., click here to update your profile and earn points towards a Starbucks gift card

Learn more

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Parenting Tips to Be The "Perfect" Parent

., you're logged in!
Enjoy this resource and share our programs with your school district to send these resources to your whole community
Tell Your School District About Our Program
., you're logged in!
Share this resource with a parent at .  (or visit our new sharing center)
Copy Share Link
., you're logged in!
Enjoy this demo pass. Click the button to share access with leaders in your school district (or visit our new sharing center)
Share Your Demo Pass With School District Leaders

Become a member or login to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
September 1, 2017

Become a member or log in to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
Quotation marks

This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!

StarStarStarStarStar

Sharon M.

Parent VIP Member

Quotation marks

Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.

StarStarStarStarStar

Director of College Advising

Educator Webinar Attendee

Quotation marks

This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.

StarStarStarStarStar

Irene C.

Educator Webinar Attendee

Parenting Tips to Be The "Perfect" Parent

., you're logged in!
Enjoy this resource and share our programs with your school district to send these resources to your whole community
Tell Your School District About Our Program
., you're logged in!
Share this resource with a parent at .  (or visit our new sharing center)
Copy Share Link
., you're logged in!
Enjoy this demo pass. Click the button to share access with leaders in your school district (or visit our new sharing center)
Share Your Demo Pass With School District Leaders

We sat down with Roma Khetarpal, author of an award-winning book and Founder of Tools of Growth, to talk about how parents can build their relationships with their children. Below are her top parenting tips for becoming more approachable, how to build a connection with your kids, how to manage emotions in conflict, and more.

Listen along on our podcast

Key takeaways for becoming the "perfect" parent

  • Remain open minded and open hearted as a parent. Build a foundation of trust and ensure that your children are comfortable approaching you in times of conflict.
  • Use your five senses and your intuition to connect with your children. Listen to your kids, avoid cutting them off in the middle of their sentence, give them the opportunity to complete their thoughts.
  • Reasonable parenting is having the ability to reason with your children. Responsible parenting is having the ability to respond to your kids.
  • Manage your own emotions and always practice being kind to your children.

Approachable parenting builds trust

As parents, we want to be approachable to our kids and we want our children to feel comfortable coming to us in times of confusion or conflict. So, it’s important that parents set the foundation for their children. Everything begins and ends with parents, so it is up to them to chart the direction for their children. Trust is built step-by-step. Practice being firm yet flexible. Make guidelines but keep rules to a minimum. Focus on remaining open minded and open hearted. –Roma Khetarpal, Tools of Growth

Sensible parenting builds connection

Sensible parenting is using your five senses and your intuition to connect with your kids. When you speak to your children, speak to them kindly. When you are right, practice being kind first. Ensure that the language you are using feels good for both you and your child. Listen to your children, don’t just hear what they have to say, but really listen to them. Avoid cutting your children off in the middle of their sentence, give them the opportunity to complete their thoughts. Mostly kids just want to share. So if there is conflict or chaos, it’s even more important to just listen. Make eye contact with your children. When you’re talking to your child, especially in a time of disconnect, try putting your hand on your child’s back or shoulder. This shows that you are supportive of your child, even if you are in a period of discourse. –Roma Khetarpal, Tools of Growth

Reasonable and responsible parenting builds understanding

Reasonable parenting is having the ability to reason with your children. Responsible parenting is having the ability to respond to your kids. There are three facets in communication: thoughts, feelings, and expressions. Thoughts come from out intellect. Feelings come from our emotions. Expressions are how we act, the words we use, and our tone of voice when we communicate with our children. When parents balance children’s feelings that’s when they can access their intellect. If you’re trying to deal with your child’s feelings try to spot it, say it, and okay it. So spot the feeling, say it out loud, and okay the feeling. If you tone down the temperature of the emotion, then you can reason with your children. Being able to reason is having the ability to ask the right questions that focus on the object as opposed to the subject and ask open ended questions that encourage communication.Once you’re reasonable and you’ve balance your own emotional landscape, being a responsible parent is easy. –Roma Khetarpal, Tools of Growth

When you are right, practice being kind first

Avoid saying things like “I told you so”, or “didn’t I warn you”. Manage your own emotions. Practice two way communication with your children. Think about ways to open up the conversation, so that you can come together as a family. When you can remain kind as a parent, that’s when you become approachable. Being kind can really shape your child’s personality. –Roma Khetarpal, Tools of Growth

Align your intentions with your goal

Parents all start of with the right intentions. Somehow, while parents have good intentions it doesn’t always show in their behaviors. So parents should align their intentions to their higher goal. Remember that you are working towards building your relationship with your children. If you focus on your relationship with your child then you can turn disconnection into connection.Make time for having fun. Parents and children run to their gadgets when they have free time. So, it’s important to allot time for having fun and connecting with your children. –Roma Khetarpal, Tools of Growth

What are some tactical parenting tips?

Cultivate positive habits early on with your children. Take five minutes a day to do nothing with your children. Do nothing at all and don’t use your gadgets for five minutes, every day. You can go for a walk together or sit out in the backyard, whatever you can do for five minutes a day. If you have a teen who wants to check social media during your five minute break tell them it’s hard for you too but they need to hold off for five minutes. This becomes the foundation for connection. –Roma Khetarpal, Tools of Growth

A good role model is a good rule model. Can you describe what a role model is and what a rule model is?

As parents, we want to role model the best behavior for our children. Technology makes it difficult for parents to set boundaries and guidelines for themselves. So when it comes to setting guidelines for children, it can be hard. If you have some basic guidelines about technology for your children, be sure that you follow those guidelines as well. As children get older, do away with the word rule and use flexible words like boundary or guideline. When it comes to technology, some rules need to be in place to protect children’s safety and it’s important to follow those rules first. –Roma Khetarpal, Tools of Growth

., now is your chance to earn 10 points towards a $5 Starbucks gift card by telling us what you learned in this resource!
To earn your gift card, please be specific and write a full sentence that helps us learn what you liked about the topic. Our non-profit uses this information to improve our program.

40 characters remaining to reach minimum

Your submission has been received! You now have additional points added to your account.

If you are in a live event, please comment "I filled out the form!" in the live event chat box!

Otherwise you are free to roam around the site.
Thanks!
-Josh and The SmartSocial Team
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
School Districts: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.

Become a member or log in to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
Quotation marks

This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!

StarStarStarStarStar

Sharon M.

Parent VIP Member

Quotation marks

Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.

StarStarStarStarStar

Director of College Advising

Educator Webinar Attendee

Quotation marks

This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.

StarStarStarStarStar

Irene C.

Educator Webinar Attendee

Learn more

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Join Our Next Live Parent Q&A Events (And earn a $5 Starbucks gift card)*

Nov
21
Register

AI for Student Success: Being Productive & Learning Future Skills

This virtual parent night event will explore the fascinating world of AI and the role it can have in every student's educational journey and future career paths.

Dec
03
Register

Optimize Parental Controls: Balancing Safety & Privacy for Families

Understand how to set up parental controls and monitor your students without being intrusive.

Dec
05
Register

Sneaky Ways Video Apps Keep Teens Watching

Join this live parent night event and find out what tricks video apps are using to keep your kids watching

Dec
10
Register

Optimize Parental Controls: Balancing Safety & Privacy for Families

Understand how to set up parental controls and monitor your students without being intrusive.

Dec
12
Register

Protecting Your Family With A Social Media Agreement

Learn how to set up a Family Media Agreement for your entire family in order to keep your family safer with technology and social media.

Jan
14
Register

How To Shine Online With Your Social Media Accounts

Learn how students can use their social media accounts to help them Shine Online and better their future.

*Only for families in partner school districts or individual paid VIP members: to receive a gift card, simply attend the live event, join in the activities, and your family will be eligible to earn one gift card per year (while supplies last).

Become a Very Informed Parent (VIP) to get our social media suggestions in your email every Tuesday & Thursday.

Dotted arrow to right
Learn about our
"Very Informed Parent" 
VIP Program
Right arrow
Hello, I'm Josh, the founder of SmartSocial.com. Protect your family by taking my 1 minute quiz

This quiz will help you understand how safe your family is

Take Josh's 1 Min Quiz
Right arrow
Smart Social Logo

Schools & Districts: Partner with us to protect your community online

Our remote presentations (and website) teach over a million students each year how to shine online. We teach students how their accounts can be used to create a portfolio of positive accomplishments that impress colleges and employers.

Partner with SmartSocial.com
Right arrow
Smart Social Logo
Join Our Smart Social Podcast
each week on iTunes

With over 240 episodes, Josh Ochs interviews psychologists, therapists, counselors, teachers, and parents while showing you how to navigate social media to someday shine online.

Listen on: