6 Damaging habits parents of unsuccessful kids have in common

ashley

19 Oct 2017

Avoid these common parenting habits that’ll hurt your kids in more ways than one.

1/6
Helicopter parents
Admit it: we're all guilty of over-parenting. After all, we just want the best for our little ones. However, being excessively 'involved' and controlling in your children's life will only hurt your child in the long run. Take a step back and let them learn from their mistakes. This fosters a sense of independence and confidence at a young age.
2/6
Parents who are emotionally distant
On the other end of the spectrum, there are parents who are too disconnected from their kid's life. The lack of attention and nurturing will only compel your child to act out in a plea for your love. Take an interest in your little one's life and ensure that they are well-cared for physically and emotionally. You don't have to smother them with love 24/7. Instead, check in on them from time to time to see how they're doing.
3/6
Parents who yell at their kids a lot
During the tumultuous rollercoaster of parenthood, it becomes only a matter of time until you feel like tearing your hair out in frustration and scream. Believe us, you're not alone.

However, yelling at your kid is not the way to go. Yelling induces a sense of fear and stress or a psychological response in children. Not only is it ineffective in controlling your children, it only serves to make them afraid of making mistakes - an absolutely detrimental mindset to have.
4/6
Parents who spank their kids
Corporal punishment, like spanking, does your child no favours. There are countless other ways to enforce discipline or to get your point across. Engaging in physical punishment only serves to widen the parent-child relationship instead of bridging it. Many a time, corporal punishment only exacerbated the problem. As such, stick to talking it out in a calm manner with your child instead.
5/6
Parents who are overly-authoritative
Being an overly-authoritative figure in the household packs a much more detrimental punch than you think. With its adverse effects on your child's cognitive and psychological state, you could be seriously harming your child without knowing. By enforcing overly strict and restrictive rules, you'd be discouraging open communication, confidence and even an opinionated mindset. Indeed, loosening the reigns will help your child in the long run.
6/6
Parents who let their kids too much television
It's been backed by research that children who spent more time watching television were much less likely to participate in class or achieve good math scores. Watching too much television also has adverse health effects as well. As such, it would be wise to limit your child's daily television usage.

We all want the best for our kids. However, as good as our intentions are, some seemingly innocuous parenting techniques may have more disastrous ramifications on your child than you think. According to a recent investigative study by the Vanderbilt University, there are some definite parental practices that can potentially curtail a child’s cognitive, social and psychological development.

We’ve compiled a list of debilitating habits you might be guilty of as a parent that foster unsuccessful kids. From ‘helicopter parenting’ to being emotionally distant, these traits are a huge no-no when it comes to raising happy, healthy and confident children. Head over to the gallery for 6 detrimental parenting habits to kick to the curb.

Ashley Anand

Photos: Getty Images

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