Overcaring
If parents do everything for their children like dressing, cleaning up, and feeding, the children will not be able to be independent. The fact that parents don’t let their children do anything is like ruining their own children.
Depending on the age, children can do appropriate things according to their abilities. Parents should challenge their children with difficult tasks gradually and reinforce the things that children can do by themselves.
Giving constant orders
Many parents think that their children are still young and don’t know what to do, so they have to guide and order them to do things their own way. The result is that the children only know how to rely on others or rebel in their teenage years.
The phrases “should” and “must” will make children lose motivation to try everything, erode their creativity and curiosity about the world around them.
Helping too much
It’s a good thing for parents to help their children when they encounter difficulties. However, this help also needs to have limits, and parents need to avoid helping too much. When children overcome difficulties and think for themselves, it will build their confidence and courage to face many challenges in life.
Helping children too much will deprive them of the opportunity to learn important skills in the process of growing up.
Asking children to do things beyond their abilities
A child with a capability of 5, for example, will find it difficult to do things beyond their capabilities like 7 or 10. Forcing children to do things beyond their abilities only weakens their self-confidence and sense of self.
It’s truly happy to hear children proudly declare “I succeeded” after making efforts to overcome a small challenge and achieve their goals.
Deciding for children
Many parents think that if they don’t like sports, their children probably don’t like them either. They may decide what their children should learn or play, which undermines their children’s potential.
Even if parents think they are doing what is best for their children, they should not command or force them. It’s best for parents to create opportunities for their children to experience different things so that they will know what they like.
Bluntly rejecting
Firm responses from parents like “you can’t do this,” “it’s not for you,” can hurt their children’s self-esteem. A child constantly being denied can start to doubt their abilities and think “I’m not capable,” “I can’t succeed.” This can deeply affect the subconscious of children and make them afraid to do anything.
Prioritizing children’s passions
Children are often attracted and passionate about things that fascinate them. They will use all the power of their brain including emotions, memory, imagination, and skills. In other words, a child’s brain is most active and productive, so parents should not disturb or interrupt their children.
When parents see their children passionate about something, they should let them fully engage in it. Don’t take it away or force them to stop halfway because of parents’ personal preferences.
Not allowing children to fail
The feeling of failure will help children find a way to succeed. If parents always protect their children from failure, they will learn less.
The best way to teach children that they can achieve something from failure is to challenge them. Besides that, parents should also become role models for their children to follow.
Not giving children diverse experiences
Diverse experiences from an early age are very important for children as it helps them have more choices for the future and find their potential.
Limiting children’s opportunities for experiences also limits their choices. It’s best to let children do many different things including playing and studying so that they can find out what they want to do.