Like a late-night talk show, here are the Forty Carrots parenting top ten that can foster parenting confidence and harmony. 

#1 – Communication: Communicate between partners and/or coparents. When communicating with children less than 4 years of age…be short and to the point.  

#2 – Mutual Respect: Respect your child’s abilities and understand his or her temperament.  Show your child how to treat others by the way you treat them and how you expect them to treat you. 

#3 – Encouragement: Notice the good stuff. Always encourage and praise children when they “do it right!”   

#4 – Listen: Listen and hear what your children say…give them the benefit of the doubt. 

#5 – Kindness: Gift your child with random acts of kindness AND don’t forget yourself! Acts of kindness toward your child fill their emotional bucket. For example, play a game of your child’s choice, without distraction. Remember to be kind to yourself too. Carve out self-care time to fill your own emotional bucket.

#6 – Consequences: The real world requires limits and boundaries. Help your child understand that there are consequences for certain behaviors. Be clear about expectations within your own household.  

#7 – Educate: What you teach your child at home is what they will bring out into the world. Be mindful and intentional about what you are modeling for your children and what they are learning from you.  

#8 – Responsibility: When children observe responsible decision-making by parents, it helps to support children in taking responsibility for their own behaviors. 

#9 – Fun: Being a parent gives you the chance to be a kid again with your little ones! Have fun, laugh and be silly!  

#10 – Management: When you begin to feel overwhelmed, give yourself permission to take a parent timeout to manage the feelings. Go to another room, take deep breaths, whatever you need to do to remain calm, so that you can respond effectively rather than emotionally.