As many parents can
attest, raising healthy, happy, confident children is demanding, especially because
their children’s well-being is impacted by almost every decision they make. Even
the most confident person can have moments of doubt, and societal, economic and
pandemic-related issues compound these challenges.
In fact, 1 in 6 parents
said “parenting during COVID-19 has been the most stressful time of my life,”
according to a KinderCare and Harris Poll survey.
As parents look to
move beyond these issues, the survey also found parents feel more confident in
their parenting abilities with 86% reporting they “feel confident in their
parenting on a typical day.”
“Knowing their children
are in a safe and secure environment goes a long way to support parent
confidence,” said Dr. Elanna Yalow, chief academic officer of KinderCare
Learning Centers. “Focusing on nurturing the whole child, as well as protecting
health and safety, gives parents peace of mind and enhances their confidence
that their children are off to the best start in life.”
Consider these
three things parents can do to help boost confidence in their parenting skills:
Communicate early
and often
Whether your child
is in child care or school, ensuring your family has open and consistent communication
with care providers and teachers is vital. Families and teachers or care
providers share an important role in educating and caring for young children. By
regularly sharing stories and observations about each child’s progress,
teachers can reassure families their children are recognized and valued as the
unique people they are.
READ MORE: A therapist’s parenting how-to list
Ask questions to reduce
concerns
Few things help bolster
parent confidence more than knowing their children are safe and sound, no
matter where they are. Be sure to ask your child care provider or school for
more information about its health and safety protocols and emergency plan. Knowing
how certain situations will be handled can reduce uncertainty and stress.
Families seeking child care should ensure they have a list of questions to ask potential
providers to help them feel confident in their decisions.
Become an advocate
for families
Parents are increasingly
leveraging work flexibility to be more present in their children’s lives; 65%
of survey participants said “having enough time to spend with my children” was
a top factor in boosting their confidence levels. If you’d like to try hybrid
work or have more support for your child care needs, talk with your employer about
child care benefits. It may be helpful to talk with coworkers first to
understand their needs so you can advocate for the needs of all parents, not
just yourself. Potential benefits could include the ability to have a flexible
work schedule that supports children’s routines and needs, an employer-sponsored
child care tuition subsidy or backup care. You’re likely not alone in your
desire for child care benefits. The majority of parents surveyed said they
would stay in their current jobs if child care benefits were offered.
For more
confidence-boosting tips, visit kindercare.com.
Other articles by HVP News Reporters