8 Good Tips on How to Be an Intentional Parent
At our multicultural summer camp near Chicago, we strive to be intentionally challenging, intentionally empowering, and intentionally fun. The concept of intentionality appeals to many of our parents, who are also quite intentional in the values and character development they wish for their children. A recent blog post by Jon Helmkamp—who writes a good series called Finding Fatherhood—gives some good tips on ways that parents can be intentional in their parenting.
Below are some bullets summarizing his blog entry.
1. Think about how you were raised..about the day in, day out parenting that you received.
- How did your parents or role models teach you?
- How did they interact with you?
- How did they shape your decisions?
2. Look to the parents you admire.
- Ask them questions.
- Figure out what works for them and how they feel they can grow.
3. Communicate with your partner to make sure that you are on the same page moving forward.
4. Think about the character you want your child to have; those traits have to be modeled and taught.
- How do you want them to treat others?
- How do you want them to act?
5. Create a routine to help your child succeed.
6. Be consistent.
- When you and your partner decide how things are going to run, stick to it!
- Do not compromise doing the right and good thing for your child for what can sometimes be the easier route.
7. Take time to unplug; show your child that they matter enough to have your undivided attention.
- Take that time to mute the TV, put the phone down, put away the tablet, and simply exist in space with your child.
8. Spend time with your child; take the time to enjoy them, participating in what they like, showing them how to act, teaching them to be gracious and kind, and setting the standards for their life. Be present.
- When life gets busy, make sure you are still taking the time to connect and develop a relationship with your child.
- You aren’t just an authority figure in the life of your kids, you are someone they admire and look up to.
Are there further tips you can add to Jon Helkamp’s list? Let us know in the comments!