Watauga County Cooperative Extension Center

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Parenting can be a challenging process that is anything from perfect. At times (or many times)  we get into ruts or experience difficulties. Sometimes we need to hit the parental re-set button. It helps to take a step back and reflect on how we interacting.   Reminders of the good old basics, like parental warmth can be helpful. Parental warmth has been shown to positively influence youth in many areas, such as academic achievement, eating habits and health, self-esteem, and psychosocial well-being, and is even associated with reduced substance use. Warmth includes positive, supportive, and responsive interactions rather than reactive reactions. Other key words include affection, acceptance, showing concern, and providing encouragement. Research also shows that warmth from other figures in the lives of youth make a positive difference as well.

When considering parental warmth, it is useful to reflect on what is not warmth: rejection, criticism, and hostility.

For some reminders on interacting with warmth and encouragement, see these reources:

This article on Family Checkup: Positive Parenting lists five important parenting skills: encouragement, communication, negotiation, setting limits, and supervision.

More on parental encouragement

Communicating and Connecting with teens