Are you struggling to deal effectively with your children and you’re constantly at odds with them? Do you wish that there was magic formula for getting them to listen to you? Don’t worry, you’re not alone!! Parenting isn’t an easy task; becoming a parent might be overwhelming as you have a lot of responsibilities to handle. The journey of parenting has its ups and downs, and all parents face struggles. Although parenting can be a challenging task but, at the same time, it is a gratifying experience. Parenting styles are the root cause of parental challenges that affect their relationship with their spouse and their children. Parents are the ones to shape and influence their child’s behaviors and attitudes. Beginning from toilet training to encouraging them to engage in sports and other activities to giving them guidance and support in their career. They act as stepping stones, helping in navigating their child’s difficulties.
Whether you are new to parenting or not, dealing with children can be demanding. But, you and your partner can work this out by taking the right steps. Let’s look at some of the common parenting problems faced by parents when dealing with children and then explore some effective ways of dealing with these difficulties.
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Common Parenting Problems
Parenting issues are the challenges faced when raising children, such as communication, discipline, eating habits, sibling rivalry, excessive screen time, throwing tantrums, academic development, balancing work and family, etc.
1. Lack of Patience
It is natural and obvious to lose patience when dealing with children. Some parents tend to solve problems by shouting or hitting their children as they don’t have the patience to sit and understand the root cause of their child’s unacceptable behavior. It might be tough to be patient, especially when you try to handle it patiently several times, but it doesn’t reciprocate any change in the child. But losing patience is going to make things even worse. Shouting is just a temporary solution; it acts as a negative reinforcement that might stop the child from misbehaving temporarily but doesn’t teach the child an alternative and appropriate behavior.
2. Eating habits and behaviors
Children’s picky eating habits can be challenging to handle. Some children are more peculiar about their food choices than others. They will do anything to eat things they like, such as not opening their mouth, playing with the food, demanding mobile phones or toys while eating, etc. They want to eat only junk food and refuse to eat anything else. Even after trying to make them eat healthy food, they will be stubborn and not listen at all.
3. Constant Sibling Fights
Parents with more than one child face sibling rivalry and fights daily. Sibling fights are bound to happen as it is part of normal growing up, but when these fights turn physical, that’s where the problem begins. Constantly hitting each other, punching, and beating by using objects can become dangerous and lead to hospitalization. They might find it difficult to control their anger and act out unintentionally. This can be concerning for parents which needs to be dealt with.
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4. Excessive Screen Usage
Screentime usage has become one of the most concerning issues for the new generation of parents. Mobile phones, tablets, and laptops have increased, and the problem is not only usage but also the accompanying behavior and tantrums. They always need mobile phones, be it when eating or going out. They always demand it. Parents themselves are finding it difficult to reduce screen time usage. Parents, in order to avoid tantrums, should provide them with phones so that they can sit quietly and continue their work. According to a survey, 40% of children below the age of 12 years spent more than four hours of screen time.
5. Discipline and Punctuality
Teaching children to be punctual and disciplined is difficult. But parents have to teach them how to be on time, keep their toys inside after playing, and how to speak to others. Instilling discipline in children is a tough task but can be overcome by patiently dealing with them.
6. Academic procrastination
Children tend to procrastinate things last minute, which can be stressful for them. Some children are stubborn and not ready to complete their work and try to avoid it. They will try to escape from their schoolwork by going out to play or demand things in order to complete their work or will ask to use mobile phones for some time and promise to do their homework after they get it. These are all reasons to avoid acad
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7. Bedtime problems
Sleep schedules can be challenging to follow for some children. They might not sleep early at night and will demand to play games on their phones before sleeping. Sleeping routine habits like changing clothes, brushing teeth, and going to the washroom before sleeping need to be followed.
8. Family Dynamics
Living with a joint family or with grandparents can also be challenging sometimes. Grandparents or extended family members can positively and negatively impact the children. It can be challenging when grandparents or other members intervene with parents’ decisions and try to protect the child and allow them to do things they like. This creates an impression in the child that their parents are not good as they don’t let them do anything.
Effective Ways to Deal
Some of the ways to effectively deal with such problems are as follows:
1) Flexible parenting style:
Being flexible doesn’t mean allowing your child to do whatever they want. It includes both allowing them space to do their own thing while making them understand their undesirable behaviors. Making them understand the difference between wrong and right behaviors and then allowing them space to introspect will lead to better results than simply shouting.
Also Read: Different Parenting Styles: How it Affects the Development of the Child
2) Establishing boundaries:
Parents need to establish certain rules when it comes to obeying them or others. While showing tantrums, it must be clear to not shout back and speak harsh words instead tell patiently how they are feeling about the problem. When certain boundaries are made clear to children they will learn to follow them, but also remember that means you also need to follow them!!
3) Encouraging Open Communication:
Parents need to be there to listen to their child’s problems. They should encourage their children to speak out about their concerns, feelings, and needs. Parents should create a safe and open environment for the child to express his or her difficulties and not judge or mock them.
4) Creating a daily routine checklist:
Parents can motivate children to follow daily routines like brushing their teeth, bathing, cleaning their room, packing school bags, completing homework, etc. By keeping a checklist and encouraging the child to follow it can be helpful. Initially, parents can reward them for each task completed and then reward them at the end of the week when they have managed to follow every task for seven days.
5) Acknowledging failures:
Instead of scolding children for failing, first, listen to them on how they feel about it, then talk about how they can improve by learning from their mistakes. Appreciating their efforts and acknowledging that it is okay to fail in life can change their perspective of failure in life.
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6) Don’t forget to get your alone time:
You also need your time for your mental peace. You and your partner must get some time to help your relationship grow stronger. However, your children are your responsibility, but you should take care of yourself too to take care of them. This doesn’t mean you’re selfish or not a good mother. Remember, you are a human being before being a mother or a father!!!
References+
- https://www.marriage.com/advice/parenting/common-parenting-issues/.
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/parenting.
- https://theinternationalpsychologyclinic.com/the-10-most-common-parenting-issues-and-how-to-deal-with-them/.
- https://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com/parenting/sibling-fighting.
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/study-gives-insight-and-advice-on-picky-eating-in-children-2020060920004.
- https://sleepplaylove.co/toddler-resisting-bedtime/.
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