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Parenting Matters is a practical guide from Search Institute that gives positive ideas for dealing with the big stuff through daily actions as a parent. It shows how the conversations, boundaries, guidance and modeling that you do as a parent add up to make a big difference……MORE
Parenting Matters!
The information below is taken from Search Institute’s MVParents.com downloadable information.
To view the actual pages and the links to the ready to use tools go to
http://mvparents.com/parenting-matters.
For many adults, being a parent is both the most rewarding and most challenging thing you’ll ever do. And as a parent, you’ll have your fair share of big, important issues to deal with through the years. But most parenting is about the little stuff—late-night conversations over cocoa, missed curfews (and resulting consequences), shared meals, playing catch in the park and daily help with homework.
In some ways, though, the little stuff IS the big stuff. Everyday occurrences add up to make a big difference in the lives of your children or teenagers. In other words, parenting matters every day.
The importance of parenting is clear when you learn about Developmental Assets, the basic building blocks of healthy development. Research shows that kids with more assets are more likely to make better choices in life. And parents (along with others) play a central role in building children’s assets, beginning when they’re young and continuing throughout the teenage years.
- Build Your Team – Parents need affirmation and support from other adults. So do kids. Here are the steps to take to increase the support both you and your children receive.
- Community Involvement – Learn creative, practical ways to help your children get and stay involved in positive, life-enriching activities.
- Curfews – Show you care. Set some guidelines and boundaries that your children (and you) can live by.
- Family Communication – Learn helpful strategies for communicating with your children — and your teenager.
- Family Volunteering – No matter the age of your child or children, volunteering together as a family is a great way to spend quality time together while also shaping your child's character.
- Friends – Friends can be a powerful force. Learn how to ensure they’re a positive one.
- Helping Your Children and Teenagers Succeed in School - Children and teenagers spend more time in school and in learning situations than in any other structured activity. Read how you can make a huge difference—from the early years through high school and beyond.
- Juggling Work and Family Responsibilities - Ideas you can use every day to help feel less stressed or guilty as you juggle sometimes competing responsibilities and life demands.
- Preventing Depression and Suicide – By staying involved and being aware of what’s gong on in our kids’ lives, we’re more likely to help them successfully deal with difficulties and avoid serious problems. Read more on how to help prevent depression and suicide.
- Sparks: Bringing Out the Best in Kids – How can you help your children not just survive, but thrive? By supporting them in discovering and developing their unique sparks. Five steps show you how to be captain of your child's spark team.
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Underage Drinking – Learn how involved parents are helping to lower substance use and abuse.
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