Parenting Children, Parenting Styles and Fatherhood
Becoming a parent is a great responsibility! Unfortunately, children do not come with an instruction book, but the good news is that there are effective methods parents can use to raise successful kids.
User these publications as worksheets to help you with your parenting skills:
- Help your children feel lovable and capable.
- Change surroundings instead of the behavior.
- Look at children's behavior as part of the whole picture.
- Set a good example: Model the behavior you expect of your child.
- Improve the parent-child relationship.
Periodically it is good for a parent to step back and ask yourself some questions.
- What style of parent am I? Do you tend to err on the side of fighting and yelling? Are you always giving in because it is easier to let children have their way? Or is your parenting style respectful and positive? Being respectful and positive helps children become more responsible, honest, and better decision makers.
- What do I plan to do to improve the relationship I have with my child? Use this worksheet to help you look at how you interact with your child and ways you might consider your parent-child relationships.
- Am I managing anger? What makes you feel angry: Busy schedules? Financial worries? Work? Unruly children? Difficult relationships? It is important to recognize what triggers anger and remember that we usually take out our anger on those we love the most.
Fatherhood — A Word About Fathers
Dads, especially those who grew up without a father present in the home, may feel inadequate about what it means to be a great dad.
Great dads show affection and appreciation, are involved, and take time for their children and family. Being a great dad is a skill that can be learned.
Quick tips to help guide children successfully
- Who mentors your children?
- Too busy for family time?
- More fun in your family
- Family time builds strengths
- Positive strategies to guide your child
- Families benefit from a strong marriage
- Managing day to day stress
- Work & family: today's juggling act
*Note: Tips are in PDF format, 1-2 pages in length. Download the required Adobe Acrobat Reader free.
UNL Extension Publications for Families Listing of NebGuides on related topics.
Designed to help families of all kinds assess their strengths as a family and build upon their asssets; includes family activities. Written by John DeFrain, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Getting Connected, Staying Connected
Couples and families have it in their power to be happy with each other and create a pleasant and peaceful home environment in which they live together. This book was written to help couples accentuate the positive – to show clearly and simply how happy couple and family relationships are created and maintained over time.
eXtension.org - National Extension site on families and parenting