1. Spend time with your children. With so many demands on your time, it's often difficult for parents and children to get together for a family meal, let alone spend some quality time together. If you have more than one child, find ways to spend time alone with each of your children. Make a habit of taking one child with you when you do the grocery shopping for instance so that you can spend some time alone together. Give each child the chance to experience some glorious one-on-one time with his or her parents. This special time with your child lets them know that they are special. Children who are not getting the attention they want from their parents often act out or misbehave in order to get noticed that way. Pre-scheduled time with their child on a regular basis is mutually rewarding.

2. Communicate with your children Make your children feel valued by taking time to really listen to what they are trying to communicate. Be genuinely interested in whatever news they care to share with you about whatever might be happening at school or with their friends. Take time to explain things and reason with their children. Allow them to understand and learn in a nonjudgmental way. Clearly outline your expectations clear. Describe issues to your child, express your feelings about them, and invite your child to work on solutions with you. Be sure to include consequences. Make suggestions and offer choices. Allow your child to make suggestions as well and be open to your child's suggestions. Children who participate in decisions are more motivated to carry them out.

3. Build your child's self-esteem. No one can build a child's self-esteem the way a parent can. Your words and actions affect your child's self-esteem. Praise your child's accomplishments, no matter how small. Let your child do things independently. Be generous with your praise, but make sure that it is sincere. Try to be as specific as you can. Catch your child being good. Make a point of finding something to praise every day. Be generous with loving words, hugs, and compliments. This will help you develop more of the kind of behavior you would like to see.

4. Discipline your child Be consistent with discipline and set limits. Help your children and learn self-control. Establish house rules to help your children understand your expectations, choose acceptable behaviors and develop self-control. Develop a system of discipline and stick with it.

5. Be a good role model. Your children learn how to behave by watching you. Be constantly aware that you are being observed by your children. Model the traits you wish to cultivate in your child: respect, friendliness, honesty, kindness, tolerance. Exhibit unselfish behavior. Do things for other people without expecting a reward. Express thanks and offer compliments. Above all, treat your children the way you expect other people to treat you. Be the first to admit it if you've made a mistake, particularly if that mistake affects your child

6. Show that your love is unconditional. As an effective parent, you are responsible for correcting and guiding your child. But how you express your corrective guidance makes all the difference in how your child receives it. When correcting your child, avoid blaming, criticizing, or fault-finding, which undermine self-esteem and can lead to resentment. Instead, strive to nurture and encourage, even when you are disciplining your child. Make sure he or she knows that although you want and expect better next time, your love is there no matter what.

7. Recognize your own needs and limitations Be aware of your abilities and work on your weaknesses. Have realistic expectations for yourself, your spouse, and your children. Be forgiving of yourself. You don't have to have all the answers. Focus on the areas that need the most attention rather than trying to address everything all at once. Admit it when you're burned out. Make out time for yourself. Take time out from parenting to do things that will make you happy as a person. Focusing on your needs does not make you selfish. It simply means you care about your own well-being, which is another important value to model for your children.

About the Author

Geoff Powell is an internet Entrepreneur. For more information on how you can improve your parenting skills visit Parenting Tools - Parenting Toolbox Review