Things parents need to STOP saying in front of their kids

Children hear, children say!

I recently overheard a toddler calling another child 'stupid' during a playdate. I would have written it off as one of the silly things children say (but need to be corrected for) but I was shocked when I realised that the child was saying this in front of his mother. 'You are right mommy, she is stupid', he went on to say. The mommy in question was flushing and didn't know where to look. It was obvious that the mother had called the other girl stupid at some point, and her son was simply repeating her words. I did not blame the child anymore. 'Children hear, children say' if only all parents remember this, they'll stop saying some of the wrong things that they do in their child's presence. Here are a few things that are a no-no.

• Cussing and using bad words: We all understand that cussing around kids is bad, and yet we have children who say words like a**hole and the f-word with ease. Of course, children don't understand what it means, but it is nevertheless not something you want your child to learn.
• Belittling others: Just like the stupid comment, parents don't realise that speaking ill about others with your children around is bad. If you don't like a person, reserve your comments for a time when your child is not around.
• Using offensive words in reference to other people: It is a habit with most people to join colourful prefixes when talking about certain people. Your child is hearing that, absorbing it and it will come out in the most embarrassing of situations.
• Citing other children as bad example: A child who is known as a crybaby, or who plays rough, or who doesn't eat much -- do you have to cite these children as bad example,. something you don't want your child to become? Imagine your child parroting all this to that very child. Shame!
• Badmouth grandparents or relatives: So you don't get along with your in-laws. But do you really need to express your views in front of your child? I had a niece once who went and told her grandmother what exactly her mom felt about the grandmother living with them. It did not end well.

It is true that children learn more from actions, but sometimes our wrong words can also cause irreparable damage.

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