mmalabanan
Believe it or not, parents can be far worse than schoolyard bullies.
Out of anger, some parents tend to criticize their children and resort to calling them nasty names to discipline them. People who are supposed to give them unconditional love often become careless and unknowingly inflict emotional abuse on their young minds.
While it may seem harmless, calling your kid stupid or lazy actually damages them for life.
In her interview with Inquirer, psychologist Ma. Lourdes “Honey” Carandang revealed that words uttered by parents on their kids can have unpleasant, long-term consequences on their well-being.
Adjectives such as stupid and lazy are negative labels that “inflict invisible wounds” that child carries with him or her for life, according to Carandang.
Playing favorites
The clinical psychologist also revealed that showing favoritism and preferential treatment on a specific child could be hurting another child.
“That’s the kind of bullying that’s very subtle. It is insulting, it is pulling down (the other child). Parents can be guilty and not be aware,” Carandang said.
According to Carandang, many children who have negative experience on preferential treatment immediately assume they are bullied. When this situation is not properly addressed, the child often becomes a victim of bullying in other places like school or the playground because they are used to feeling bullied at home.
Bullying starts at home
Moreover, Carandang believes that many cases of school bullying were developed at home.
“What we don’t see is that the origin (of the behavior) could be the home, so let’s be aware of how we discipline our children. We have to do away with putting down or emotionally labeling our children,” Carandang explained.
