Parents, never say these 7 phrases to your children or it may break their confidence

We often say things we don’t really mean but do not understand that may leave a deep psychological impact on a child’s mental health. So, whether it is out of anger or frustration, we list down 7 statements you should never say to your child.

Parents, never say these 7 phrases to your children or it may break their confidence

Parenting is definitely one of the hardest jobs in the world and has the capacity to push even the most sorted and calmest person to the edge. While most parents are hyper aware of what they say or do around their children, there are some less-subtle statements that we all need to be wary of.

The damage done by our tongue

A lot of times we often say things we don’t really mean but do not understand that may leave a deep psychological impact on a child’s mental health. So, whether it is out of anger or frustration, we list down 7 statements you should never say to your child. Some of these phrases may seem pretty harmless to you, but we have to understand that whatever a parent says or does matter a lot to our littles ones.

01/ ​“You don’t know what you are talking about”

If you want to teach your children to be active thinkers and not passive followers, it is crucial that you let them put their thinking hats on and express their opinions. Children who are encouraged to think and share their opinions, grow up to become confident adults who are not afraid of voicing what they think or feel. When you tell your little one that he doesn’t know what he is talking about, you inadvertently tell him that he is not capable of making sound decisions or his opinions do not matter.

02/ ​“Don’t eat junk food, it will make you fat”

As a parent, you are your kid’s first school of learning when it comes to loving their own body. So, when you toss out a generic statement like this, you make them overly conscious of the way they look, instead of teaching them to eat healthily. If your goal was to stop making them eat junk food, you should stop relating it to getting fat and explain your little one how and why junk foods are not good for health and should be eaten sparingly.

03/ ​“You are a cry baby”

When your little one is crying or is upset about something, it is your responsibility as a parent to give them space where they feel comfortable talking about their emotions and feelings. They need to feel that their emotions are respected and they can share anything with you without feeling judged for the same. When you make a remark about the situation not being a big deal (and they shouldn’t cry about it) you are essentially shutting them off and telling them that their feelings are invalid. Remember, crying is a way for children to emote what they are going through when words fall short.

04/ “Girls/boys don’t do this”

Instead of teaching your kids to behave in the toxic gender-specific ways society expects them to, give them the freedom to just be your child and let them soar. It doesn't matter if it is a girl or a boy, don’t limit their capabilities based on their gender and your kid just might surprise you!

05/ ​"You are a child and I am an adult, so I am right"

There could not be a more flawed logic to make your child understand something. For starters, it simply tells them that what they say doesn't really matter, simply because they are kids. Secondly and most importantly, it is reinstating the belief that an adult is always right and kids should do as told.

06/ ​"Why can’t you be more like your brother/sister/friend"

This is probably one of the most damaging things you can ever say to your child. Comparing your little one to his own siblings, classmates or even friends can lead to nothing more than resentment and rivalry. It not only makes your child feel inadequate but he/she may also feel that you have a favourite child. As a parent, it is crucial that you celebrate each of your child’s strengths, without any comparison.

07/ ​“We can’t afford that”

No, we are not emphasising that you should buy everything or anything that your child wishes or encourage splurging. It is merely how you say it, instead of what you are saying that makes all the difference. Choose your words carefully when you are talking about finances in front of your little one as the uncertainty may scare them. Hence, instead of saying that you cannot afford something, you can always say that we are saving for something for important or we will save money to buy it later.

from LifeStyle