What Are the Effects of Parenting on Children’s Mental Health?

What Are the Effects of Parenting on Children’s Mental Health?

Parents take the typical approach of making their kids do things. They pick them up, cook them a special dinner, and give them plenty of attention. But in actuality, parents do more than that. Parenting actually has a strong impact on one’s mental health. Not only is it hard to imagine not having our kids around to help us through life’s ups and downs we also don’t want to see them suffer from any kind of illness or problem. If anything, we want to ensure that they are happy and healthy! However, parenting does have its drawbacks as well. Parents who are too nurturing often overreact which can point towards other areas of parenting being problematic. Wrong or right? Let’s take a look at what we know about the effects of parenting on children’s mental health.

What Are the Effects of Parenting on Children’s Mental Health?

Over time, parents are found to be more attentive, encouraging, and protective in their children. They are also likely to have a greater sense of empathy and understanding. Parents, on the other hand, are likely to be stubborn, impatient, and often judgmental. As a result, children may experience difficulty regulating their emotions, gain negative feedback (such as “bad things” or “bad ideas”), and engage in unhelpful behavior. Additionally, they may experience self-esteem and confidence loss. Parenting can also have a positive impact on many other areas of children’s life, including academic performance and reading, math, writing, and physical health. A large body of research supports the notion that parental warmth, empathy, and helpfulness are beneficial for children’s mental health.

​Why Does parenting Have a Mental Health Impact?

“We need to teach our kids to say no, to mean no, and to love no.” This is what adolescents who practice parenting say they feel. The rest is pretty much bull. We have to remember, though, that parenting is a lot lessTeenagers do not need to be told no. The only time they should be saying “no” is when they are genuinely and completely sure they are making the best choice for themselves and their child. Kids also need to remember that parents are not always available to help them. In fact, it’s pretty rare for a parent to be available for more than a few hours at a time. Instead, they should be expected to pick up the slack when the other parent is out not just for a few hours, but for the entire day.

What Can Parents Do to Protect Their Child’s Mental Health?

There are a few things that parents can do to protect their child’s mental health. Parents can:

• Recognize problems before they occur. ​​
• Take parenting steps to correct problems. 
• Exercise empathy and understanding. 
• Cultivate a healthy work-life balance. 
• Engage in mental health awareness activities. 
• Exercise your knowledge and skills. 
• Check in with yourself. Do I have what it takes to be a great parent? 
• Ask your children what they want to do