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Kids are extremely impressionable. And while it may seem like they’re not always listening or paying attention, they are probably soaking up everything they hear adults say like a sponge. Though many moms and dads have the impulse to parent the exact same way they were raised, as it’s easy to repeat what we already know, this can be a surefire way to pass on the same harmful ideas that we were taught as kids. For example, if your father always forced you to eat all of the food on your plate, regardless of how hungry you were, you might think, “Hey, I turned out fine. I can teach my kids the same thing.”

However, if you actually take the time to stop and consider how that affected your relationship with food, you might decide that’s not the best message to be spreading to your little ones. When we take time to consider what’s being taught to children, we might realize that there are harmful ideas being slipped into our lives all the time. And although it’s too late to correct how we were raised, we might be able to make some things easier for the younger generations.

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) “Anyone in this classroom able to play piano?” An elementary school teacher asks.

Nobody raise a hand until this one little girl doubtfully raise her hand.

“Really? You can play piano? Please show us how you play.”

With a heart pounding so hard like it’s never before, the little girl plays a simple classic song. Definitely not perfect; missed notes here and there but she keeps going. After she finished playing, the teacher says “What was that? It’s not a real song. Anyone else able to play piano?” Everybody laugh. Later, the little girl begging her parents to let her quit her piano lessons.

It happens to me when I was about 8 years old.

If people are wondering why kids are mean and bully, the answer is: adults taught them to be.

Big-Bell6898 , Klara Kulikova Report

Final score:

460points

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Mama Penguin 2 years ago

A-hole teacher.

262points

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) Your parents are always right.

holaxamigo , Benjamin Manley Report

Final score:

456points

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Powercat 2 years ago

Can we make this go much higher in the list please?

90points

There are also ideas being passed onto kids through society and media. I’m sure we all experienced this as kids as well, regardless of what decades we grew up in. But as children are becoming more and more plugged-in, with access to cell phones and social media at extremely young ages, it has become much harder to control what information they have access to. In 2018, the average age for kids to start using social media was 12.6, but it’s likely only gotten younger since then, as Cleveland Health reported last year that half of kids between the ages of 10 and 12 are already using social media apps.

So what’s the impact of all of this internet use on kids? Well, kids online at a young age are likely to take part in dangerous online behavior such as having online-only friends (that could be adults for all they know), visiting sites not intended for young audiences and participating in online harassment and bullying. Kids that spend more time online have also been noted to experience behavioral changes like becoming more irritable, experiencing increased anxiety and seeing a drop in their self-esteem.

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) I used to work at a movie theater back in the day and I'll never forget witnessing a kid pick up their trash on their way out like a responsible person and their mother instructing them to put it back down because it is not their responsibility. Probably way more harmful things being taught to kids, but the story just came back to my mind.

mrada34 , Jasmin Sessler Report

Final score:

436points

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Izzy_ 2 years ago

I hate walking out of the movie theater and seeing so much trash left behind. my husband tends to do that too, so I make sure to loudly say "we ate this, it's our responsibility to take it to the trash. What kind of human doesn't clean up after themselves???" And people around just walk look away and walk out faster XD

28points

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) That anyone you spend time with of the opposite sex is automatically your boy/girlfriend. Instills the idea that you can only be friends with those of the same gender as you, which is messed up.

"What did you do at break time today?"

"I had fun playing with Sarah."

"Oooh, is Sarah your girlfriend?"

MegaMachina , Alvin Mahmudov Report

Final score:

397points

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bibbitybobbityboop 2 years ago

I totally agree it pushes harmful things on the children making them think they have to starting dating any friend that’s the opposite gender of them.

122points

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) “Boys don’t cry!”

VeryCreativeSwede , Annie Spratt Report

Final score:

394points

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Bubbles and sparks 2 years ago

Whoever came up with that one.... Everyone should be able to show their emotions. That f*cking macho culture is just so sad... Men are still men, even when they show their tears. No shame in crying.

146points

According to child psychologist Dr. Kate Eshleman, adults need to keep a close eye on their little ones when they’re online because it’s easy for them to enter dangerous territory. “Kids don’t have the cognitive and executive functioning to think through harmful situations and why those might be a bad idea,” Dr. Eshleman told Cleveland Health. “So sometimes they’re placing themselves in physical risk.”

This could include sharing too much information like their address, where they go to school, their parents’ names and professions, their phone numbers or even worse, credit card numbers or social security numbers. Kids can even be pressured to partake in dangerous viral trends, which often circulate on websites like TikTok and Instagram. And of course, it can be extremely difficult for children to know whether a person they meet online is a predator. Even people they do know can cyberbully them, but kids often don’t understand when they should and shouldn’t engage. It’s best to teach them that they should limit their time online in the first place, contrary to what they might be hearing from the world and their friends.

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) That questioning authority is a bad thing.

Spluff5 , Hunters Race Report

Final score:

341points

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StarlightPanda! 2 years ago

People of authority aren't always right or safe, so it's not necessarily a bad thing to question it.

98points

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) That if someone teases/bullies you, that person may like you. Basically teaching kids at a young age that it's 'ok' when someone is being mean and rude to you.

ohmystelena , James Sutton Report

Final score:

328points

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BlackestDawn 2 years ago

Or even worse, teaching kids that abusive relationships are not only ok but possibly "better" than non abusive ones.

117points

Welp time to get downvoted.

I’m a proponent against bubble wrapping kids feelings. I’m not saying let’s bully and abuse the children, but we don’t let them feel tough things anymore. And I’m not here to get political or anything. I’m just saying, kids aren’t encouraged to explore trails of thought without acting on them, they’re not encouraged to be scared or push themselves physically and mentally, they’re not encouraged to challenge status quo and I mean real status quo, not the whole “society will tell you this but don’t listen little timmy” meanwhile every other kid is being told that thing and not doing it. Yes let kids laugh, but also let them know it’s okay to cry, and if they want to hold back the tears sometimes, that’s okay too, just, don’t go your whole life trying to keep things “good”. Bad things in our lives make us better sometimes and we don’t always have to suppress that as terrible as it sounds.

AdventureEngineer Report

Final score:

323points

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T. Unnamable 2 years ago

Life is often unfair, unkind or unequal. Children need to learn that and how to cushion the disappointments.

119points

Another potentially harmful idea that children are sometimes taught is that they should be scared of everything. Well-intentioned parents sometimes shield their kids too much and teach them that there is danger lurking around every corner, from strangers, school shooters, neighbors, the internet, films and even foods they could choke on. While it's important to be honest with our kids about the inherent risks in the world that they should be cautious of, kids should also be allowed to embrace their natural bravery. Kids are usually not scared of much, until they have a reason to be, and the last things they should be worrying about are falling off the swings or having an intruder enter their homes. They should be free to dive head first into life, and yes, they might break a bone or chip a tooth now and then, but that builds character. Raising children that are too scared to ever try anything new will not set them up for success later in life.

#10

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) Finish everything on your plate!

88TacocaT88 , Ella Olsson Report

Final score:

322points

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Powercat 2 years ago (edited)

I developped severe digestive issues because of this. I've always been tiny. When I wasn't able to finish my plate, my parents insisted I had to eat all the meat at least (no, not the veggies, the meat!) Which happened every day, so I ended up eating mostly meat and too much of it. I was constipated, bloated and nauseated all the time. And it didn't make me any bigger.

87points

#11

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) Not specifically taught, but moreso an effect of how we teach kids.

Smart and gifted kids in school aren’t challenged enough. Those that do very well, even in a specific subject instead of overall, aren’t taught proper work ethic because they excel already and don’t need to work as hard. Since they aren’t challenged early, they don’t learn how to work when challenged, and they end up doing poorly in school later in life. I know it’s hard to do, but we really need to be aware that we’re setting kids up to fail when we don’t properly challenge them.

Damurph01 , Kenny Eliason Report

Final score:

306points

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ItsJess 2 years ago

This is very accurate; I was able to coast in the lower grades and do well, but I never actually learned how to study, organize my work and retain information, it was a huge struggle in high school.

134points

#12

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) That EVERYONE should go to college. Such BS.

This is the myth that school districts use to justify the near total elimination of vocation programs.

Edward_the_Dog , Dom Fou Report

Final score:

299points

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Chucky Cheezburger 2 years ago

I agree with this. College costs so damn much and it seems most jobs available afterwards dont pay enough to cover the cost of the education that's required.

73points

Arthur C. Brooks wrote an article for The Atlantic explaining just why we should not teach our kids to be too fearful of the world, and one way he mentioned to assuage concerned parents' fears is to look at the actual facts. He notes that it has actually never been safer to be a child in the United States than it is today. Despite how focused on negative news media cycles always seem to be, Brooks writes that, "Since 1935, the number of childhood deaths between the ages of 1 and 4 fell from 450 to 30 per 100,000. It has fallen by nearly half just since 1990, and the decreases in other age groups are similarly impressive." Plus, with all of the technology available to us today, in terms of keeping track of our children and advancements in the medical field, kids have become pretty much invincible. Of course, there are certain rules to always keep in mind like "stranger danger" and looking both ways before crossing the road, but kids should not be scared of simply being kids. They have the rest of their lives to worry; let's not make them do it from a young age.

#13

"Tattling" is bad. That kind of mentality is what leads adults to say nothing when they hear/see domestic violence and various forms of neglect, because its "not their business".

MooshAro Report

Final score:

274points

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Monika 2 years ago

This is exactly what my father says! He's always going "if it isn't your business, don't do anything, it isn't your problem" When i told him that a guy that has a crush on my friend is getting REALLLLLYYYYY creepy and obsessive(taking pics randomly and sending messages saying how much he loves her and that she isn't grateful enough for him) and that i'm gonna tell him to f*ck off, he went "your friend is a coward, she should deal with it herself. Also, you should ask for PERMISSION when dealing with other people's problems" While i might half agree with the 2nd part, she is not a coward, but fighting back herself would put her in a lot of danger

100points

Tamra 2 years ago (edited)

I'm trying to convince myself that your dad is trying to protect you by keeping you off this creepy guy's radar, and maybe he is, but he's going about it in the wrong way. Somehow, some responsible adult needs to be informed of this situation, before something uncomfortable, even tragic, happens to your friend. School counselor, perhaps? But I have to say, and I truly mean no offense, your dad's attitude is pretty crappy.

24points

Maria Mandjik 2 years ago

Your father is wrong, my 89th year old mother that died 4 years, several times intervened, one time my father was driving and they were stopped at a red light, my mother saw 3 men beating a small young man, she flew into the melee and screamed for them to stop, they were so surprised they let the young man and he run off, my father was pissed with my mother.

6points

Seonag Udell 2 years ago

Maybe make sure your friends parents are aware of the situation as well.

5points

Summer Mason 2 years ago

Your welcome to drop that person's user name to me. I'll handle it. I have a particular set of questions I use to back off obsessed and crepper like people. 10/10 have done formy own husband and children.

4points

Alana Voeks 2 years ago (edited)

Power in numbers. And it's MUCH easier for a GUY to spout that to another guy without much thought because they're on equal footing when it comes to mass and size (typically). Women? We need as much help as we can get. Your father is an idiot.

4points

BBsparkster614 2 years ago (edited)

Wow just wow

3points

Petersen with an E 2 years ago

Awwwwww you were just trying to help…

0points

Celena Camps 2 years ago

I am always disagreeing with my kids about the saying snitches get stitches. As a social worker it is crucial to give people a voice when bad things are happening to them. Snitches gets stitches etc just perpetuates abuse etc..

18points

Huddo's sister 2 years ago

I get why this may have become common, because parents hear a million things a day from their kids that aren't necessary helpful, especially about their siblings. Parents don't need to hear 'John is picking his nose' and the like, but parents do need to be able to hear things that are important. I have seen an image used in classrooms labelled 'tattling vs. telling'. Trying to encourage kids to hold their tongue on things that teachers don't need to know while they are trying to teach a lesson, yet feel comfortable to tell them important things. I'm not sure how well it works, but all kids need to feel able to talk to adults about problems so they can get help when they need it.

16points

Deborah Harris2 2 years ago

I totally agree with you. The difficulty lies with what is classed as Important to the eyes of the child. X

11points

Bubbles and sparks 2 years ago

Kids can learn the difference between tattling and telling, but you need to educate them. That is part of the "job" you took on the moment you became a parent.

10points

1ch0 2 years ago

Never hit a child. I was hit as a child, and yes, it hurt me inside. Its never "fine" and f**k that b******t "I was hit as a child and I turned out fine".

8points

Howaboutno 2 years ago

Seconding this. My parents were even self-proclaimed "in moderation only" people, and I've still got a million little ways that ended up messing with me.

4points

StarlightPanda! 2 years ago (edited)

This is pathetically hilarious. I don't know how many times myself as well as others have tried to speak up to adults (teachers/parents/police) about unsafe situations and stuff, just to be ignored and not taken seriously. It's really f***ed up. What's worse is when the adult witnesses a situation and still turns a blind eye.

7points

Alex Martin 2 years ago

I'm going to disagree. Use discretion when deciding to tattle. I've seen kids beaten up and adults lose jobs for speaking up. There are no real protections for most of us when we decide to tell the truth. Speaking up is an act of courage with real consequences and these must be measured.

6points

Brazen 2 years ago

My mom had this rule for us growing up. When she caught my older brother growing a weed plant in his closet, she came to me and asked if I knew what he was doing and how long has he been smoking for. I said I did know, and then she asked why I didn't tell her and my father. I kindly pointed out her no tattling rule. lol

6points

just me 2 years ago

Teach the difference between tattling and reporting. Tattling is bad (telling just to get someone in trouble). Reporting is when it's something dangerous or someone might need help.

3points

Jonathan Nichols 2 years ago

All I can think of is how horrifically worthless the parents of abuse victims are when you realize these poor people have gone through their entire lives without ever being given an environment to stand up for themselves and speak against what's wrong.

2points

Addi Moore 2 years ago (edited)

They taught us this in like kindergarten and then had to reteach it as "tell us if someone is being hurt" in 3rd grade when one kid was being abused and their friends told no one because they didn't want to get in trouble for tattling.

2points

tmw 2 years ago

as a teacher I tell my students there is a difference b/w 'tattling' and 'telling on' someone. Tattling is just to get someone in trouble (johnny is picking his nose!). Telling on someone keeps people out of trouble (johnny is standing up on the swing and going to jump off).

2points

Terp Aviator 2 years ago

Then you have the other extreme. In my family everyone was encouraged to tattle on each other and be involved in each other's business. There were no boundaries

1point

Channon Doughty 2 years ago

Y E S ! ! ! !

1point

Pamela Worthington-Smack 2 years ago

When the treatment of American children by their parents resembles nothing so much as the most insidious efforts of corrupt authoritarian governments, tattlers should be shunned. Anyone who threatens the few remaining chances for children to have privacy, agency, or dignity should be regarded as a threat to their very lives.

1point

Marc Lauzon 2 years ago (edited)

I'll be honest, it is a confusing one. I mean, take care of people you care for. I don't think that's tattling. Tattling for me is purposely trying to get someone into trouble, maybe expecting reward for it. Like a sister selling out her kid brother who ate a cookie behind parents back. I don't consider tattling telling someone they are in a toxic relationship as long as the person is not doing it for personal gain (hoping to be the next pretendant).

1point

Sheila Cobb 2 years ago

If you see something say something. It could mean saving someone’s life. Too many people stick their heads in the sand rather than help others.

1point

Riley Quinn 2 years ago

The number of children trapped in abusive relationships simply due to the adults looking the other way. That's what my childhood was like.

1point

Shane S 2 years ago

Hrmmm depends on the motivation. If your kid is tattleing just to feel good and get someone else in trouble, your kid is a little sh*t.

1point

Ambry Petersen 2 years ago

You need to teach them the difference between the important and not important stuff. Having your child yell (Mommy brother pooted) about thier 1 year old sibling several times a day is a bit much. However teaching them to tell you when one of thier siblings is doing something dangerous is imperitive.

1point

Epiphonia 2 years ago

I always got a hard time because I told people whenever someone was breaking the rules, mostly just when it affected other people. Someone bullying my friend? Get reported to the office. Someone throwing paper at me? Joke’s on you. But if someone breaks a dumb rule, that literally doesn't affect anyone, why would I care? It isn’t hurting anyone or anything.

1point

Sparkle 2 years ago

See something, say something. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem. We discussed in criminology the "bystander effect," and had to decide if being a bystander makes one just as guilty as the one committing the crime due to negligence. They could have intervened by simply calling the authorities, but made the conscious decision not to because "it's not their problem". What do you think?

1point

Carlotta Müller 2 years ago

Tattling IS bad. To say when you see something really bad not. But kids always running to the adult telling every little bit about the other kids, that does not harm anyone, is sooo bad. And grown ups who spy after their neighbor are not cool either.

1point

Don't tread on me 2 years ago

There's no hard rule on this. It's not simple black and white matter.

1point

Kitty White 2 years ago

Since the pandemmy began, there has been a noticeable uptick in the number of topics in the Public Service Announcements sponsored by my state. First it was ‘wear a mask, wash your hands’ then ‘get vaxxed,’ and lately I’ve seen many about reporting suspected child abuse. The message is pretty simple, and I really like it- ‘they’re *our* children, and they deserve to be protected.’ On another note, I had jury duty recently, and saw the body cam video from the cop who arrested the suspect and was interviewing the victims/witnesses. When asked to ID the suspect, one of the women gestured out at the crowd who had gathered and said ‘can we go somewhere else and talk about this? That’s his family, and we DO have to live here.’ After the verdict, the Judge came to the Jury Room to answer questions. Someone remarked that it was a good thing that the victims were willing to testify, since it really influenced our guilty verdict. He laughed and said they most certainly were NOT willing.

1point

Paul Macdonell 2 years ago

But again, not a hard rule, your children should not feel they are the police.

1point

Lex 2 years ago

I hate the whole "snitches get stitches" attitude. Love can be tough, and refusing to say something when you see someone you care about doing something wrong is the opposite of love. If you love someone, that means letting them face the consequences

0points

RoseAnne Hutchence 2 years ago

That's a fine line to walk, isn't it. We say something and of course that means accepting responsibility for our words / actions. Have we overstepped when a minor spanking results in a child being removed from home and dumped into the foster care system. That's just one example of needing to be extremely sure of a situation before doing / saying anything.

0points

Della 2 years ago

This is true. How hard is it to look out for each other?

0points

Jaguarundi 2 years ago

When an animal rescue came to pick up the starved and neglected animals across the street from them. The neighbors said "we wondered what was going on over there, but it was none of our business." This was on the local TV news.

0points

#14

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) that crying is bad. parents don’t learn to regulate their own emotions and expect their kids to do it. then they start suppressing crying. and then they grow to be adults with zero emotional regulation. it’s a cycle.

lonelysof , Zhivko Minkov Report

Final score:

270points

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1ch0 2 years ago

I am glad that I was raised mostly by my mum. And she appreciated as a mother my sensitivity and feelings and made me who I am. <3

55points

#15

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) Teaching them they’re responsible for how other people feel “mommy is so sad you won’t hug her” child then feels obligated to hug her to make her feel better. Think about what this means as an adult…

Cellar_door_1 , Hisu lee Report

Final score:

270points

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Ellie 2 years ago

This.

57points

Another tip Brooks provides for keeping our kids safe without instilling a fear of the world into them is being careful of how we frame advice. He notes that when we inform our children of threats, we often deliver the message in a way that is not specific enough, and research shows that a "blanket attitude" towards fear is not always very effective. "If you want to offer a child a warning to make them better prepared, focus on one specific danger they might face and how to deal with it," Brooks explains. "Instead of saying, 'People will try to take advantage of you at college,' say, 'If someone is trying to get you to drink too much, avoid that person.'"

#16

you have to respect ppl that are older than u, even if they are wrong

starlightforevr Report

Final score:

258points

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Powercat 2 years ago

Upvote x10

82points

#17

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) That saying you’re sorry is showing weakness.

jdith123 , Caleb Woods Report

Final score:

257points

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Elizabeth Elliot 2 years ago

What awful parents teach this? When, how and why you apologise are one of the first things most toddlers get taught!

85points

#18

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) They don't have an opinion. I'm breaking generational curses by simply listening to my kids.

LovableLayla , Tim Mossholder Report

Final score:

248points

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StarlightPanda! 2 years ago

I saw a little girl in a grocery store I worked out, all excited about her day. She tried to tell her mother about it, and then her mother told her she didn't care and to shut up. I was absolutely dumbfounded. This little girl was like 4 years old! What a horrible mother!

141points

Brooks also recommends that parents try to counteract "negative primals", or assumptions that the world is threatening, from the outside. When your children are out of the house, at school or hanging out with their friends, there's no telling what they'll be exposed to. But if they come home stressed and worried about all of the dangers that the world presents, it can be helpful to ease their minds and bring them back down to reality. Brooks explains that with his own daughter, he does not sugarcoat the truths of the world, but he does remind her to focus on the positives. Yes, there are dangerous things and people out there to be cautious of, but they're not everywhere. In fact, there are plenty of wonderful things and people in the world as well. "Instead of teaching our kids fear primals, let’s teach them love primals, which neutralize fear and put something good in its place," he writes. "Let them know that people are made for love—we all crave it, and we can find something lovable in just about everyone we meet."

#19

The worst one I ever witnessed was a single father of a two year old girl who was leaving a social gathering with his daughter, as it was time for her to go to bed. He picked her up and walked her from one guest to the next, strangers and friends alike, making her give each guest a hug and a kiss goodnight. Whether she wanted to or not did not matter to him, she was going to do it because he thought he was teaching her to be polite. I pulled him aside and gave him my thoughts on what I saw. By making her kiss people she did not know, he was violating her boundaries and making it much easier for a pedophile to touch her inappropriately in the future. Not only might she not object, she may not talk about it either. Because an adult asked her to, meant it was expected of her, right? He was aghast at his own lack of foresight, thanked me for my perspective, and promptly ended the practice.

Afraid_Angle Report

Final score:

246points

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StarlightPanda! 2 years ago

I can see teaching your child to wave goodbye, but physical stuff..that's definitely messing with a child's boundaries.

125points

#20

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) External validation.

Constantly chasing likes and followers. The unbearable weight of keeping up appearances. Lives and bodies that aren't perfect seem to have no value.

MzFrazzle , Benjamin Dada Report

Final score:

213points

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Bubbles and sparks 2 years ago

I am so happy to be my age, wouldn't want to be young again in this world...

58points

Aggressive_General_ Report

#21

I’m dyslexic, but no one would test me as a kid because my grades “weren’t low enough”. Nope, instead I had to be in tutorials for ALL OF ELEMENTARY, where I still wasn’t getting help/ understanding anything. I thought I was stupid until I found out about my dyslexia when I was in 7th grade. I cried all night. The idea that in order to be tested for something like dyslexia (which is really common!) you basically need to be failing is a really harmful idea to engrain into kids. Like I said, I though I was stupid because I couldn’t spell or understand math. Now I’m all A’s. Big difference it makes to just KNOW and get help. I never actually did get help or accommodations, btw. BUT, I’ve done my own research on how to help myself. So, yeah. There’s my 2 cents.

Final score:

210points

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StarlightPanda! 2 years ago

A person is not stupid if they continue to try and keep going!

61points

Another seemingly harmless but negative idea many parents accidentally instill in their children is the idea that crying is something shameful or that it displays weakness. "Stop crying" or "don't cry" we often hear parents say. And while they may just want their little ones to keep it down in public, parents who use these phrases can quickly teach their children to bottle up their emotions, and once that's been taught, it can be very challenging to undo. We should be teaching our kids that emotions are nothing to be scared of or ashamed of, as Christina M. Ward notes in her article 'We Need To Stop Teaching Our Kids Not To Cry!', and that displaying sadness does not mean that you're out of control. It just means you're human, and you know how to feel.

#22

That you can do anything if you set your mind to it. Because it's not true. There are external forces that can hinder us from reaching our goals. There's privilege, and lack thereof. It doesn't take just pure mindset to reach a goal.

feintou Report

Final score:

207points

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Powercat 2 years ago

This one is important, should be higher

42points

#23

That a child can’t have boundaries because they are a kid.

FryingPanZ Report

Final score:

205points

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Nadine Debard 2 years ago

My 1 yr old has boundaries and expresses them very well.

56points

#24

That they’re dumb and don’t know anything. Kids are incredibly bright and will call you out on your s**t.

publichotboxes Report

Final score:

196points

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Brazen 2 years ago

My Mom called me stupid all the time and my Dad said more than once that I didn't know what I was talking about. Then when it came to my grades in school, or picking out some of the easier classes for credits, I was told to do better and pick the harder classes because "you're smarter than that." It made my head spin and I'm still torn between thinking I'm stupid, and smart at the same time.

78points

Letting kids cry allows them a healthy emotional release, and it opens them up to being more empathetic towards others. If a child is told that they should not be crying because it shows weakness, they will likely look down upon their friends and future partners when they cry as well. But if they understand that sometimes, you just need to let out a good cry, they will be more understanding when others are feeling emotional as well. All kids, but especially boys, should be told from an early age that displaying emotions is healthy and normal, and having to bottle them up is a recipe for disaster.

#25

1) Parents thinking mental health issues don't exist

2) Parents are always right

3) If you question something that has been going on since long, you're wrong

4) Religion.

Superior_Human_69 Report

Final score:

193points

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Dutchdancemum 2 years ago

Upvoting for the religion bit!

66points

#26

That one shiny fish book in elementary “the rainbow fish”. Where the main character had all these beautiful scales, then the other fish got jealous of/resenting him. So he gave all his scales to everyone. It was suppose to teach kids about sharing?

From a disturbing metaphor involving—let me say it one more time—self-dismemberment to a message that basically says, “Don't be special. If you are special, people will hate you for it and the only way to be happy is to shed yourself of that special trait,”

bunny7578 Report

Final score:

193points

POST

I'm Kid A 2 years ago

That book always sort of bothered me for a reason I couldn't quite put my finger on... I got the whole "sharing is good" thing and the whole "don't be a self-centered show-off" thing, but it just kind of bothered me. Why couldn't the shiny fish just be happy with the fact he was shiny? Why couldn't the other fish like him until he gave away his scales? Existential crisis of an eight-year-old.

90points

#27

"You NEED to have children!"

RantAgainstTheMan Report

Final score:

174points

POST

The Doom Song 2 years ago

38 F here. So sick of people telling me I should have kids. I've known since I was 5 years old "I'm not getting married and I'm not having babies" if my parents can accept this why can't the rest if the world?

81points

Good-Negotiation-272 , Alfons Morales Report

I hope you were not taught many of the ideas on this list when you were a child, but if you were, know that you're not alone. We can't change the past, but we can choose what lessons and ideas we decide to pass on to younger generations. Hopefully, over time, we can phase out these harmful ideas and ensure that kids are taught more valuable and positive lessons instead. Keep upvoting the responses you'd like all of your fellow pandas to read, and then feel free to continue the conversation down below in the comments. And if you're interested in reading another Bored Panda article on the same topic, check out this story next.

#28

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) As I was leaving elementary school, they decided to implement some sort of “reading level”. You were not allowed to read a book that was higher than your “level”.

Now, for context, I am avid reader. I got an eighth grade level of reading. I was reading Sybil by sixth grade. However, I do not do well in subjects such as math because it doesn’t make sense to me.

So, we got tested and I got my score, a nice, high score. Something my parents would be proud of me for.

In the schools library, I go to grab a book I thought was interesting. A Secret Garden I think it was called? It was a high level, so of course, nine/ten year old me thought I was allowed to read it!

My goddamn fifth grade teacher yanked it from me, and I wasn’t allowed to read it because I wouldn’t understand it and gave me a picture book. I tried to protest and say I got a good level, but he said no, I didn’t and I was lying.

To this day, I hold massive resentment towards him and the system that says, “You can’t do this because you got a poor grade on it.” Think of how easily that could turn people away from doing things?! How many more kids could we get into reading if we didn’t say, “No, you can’t because you won’t understand.”

Then, if they won’t understand, help them. Teach them. Isn’t that why we’re here? To teach kids?

Anyways, I looked up a book I received for Christmas because I wanted to learn how to write reviews for autobiographies.

I’m disgusted to say that stupid level system is still around. The system is awful, we need to change it and start encouraging and, you know, being adults to our kids instead of letting things be as they are.

Final score:

172points

POST

Huddo's sister 2 years ago

That is not how reading levels are supposed to work! They are supposed to be so the book you read is sufficiently challenging that you are learning new words (first couple of years of school). This isn't supposed to effect what books you borrow from the library because you are more likely to be able to preserve with a challenging book if the story interests you, but also you are free to read things that are a little easier if you just want to build confidence or again, are interested in the story. Plus the fact that parents are just as likely to be reading the story to you.

68points

#29

Telling kids they have to be nice to everyone. If people are mean to them they won’t fight back with that mindset. They need to know it’s okay to set boundaries without it being an issue. Respect and boundaries are so important for kids.
Zero tolerance policies in general are absolutely backwards.

Pure-Contract7101 Report

Final score:

171points

POST

Huddo's sister 2 years ago

I've lost count of how many times I've said to kids "it's okay to be mad, but it's not okay to react to that anger in a way that hurts others". You don't have to like everyone but you don't get to use their behaviour as a reason to hurt them back. I would much rather have them come and tell me there is a problem than have to break up a fight because "they started it!"

65points

#30

That all males are perverts and there are no female perverts

Extreme_Youth8773 Report

Final score:

169points

POST

HTFenthusiast 2 years ago

This. Just because a dad takes his kid to the playground doesn't mean he's a pedophile! And there are sure PLENTY of female pedos and perverts

79points

#31

That they need to have everything lined up by age 16-18 and if they don't, it'll have serious consequences.

Bad grade? No one will ask about it in a couple years. No friends/social life? Get some new ones in college. Don't know what to do with your life yet? Join the club, honey, we got jackets, most of us grownups aren't sure either. The amount of high school kids I've seen beating themselves up, even having full breakdowns over all these things is honestly worrying. 18 is not a deadline. Your life isn't set in its tracks forever by 20. Who on earth is teaching them these things?!

RubyleafIsHere Report

Final score:

163points

POST

I'm Kid A 2 years ago

We got jackets? Where? Why didn't I get one??

53points

Commercial_Cold7614 Report

#32

That different is bad. That if I don’t understand it, there must be a conspiracy. If I don’t win, the opponent cheated.

Final score:

163points

POST

lowercase 2 years ago

The Trump school of freedumb

86points

imaginaryghost2 , Guillaume de Germain Report

#33

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) That children can't be sad. Children can be sad and as someone who had struggled with mental illness ever since I was 8, I can confirm. Children are humans just like us, they have emotions. You can be depressed even if your age isn't in the double digits.

I would also like to add another one; the "It will get better" and "Just put on a happy face" mentality. Unfortunately, life is a b***h. It will not get better. **You** get better. Depression doesn't fade away just because you are smiling. I wish it was that easy, but it isn't.

Stop trying to reassure and make excuses for your child's mental health. Actually, get your a*s up and help them.

Final score:

155points

POST

Paddling Panda 2 years ago

I was always told I was "miserable" and that I lived up (or down) to the "Wednesday's Child is full of Woe" trope. And I was constantly criticized for being "miserable". So many times, I wish I'd never been born. But then. I look at my dog and one of my cats, both of whom are snuggling with me right now, and I feel grateful for their unconditional love.

8points

ZookeepergameSea3890 Report

#34

That everything they're good at/enjoy as a hobby needs to be monetized.

I played competitive piano and all the time was told "you'll be a great teacher, work from home, etc."

I liked making jewelry and was told "you should make lots of those then sell them at the local market/online/etc.

I liked writing poetry and short stories and was told "you should be a English tutor/newspaper columnist/sell your short stories /publish a poetry book".

I have pretty much stopped doing all of those things, and if I do something creative nowadays, I keep it to myself because otherwise, me just enjoying something to enjoy it is judged as a waste of time if I'm not making money from it.

Final score:

132points

POST

Fricsmom 2 years ago

I make wreaths and floral arrangements. Hubby and siblings keep ‘encouraging’ me to make it a business. If I did my hobby as a business it wouldn’t be a hobby anymore. Also I never let anyone know I can sew. If they find out they always ask if I can hem pants or other tailoring. Tailoring and sewing are 2 different skills. Just pay the $ to get the pants hemmed and keep me as your friend!

40points

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

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Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#35

That your right to privacy no longer exists. Lack of privacy is being normalized on all levels of society.

Parents posting every little picture of their child up til adulthood is so f****d up imo. They can't consent to that and then their whole life history has been willingly given up by their own parents.

Government and big businesses should not be allowed to know every tiny detail about us. Listening/recording us will hurt all of us.

plzThinkAhead Report

Final score:

124points

POST

Headless Roach 2 years ago (edited)

I read somewhere that we're past the point of return on this. Unless we hide in burrows in the middle of the woods, we're not getting our privacy back. EVER. Instead, apparently, we should claim our share of profits generated from our personal information. Like in "you get xxx$ for this volume of data we gather on you and resell". First time I read this my head exploded, but I'm starting to think that maybe beyond the obvious controversy, it's one way to regulate this crazy market. I wonder what you think about that, fellow bored pandas. EDIT: In no way I am justifying posting children's private stuff in social media. That's a completely different topic.

30points

#36

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) Staying quiet means good behavior

earthycarl , Jelleke Vanooteghem Report

Final score:

119points

POST

Headless Roach 2 years ago (edited)

Context matters. We have do distinguish a) keeping the child quiet just for the sake of having a peaceful hour at home from b) teaching the kids that when someone else is speaking we should let him finish. I've met so many self-centred adults in my life, bragging about themselves and constantly talking over others, that to me the "staying quiet" definition has many different layers.

51points

#37

It isn’t ok to fail or make mistakes. People aren’t perfect and you will make mistakes. Just don’t set yourself up to make ones that can hurt or kill others (drink or drug to the point where you don’t know not to drive or assault someone).

datagirl60 Report

Final score:

116points

POST

Asdomar 2 years ago (edited)

Yes and yes! Children grow with anxiety for failure because they're teached that successful people never make mistakes when they do a lot but try to fix them or learn from it. This will do damage in the future as they will fear challenge to avoid failure even if with minimal consequences and they'll never feel realized as that standard is unfeasible

24points

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

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“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#38

“Minor attracted persons”. Pedophiles. They’re pedophiles.

dinopandaz23 Report

Final score:

115points

POST

Deborah Harris2 2 years ago

I don't understand what context this is related to. I thought this thread was about things parents say wrongly to their kids

46points

Factsaretheonlytruth Report

#39

That the reason to behave and do the right thing is to avoid eternal punishment from mommy and daddy's imaginary friend in the sky.

Final score:

113points

POST

La Pric 2 years ago

Grow the conscience, not the fear.

52points

#40

That they can do anything and not face consequences.

And I don't mean that in a "you wanna be an astronaut? That's awesome!" kind of way, I mean that in "anyone who tells you no is bullying you"

I've got a 16 year old at my second job who tried to get me fired because I expected her to do her job when she was hungover. Sorry, but you chose to drink the night before a shift. Live with the consequences.

At my main job in a school, I've got a 12/13 year old who thinks he can ignore the staff and get away with it. On Thursday, because I escalated the situation to his head of year, he said that I was a weirdo and noone even likes me anyways. (I really started looking inwards at that and re evaluating my entire personality, especially with how creative the insult was /s) I asked him to change his shoes and when he didn't I told him he couldn't play football. Then he got another kid to give him their trainers.

Today, I've overheard a mother say "surely it's illegal to make a kid carry their school bag, a Chromebook (that the school has lent the child for free) and their PE kit but not give them a locker" ... I'm sorry what??

It really feels like we are teaching our kids to be victims who believe they are all special little heroes and it's never their fault if something goes wrong.

NuttyDounuts14 Report

Final score:

112points

POST

Jerry Mathers 2 years ago

With regards to the backpack, I have a feeling it's far more than a chrome book and a PE kit. My kid has backpack that weigh around 20lbs. Books (I don't know why they need to carry books if they have a chrome book), notebooks, papers. My kids back hurts. And honestly those school backpacks aren't designed for support.

57points

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

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French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#41

Buy buy buy work work work buy buy buy work work buy die

answermethis0816 Report

Final score:

110points

POST

Julius Zuke 2 years ago

After a certain point in life, you no longer need things. At at certain age, you start purging your life of all that burdensome bovine manure.

28points

#42

Lack of conformity and daring to express yourself can result in lost education.

Kids being suspended from school because they dared to express their individuality. Whether its clothing, dyed hair or whatever. None of it really matters compared to sending kids away from their education.

Mardanis Report

Final score:

103points

POST

DC 2 years ago

... hold your arm up to block a punch by a teacher? That makes you a dropout in 1967 germany. Ask my Dad about it ... he did just that. School never was meant to do any good to YOU, it's meant to provide the economy with willingly exploitable units of workforce, nothing else.

36points

#43

That you should always go ‘above and beyond’ or whatever. Your workplace wont care and give you more work.

QuentinDeTerre Report

Final score:

103points

POST

NReyes 2 years ago

Depend on where you work and who you work for. Most of them, you're right though.

32points

#44

The “be yourself” trope. It’s fine for things like hobbies or interests, but some people are just inherently toxic whether it’s genetic or a learned behavior. And then people justify their bad behavior by saying they’re just being themselves and if other people don’t like it that’s their own problem. There’s no incentive to curb harmful behavior and kids are being taught that it’s okay to act out because it’s just who they are.

Kamikaze_Cloud Report

Final score:

102points

POST

Julius Zuke 2 years ago

Retired teacher here. (46 years). The behavior of bullies is overlooked so that we can "understand them, " while the victims of bullying commit suicide or drop out.

60points

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

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Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

#45

Misogyny. Toxic gender roles. Whatever else Andrew Tate is shoveling down the throats of his young and impressionable audience. I've seen kids as young as middle school age repeating some of the insane s**t he says, to their own mothers.

Fast-Low4205 Report

Final score:

100points

POST

BBsparkster614 2 years ago

I don’t know who he is but I don’t want to look it up

33points

Own-Text7602 , Emma Frances Logan Report

#46

People List Things Parents Should Stop Teaching Their Kids And Explain Why They're Harmful (50 Answers) I have one.

This is very common in my country. You know kids run a lot, and they fall a lot. Most of the time (luckily!) they do not get hurt seriously. Sometimes, they simply are just fine. But they cry regardless. I was one of those kids.

Whenever that happen, parents would rush to their kids, and they slap on the ground (or whatever object near by) saying “Punish the ground for hurting my baby!”. Now, that may sound sweet if you are that kid, but gradually it could teach the kid something so dangerous: When you fall, it is something else (or someone else)’s fault. Kids will grow up blaming everything around them for their failures, before questioning themselves.

I remembered clearly this time when I just fell off the ground while playing, cried my lung out, and my whole family was in a mess. Especially my dad. He was so worried, checking my (totally pain-free) body for any wound, and kept asking “What made you fall? Was it a rock? Or was it your friend? Did she push you?”

Dad - I wanted to say - I really just fell off myself.

Final score:

98points

POST

Heather W 2 years ago

I always yelled Tada when my daughter fell, because 85% of the time she was fine, just waiting for my reaction to decide if she was hurt. She's 17 now, and if she stumbles she still yells Tada. Even if she's hurt something.

66points

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

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“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

#47

That everyone is a winner.

DementedProfessor Report

Final score:

91points

POST

Julius Zuke 2 years ago

It's ok to be average. I was always an overachiever. I paid for being a winner, and now I pay for that with my health. Also, I missed out on a lot of good experiences because I was busy being the best.

35points

#48

That your worth is in anyway linked to the number or ranking from an assessment. For most people how you do in standardised tests is not as important an indicator for the rest of your life as we bring the children up to believe it is.

My kids are both in primary school. For me I hate that this focus on assessment results at this early stage is more important than their learning journey.

I am not sure if that makes sense but a 7 year old should be learning and discovering and not worried about the assessment tools used by the school''s reporting and administration processes.

elfelettem Report

Final score:

83points

POST

Huddo's sister 2 years ago

I'm a teacher (early childhood and primary) and have always been against standardised tests and homework for primary students. It does nothing to help them. Kids learn best through inquiry processes and play. Even more stupid, the standardised national test students do in Australia (in year 3, 5, 7 and 9) are supposed to be just to 'see how the schools are going so ones more in need can get more funding'. What it actually means is principals tell teachers they need to get as high a ranking as possible and teachers have to 'teach for the test'. This means you aren't assessing what students know from their regular learning, but what they can recite from extra lessons. Stupid system.

42points

#49

Saying "parents aren't perfect" as a justification for toxic or abusive parenting.

Animeking1108 Report

Final score:

77points

POST

Sherri Martel 2 years ago

Counterpoint, as a mom to a 5 year old, we think it's important to let our kid know that, no, we're not perfect, because nobody is. They learn to identify and communicate their own struggles when we can show them ourselves owning our mistakes. Too many people take the opposite road of "I'm the parent, therefore I am perfect, no questions allowed." But trying to excuse toxic behaviors by saying "hey, that's just how I am" also sucks.

34points

#50

That your worth is tied to obedience and functioning. Your punished for many things, often with scorn and anger, even when you’re still very young. It can be very impactful on your life and as a das it often breaks my heart hearing what people tell their children when they are emotional. Examples being „Stop crying, it’s nothing“ for the most basic and „if you don’t stop crying, there will be consequences X“ to amp it up a little.

Vannausen Report

Final score:

75points

POST

Irish Lassie 2 years ago

The one I dislike the most is when an adult says “bad girl” or “bad boy” for something they’ve done! What they SHOULD be saying is that the action done by the child was bad.

21points

"I Didn't Start The Dryer": Karen Gets Taught A Lesson After Throwing Out Neighbor's Wet Clothes

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Guy Divorced 3 Years Ago Drops Off 3 Y.O. With His Ex-Wife Completely Out Of The Blue

#51

If you don’t play five different sports and make straight a’s in the process you are a failure in life. I’m from NC and I go to a school that has patent that do this so they look good on Facebook, thankfully not my parents.

FoundationUpset1082 Report

Final score:

23points

POST

Michelle Garrett 2 years ago

Are you Asian? This seems to be the trend for that ethnic group.

0points

IdkWhatImEvenDoing69 Report

#52

That if anyone disagrees with you it’s wrong- the best thing about this world is all the opinions, but it’s how some people show their opinions that’s wrong. Also, wherever you are, people will dislike you for who you are. Stop whining and get over it

Final score:

23points

POST

Stardust she/her 2 years ago

The last sentence is harmful. Nowadays, I am getting treated like a punching bag by the kids who live in my area. They always try to beat me up in some way or the other. How do I get over this so easily? My father is teling me that I should hang out with them more as they need to know me better. We all know that people will dislike us everywhere but you should’nt tell people they are “whining” when they are trying to understand why they are being disliked.

2points

#53

Parents who are telling their kids that they can openly reject a line of thinking they don’t like.

On a bit of a separate note, I’m seeing a lot of comments about gender identity and sexuality, most of which are saying we aren’t letting “kids be kids” and that we are forcing them to think about their gender. I knew my gender in 1st grade, and I knew I was attracted to women in 2nd grade.

Part of being a kid also means developing crushes, having your first kiss (for some), or learning about who you feel comfortable being close next to. I’m not seeing anyone here mentioning how normal it is for Herero boys to say “I have a crush on a girl at school” so let’s also let kids be able to say “I feel like a girl” and believe them when they say it. If they’re wrong, they’ll admit it later. Y’all think kids are going to keep up a facade sexuality forever? The f**k?

Edit: source - am teacher

MrOink24 Report

Final score:

23points

POST

Michelle Garrett 2 years ago

The transgender bs is ruining this country. Change my mind about that fantasy life. Really, don't. Because it will never. And this is coming from a 45 yo female who is basically an 18 yo dude. Been a 'tomboy' my entire life, my kids have jokingly said they have 2 dads, and I have issues referring to myself as a woman, but I still know there is only 2 genders. The 97 new genders has gone way beyond reality and I refuse to acknowledge it or comply with what they are demanding of others as they seem to be some of the biggest hypocritical people around. Let me do me, but you cant do you because it hurts my feelings. Especially as it seems many in that group are force feeding the bs to young children to make them feel better about themselves having some confusion. Thankful I grew up in the 80s.

0points

“All Three Shot Out Pink”: Triplets' Baby Shower Turns Sour, Pregnant Wife Wants A Divorce

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#54

That staying back a grade is a bad thing. It’s not. If you need extra time to learn something, take it! That’s so much better than not ever learning it and then continuing to do poorly in all your future classes, never being able to learn any of the content because you were never properly taught the basics when you were younger, causing you to fall extremely far behind in life. All this would’ve been avoided if you would’ve just been held back one extra year, maybe two in the earlier years of school. Where I live, basically nobody gets held back even if they’re failing. It takes practically nothing to pass a grade and it’s going to set up a lot of kids for failure.

ButterPig10 Report

Final score:

22points

POST

Julius Zuke 2 years ago

Schools do this to save money. Teachers are encouraged to just move kids along by saying, " If we need an extra section of English I for repeaters, you won't be able to teach that elective class you've been wanting to teach."

6points

#55

Overworking to death

ReaILY22 Report

Final score:

20points

POST

HTFenthusiast 2 years ago

I have burnout a lot. I can relate :^

3points

#56

That they are somehow personally responsible for saving the f*****g environment.

Midnight_Poet Report

Final score:

20points

POST

Julius Zuke 2 years ago

I have to get my car inspeced for emissions every two years. What about the 18-wheelers nd cruise ships, who pollute way more than I do?

6points

#57

That if you don’t do good in school you won’t or can’t be successful

But at the same time the gravity of how important it is to study

People who study can be successful but it doesn’t guarantee success.

What will make you successful however is being really good at something _and_ practicing it.

autovices Report

Final score:

20points

POST

Jessica Wood 2 years ago

Yep, spent so much time studying that I didn't develop any social skills or self-confidence which made me completely useless in job interviews or networking.

4points

#58

That everyone can do everything at competitive levels and win. And that everyone gets a trophy for trying.

There’s a lot of nuance to this, because you also don’t want to not allow kids to try new things or activities that interest them. But my god it’s more than okay to have winners and losers in sporting events or kids that are awarded differently for excelling at an art. There’s a powerful lesson in being humbled and respecting that some people (even kids) are really just next level skill sets. Same thing with learning to lose respectfully / honorably. That said there is so much more to any sport/hobby/art than winning or losing. Even if you aren’t the best at something there is plenty to take away from it, and you don’t need participation awards to prove anything.

Seems like a lot of adults struggle with accepting that someone else is more capable at given tasks or activities and I think that some of that comes from never having to deal with being the “loser”.

SonicChairToss Report

Final score:

20points

POST

#59

That boys are bad... And girls need to be more like boys in order to be successful in life...

JonnyK88888 Report

Final score:

18points

POST

Torrey Walters 2 years ago

"But not too much like boys, because we hate trans people"

7points

#60

If you feel like you don't know what you are doing with your life, remember things that you would lose yourself in as a kid; things that really held your interest. Those are your natural inclinations, and what you should be doing for work is in there somewhere. I would meditate on that. You've always known what you wanted to be when you grew up, but some adult pushed their own ideas of what you should be when you grew up onto you and stifled your own creativity. Wake it back up. The Mozarts and Leonardo Davincis and Wozniaks of the world simply held on and followed that inclination. They weren't necessarily geniuses. They just had passion to keep them going when what they were doing was extremely difficult.

GingerBanger85 Report

Final score:

17points

POST

Kise Miarse 2 years ago

Very true. But sometimes by the time you're an adult, the circumstances have changed, and the opportunity has passed. Better not to crush their little spirits in the first place.

4points

#61

Politics. Parents that push politics on their children are the worst. I used to hang out with this kid in my neighborhood when I was growing up, and his dad was the most hardcore atheist I’ve ever met to this day. He would tell his son that all religious people are stupid and he even tried to get him to convince me that my parents were stupid for taking me to church. If you do that to your kids — You’re a bad person.

TheMightySweater Report

Final score:

17points

POST

KnightOwl 2 years ago

What are you trying to say? First of all Politics and religion are two different things, neither if which should be forced onto a child. Also if raising a child to be an atheist is so bad, how is raising a child to be religious any better? Yes the parents should encourage their children to be more tolerant and respectful of other people's beliefs and their rights to have them but at the same time religious people can be incredibly intolerant of atheist/agnostic people and say incredibly f***ed up things to them so it's not really that different..

16points

hello-mr-windup-bird Report

#62

Follow the expected path to your 20s instead of using all the info on the internet to make whatever idea you have a reality now

Final score:

13points

POST

#63

That they have a choice in their gender.

dogloverk922 Report

Final score:

-14points

POST

Vix Spiderthrust 2 years ago

Oops, found the TERF

14points

Howdy, I'm Adelaide! I'm originally from Texas, but after graduating from university with an acting degree, I relocated to sunny Los Angeles for a while. I then got a serious bite from the travel bug and found myself moving to Sweden and England before settling in Lithuania about two years ago. I'm passionate about animal welfare, sustainability and eating delicious food. But as you can see, I cover a wide range of topics including drama, internet trends and hilarious memes. I can easily be won over with a Seinfeld reference, vegan pastry or glass of fresh cold brew. And during my free time, I can usually be seen strolling through a park, playing tennis or baking something tasty.

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I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. Looking at pets and memes is the best part of my work. I love to travel and want to see the world. Still looking and exploring stuff I like and want to do so thats exciting... and sometimes not

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What do you think ?

POST

foxgirl158 2 years ago

I would like to add another one here. Always expecting them to have good grades, and berating them when they don't. I currently have an A- in Chemistry, and my dad told me when he saw it, "Oh, you're just barely scraping by". I've had more breakdowns in the last week then I've had in my life because of the stupid homework that I don't understand.

11points

Doctor Strange 2 years ago

I used to get so scared on report card day that I would shake because of this. If I brought home straight A's I'd get a 'that's nice'. But once I had 3 C's. Nothing worse, everything else was an A or B. My dad told me, and this is his exact words, "Get out of my sight. I don't even want to look at you. You make me sick."

7points

Jonathan Nichols 2 years ago (edited)

I'm sorry you're going through that. There was one time in my life I didn't get an A in science, and it was because we had a group project in which the other person I got assigned to in the group did absolutely nothing and never told me until it was all due. That week changed my perspective on life a bit.

4points

Maple Porkly 2 years ago (edited)

My parents expected the same from me growing up. I got a B at the start of my chem grade 12 class and got the same reaction from them as you did. I worked my way to the top student spot in the whole school. I remember I got an award from the principal at a big ceremony and all they had to say was that it must be too easy. I've given up trying to please them in my adult years and embraced a much more encouraging approach to school with my own daughter.

1point

Got Myself 4 Pandas 2 years ago

I was always top of my class, my two oldest kids who are 18 and 17 not so much - school just wasn't their thing, they're smart kids but don't get on well with the whole school set up, and my son has adhd which doesn't help. My daughter now has a job while she's trying to figure out what she wants long term, my son is going to a college course on electrical engineering and loves the welding class especially. I've never been disappointed they weren't coming home with top marks and always told them that since they have to be there they'd be as well making the most of it, but not at the expense of their happiness. School isn't the environment for everyone, not everyone learns the same way. I'm sorry your dad reacted that way, maybe a c**p joke? But as a parent let me say you did great and if you don't understand something ask for further explanations - a lot of the time it's bad instructions that lead to confusion. Homework is not worth misery

1point

Deborah Harris2 2 years ago

I got a tad confused midway through these, I think maybe it's two different listings combined 😳

7points

Heather Menard 2 years ago

The number one thing that should be on the top of the list should be racism

2points

Boreddd🇺🇦 2 years ago (edited)

This applies more to teenagers, but many figures of authority in many teenagers lives treat them like children when it comes to their opinions and like adults when it comes to their responsabilities. Which, tbh sucks

1point

Erin Miller 2 years ago

"No means no and don't ask me again."** I get that my parents didn't want me to keep asking for a damned cookie or the bike they couldn't afford... But as an adult this mentality has been super detrimental in the pursuit of my dreams and career growth. It took me 20 years to realize "no" doesn't mean no, it means you're not asking the right person, you're not in the right job, the timing is off. Don't ask once and then drop it; keep asking; keep trying; keep searching. (**Unless we're talking about sexual consent and then obviously "No does mean no.")

1point

Phil Astley 2 years ago (edited)

I posted a comment above in a similar vein, I am not comfortable with touch and never have been, my brother would always force his daughter to hug me even though it was clear both she and I were uncomfortable to it, all I got from him was 'whats wrong with you??!' I just believe in allowing people, especially kids make their own decisions of that nature, if she doesn't want to hug me she should not be forced into it, and likewise; setting a bad example telling her she has no bodily autonomy. I told her a few weeks ago now she is 13 when we met in the city that I am not comfortable with touch and I am not a hugger, I don't know if she will think it is just her, but I am not comfortable at all with any kind of physical contact.... (she has been through things so I am especially aware how damaging to a kids psyche this can be)

1point

DS Mom 2 years ago

My sophomore year, I flunked a semester. Instead of talking to me about why and what can we do to help me do better, my mom screamed at me... Told me that I was going to end up on the streets selling myself to make money. She was wrong of course.

0points

Phil Astley 2 years ago

A big deal for me is my brother not teaching my niece body autonomy, basically forcing her to hug me when she was very young, I am not a hugger and now she is 13 I told her this, not in a nasty way, but by simply saying I am not comfortable with touch, maybe she will think instantly it is her, but I believe people should have the choice to hug....and be allowed to make the decision themselves.....

0points

Maikai 2 years ago (edited)

Parents/guardians/those who are in a position of teaching others should teach the learner about sportspersonship, uplifting others, applauding others’ successes, taking joy in their joy. Otherwise known as part of aloha. Learned from my grandparents.

0points

No One 2 years ago

Some of these are contradictory and many sound as though they’re written by people without children. There are also some with good points as well.

0points

Octavia Hansen 2 years ago

That's "Super Heroes are NOT good." Sorry

-1point

rw55066 2 years ago

More BP negativity

-1point

Ladytron 2 years ago

While I agree that bp is a child free space (to the extreme sometimes...). I don't think this is quite in line with that. Some of these are actually important to reflect on.

2points

Octavia Hansen 2 years ago

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Joseph Murphy 2 years ago

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Vix Spiderthrust 2 years ago

Many of our elders are morons though, Joe. Why should we respect them, exactly? Donald Trump is much older than me but I don't respect his creepy paedophilic a*s.

8points

POST

foxgirl158 2 years ago

11points

Doctor Strange 2 years ago

7points

Jonathan Nichols 2 years ago (edited)

4points

Maple Porkly 2 years ago (edited)

1point

Got Myself 4 Pandas 2 years ago

1point

Deborah Harris2 2 years ago

I got a tad confused midway through these, I think maybe it's two different listings combined 😳

7points

Heather Menard 2 years ago

The number one thing that should be on the top of the list should be racism

2points

Boreddd🇺🇦 2 years ago (edited)

1point

Erin Miller 2 years ago

1point

Phil Astley 2 years ago (edited)

1point

DS Mom 2 years ago

0points

Phil Astley 2 years ago

0points

Maikai 2 years ago (edited)

0points

No One 2 years ago

Some of these are contradictory and many sound as though they’re written by people without children. There are also some with good points as well.

0points

Octavia Hansen 2 years ago

That's "Super Heroes are NOT good." Sorry

-1point

rw55066 2 years ago

More BP negativity

-1point

Ladytron 2 years ago

While I agree that bp is a child free space (to the extreme sometimes...). I don't think this is quite in line with that. Some of these are actually important to reflect on.

2points

Octavia Hansen 2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Joseph Murphy 2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Vix Spiderthrust 2 years ago

Many of our elders are morons though, Joe. Why should we respect them, exactly? Donald Trump is much older than me but I don't respect his creepy paedophilic a*s.

8points