Your words carry more weight than you realize.
Originally appeared at BuzzFeed
1. “Girls/boys don’t do that.”
Evan Habeeb/Usa Today Sports
You don’t want to stop your kids from exploring something they may very well excel at.
2. “You’re a bad boy/girl.”
Fox
When you say this you’re hoping your kid will stop acting up, but all you’re really doing is reinforcing the idea that they are bad. You’re better off saying something like, “Right now you’re not acting like the good girl/boy that I know you are.”
3. “Be a man!”
NBC
It’s important for kids to learn to express their emotions, but statements like this only create those emotionally unavailable people we all know (but love anyway).
4. “Why can’t you do anything right?”
5. “I hate my body.”
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Great advice, right? There are 11 more great points at BuzzFeed.