Here are ten things you shouldn’t say to your child:
Girls/ boys don’t do that
Girls and boys can do whatever they want, so do away with gender stereotypes. Let your daughter play with cars or dinosaurs or eat muck and let your son dress Barbies or bake.
Your dad is not right
Even if you or your partner don’t agree on something doesn’t mean you have the right to put them down in front of your kids. This is just going to create bad feelings in the home.
You’re so bold/mean/unkind
If you give them a label they will learn to be that label. Remember, your child is not bold, they have done something bold.
Shut up
Being told to shut up from an angry and intimating adult is a pretty scary experience for a child.
Why can’t you be more like your brother or sister?
Because each of your children are individuals and just because they are related doesn’t mean they will or in fact should act the exact same way. Life would be so boring.
You are always making that mistake
Kids learn by doing and even if it takes them five, ten or even 20 tries - the fact that they are still trying matters. But why would they want to if you keep putting them down every time they try to learn something.
I’ll never forgive you for that
Said in the heat of the moment, it can leave your child feeling like they are never going to be able to fix it so what’s the point in trying.
Don’t be such a scaredy cat
Everyone experiences fear at some stage of their life, but telling your little one not to be afraid without explaining why will just teach them to keep their feelings to themselves.
I’ll do it for you
How will your child ever learn to fend for themselves if you are always stepping in and doing it for them.
How do I look?
Asking your child how you look might feel like you are including them in your life a little. But you are teaching them that appearance matters when it really deosn’t.
