I consider parenting skills, those skills that help children: (1) develop clear and important goals; and (2) figure out flexible and persistent ways of achieving their goals.
Timothy CareySeeking the counsel of trusted and respected health professionals can also be helpful in providing parents with some balance for their concerns as well as other avenues of support.
Timothy CareySomewhat paradoxically, parenting programs should focus on the behavior of the parents not the behavior of the children.
Timothy CareyAny statements from the parents may seem like criticism or judgment by the child or adolescent. It's very important that the child or adolescent does most of the talking and the parent asks questions curiously to understand the perspective of the child or adolescent.
Timothy CareyA parenting program should provide time for parents to clarify their own ideas about what it means to be an effective and successful parent.
Timothy CareyOnce parents have a clear idea of their important parenting goals, beliefs, and values, they can then think about specific situations and identify the outcomes they would like to achieve in these situations. How can you be the parent you want to be whether or not your children are behaving as you would prefer?
Timothy Carey