3 Words Parents Need To Redefine For Their Kids

Sep 11, 2020 · 3m 34s

Description

When my child was born, I realized pretty quickly that there were words I used thoughtlessly that needed some redefinition. When they would toddle around and bump their head, I’d...

When my child was born, I realized pretty quickly that there were words I used thoughtlessly that needed some redefinition. When they would toddle around and bump their head, I’d try to distract them, to get them to stop crying, by picking them up and tossing them in the air while telling them that they were "tough”. At the same time, I was working with young teens in campus ministry and I’d find myself frustrated with how little they empathized with others. Then it hit me—maybe a key to empathy is being comfortable with your own feelings. If so, defining “tough” as “non-emotional” isn’t the best strategy for raising a healthy adult.

Sometimes words carry cultural baggage that creates barriers, making it difficult for kids to understand what it means to live well. Redefining words is a critical skill for parents. In fact, redefining words helps our kids see the world more clearly. Here are 3 words we need to redefine for our children.

show less