First-time parents aren’t the only ones who can find raising their kids extremely challenging. Does parenting get easier in time? Maybe it does—if you allow yourself to accept that there’s no such thing as a perfect parent or child. Author and editor for Creative Child Magazine Rebecca Eanes once wrote, “So often, children are punished for being human. Children are not allowed to have grumpy moods, bad days, disrespectful tones, or bad attitudes, yet we adults have them all the time!”
What’s more important than having a checklist of accomplishments for your kids (although positive reinforcement does have its merits) is to check if you’re coming from a place of patience and understanding when you’re offering guidance and practicing discipline. It’s easier said than done but we’ve got a list of Instagram accounts to help you deal with your parenting woes. It takes a village to raise a child and the same goes for training parents.
The Mom Psychologist
Dr. Jazmine McCoy is a clinical psychologist and educator whose goal is to help overwhelmed and stressed parents find peace both within themselves and in their family. “I am a mom of two busy young girls and I know how stressful sibling conflict, tantrums, not listening and setting limits can be!” she shares on her website.
Apart from offering online parent coaching services and uploading videos on her YouTube channel, she also posts informational cards on reflective parenting on The Mom Psychologist Instagram. With “10 Things to Say Instead of ‘Don’t Hurt Your Brother/Sister,’” she provides tips on helping your child find the right words to tell another person what they want or need. Another favorite of ours is “Top 10 questions preschoolers have a hard time answering” which can help you avoid posing questions that might cause your kid to shut down or become defensive. ⠀⠀
Curious Parenting
Curious Parenting is a community for caregivers that provide resources on empowering children. Believers of discipline without shame and promoting social curiosity, they sell guides and courses on topics such as risky play (which involves exciting activities that put a child at risk of physical injury so they can explore their boundaries) and consent.
You can book a session with parent coach and child empowerment specialist Clementine Foxglove or shop Curious Parenting’s book recommendations. Some of our favorite informative cards on their feed are mini primers on teaching your kids gender inclusive language and a video on building autonomy and trust through diaper changes.
The Learning Basket
The Learning Basket (TLB) is a parenting resource hub for parents who want to be hands-on with their children’s development and learning. Run by homeschooling moms Mariel Uyquiengco and Sanne Unson, it offers blog entries on intentional parenting (where a parent plans how they make use of the time they have with their kids). They also have an online bookshop of pre-loved children’s books and conduct parent education workshops.
TLB advocates for supplementing your child’s learning with books on Philippine literature, history, and folk songs. They have a book guide on their website with items that you can download for free. They also share enrichment activities that you can do with your kids, homeschooled or not, such as nature journaling.
Our Mama Village
Jessica Grace is a mental health therapist who wants to make sure that other women do not struggle in silence after she got help for the anxiety she experienced after giving birth. With Our Mama Village, she aims to include mental health in discussions on pregnancy and parenthood.
Among the topics she discusses on her website and Instagram page are tips on dealing with impostor syndrome (when you feel like a fraud because you’re doubting your capabilities) as a new parent, providing support for your child when they don’t want to go to school and relationship building with your kids after an argument. Our Mama Village also provides online courses and guides.
The Asian Parent Philippines
The Asian Parent Philippines started out as a website for modern parents and pregnant moms. They’ve branched out by launching an app where you can track your pregnancy and your baby’s development as well as interact with a community of parents.
You can find memes, TikTok videos and informational cards on their Instagram. They also keep an eye out for local celebrity mom updates. Our favorites from their feed are cards debunking pregnancy myths, breastfeeding positions and ones that are designed to make you laugh.
Photo by Jep Gambardella from Pexels
Follow Preen on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Viber
Related Stories:
This mommy teacher bares her fears for the upcoming school year
Here’s how a young mom started a design company while raising a toddler
Pandemic parenting chronicles from 4 Filipino moms
How my fear of motherhood helped me with parenting