Become a mentor to your own children!

Build supportive relationships with your children based on mutual respect.

Encourage your children's appropriate behavior by developing mentoring relationships rather than those based on control.

Are you a Mentor at home?

• Do you see yourself as a partner with your children?
• Do you allow your child freedom to perform within established limits?
• Do you encourage the independent thinking and personal growth of your children?


The step-by-step practical approach to mentoring outlined by Linda Culp Dowling and Cecile Culp Mielenz, Ph. D. in Mentor Manager, Mentor Parent combines successful management methods with down-to-earth parenting practices to develop skills you can use to be effective in both roles.

Using these strategies, a Mentor Parent…

…structures by incorporating expectations and clear boundaries into the daily routines of the family. Her own actions consistently reflect those values. The mentor parent teaches Old school papers can be recycled, so put them in the recycle bin

… coaches to transfer responsibility to his child. He supports a child's strengths and encourages her self-discovery. Okay, you dropped the ball last time. What can you do differently next time?

… conferences by collaborating to establish new expanded expectations for the child's behavior. She models the use of language to express feelings I hear your concern. Let's sit down and talk about it.

…lets go by accepting the results of a child's choices. He moves beyond a focus on control and views letting go as a positive growth experience for everyone. Choosing to take your shower at night seems to help you get ready in time to meet the bus the next day!