5 Successful Parenting Tips for Raising Successful Kids

Every parent does their best to focus on their family and not compare (i.e., judge) themselves to those around them. But every mom and dad has wondered … how did the parents next door raise such successful, well-adjusted kids??? Are the parents of successful kids doing something special, or was it pure dumb luck? Thankfully, there are some parenting styles and methods that anyone can use to help them raise their children to be successful in the future. 

Defining Success

Before we get started talking about ways to raise successful kids, let’s define what we’re talking about when we say “success.” Because it isn’t always this:

via GIPHY

Lot’s of financially successful people have unsuccessful personal lives, unfulfilled relationships, and deteriorating mental health. The things we’ll talk about in this article will help a child grow into a successful, fulfilled adult. Not just a successful entrepreneur. 

What Parents of Successful Kids Do

While there is no one-size-fits-all formula for raising successful children, there are some common traits and practices that many of their parents share.

• Practice respectful parenting. Until recently, there were four parenting types that parents sorted themselves into: authoritative parenting, permissive parenting, authoritarian parenting, and uninvolved parenting. But Margot Machol, author of “Raising an Entrepreneur,” discovered a fifth kind of parenting style that was pervasive among the parents of successful children. She called it respectful parenting. In a nutshell, respectful parents see their children as independent, rational beings. 
  • Respectful parenting provides broad structure with easy-to-follow rules. (For example, a parent saying, “You must clean your room before you can watch television.”) 
  • Respectful parenting also allows children to make their own choices within that structure. (For example, a child responding, “I don’t plan on watching television today, so I will clean my room tomorrow.”) 
  • But because the rules are simple and clear, respectful parents also expect their children to follow though then things are difficult. They emphasize the importance of persistence and hard work over natural talent. (For example, a parent saying, “I know your favorite television show is on right now, but your room is a giant mess. You have to clean it before you can watch.”)
• Emphasize the value of education. Highly successful children often have parents who instill a deep appreciation for the importance of learning. Parents who value education often prioritize their child’s education, support them with homework, and encourage them to pursue academic interests.
• Keep them curious. When your child asks insightful or curious questions, let them take the journey in discovering the answer! How does a clock work? Let them take one apart. What does the inside of a rock look like? Break one open and find out! Through it all, avoid the temptation to supervise them into submission. 
• Encourage independence. Successful children often have parents who give them opportunities to make their own decisions and learn from their mistakes. These parents provide guidance and support but also give their children the space to explore and develop their own interests and abilities.
• Fostering a positive and supportive environment. Parents who create a nurturing and positive home environment often help their children develop the social and emotional skills needed to thrive. They communicate openly and honestly with their children, listen to their concerns, and provide them with the support and resources they need to succeed.

Now remember … these points are not the only things that contribute to a child’s success. Every child is unique and may require different approaches and strategies from their parents to achieve their full potential. But as you learn more about being a parent and walk the journey of life with your kids, use this as an opportunity to reevaluate where you are, where your child is, and where you want to end up as a family. Define what you want healthy, supported success to be and go for it!