To The Parents

Set Reasonable Expectations

It's great to have high expectations for your child. But sometimes parents have expectations that are too high. Whether it's expecting a two-year-old to be toilet trained or expecting a twelve-year-old to keep her room perfectly clean, these unrealistic expectations can harm your child's self-esteem.If your child consistently does not meet your expectations, it may not be her fault. You may need to change what you expect. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Why do I have this expectation?
• Where did it come from?
• What's in it for me?
• Is this based on my child's needs . . . or mine?
• What purpose does it serve?
• Is it realistic to expect this of a child this age, temperament, and background?