How to Love Your Children Without Judging Them

By Lisette S

Do your kids know you love them? Do your kids know you love them?

Rate: (4 Ratings)

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where someone was judging their children because of how they looked, talked, or walked? Would you ever judge your child this way? Believe it or not some parents do judge their kids and even though they believe they are providing constructive criticism, they are really giving them more insecurities than what they already feel or place insecurities they hadn't thought about.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Respect
  • Love
  • Support

Step1
Help them not hurt them. Let's say your child is overweight. Telling them that fatty foods are not good for them and that they can't eat too much of it, is okay, if you are leading the example and if you don't ban it from their diet. But if you eat fatty foods without restrictions your child is not going to know what is right or wrong and there is a chance they'll eat more because of it. Eating out one or two nights a week and making healthier meals the rest of the week, will help your child cut down on bad eating habits.
Step2
Support your child in discovering their talent. Your child wants to play a musical instrument or wants to sing in the school musical. You don't care for instruments and you wouldn't be caught dead singing on stage, but the best thing to do would be to let them try it. Trying to persuade them not to do it because you think your child is not good enough is not the best thing, because even if they take it as good criticism, they could still hold it against you for the rest of their adult life. Who wants to hear that you were the reason for them not reaching their potential?
Step3
Respect who they will become. Your child is in high school already and suddenly they want a change in wardrobe, hairstyle, hair color, jewelry etc. What would be the harm in letting them express their individuality? As long as they are respectful to you and others, are not in trouble with the law or in a gang, letting them be who they are can help them discover who they will become. They could end up being a manicurist, hairstylist, tattoo artist, or fashion designer.
Step4
Treat them as any child even if they have a disability. Even if your child has a learning disability, Attention deficit disorder, autism, or is in a wheelchair shouldn't stop you from supporting what they want to do. Children with disabilities can do things like play in sports, or swim just like everyone else. There will be limitations on what they can do, but just the fact they you are helping and supporting can boost their self esteem ten times higher than telling them there disability won't let them do things that other children can.

Tips & Warnings

  • Kids can be resilient and fragile both at the same time, and telling that you love them no matter who they are will make them stronger as they grow older.
  • Ridiculing them to make them stop wearing funny clothes,
  • Bullying them to make them stronger,
  • Picking on them for being themselves, or
  • Making them wear makeup to hide pimples instead of taking them to the doctor,
  • Will just make them insecure and no matter how much you think doing this will help, in the end it does not and can make your child do the same thing to their younger siblings or relatives or kids in their school because they think that this is the way they should be.

Comments

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on 3/21/2008 Very good article!

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on 1/8/2008 This is a good reminder for me! Thank you!

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on 1/5/2008 I wrote this article because I know some parents who criticize their children because they believe that will help them not turn out into something they probably see in themselves or don't want them to be. For example a little girl with a belly the mom might say don't eat too much or it will get bigger or you will get fat.this is something that I think should not be said to a small child.

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on 1/5/2008 yes you are right. thanks for adding that as well.

grouch said

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on 1/5/2008 If you have made your impression in the younger years your children will know what you exspect from them. As for the clothes and hair. It will grow back and you will have plenty of time to laugh about the latter with them when they are older and it is out of fashion. Life is too short to spend time on minor things.

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eHow Article:  How to Love Your Children Without Judging Them

eHow Member: Lisette S

Lisette S

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Category: Parenting

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