#parenting programs

Mengtong Chen1⇑ Ko Ling Chan1 1Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China Mengtong Chen, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China. Email: [email protected] Abstract

As parenting is the trickiest job on the planet, there are millions of parents facing parenting problems. No matter whether you are a parent of 3 years old kid or a teenage child, there can be several problems and issues you face daily. Raising a child can be very difficult. You need to understand your child in the best possible way.

Parents should understand that as they are finding it difficult to deal with their child, their kid can also feel the same. The children may feel that he is being misunderstood by the parents. There can be several problems which the child is going through. The teens and adolescents face unique challenges in their everyday life. The children's problems and challenges are often overlooked by the parents. The kid may have learning problems at school or he might find it difficult to get along with their friends. Such problems should be addressed.

The children feel insecure and deserted during the growing years. It can be tough for the teenagers to cope up with the changes taking place in their bodies. There may be times when you find your teenage child agitated and irritated all the time. You do not need to worry as this is a common problem in teens.

There is no single rule which works for all the children. Hence, trial and error method should be tried. You should think of various methods which can help you strengthen your relationship with your child. You can sit with your child and discuss the issues with them. Communicate with your child on a regular basis.

It is important that the children stay away from drugs, alcohol, smoking and much more. The parents should throw light on such topics. They should make the child understand he / she should stay away from these type of bad habits. Talk to your child about the frightening subjects too.

The parents should know their child's friends and peers. They should know about child's hang out places. Keeping a watch on the teen and tween child is very important. Ensure that he doesn't get into a bad company.

Counseling for the parents and the children can help you to strengthen the family bonds. You can build positive relationships with your child when you start understanding why is the child behaving in such a way. Navigate through the issues your child faces and help them solve them.

While searching on the Internet, you would come across several parenting programs and on-line workshops which are meant for the parents. They can be a good source of information and learning for the parents to deal with their child's behavior.

The teens not only misbehave at the home, but also misbehave at school. The parents should meet the teachers and the principals and discuss about what can be done for improving the behavior of the child. The contracts can be signed between the teachers and the children to set the rules for the child's behavior.