17 Parenting Trends That Absolutely Set Kids Up for Failure
Everyone has an opinion about parenting styles. While some are effective, some might lead their kids into becoming a snowflake.
Unfortunately, parenting styles will be a never-ending debate as many people think their style is the best. Some parenting styles include authoritative, uninvolved, and gentle parenting.
Some parenting styles might seem effective, as it’s the current trend. However, just because it’s popular doesn’t mean it’s perfect. To help you, we’ve gathered a list of parenting trends that can lead kids to failure.
1. Relying on Technology About Everything
Many parents today rely on technology and use it as their free babysitter. They let their children watch TV all day just to get things done. However, too much screen exposure can be harmful to them.
Excessive screen exposure harms your children’s eyes and brains. Notice how screen-dependent kids are easily irritated. It’s because they’re used to being entertained and cannot live without any activity.
2. Being a Helicopter Parent
Yes, we want the best for our children. We always want them to be safe and in a perfect environment. However, being a helicopter parent can be harmful to your children.
Constantly checking on your children 24/7, especially when they’re older, can make them uncomfortable. Your children need to be independent and face the world on their own. Trust that your child can do things on their own, and let them face challenges and resolve them.
3. Being Too Serious About Their Kid’s Sports
It’s fun to see our children play and strive in sports. However, we should not be too serious about pushing our children into sports, especially if it takes away the fun.
Your children should have fun while they play sports. Some parents push their children to be the best, and they put in a lot of hours for training every day. Your child doesn’t have to be the number one on their team unless they want to for themselves.
4. Preparing New Meals
Having a picky eater child is genuinely stressful. Trust me, I’ve been there. It’s frustrating when I plated a fun-looking meal and am ignored or cried about.
As much as you want to, you shouldn’t prepare a new meal for your child if they don’t like what’s on their plate. Yes, you can take into account what they generally don’t like to eat. But try not to give in to their tantrums when they’re not eating what you serve. When you prepare a new meal every time your child asks, they will not learn to eat what’s on their plate and will know you’ll make something new when they ask.
5. Denying the Kid’s Negative Experiences
We want to maximize our children’s innocence and help them see the good in the world. Unfortunately, as reality goes, negative experiences and surroundings are bound to happen, and that’s okay.
Acknowledge that negative experiences are a normal part of life. Teach your children how to handle negative emotions and situations. That way, they can face the world and navigate it on their own.
6. Being Their Friend Too Early
We want our children to be comfortable with us. However, we shouldn’t be their friend while they’re young. We should be their parent.
We should teach and guide our children to the path as they age. Don’t make your children your therapist or dump problems on their shoulders. Instead, help them reach their goals and go for their dreams from a young age.
7. Not Teaching Basic Manners
Surprisingly, many children today don’t know basic manners. It’s a shame that children don’t know how to say “please” and “thank you” as they’re used to people giving them everything they want.
As soon as your baby learns how to talk, you should teach them basic manners. Teach them to say “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me.” Teach them how to be courteous to others and learn how to share.
8. Misinterpretation of “Gentle Parenting”
Gentle parenting is getting more popular as parents today are a result of a traumatic parenting experience. Gentle parenting is not raising your voice to your child but instead disciplining them more softly. However, many people misinterpret gentle parenting as being submissive, where they give in to what their child wants.
Gentle parenting still involves discipline and teaching. It just doesn’t involve loud reactions or extreme actions, you’ll talk to your kid and explain things to them instead.
9. Different Parenting Styles
Having multiple children can make parenting extra challenging. You want to make sure that you treat all children fairly to avoid any sibling conflict.
Unfortunately, some parents may treat their children differently. Some might impose authoritarian parenting for the oldest, while they gently parent the younger sibling. Inconsistent parenting styles among every sibling may lead to a future disagreement as they may feel that one is favored over the others.
10. The Momfluencer Trend
There are many ways parents can earn money while they stay at home. While being a momfluencer is a great way to make a quick buck, there may be concerns when it comes to your child’s development.
With a huge audience, you can never guarantee that your viewers aren’t predators. Some parents spend most of their time with children in front of the camera rather than being private. If you’re part of the movement, make sure that you balance the well-being and privacy of your kids with the exposure you give them on social media.
11. Too Much Extracurricular Activities
It’s great to keep your child busy. However, exhausting your children with extracurricular activities can do more harm than good. Your kid might not see the fun anymore and will not have a good time with the activities you force your child into.
Let your child choose what activity they want during breaks or weekends. Don’t force them into having multiple sports or lessons, just for your sake. You should help your children discover themselves and what they like.
12. Avoiding Any Form of Punishment
You’ll surprise yourself with how many parents avoid giving their children punishment. They feel like it’s unnecessary, and they could just teach them what they should and shouldn’t do. While it may be true, children need to learn that there are consequences to their actions.
If your child does something wrong, like hitting others, learn to give them a consequence. For example, you can limit what they can do with their day, reduce screen time, or have them do chores.
13. Not Setting Boundaries
You are the parent, not your child. You should set boundaries that your children should respect. Without rules, your children will think they can do anything they want, and there’s no harm.
Set rules for your children. For example, you may want to set a set number of hours for your child’s daily screen time.
14. Removes Every Challenge
We want to make our children’s lives easy and comfortable. However, sometimes, we need to help children face reality and let them overcome challenges alone.
Some parents like to remove any inconvenience or challenges from their kid’s lives. When they grow up not dealing with problems, they will never know what to do when they’re older. Let your child solve problems on their own and help them to be stronger.
15. Not Allowing the Child to Reason
How often have we experienced our parents telling us never to talk back to them because they’re older and it’s disrespectful? While talking back in a harmful way isn’t good, we should still allow our children to reason out and defend themselves.
Before you argue with your child, calm yourself first and try to communicate as much as possible. Introduce the problem and ask their side of the story. That way, you can have a honest conversation about what happened.
16. Pushing the Kids Too Hard
Most parents want their children to excel in everything they do. Unfortunately, that may involve pushing their children a little bit too hard. While we want to help our kid’s full potential, you might put unnecessary pressure on their tiny bodies.
Don’t push your children too hard. Whether it be in academics or sports, let your child do their own thing. Let them enjoy their youth and go after their dreams if they choose to.
17. Putting Kids on Social Media Too Early
Almost everything is on social media. With that, you shouldn’t encourage or allow your kids to have their social media accounts too early. The online world can easily shape your child’s mind, affecting their behavior.
Ideally, postpone your child’s social media use as much as possible. Let your child explore the world with their two eyes and without the influence of the internet. Involve them in activities or encourage their hobbies to keep them occupied.
18 Clever Boomer Tips and Tricks That Millennials and Gen Z Need to Know
It’s no secret that boomers live differently from millennials and Gen Z. This is evident when it comes to financial discipline and living within their means. In fact, research states that the housing market belongs to the boomer generation, and younger people only live in it. Also, boomers hold half of the United States’s wealth, which is mostly tied to real estate. I don’t know about you, but as a millennial, there are many things I want to learn from them.
18 Clever Boomer Tips and Tricks That Millennials and Gen Z Need to Know
10 Parents Admit The Hardest Things About Having a Child
I recently scrolled the internet’s front page when I saw this question, “What do you think is the worst part of having a child?” Here are the top-voted responses.
12 Frugal Tips for Single Dads: Save Money Without Sacrificing Your Family
Being a single dad can be challenging, balancing parenting and budgeting. But who says you can’t ace both? With the right strategies, you can keep your finances in check without compromising your family’s needs and happiness.
