What Not to Say in Front of Your Children

You are holding a conversation with your spouse while your four-year-old plays nearby. You complain that your boss is not paying you enough. You find that a few days later, your child says, “my mommy doesn’t make enough money” to a room full of your friends. You would be surprised at how much adult conversations are picked up by children, and how many off-hand comments are misinterpreted or have the propensity to become phrases that might haunt us in the future. While some repeated phrases are embarrassing, others may have consequences that you may not realize.Be Careful with Your AdjectivesWe add descriptive characteristics to almost everything we see – the man with the hat, the woman wearing yellow, the dog with fluffy hair. Other features, which may be noticeable as well, need not be used to describe people, such as “the bald man”, “the big-headed baby.” These phrases showcase negative body images that will continue to be “wrong” throughout your child’s life.“Hurry Up”Children are dawdlers, but not on purpose. It takes longer for growing minds to understand the steps to prepare for leaving, so finding socks, putting on the socks, finding both shoes, putting on both shoes, and using the restroom seem to take years. Their purpose in life is to have fun, and our impatience can lead to intense frustration for any parent. If you are planning on leaving at 7:00 to drop your child off at school, it’s important to have all your items ready the night before. Never admonish a child because you are rushed.“Let Me Help You”Helicopter parents hover, constantly catching their child before every fall and guiding their hand for every movement. Studies have found that these children have a difficult time relying on themselves later in life. If you make every decision in your child, they will not learn to decide anything on their own. Stop saying “let me do that for you.” Instead, offer choices: “would you like to wear the red shirt or the blue one?” and let your child make mistakes as it’s the best opportunity for them to learn. The Orlando private school's blog page has helpful hints for parents to encourage their children to excel academically, spiritually, and socially. To learn more about private schools in Orlando, contact us at 407-246-4800.