How to Parent a Challenging Age<\/span><\/h3>\nParenting struggles happen at every age. Just when your child has outgrown one thing, a new one pops up. This is just the nature of parenting! Here are a few tips to help you gain perspective during a parenting difficulty:<\/span><\/p>\nListen Much, Talk Less<\/span><\/h4>\nAbove all else, you want to keep communication open with your child. This starts at a young age by lending a listening ear as much as possible. Oftentimes, children don\u2019t want your advice, they just want someone to listen to them. So turn off the tech, make eye contact, and engage them in conversation!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nStay Calm and Compassionate<\/span><\/h4>\nYour child will make plenty of mistakes in life\u2013just as we all have. Learn to have a poker face when it comes to hearing about your child\u2019s mishaps and social faux pas. Responding in a harsh, condescending, critical, or incredulous way is not only damaging to your relationship but also to your child\u2019s personhood and self-esteem. Instead, a minimal response (emphasizing your listening) will help your child feel secure in sharing their mistakes and embarrassing moments.<\/span><\/p>\nRemember How it Feels to Be Their Age<\/span><\/h4>\nAdults generally have a better perspective on life and what\u2019s important than children do. But\u2013remember how it feels to be their age! Take some time to reflect on your interests, fears, and joys at your child\u2019s present age. For instance, losing a toy may seem trivial to an adult, but remembering how it felt to lose your toy can give you compassion for your child.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nStick With a Structure<\/span><\/h4>\nChildren feel secure with a structure. While most older children are in a school with an established routine, you can continue this security by enrolling your child in after-school care at DAYCARE instead of having a child stay at home by themselves or with a babysitter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you are the parent of a newborn, you may think that the newborn stage is the hardest you\u2019ll experience. There\u2019s so little sleep, so many needs to be met, and the laundry pile only seems to grow. 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What Is the Hardest Year to Take Care of a Child? - Penguin Crossing Academy<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What Is the Hardest Year to Take Care of a Child? - Penguin Crossing Academy","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/penguincrossingacademy.com\/what-is-the-hardest-year-to-take-care-of-a-child\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What Is the Hardest Year to Take Care of a Child? - Penguin Crossing Academy","og_description":"If you are the parent of a newborn, you may think that the newborn stage is the hardest you\u2019ll experience. There\u2019s so little sleep, so many needs to be met, and the laundry pile only seems to grow. 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