16 Ways Your Parenting Style Might Be Harming Your Child’s Wellbeing
No kid is perfect. Some may be impatient, others may be clumsy, and others may not be brilliant regarding school-related matters. While having weaknesses is normal, there are certain defects you should pay particular attention to. These may tell you that your kid may have behavioral or societal issues later in life, and you should try to change your parenting style to fix this. Here are 16 concerning signs to watch out for.
Note: The content of this article does not reflect the writer’s personal beliefs.
Your Kid Is Entitled
Is your kid used to always get his way? Do you tend to be overprotective with him? For instance, by fixing all his issues and keeping him away from failure? This is extremely harmful as it will lead to entitled children being unable to cope with a ‘no.’
You Kid Doesn’t Know How To Control Emotions
How can your child learn how to deal with emotions if you don’t know how to control yours? Whenever your kid starts shouting and screaming in public, remember that it is up to you to show him how to not let your emotions take over and instead remain in control. Be a good example for him to follow.
Your Kid Doesn’t Know What ‘No’ Means
Did you ever say a strict ‘no’ to your kids? ‘No, you can no longer stare at the TV; it’s time for bad,’ ‘No, you can’t make noise at this time of the day,’ ‘No, I am not going to buy that bag of chips for you.’ Assertiveness is fundamental if you want your sons and daughters to be disciplined.
Your Kid Doesn’t Know How To Face Failure
It’s normal for parents to want to protect their kids from painful events, such as failure. However, you’d better fight your instincts when it comes to this. Failure is just a part of life. Preventing your children from experiencing this means they won’t be ready to face it in the future.
Your Kid Doesn’t Know Empathy
As we mentioned in the intro, a lack of empathy may be linked to bad parenting practices. However, it’s important to specify that this may also be due to other factors, such as genetics or physical and psychological traumas related to a certain event. Regardless of the case, don’t ignore the issue.
Lack Of Confidence
A lack of confidence in children can be due to several factors. For instance, they may have experienced emotional trauma or abuse. If your child is showing a lack of self-esteem, there’s probably something wrong. Contact an expert to investigate the matter further and determine whether your parenting style is the problem.
Impatience
This is often common among spoiled kids. While a bit of impatience is standard, especially among young children, if your son is constantly having a hard time waiting for his turn, for instance, when receiving snacks with his peers, it may be a sign that you must change your parenting style.
Your Kid Is More Into Receiving Than Giving
Is your kid generous? Does he like to share his toys and snacks with his friends? Or does he quickly get angry if one of his peers doesn’t lend him his toys? If your kid is more into receiving than giving, consider talking to him about the importance of generosity.
Your Kid Doesn’t Have Good Friends
Making friends nowadays is not easy. Social media has made it incredibly difficult for us to truly connect. However, this shouldn’t be an issue for young kids who shouldn’t use this technology. Try to figure out whether your kid has good friends and take action to address the problem if you realize he doesn’t.
Poor Academic Performance
Poor academic performance may also be linked to issues in your parenting style. Be honest and consider whether you set unrealistic standards for your kid. Remember that he cannot excel in everything he does. Paradoxically, demanding perfection from your children often results in the opposite.
Lack Of Trust
Does your child have a hard time trusting people? For instance, he may be often suspicious, unable to forgive his friends even for minor things, or always assume the very worst. If this is the case, you may want to spend some time figuring out why your child is showing these behaviors.
Addiction
Addiction in young teens can be due to several factors. For instance, it may be due to physical and emotional abuse taking place in their household. Why it’s normal for teenagers to try new things, and you probably shouldn’t freak out if you see your kid with a cigarette, there are other circumstances in which you may want to contact experts to seek help.
Cruelty
Have you ever observed your kid with other children? Or with animals? Does he tend to be cruel to them for no reason? For instance, he may make fun of one of his classmates or torture little insects. Even though these behaviors are not so common among young kids, this doesn’t mean they should be accepted.
Your Kid Thinks They Deserve Everything
If you’re always giving in to your kid’s every request, they might start thinking they’re entitled to everything without putting in any effort. This can make it tough for them to really appreciate what they have. It’s important to set some boundaries and help them understand that not everything comes easy—sometimes, they have to work for what they want.
Your Kid Can’t Handle Criticism
If your child gets really upset or defensive when someone gives them feedback, it could mean they’re struggling to handle criticism. Learning how to take constructive feedback is important for their growth and confidence. Try having open, supportive conversations where they can understand mistakes are part of learning and not something to feel bad about. This will help them grow stronger and more resilient.
Lack Of Basic Manners
Does your kid say ‘thank you’ when someone does them a favor or gives them a gift? Does he say ‘please’ when asking for something? Can he apologize after committing a mistake? If you answered ‘no’ to all of the above, you’re not doing a good job teaching your kid basic good manners.
More For You
These were signs to look out for to determine whether you are doing a good job as a mother. If you want to improve your parenting style further, here are some extra tips that may come in handy.
This article was first published on the RB ITALIA Blog.
