Parenting Tips – Ways Parents Encourage Bad Behaviour in their Kids, Unknowingly?
Almost every loving parent will swear by everything they hold dear that they’ll never encourage bad behaviour in their little ones — at least, not deliberately. Kids naturally over-imitate their parents, copying everything they see adults demonstrate, intentionally or unintentionally.
Children can pick up bad behaviours, just like they can learn kindness and manners from their parents. Such imitations can leave long-lasting effects on children. You can promise to only teach your children what’s right knowingly. But if you’re noticing some red flags in their behaviour, here are some ways you may be encouraging them unknowingly.
4 Ways Parents Encourage Bad Behaviour In Their Kids
Ways Parents Encourage Bad Behaviour in their Kids #1
Not Being Firm
You’ve already insisted that your child cannot have another cookie. Your little one pulls the tantrum trick out of their trick bag, and you throw your hands up in despair and allow them to have that extra cookie. At this point, your child now knows they can twist your arm with a good-quality, drop-roll-and scream tantrum into getting what they want. And they’ll continue to use this trick until you start being more firm with your “no.”
Ways Parents Encourage Bad Behaviour in their Kids #2
Laughing at Bad Behaviours
Most parents are guilty of seeing the funny and cute side of some bad behaviours in children. For example, your child sticks some noodles in their nose behind the dinner table, and you find it cute and funny and laugh about it. Your child sees some validation in that laughter and now sticks food up their nose even in public, hoping to get the same reaction from you and others.
You unintentionally encourage your child to continue when you laugh at bad behaviour. Few things make a child happier than making their parents laugh. So, instead of laughing, let your child know they are acting unacceptably and teach them the right way to behave.
Further Reading: 6 Ways to Give Your Child More Freedom Safely
Ways Parents Encourage Bad Behaviour in their Kids #3
Setting Bad Behaviour Examples
From constantly arguing or yelling with their spouses to being rude to other people, many parents unknowingly set bad examples without realising that their kids are noticing. Your child notices how you treat others, your tone of voice, and the choice of words you use when you’re emotionally charged. They pick up all these behaviours and exhibit them when you least expect them to, whether at home or in public. Therefore, you need to keep such unhealthy behaviours and others like smoking and heavy drinking away from your kids.
Further Reading: 4 Basic Hygiene Skills for Kids – How to Teach Them
Regarding smoking, for example, you may also want to opt for more subtle alternatives like the voopoo vinci pod with the view to quitting when you’re in the right mindset.
Ways Parents Encourage Bad Behaviour in their Kids #4
Making Excuses For Your Child
Of course, you can’t expect your child to be at their best all the time in everything they do. But the last thing you want to do is make excuses for them all the time, especially with bad behaviour. With time, they’ll learn to make those same excuses for themselves. So, instead of the usual “he’s too tired,” “she’s too young,” “he can’t do that,” find ways to help your child learn the consequences of bad behaviour and how to navigate different challenges without resorting to a bag of excuses.
Further Reading: 6 Steps to Help your Child Build their Best Bedtime Routine
Photos by Andrea Piacquadio – CCO Licence
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