(Image source from: Parents! Don’t use phrases with potential to harm your child’s future})

According to a new study, simple phrases commonly used by parents to describe their children could harm them more than benefitting them in future. The phrases include 'You naughty girl', 'Don't be stupid' and so on.

Such phrases that are commonly used by parents may turn bad to the self-esteem of kids. They may even begin to associate with these labels. So, instead of using such phrases, psychologists suggest parents to find out the under lying cause for their behavior or problem as well as to come up with a solution.

Few harmful phrases – parents should avoid

'You naughty girl'
'Don't be stupid'
'How many times have I told you?'
'Wait until you're home'
'You make mummy very happy when you eat all your dinner'

Avid using the phrase 'How many times have I told you?', rather engage with the child and ask the effective way to make the child understand the message. Don’t make something a completion for your children rather help them understand the resulting effect of their action.

Few phrases like 'Wait until you're home' or ‘I will send you to school’ usually create a tension and cause a feeling of fear and insecurity in your child. Few statements, which look positive, like 'If you complete your homework, I will take you for a movie', 'You make mummy very happy when you eat all your dinner', will actually have a negative impact on your child. The kid starts associating a reward, attention and praise with hard work. This could make them turn as people pleasers in life.

-Sumana