Parenting can be difficult and sometimes it feels like you need all the help you can get. Unfortunately, not all parenting hacks work, and some can actually have a negative effect on your children.
However, because we are unaware of any alternatives, we frequently utilize them despite knowing the potential negative effects on our child.
To help you avoid making the same mistakes, here are some parenting hacks that don’t work.
Remember, I am no expert and just a regular parent like you who is learning on the job 😉
Distracting Your Child With Technology
Using technology to distract your child from a difficult situation or to get them to do something they don’t want to do can seem like a great idea at the moment. However, this can create a dependence on technology and can make it more difficult for your child to learn to entertain themselves or focus on tasks without the use of screens.
Promising Unreasonable Rewards
Promising your child a reward for completing a task can be a great way to motivate them, but promising rewards that are too big or too unrealistic can backfire. Not only can this give your child unrealistic expectations, but it can also make them less likely to do the task in the future.
This is one of the most common parenting hacks used right from childhood.
Negative Reinforcement
Using negative reinforcement, such as taking away privileges or scolding your child, is not an effective way to teach them the lesson you are trying to get across. This can make them feel bad about themselves and less likely to listen to you in the future.
Using Fear to Motivate
Many parents use fear as a way to motivate their children. While this might seem like an effective way to get your children to do something, it can actually have a negative effect on their development. Fear-based parenting can make children more anxious and less likely to take risks.
Bribing
Bribing your child with candy or other treats might seem like a good way to get them to do something, but it can actually be quite damaging to their development. Bribing your child can make them less likely to follow rules and less likely to listen to you in the future.
Yelling
Yelling might seem like a good way to get your child’s attention, but it can actually be quite damaging to their emotional development. Yelling at your child can make them feel inadequate and can make them less likely to listen to you in the future.
This is another common tactic used by parents in most Indian households though it is changing for GEN Z!
Rigid Rules
Having rules and expectations for your children is important, but having too many strict rules can be damaging to their development. Rigid rules can make your child feel like they are not being heard or respected, and can make them less likely to listen to you in the future.
Using Guilt
Using guilt to try and get your child to do something can be tempting, but it can actually be quite damaging to their development. Guilt-tripping your child can make them feel bad about themselves and can make them less likely to listen to you in the future.
Conclusion
I agree that parenting can be difficult, and sometimes it feels like you just do not know what to do about a situation. You feel like you are running out of ideas and try a few of the above mentioned hacks.
But it’s important to remember that not all parenting hacks work and some can actually be damaging to your child’s emotional and mental development.
By avoiding the above parenting hacks, you can make sure you are giving your child the best possible upbringing.
~~Happy Parenting!!
