4 Parenting Challenges and Tips for Solving
All families have their own challenges to deal with, but there are some issues that are almost universal. Most parent worry about how to spend more quality time with their kids without neglecting other parts of their lives. Teaching children to care for their teeth, taking away the fear around dentist visits, and budgeting for dental care is another common challenge.
Managing screen time is difficult, partly because some of the challenges around it are so new that there’s no established consensus on best practices. Finally, if you have more than one child, chances are that at least some of the time, you’re dealing with sibling rivalry. Fortunately, there are approaches that can help with all these challenges.
Balancing Family and Other Responsibilities
No matter what your responsibility is within the family structure, this is tough to achieve. It doesn’t help that wherever you are, the grass usually looks greener. Working parents might assume that stay-at-home parents don’t have to grapple with this one, but that’s rarely the case. In fact, stay-at-home parents might feel as though mothers and fathers who work outside the home have it a little easier since their roles are clearly defined. If you’re single, you might think this would be easier to manage with a partner, but there can be friction and resentment in that situation.
Letting go of the expectation of perfection in any of your roles is one way to start dealing with this. In addition, think about what your priorities really are, and then look at how you spend your time. This is often an illuminating exercise because it can reveal a big mismatch. Another useful tool in managing this is having a budget. You may find that you can cut your hours at work or perhaps put off angling for a promotion until the kids are a little more independent.
Dental Care
The challenges involved in making sure that your kids maintain good oral health start with teaching them to use a toothbrush and then nagging them to keep using it, but they don’t stop there. The other two big hurdles are teaching them to not be afraid of dental visits and figuring out how to pay for those visits. Even if your family has great health insurance, if it’s like a lot of plans, it doesn’t cover dental care or its coverage is limited. Making caring for your teeth an ordinary part of life is key to both getting kids to develop good habits and getting them comfortable with the dentist.
You can set a good example with your own dental care. If you have fears about the dentist yourself, don’t talk about them in front of your children. As for costs, with Cherry Payment Plans, you can get treatment now and pay for it in installments. You can find the unique link online or ask your practice for it. Applying will not affect your credit score. This is a great way to help you cover the cost of dental care for your entire family.
Screen Time
Previous generations of parents worried about their children watching too much television or listening to music at a volume that might damage their hearing. Social media and the internet introduce a whole new layer of challenges. Today’s parents can add worries about online safety and bullying to the older concerns about kids not getting enough exercise or spending too much time in front of a screen.
This is a complex problem with a lot of different facets, but one of the most important things a parent can do is set an example themselves. It’s difficult to tell your kids they shouldn’t be looking at screens all the time if you’re constantly on your phone. It’s also important to set boundaries and offer engaging alternatives to screens. In addition, talk to your kids about appropriate use of screens, the internet and social media.
Sibling Rivalry
Those who have more than one child often assume that their kids will get along and be friends. This assumption is not uncommon even if they have siblings that they don’t get along with particularly well themselves. Sibling rivalry can be a big and disruptive problem within the family. Relationships between siblings can change a great deal as they grow up, but you might have to accept that your kids will never be particularly close. However, you do need to get them through childhood without them tormenting one another too much.
Take a look at your own behavior and make sure that you aren’t contributing to the rivalry. Without realizing it, you might be comparing them or creating situations where they are competing against one another. Work on making sure that each one knows they are valued for their unique qualities and make opportunities for them to cooperate with one another. You can also work on teaching them age-appropriate conflict resolution strategies.
