20 Things you should NEVER say to your kids
DON’T TALK TO STRANGERS
This comment means well, but can cause confusion since, for instance, police officers and firefighters are “strangers.”
LEAVE ME ALONE
If you routinely say, “Don’t bother me” or “I’m busy,” children internalize the message and feel they have no importance in your life. Instead, set parameters such as, “When I finish this project, we will go outside …”
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
“It sends the message that if you make mistakes, you didn’t train hard enough,” says Joel Fish, Ph.D., author of ‘101 Ways to Be a Terrific Sports Parent.’ Success is often measured by process and effort, not final outcome.
WHY CAN’T YOU BE LIKE YOUR BROTHER/SISTER?
Sibling rivalry is a natural flame that is fanned by parents making comparisons. Comparing your child to anyone else implies you wish they were different and not who they are.
I’M ON A DIET
It’s much better to model eating healthy to be well and feel good than to risk influencing your child’s body image in a negative way, so be careful how you talk about your own eating habits and body.
WE CAN’T AFFORD THAT
Jayne Pearl, the author of Kids and Money, says it’s easy to use this default response when your child wants the latest toy, but it may make your children think your finances are not in your control, which can be scary for kids. Better to use it as an opportunity to talk about budgeting. “We’re not going to buy that right now because we saving money for —.”Want to know more?
