6 Parental Mistakes That Can Lead To Badly Behaved Children
July 17, 2019
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If you’re a parent, you certainly don’t need me to tell you that raising children is truly the most difficult job there is. It can be so hard to find a balance between giving your children the world and ensuring you discipline them when necessary. Here are six parental mistakes to avoid that can lead to badly behaved children and even more issues when they reach their teenage years.
1. You Come Up With Excuses
If your child is behaving badly, you might take on the attitude, “Well, that’s just how kids are.” Wrong. If your child is doing something wrong or even potentially dangerous, they need to be corrected. If they don’t learn what constitutes negative behavior and the repercussions of that behavior, they’ll just continue to act in that way.
2. You Never Think Of Yourself
It’s true that parenting is a majorly selfless act. However, if you’re constantly putting your child’s wants and needs above your own, particularly as they get older, your kids will learn that they have you at their every beck and call. It’s vitally important that parents take time for themselves. You need to recharge and remember that it’s okay to say no sometimes.
3. You’re Afraid Of Them
If you’ll do anything to avoid your child throwing a temper tantrum or getting angry, there’s a problem. You can’t be afraid to say no to your children and to enforce some basic rules. If you tiptoe around their feelings, they won’t understand that in life, you can’t always get your way.
4. You Don’t Let Anyone Discipline Your Child
Many parents believe that they should be the sole person in charge of disciplining their children. However, it’s important to note that there are going to be hours in every day when someone else is in charge of your child. As long as another adult is acting fairly and rationally, it’s completely fine that a teacher, your spouse, or other adult reprimand your child’s bad behavior.
5. You Treat Them Like Royalty
From a young age, children are capable of helping out around the house. Letting them assist with small chores not only teaches them responsibility, but it also educates them on how society functions. And societies function through teamwork, not laziness and depending on others to do everything for you.
6. You Employ Temporary Solutions
We’ve all felt the urge to hand our child an electronic device when they’re bored or on the verge of a tantrum. However, this is a very short-term solution with negative long-term effects. Children who are overexposed to technology can experience huge issues with concentration, learning, and socializing. If your child is bored, there are a million and one other things they can do instead of becoming a zombie in front of the TV or iPad.
No parent is perfect, and raising a child is always going to be a work in progress. However, recognizing these negative behaviors and making an effort to avoid or correct them is a huge step forward in positive parenting.