal learning opportunities to teach your child.
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| Advocate |
Cooperation can be more effective than confrontation.
Children need parents to be advocates.
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Speak up for children and families in your community.
Involve your children in community-building activities.
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