A mother with a doctorate shares her 4 non-negotiable parenting rules for helping her 18-year-old child become the best version of themselves.

At a young age, Dorothy Jean displayed her gifted talents, which her mother Jimalita Tillman recognized.

Dorothy Jean, who was home-schooled from age 7, took high school-level courses a year later and earned her first college diploma, an associate's degree, at age 10. She added a bachelor's degree at age 12 and an environmental science master's degree two years later, both online.

At 17 years old, Dorothy Jean earned a doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health from Arizona State University. Now 18, she's running the Dorothy Jeanius STEAM Leadership Institute, an organization she launched in 2020 to offer educational programming for Black youths in Chicago.

Dorothy Jean's mother tells CNBC Make It that watching her daughter accomplish so much at a young age has been "humbling." Tillman also helped put her daughter on the path to success, especially as a single parent, by employing multiple non-negotiable parenting rules that she says helped nurture her daughter's natural gifts.

Dorothy Jean was raised by Tillman using four constant rules.

Agree on clear expectations

Tillman suggests creating a contract with your child that outlines their responsibilities, such as completing homework before watching TV or joining an after-school club if they maintain good grades.

Tillman advises being clear and concise when dealing with children, especially gifted ones, as one cannot have one foot in and one foot out.

Experts suggest that giving talented children a voice in setting clear-cut expectations and holding them accountable when they fall short can help build confidence and self-motivation, leading to long-term success.

According to Esther Wojcicki, a bestselling author and parenting expert, empowering children by allowing them to do things on their own will increase their confidence and independence.

Teach accountability — and model it, too

Tillman believes that parents can be the most effective educators when it comes to teaching accountability.

"Hold yourself accountable," she advises. "Display your vulnerability to your children [so they can learn] how to hold themselves accountable and complete tasks."

Teaching children about adult responsibility by discussing times when you failed to meet your own expectations and how you overcame those challenges can be done through simple actions such as apologizing to your child when you pick them up late or lose your temper over something minor, according to psychologist Cindy Graham.

It is crucial for caregivers to recognize the impact of their actions on children's learning, as kids tend to mimic what they observe.

Have faith

Tillman emphasizes the importance of having a strong belief system and remaining committed to it, whether it's religious or not. She and her daughter are actively involved in church.

A positive outlook, which kids can learn from their parents, can increase self-confidence, according to educational psychologist and parenting expert Michele Borba, as stated in a CNBC Make It article from last year.

"Borba stated that one of the strongest correlations of success is a child's mindset of persistence, saying "I'll just keep chunking it and keep on doing it," rather than questioning the value of trying."

Self-confidence is crucial for both parents and children when facing life's challenges, Tillman emphasizes. He adds, "Sometimes, you'll have to rely solely on your faith. You'll encounter opposition from naysayers. Financial obligations like bills and tuition will arise."

Avoid unfair comparisons

Parenting researcher Jennifer Breheny Wallace advised against using other people's accomplishments to motivate children to succeed, as it can make them feel inferior and hinder their development.

Dorothy Jean's accomplishments were not compared to anyone else by Tillman, and he strongly advises against comparing children to her.

"Comparison is just horrible. It's really bad for the child's self esteem and confidence. How can they be the best version of themselves?" she says, instead of saying, "Don't say, 'You should be like this. Look at what this kid is doing,'"

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