5 Latin Parenting Secrets

Back in June 2015, clinical psychologist and a social work professor at the University of Texas at Austin Esther Calzada published a study in the "Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology" revealing how authoritarian parenting among Latinos affect their children. NBC News reported that her research showed that authoritarian parenting, which was defined as strict, controlling and not responsive to a child's feelings, may lead to internalizing behaviors such as depression and anxiety among young Mexican American and Dominican American children aged four to six.

"The fact that we're finding these Latino kids are at five times more risk than their non-Latino peers for anxiety and depression is in my eyes clearly a call for action," Calzada said. "These are really young kids and the rates are astonishingly high."

Happy parenting means happy kids and here are some secrets to raising emotionally intelligent, balanced children.

1. Take the time (and effort) to connect with your child. In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to forget how emotionally availability is very important for children. FOX News reported that, according to clinical psychologist Dr. Laura Markham, parents must carve out time with their kids to truly connect.

2. Allow your child to experience being upset. Dr. Tovah P. Klein, director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development, wrote in The Huffington Post that, while some parents are afraid to let their children become upset with them, kids need to experience being upset and handling that emotion. "Children cannot learn to handle being upset if they are not allowed to even get upset. By allowing your child her anger, she will learn (over time) to handle this emotion," she wrote. "Just as important, she will learn that even if she gets upset with mommy and daddy, she will still be taken care of. Setting limits actually builds children's trust."

3. Don't raise your voice. Break the habit of yelling by practicing calming techniques when you feel like you are about to burst. Count to ten, step out of the house or simply remove yourself from the situation and let go. "That way, even when you’re just a little annoyed with your child, if you’re doing that on a regular basis you’ll find that you’re much calmer when you do start to yell and get upset," Dr. Markham said.

4. Lead by example. Because children will often imitate their parents, it's best to set a good example for them. "If you want your children to believe the world is a loving, kind and hopeful place, you need to be loving, kind, and hopeful," Latina's Robyn Moreno wrote. "Whether you want to or not, your behavior teaches your kid more than anything else about how the world works."

5. Be grateful. A grateful heart is a happy heart and it's actually scientifically proven. FOX News reported that studies have shown that gratitude is the key to happiness. Encourage your child to practice gratitude mentally or by keeping a journal or a list of things to be grateful every day.