How to Criticize a Child Correctly: Don't Say This "Harmless" Word
You can't ignore a child's bad behavior.
Parents must make it clear to the child that what he did was wrong.
Criticism is welcome. But it must be fair.
It is not the child himself that should be criticized, but the actions he has taken.
What word should you never use when criticizing a child?
When explaining to a child that a particular action is unacceptable, mothers and fathers should not use the pronoun “you”.
It would seem, what’s wrong with this harmless word?
The problem is that when using this pronoun, parents begin to criticize the child, and not his behavior.
This is very dangerous. The child may come to the conclusion that he is the one considered bad, and his actions are just a reason to once again make a claim against him.
Agree that the phrase “This action is bad” sounds better than “You are bad.”
And instead of the phrase “You insulted us with your actions!” it is better to say: “This is an unworthy act.”
In this case, the child will not take criticism to heart and will certainly demonstrate a willingness to correct his behavior.
