Simple (and unexpected) ways to show your love — every day

In this article, you’ll find answers to questions like:

1. What does Triple P offer?
2. How can I bond with my child?
3. How to get more support?

We know that, as parents, it's easy to get overwhelmed with work, chores, finances and crazy schedules.

But sometimes you've got to remind yourself to slow down and show your child some tenderness, especially when they seem to be pulling away from you.

1. WHAT DOES TRIPLE P OFFER?

So how do you show love day in, day out to your child? How can you strengthen your parent-child bond amid the frenzy of daily life?

Those answers are at the core of the Positive Parenting Program offered by Community Partners of South Florida, Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County and BRIDGES. It's a free program known as Triple P designed to help cement your connection with your child. Triple P, funded locally by Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, offers common-sense parenting strategies to create a more peaceful home.

2. HOW CAN I BOND WITH MY CHILD?

Here are some quick tips to build on your loving relationship with your child, from Dorothy Llamosas, a Triple P senior therapist for Community Partners:

• Be consistent. Sounds easy, but this can be one of the toughest things to do. Be consistent with discipline so your child knows what you expect. Give your child clear, logical consequences ahead of time for actions you don’t condone.
• Keep a routine. A household at night can be chaotic with afterschool activities, homework and dinner. Try to maintain a schedule as much as you can, so everyone knows what's expected of them.
• Emphasize the positive. When your child does something right, provide positive reinforcement. It doesn’t even have to be verbal — maybe a quick hug, a warm smile or even a wink.
• Let them contribute. While they may grumble, chores can help kids feel like they’re an important part of the household. If they're old enough, ask your child to make their own lunch, walk the dog or help with laundry.
• Be a role model. Do you want your child to be more polite? Make sure to use words like “please” and “thank you” when you’re at home and in public with them. Do you want your teen to put down the smartphone? Consider whether you’re spending too much time on your phone. Your child learns a lot from watching your behavior.
• Ask for help. No parents are perfect. So reach out for help from friends, family or local organizations if you find yourself struggling.

“Parenting is the most difficult job any of us will ever do in our lives, but it’s also the one we’re least prepared for,” says Professor Matt Sanders, who developed Triple P with his colleagues at Australia’s University of Queensland.

3. HOW TO GET MORE SUPPORT?

“Some parents may just need a light touch of Triple P, a few ideas to help them set up a better bedtime routine or manage occasional disobedience,” Sanders says. “But others may be in crisis and need greater support. So Triple P is based on the idea that we give parents just the right amount of help they need — enough, but not too much.”

Triple P, for parents with children up to age 12, and Teen Triple P, for parents of teenagers, are offered in Palm Beach County. To learn more, contact either Community Partners at 561-841-3500, ext. 1087 or Center for Family Services at 561-616-1222.

SOURCES:

• Dorothy Llamosas, Triple P senior therapist, Community Partners of South Florida
• Matt Sanders, Triple P founder, The University of Queensland in Australia