Positive Parenting

For decades, the parenting approach referred to as “positive parenting” has been researched. Many experts believe that it provides the strongest support for all aspects of healthy child development. A positive parent exhibits a healthy balance of all the nurturing a child needs including love, understanding, and protection, while acting as an appropriate role model and an accomplished teacher. The underlying structure of positive parenting comes from the parent themselves exemplifying a positive mood. The social, emotional, and intellectual growth of a child can all be accelerated and fortified by using effective positive parenting techniques.

In order to be a positive parent, one must be actively engaged in their children's lives. A structured environment should be present that conveys both physical and emotional safety. In addition, discipline should be handled in an orderly fashion, limits and expectations clearly communicated, and actions consistent and predictable. On the other hand, positive behavior should be reinforced with praise, rewards, or privileges.

The tone of a positive parenting home needs to exemplify love and acceptance. Children need to be heard and responded to in a way that demonstrates genuine care. Plus, empathy must be expressed for their concerns and troubles. Encouraging talents and learning opportunities assists with maintaining a positive tone in life. In addition, offering choices and teaching decision making skills builds confidence and self esteem.

Children who are raised using the positive parenting approach generally perform better in school and are less likely to have aggressive behavior or self esteem issues. The majority of them become healthy, happy, productive member of society. Positive parenting fulfills the parents job to help their children grow up to be independent, responsible, and loving individuals. Overall, when a parent exhibits hopeful encouraging, and positive behavior, their children are more likely to mature well and adopt a positive attitude in their own lives.

Drug and Alcohol Contracts

As a powerful tool for effective parenting, drug and alcohol contracts facilitate communication between kids and parents about some important issues. Children need to be taught form an early age that using drugs or alcohol is a destructive decision that warrants serious discipline. The risks involved with this activity should be made clear. Plus, related issues such as peer pressure and driving under the influence need to be included as part of a drug and alcohol contract to assist children and teens in staying safe.

After discussing the dangers associated with drug and alcohol use with your child or teen, it is a good idea to implement a formal contract, which they will sign to show their pledge to stay compliant with the rules. The contract should stipulate that your child or teen agrees to remain drug/alcohol free and understands effective ways to say “no” when they are offered dangerous substances. In addition, your child/teens contract should include a pledge to never drink and drive or get in the car with a driver who may be under the influence.

Drug and alcohol contracts should additionally include disciplinary actions for breaking the rules. Each offense should have a serious consequence. However, where drugs and alcohol are concerned, it is in the child/teens best interest to seek professional help if the contract is violated more than once or twice. Make sure the disciplinary actions stated in the contract communicate the severity of exhibiting potentially dangerous behaviors.

In addition to facilitating communication with your teen, drug and alcohol contracts exemplify the severity of substance abuse. Often, words may go unheard or forgotten. However, a formal paper agreement shows children and teens that this topic was important enough for their parents to make additional effort. Plus, it serves as a reminder of their commitment. Parents should speak to their kids often about drugs and alcohol and utilize a contract emphasis compliance.

Standards and Values Contracts

In order to understand the importance of contracting standards and values with your child, one must fully comprehend what standards and values mean. Standards and values define a person's character and dictate human behavior and ethics. They act as a core belief system that our actions follow in order to maintain self esteem and inner peace. Standards and values are instilled in humans by their parents and other positive influences from a young age, and serve as a compass that directs towards morality, honestly, and integrity. Overall, they are what motivates people to work towards personal goals.

Helping children become aware of their own standards and values will assist them in making good decisions. It is important to stress behaviors that correspond with the values you have exemplified and taught as a parent. A standards and values contracts can be an effective way to reinforce what is important to a child and their family, while gaining their compliance to behave accordingly. They are particularly advantageous for teens who are exposed to numerous situations which may try their decision making skills.

The first part of a standards/values contract must define the standards and values that are important to you and your child. Ask your child what they think it means to have good standards and values. Some important values may include family time, success in school, safety, morality, honesty, and good health. Next, make a list of activities and behaviors that support these values and set high standards of living. This may include actions like following curfew, abstinence from sexual activity, saying no to drugs and alcohol, respecting the property of others, participation in family night, church attendance, and upholding the law. Each behavior should be written in goal format stating agreement. Then the contract must be signed by your child.

In addition, a list of privileges that correspond with following the rules and values stated in a standards/values contract needs to be written down. Plus, you should include a list of consequences for behavior that is not consistent with the standards and values that have been established. These actions can work to motivate your child to exhibit good behavior. Standards/values contracts are an agreement between children and their parents to uphold a code of morals by acting accordingly. They can be a useful tool in developing or modifying your child's behavior.

Teen Driving Contract

Many teens fall under the impression that being able to drive is a right they are entitled to after meeting the legal age requirement. However, driving should be viewed as a privilege instead of an entitlement. Setting rules for teens prior to allowing them certain privileges helps clarify any misconceptions they may have. It is a huge responsibility that requires a teen to have a certain level of maturity. While handing a set of car keys to a teen, parents sometimes feel unnerved, like they are giving up all control. However, drawing up a formal driving contract may alleviate some of that anxiety and keep you teen safe.

Teen driving contracts must address all terms associated with using the car and driving safety as well as the consequences for breaking any of those terms. Be sure to emphasis that driving is a privilege that is contingent upon demonstrating responsibility and compliance. Specifics on car care, maintenance, and insurance should all be incorporated into a teen driving contract. Plus, issuing safety rules is particularly important.

In addition to following traffic laws and wearing a seat belt, there are many safe driving rules that need to be discussed and contracted with your teen. Texting while driving, talking on the phone, and teenage drinking and driving are extremely dangerous, particularly for under experienced drivers. Driving contracts should forbid both of these activities. Additionally, impaired driving is the main cause of death for high school students. Discipline for any drug/alcohol use should include immediate revoking all driving privileges. Other safety concerns may involve curfew or who is allowed as a passenger in the car.

Teen driving contract must be agreed upon and signed by your teen before handing over the keys. Most teens are so excited to get behind the wheel that they are motivated to comply with rules and practice safe driving. Teens who sign driving contracts fully understand the behaviors that are expected of them.