How Not to Turn Your Pet Parrot Into a Needy Tyrant.

Of course, not giving your pet parrot too much attention doesn't mean leaving your young parrot in his cage, or all alone all day long.
But even if you really feel like spending all your time with the young parrot you've just adopted or bought, try to resist that temptation (ok, ok, easier said than done, but still!), because the day you no longer have as much time to give him, he will suffer from frustration, and in this state he will very probably bear you a grudge. With an animal, regularity is one of the keys to a successful education.

Too much attention can turn your parrot into a possessive, jealous tyrant who might be aggressive towards your entourage. Not to mention he will certainly develop behavior problems. He won't understand why you're suddenly no longer available for him, and, one might add, it is important for his psychological balance not to identify too much with his owner.
Another point to keep in mind is that some species of parrots like Macaws will naturally demand more of your time and energy, and that's why carefully considering which baby parrot you'll buy is crucial.

Integrate your parrot into your daily life progressively, setting aside a few hours for him everyday, preferably never the same to retain an element of surprise and avoid monotony.
Get your bird out of his cage, let him play freely (but always under supervision), then devote some time to training him by playing games, teach him to speak a bit, pamper him, and don't forget to reward him to acknowledge his efforts and little successes.
As soon as you see that your parrot isn't attentive anymore, it's better to make a pause and resume the training session after a few minutes, or simply to call it a day.

Too little attention is problematic, but so is too much attention. One of your job as parrot parent is to manage and respect the time dedicated to your bird.

Laurene Arroyo is a long-time parrot enthusiast. You can learn more about training your parrot and sign up for her FREE beginner-friendly Parrot Care eCourse by visiting http://parrotbirdcenter.com/parrot-tricks/