Parenting is tough, but certain behaviors can unintentionally harm your child’s mental and emotional health. Here are 10 things to avoid:
- Yelling frequently – Creates a hostile environment that makes children feel unsafe.
- Comparing them to others – Damages self-worth and breeds insecurity.
- Ignoring their emotions – Teaches children to suppress their feelings.
- Using guilt as a tool – Causes confusion and emotional burden.
- Overcontrol – Robs them of autonomy and decision-making skills.
- Dismissive language – Saying things like “you’re too sensitive” invalidates their feelings.
- Inconsistent discipline – Confuses children about boundaries and expectations.
- Lack of affection – Leads to emotional detachment and self-doubt.
- Unrealistic expectations – Puts pressure on children to perform beyond their capacity.
- Not apologizing – Teaches children that adults don’t take accountability.