Three components to healthy parenting

Healthy parenting can look so many different ways but these three components are important for all ages:

👏CONNECTION- Spend time with your kids, show an interest in their interests, listen to them (really listen), give them respect (mutual respect is so important), give them voice, be a role model. The first step you should take if you are in the process of making changes to your parenting skills is to focus on connection.
👏AUTONOMY- As our kids get older they will need more opportunities to be independent. This is why connection is so important so our kids can see us model healthy behavior choices, healthy emotional responses and healthy self care! We cannot protect our kids from making mistakes or getting hurt, so by giving them opportunities to “fail” while still under our roof we can be there to help them work through their big feelings that come with mistakes.
👏PARENTAL REGULATION- As our kids move into adulthood, we will see them go between parental regulation, co-regulation and self regulation. If we can work at being a parent that balances nurture and structure, we can provide our kids with regulation as much or as little as they need. Keep in mind that even as adults, we find ourselves in need of co-regulation at times so model for your kids how to get there so they know!

If you are reading this and it is all new information to you, do not panic! Start with connection and work your way through the other components little by little. Baby steps! You got this!