Children are Vulnerable and Trusting

They want to please the people they love.

Someone once asked me, “Is it abusive to slap a child on the head for giving you a bad look?”

Yes, I think it’s abusive. 

Children are born vulnerable and trusting. They want so much to please the people they love.

Children aren’t born knowing. As parents, we’re their first teachers. It’s up to us to teach them and show by example how to be caring, honest, and how to behave so society will accept them.

I’ve heard it said that like begets like.

• If we want to raise a child who can’t be trusted, or truthful —lie to them.

• If we want to raise a controlling child who bullies other children —ignore them. It will take away their dignity and sense of self worth.

• If we want to raise a mean and hurtful child, a bully —abuse them.

To be slapped, especially for something so minor as a ‘bad look’, teaches only negatives —too many to list here. It also creates distrust and the worst kind of fear —a fear of those they love most.

When we reach out to brush a lock of hair from their forehead, do we want them to recoil in fear?

A hand that reaches out to a child from a parent should be filled with only love and good intentions …

Poet/Writer/Author of 5 books.
Quora Top Writer 2018.
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