For being a good parent, you need to have that tender and compassionate heart in you that can console your child every time you speak something sweet. Your careless behavior can leave the child petrified. One wrong utterance can make your child misinterpret you for life. The wrong things which we utter to our kids at times can leave them sad, angry and even paranoid. So, better mind your words before you speak.
Below we mention 9 verbal missteps that you shouldn’t take before your child:
1. “Get lost”
This is the most common word which you can utter when you are miffed. Of course, you are not an angel who stays happy all the time. There are times when you get annoyed and especially when you are busy doing some serious work and your child rushes in asking you to play. You can tackle the situation in some other way rather than telling the child to get lost. Children usually have the habit of seeing their parent take out time for them. A good parent must be doing that but when it is not possible you can make the child understand the fact. But, never scold the child for such reasons. This would make them feel that you are always brushing them off and there is no point in talking to you. Such kids when grow up share very less talks with the parents.
2. “You’re so…”
Stop giving your kid any such kinds of label, like you are so disgusting or you are so crazy. Kids are very sensitive and emotional and your awful quotes can hurt them badly. You can give them positive labels but never go for the negative ones. They can become a self fulfilling prophecy. All these quotes of yours can undermine the child’s confidence. This is not at all a good sign of parenting, so better don’t use it.
3. “Don’t cry”
The next time your child cries, don’t go to him and console by saying that darling please don’t cry. Rather look out for the reason behind the child to cry. And then devise means through which you can perk up the child or make him feel happy. If you acknowledge your child properly he will be able to express his feelings in words rather than crying.
4. “Why can’t you be more like your sister?”
No comparison between the siblings please! How can two people have the same behavior? It can be possible that one child is naughtier than the other. But you cannot compare and tell the child to behave the same way as his brother or sister behaves.
5. “Stop or I’ll give you something to cry about!”
This is the worst thing that you can tell to your child. Giving your child such threats like spanking or physically punishing would never work. Remember, beating has never done well to any child, despite the only thing that they become fearful and frail. Don’t go with the phrase that if you spare the rod you spoil the child.
6. “Wait till daddy gets home!”
This is the age old cliché which mothers usually use for the kids. This may lead the child to anticipate about the situation and he would wonder what will happen if daddy comes? Secondly, this statement shows that the mother doesn’t have any authority and the child will just start trespassing mommy’s words. So, it is better not to use it again.
7. “Hurry up!”
You are getting your kid ready for the school and getting late. The one thing that would come out of your mouth is to hurry up. The child would feel guilty about the fact that you are hurrying up just because of the child. This can only make him feel guilty but won’t inspire him to do the work faster.
8. “Great Job!”
This is a complementing thing but shouldn’t be overused. Like for every small instance that your child does need not to be applauded. If he drinks the milk or follow good manners you need not to tell every time that you have done a good job. By saying this you are just losing the right meaning of this word. So, you can only praise when you feel that the child has done really something great.
9. “You know better than that!”
It may happen that the child is not able to do some work properly. At that time give your child the benefit of doubt and tell that you can do this work in a better way. This is sure to boost the child’s morale.
