As children grow, their dynamic with their parents changes. This means that moms and dads must make adjustments to their behavior to avoid common parenting mistakes and keep up with their kids.

There is no doubt that tweens and teens test the limits of their mothers and fathers. They are moodier and more independent, which is why parents must set new rules to deal with their kids’ ever-changing needs.

While children in their pre-teen and teen ages have a hard time admitting that they need their parents, the absolute truth is that they still require their guidance. But things aren’t as simple as they sound because moms and dads often make parenting mistakes that further complicate things.

Here are five parenting errors that should be avoided at all costs:

Reading Too Many Parenting Books

While it feels like the right call to consult as many sources as possible, each parenting book promotes its own techniques and methods. Reading too many of them can cause confusion, which can do more harm than good. Mothers and fathers should trust their instincts. While there is nothing wrong with getting another perspective or some professional tips, at the end of the day they are the only people who truly know their kids.

Always Expecting the Worst

Parents often expect the worst from their teenagers because teens have a bad reputation by default. They are seen as loud, unresponsive to authority, self-destructive, disrespectful, etc. Setting such standards is a guaranteed path toward several unhappy and unsatisfying years. Furthermore, some studies show that negative expectations lead to negative behavior. Instead, parents should have faith in their kids and in themselves and believe that things will be fine.

Ignoring Important Things

As kids grow, they develop their own passions and aspirations. They forge their own relationships with the people around them. Dismissing their hobbies or problems is one of the greatest parenting mistakes that anyone could make. Kids should know that no matter what happens, their moms and dads will support them.

Being Overprotective

Being overprotective is more harmful than most parents realize. While it keeps children safe from pain, failure, and disappointment, it also takes away the opportunity for kids to learn the realities of life and test their own resilience and ability to cope with hardships.

Believe They Don’t Commit Parenting Mistakes

Even the best moms and dads make parenting mistakes. It’s perfectly normal to commit errors while raising tweens and teens. In fact, being a parent isn’t an easy job and nobody is truly ever prepared for it. Accepting that mistakes will be made is the first step toward being a good mother or father.

Avoiding these five parenting mistakes is of key importance for parents who wish to have a good dynamic with their growing children.

According to one librarian, going on blind dates with books is a good way to get kids to try new things and build their love of reading. Books indeed serve as the perfect gift, and book lovers everywhere will use any excuse to integrate novels into an upcoming holiday, and Valentine’s Day is no exception.

School Librarian Ashley Kwiecinski Set Up Blind Dates With Books

School Librarian Ashley Kwiecinski certainly found a way to introduce books to her students’ Valentine’s Day by setting up blind dates with books. The program was meant to incorporate a fun element into the routine library visits of the children. According to Kwiecinski, the concept was meant to introduce a mystery book to each child, encouraging them to check out some topic they would otherwise overlook.

To achieve her goals, Kwiencinski covered the books with paper and wrote hints about the genre, plot, and elements on the packaging to aid their selection. Kwiecinski mentioned that she looked at reading as a gift and books as literal gifts. She added that her activity would hopefully help grow the children’s love of reading.

Books Describing Love Stories Were Perfect for the Holiday

Love stories are usually about tales that are as old as time and have been entertaining generations of readers. The rom-com, romance, and chick-lit genres are certainly great for Valentine’s day, and there are many titles available for enthusiasts. Titles of popular love stories ranging from Romeo and Juliet, The Fault In Our Stars, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower are all considered classics for teenagers. The novels by Jane Austen are also a good choice for anyone interested, especially Pride and Prejudice.

According to librarian Ashley Kwiecinski, simplicity is key for children, and knowing and understanding love shouldn’t be a confusing and complex topic. She also said how it was all about the return people feel with love, meaning that when they give love, it comes back to them.