Want to be a better parent? These are the 7 resolutions your kids wish you’d make

Your kids might have the key to being a better parent.

When it comes to thoughts about our parenting, believe it or not, kids have lots of opinions on the things they wish we would do, or the things we could do better.

Studio 5 Parenting Contributor Heather Johnson says that it all comes down to how we manage our attitudes and spend our time. Her seven pieces of advice will help you be a better parent this year.

To contact Heather for counseling, email blog.familyvolley@gmail.com, or visit www.familyvolley.blogspot.com.

7 Ways You Can be A Better Parent in 2022

1. Spend less time on technology

Research shows that 6 out of 10 parents are worried about their kids tech use. Research also shows that 7 OUT OF 10 KIDS are worried about their parents tech use. They want us to put our tech DOWN. Why, kids say when tech is out they feel that we are unapproachable, so that when they have a concern, want to share and connect, they don’t feel like they can interrupt.

2. Plan activities to talk

Most activities we do as a family are parallel activities. This means that we are all together but there is little talking or communication that takes place. Things like movies or technology. Kids want more activities that are joint. Activities that give us all a chance to cooperate and communicate.

3. Listen More

To go along with joint activities, kids want us to work on listening to them more. Not being in a rush, not being impatient, not solving their problems, or questioning their stories, just listening.

4. Keep OUR word

Kids would love it if we set a goal to keep our word more often, in fact, always. When we say they get to go first next time, they want us to REMEMBER we said that and not change our minds to keep the peace or to avoid having to deal with arguments from siblings. When we say that we will take them to get new shoes on Saturday, they wish we would take them on Saturday.

5. Surprise them more

Kids love surprises. The little things: crepes for breakfast, an extra book at bed time, an extra 15 minutes past curfew.

6. Work with them

Kids tend to feel that the only time we work with them is when it is on something we want done….chores, homework etc. Kids want us to work with them on things THEY like and choose. Coloring, playing, building a fort, playing with legos, even playing a game on the computer together,

7. Let them make decisions

Kids want us to let them make more decisions. Making decisions shows our kids that their opinions matter and that we trust them. Decisions about what they wear, what we have for dinner and even collecting their thoughts on where they want to go for a family vacation.