August 20, 2010 | Posted in Editor's Notes | Post a comment | Share Article |
Terribly easier said than done – parenting…
Have you ever read parenting books and wondered why the techniques they prescribe hardly worked for you? The approach sounds great in theory but is nearly impossible to implement!
For instance, the firm and sensible words the authors suggest I authoritatively say to my children is akin to a script that I, like a poor actor, fumble to deliver on a live stage. And the times when I almost get it right, the “authoritative” tone turns dictatorial. At other times, I completely lose it and spew out the very stuff that anger management gurus strictly forbid.
Coming face-to-face daily with unpredictable tweens who demand intense attention, unconditional respect and special privileges despite their far-from-commendable conduct, tends to be a decorum-defying feat.
Nevertheless, I persevere in my endeavour to be a better parent to my offspring. The following are some recommended reading materials in our “Parenting Pre-teens” edition:
Behaviour Modification: The Basics by Dr Kathryn Seifert
- Something every tween (or younger child) needs help in to break bad habits and develop better conduct.
How to Make Your Child’s Hitting Behaviour Stop by Alice O.
- Kids should have stopped stealing by the time they are around 9 years or older. However, if such behaviour persists, then you seriously need to intervene.
- Don’t let your tween’s violent tendency spill over to his teenage years. Find practical tips from a hands-on mum who learnt from other mums.
Top Three Mistakes Parents Make with Tweens and Teens by Amy McCready, the founder of Positive Parenting
- A checklist to ensure you don’t repeat the cardinal sins of parenting tweens!
- “To the extent that a young person has authentic self-esteem based on total and unconditional self-acceptance, that person is immune to pressure from others to do something that is contrary to that person's own sound values.” Wise advice from Dr Harmon.
Emerging Study Suggests Youngsters Oftentimes Outgrow ADHD by Carole Gayle
- You wonder if your child’s lack of concentration or fidgetiness is a sign of ADHD…even if it were so, the encouraging news is that many children do outgrow ADHD or ADHD-like symptoms (hopefully by the time they reach their pre-teen years!) when given the right environment.
Is it Puppy Love? What to Say About Your Child's First Crush by Jody Johnston Pawel
- Your child would most probably experience his or her first crush as a tween. Should you react strongly or just let it pass?
Every Parent Needs to Know: Certain Types of Plastic Now Linked to Child Obesity by Dr Joanna Dolgoff
- Today we see more and more 12-year-olds attaining the size and weight of a full-grown adult. Are endocrine disruptors in the environment the culprit? Endocrine disruptors mimic estrogen and not only trigger early puberty but are linked to child obesity; hence, the coined term “obesogens”.
I rest my case with an interesting quote that sums up the fruit of our perseverance as parents:
"It kills you to see them grow up.
But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't."
~ Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
Barbara Tey
Web Editor
