Being a parent is difficult and so is coming off as a proud child. It’s only human to give vent to your rage by using harsh words. However, when the recipient of your outrage is your own child, it might have uncertain and unmanageable repercussions.
We list 9 insensitive things that you should avoid saying to your child.
Trying to say the right things to your kid but failing miserably? Here is a list of 9 things you should avoid saying to your kid.
1. “Finish your homework; I will give you a chocolate.”
Bribing is an unhealthy practice that parents do. Generally, bribery occurs under duress—right smack in the middle of a situation in which your child has seemingly sprouted horns and a tail. It happens quickly, when all you want is to change your child’s behavior on the spot, so you offer him something that you had no previous intention of offering. It is a form of negotiating where over–negotiating puts the child in the driver’s seat.
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2. “I’m on a diet”
Never say these words in front of your child. Always try to say “I’m following a healthy food habit” or “let’s all begin with healthy eating habit”. If we repeatedly say “I’m on a diet” in front of our child we are encouraging them to have negative feelings about their body.
3. “We’ll never afford that/ We can’t afford that”
Never let your child grow in a situation where he/she knows that they can’t afford things because money is holding them back. Rather help them with some financial control. If your kid really wants to go to Disney World, tell them: “We can’t afford the tickets because it’s not in our budget this year.” Then, consider setting them up with an allowance jar so they can start saving for a trip to the theme park. When you help your kids cultivate smart financial habits, they’ll grow up knowing that if they want something they can’t afford, it’s just a matter of adjusting priorities.
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4. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you”
Not rebuking your child in public places and always defending your children’s mistakes are two things. Most parents misunderstand making these two things as one. Whenever your child is being disobedient, misbehaving, ill-treating others, as a parent we should never defend them but discipline them and teach them the difference between right and wrong.
5. Being overprotective.
The so-called “helicopter parent” is nothing but being an overprotective parent and always hovering over your children. Parents who pay extremely close attention to a child’s or children’s experiences and problems, particularly at educational institutions. They are always in the lookout for guidance, and when left alone, they become too nervous to make a decision.
6. Not giving enough space for decision-making.
Some children have a tough time when they move out of their parent’s home. The only reason is helicopter parenting. Here the parents choose their school, their colleges, the field they want to study, the dresses they want to buy, even the man/woman they want to marry. Every child should have their decision-making power at a young age so that later on they don’t fall in a dilemma while taking up any step.
7. Being abusive to your children.
Children who experience parental abuse or neglect are more likely to show negative outcomes that carry forward into adult life, with ongoing problems with emotional regulation, self-concept, social skills, and academic motivation, as well as serious learning and adjustment problems.
8. Not appreciating or boosting them when needed.
Lack of appreciation can directly create a complex in children. Scientists say that by the age of 8 a child learns more than 60% of what they will learn in their entire life.
9. Fighting among ourselves in the presence of your children.
As a parent, we should always maintain decorum not to abuse each other in front of our children. We should always try to handle any situation in a proper and sensible way. Our children always imitate whatever they see around them. So we should always try to have a good relationship with our spouse and our child.
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