10 Simple Rules For Good Parents

Being a good parent is simpler than it sounds. Seriously — sometimes it doesn’t require doing anything at all. All you have to do is stop making your kids do things they don’t actually need to do, and put that energy into the moments that really matter in your little one’s life.

Remember: your child is not just yours — they’re their own person too. AdmiGram.com breaks down how much unnecessary effort parents pour into the silliest parts of raising kids. Cut that stuff out, and your kids will be happier for it.

10 Simple Rules for Good Parents

Don’t Make Your Child Lie

Lying is bad, even over the smallest things. “Tell Grandma I have a headache.” That’s how it starts. If lying becomes normal for your child, sooner or later they’ll lie to you too — and their acting skills will only get better with age.

Don’t Force Your Child to Finish Their Food When They Don’t Want To

Sure, pediatricians recommend certain amounts for feeding kids. But following those guidelines doesn’t mean yelling “Eat, I said!” and shoving a spoonful of porridge into your child’s mouth.

Don’t Put Your Child on a Diet

The opposite extreme is restricting your child’s food simply because you think they’re overweight — or because they actually are. It’s better to spend an extra hour playing outside with them than an hour explaining why candy or ice cream is bad. The payoff is much bigger.

Don’t Force Your Child to Change Their Habits

It doesn’t matter if it’s giving up the bottle, moving to their own bed, or letting go of a favorite toy. Change happens when a child is ready for it — the shift from old to new should be gradual, not forced.

Don’t Make Your Child Apologize for No Reason

“Say you’re sorry!” is probably the most common phrase on any playground — and some kid dutifully complies with no idea what they’re apologizing for or why. Apologies turn into empty rituals with no real kindness or remorse behind them. Before you demand one, take a moment to explain why an apology is actually needed.

Don’t Make Your Child Be Someone They’re Not

If your child is shy, for example, accept that about them. Don’t push them to act outgoing — it can chip away at their sense of self and leave them feeling like something’s wrong with them. The same goes for kids who are unusually active, restless, or loud.

Don’t Force Your Child to Be Friends With Someone They Don’t Like

Even if you and another parent are best friends, that doesn’t mean your kids have to be. Go ahead and be friends yourselves — shop together, hit the salon, grab coffee — but let your child choose their own friends. It’s worse to make them put up with teasing, broken toys, or hair-pulling just so you don’t have to have an awkward conversation with your friend.

Don’t Force Your Child to Greet Strangers

Your child’s world is small, but it’s the whole world to them. They have no idea who all these people are — your friends, relatives, neighbors. Give them time to realize the world is bigger than they think, and then explain why they should say hello to the person you’re talking to.

Don’t Make Your Child Stay With Someone They Don’t Want To

Sometimes parents just need a night off, but instead of dropping the kids off at Grandma and Grandpa’s, it’s better to have them come stay at your place instead. Kids feel real discomfort in unfamiliar surroundings — sending them somewhere else can leave them feeling unwanted and abandoned.

Don’t Make Your Child Do Something They’re Bad At

Constant failure teaches a kid to expect to fail. Even small wins, on the other hand, push them toward more effort and bigger achievements. It’s better to be a great handball player than a mediocre football player, even if one sport gets more glory than the other. Raise a winner, not a loser.

image on top: Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash