Effective parenting skills play a role in guiding the direction of a childs life. In addition to the natural tendencies and disposition with which a child is born, how his or her parents discipline, communicate, and support that child creates a foundation for a lifetime.

If you are thinking about becoming a parent or you are a new parent and you are concerned about how your behavior will affect your child, understanding the importance of parenting skills keeps you aware of your impact on your childs future.

Parenting is about more than just discipline. Child development experts encourage parents to create a well-rounded parenting plan that includes guidance and support as the foundation of dealing with your child.

This sometimes includes discipline, but the ultimate goal is to give your child clear expectations of right and wrong and allow him to make choices on his own, hopefully with the best outcome.

Just how important is it to build effective parenting skills?

Prevent Injuries

Your main concern for your child during his early years focuses mainly on physical safety. You are completely responsible for a childs physical well-being through infancy and beyond, and your goal is to help your child make basic, safe decisions.

Effective parenting at this stage requires careful supervision. This prevents accidents such as falling or burning. Your childs emotional and intellectual development is very important, but since he is unable to care for his own physical well-being, you must take the reigns.

Providing him with a secure base to which he can return from exploring the world around him sets the tone for future endeavors.

Provide Support through Adolescence

By the time your child reaches adolescence, he should be capable of protecting his own physical safety, for the most part. He will be making decisions that could be influenced by peers or he might be tempted to take some risks. This is normal, but it is important you continue to offer guidance and discipline.

Effective parenting provides boundaries during the teen years. Your child might test those boundaries, but your parenting can prevent excessive or dangerous testing.

Guide the Development of Strong Communication Skills

Effective parenting skills help your child develop communication skills. Finding a balance between authoritarian and permissive parenting opens a line of communication with your child continues into his adulthood.

You must put parenting ahead of friendship as your child grows, but effective parenting sets the groundwork for a parent/adult-child friendship later in life.

Instill Confidence

Effective parenting results in a confident person. Teaching your child right from wrong and providing a moral compass early in life gives him the ability to make smart choices as an adolescent and beyond. Effective parenting blends supervision and discipline with respect and trust.

If you provide your child with the tools he needs to be safe and responsible, and you trust your child to use those tools, he will learn to trust his instincts and grow into a strong, confident adult.