When parenting your child, do you wonder if anything is ever going to change?

As a parenting coach, I’ve worked with many parents who want change. They want to see a difference in their child’s behavior and they want quick answers. Perhaps they come to me expecting a sure 5-step plan to make their kids behave. But I need to tell you that change is not an event, it’s a process. It’s not an easy fix, it’s a journey that takes bravery as parents to commit to it.

One of my favorite authors, Annie F. Downs, says it like this:

When you think of being brave, you probably think of giant leaps. Grand gestures. Those are clearly brave. But it’s also brave to be intentional to make small, healthy decisions because it goes against our human nature to put effort into things that are seemingly insignificant.

Small steps are easily overlooked by others, and even by yourself. You may not think that the few minutes you take every night to tuck your child in and talk about the day are very important. Or that the high five you give your child after they work hard at something really matters. You may not see the results of loving your child in their love language for a while. But those small steps are what will eventually make a huge impact on your child.

You don’t have to make leaps and bounds every day in your parenting. You just have to take small steps.

Here are some small steps you can take every day:

• Tell your child “I love you”
• Hug your child
• Listen when your child is telling you something
• Stick to a boundary you have set and follow through with the consequences
• Don’t dismiss your child’s feelings
• Put down the phone and pay attention
• Speak truth into your child
• Give your child your undivided attention for at least 5-10 minutes a day

There are many other steps you can take each day as a parent who wants to make a lifelong impact on their kids, but these are a good place to start. And on those days when you feel like you are getting nowhere, when your child seems to be digressing and getting less cooperative–on those days, do the brave thing and keep taking the small steps, making small decisions that you know are what’s best for your child.

Those small steps will eventually take your child where you want them to go–out in the world as strong, hard-working, compassionate and honest adults.

If you are in the trenches of parenting and need help implementing small steps in your parenting, schedule a free intro call here.