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30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful

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I believe that most parents and teachers want their kids to succeed. And while we try to equip them with the best tools and information for their future life, there are some things we're teaching that are actually setting them up for failure. Whether by accident or due to a lack of self-awareness and knowledge, we give them these 'lessons' that do more harm than good when they come into practice.

One Reddit user wanted to get more opinions on what we need to stop teaching children, so they asked other users to share their thoughts. And they had some really insightful responses. People called out the toxic ideas that many are still putting into kids' young and impressionable minds, often without giving it a second thought. Society is evolving, and many ideas are already outdated and considered harmful, yet their echoes still come up when it comes to lecturing children.

Over 16k responses later, Bored Panda selected the most eye-opening responses to what we should stop telling children immediately. There are many 'facts' that are just rarely challenged, so let's not forget that even if we made a mistake, there's no shame in admitting and correcting it. Scroll down and upvote your favorite answers, share your thoughts, and if you think of anything that wasn't on this list, please tell us in the comments below!

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#1

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful Abstinence only sex education. Please teach these kids about contraception and how it works, it’s been proven that comprehensive sex education is way better at preventing teen pregnancies than abstinence only.

Brief-Resolution2043 , Sam Balye Report

Final score:

278points

The Doom Song 1 year ago

Indeed. If the kids are gonna do it we can at least make sure they're doing it safely!

74points

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#2

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful To just ignore bullies. As a former teacher, it does nothing to address the issue. The bullying persists 100% of the time.

PragueNole09 , Mikhail Nilov Report

Final score:

260points

Tams21 1 year ago

Exactly. They're looking for attention from their friends, not the victim.

87points

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#3

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful “Stranger Danger” it has some decent basic principles about safety, but the unfortunate truth is we need to teach children how to detect if adults in their life are treating them inappropriately just as much as strangers

kylestopthrowingfood , Lisanto 李奕良 Report

Final score:

232points

Jessiebean 1 year ago

Yup. Especially from people who are around your children the most. Family members and friends!

66points

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#4

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful That play ends when you reach adulthood. Play is important, even when we're grown.

Malcolmpargin , Robert Collins Report

Final score:

229points

Ziggyc 1 year ago

I love this,it's so true ..never ever stop playing and having fun

50points

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#5

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful Stop teaching kids *what to think*, and start teaching them *how to think.*

VictorBlimpmuscle , Max Fischer Report

Final score:

228points

XenoMurph 1 year ago

Hmm, but with a lack of experience, they will come up with the wrong conclusion a lot of the time. So you kinda have to do both. I WILL teach her not to be a racist, making up her own mind on that is not acceptable.

52points

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#6

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful That failure is something to be ashamed of and to avoid at all costs. We all fail sometimes and we need to be able to accept that.

Ineluki_742 , Pixabay Report

Final score:

227points

Ziggyc 1 year ago

We need to fail to learn

63points

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#7

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful If he’s mean to you, he likes you

forgetxreality , Daniil Onischenko Report

Final score:

221points

Shark Lady 1 year ago

It's closely linked to boys will be boys, suggesting that women and girls should excuse bad behaviour because it's somehow their fault that men and boys aren't able to control themselves around women.

133points

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#8

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful That you are only successful and happy with a college degree, married, and have children.

KMermaid19 , RUT MIIT Report

Final score:

190points

The Doom Song 1 year ago

Hmm yes that degree that has no job prospects, kids that you can't afford and a marriage where you barely see each other coz you have 6 jobs between you to feed those darn kids. Yes success!!!

62points

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#9

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful That you have to give relatives a hug or kiss if they ask for one.

UnoriginalUse , Askar Abayev Report

Final score:

181points

Shark Lady 1 year ago

I had a rule that my daughter had to greet guests and say goodbye, however she got to choose how that happened. Some people she hugged, others she gave a high five and some she just spoke. You can teach a child the importance of manners without making them give up their bodily autonomy. They need to learn that physical contact is a two yes, one no concept and the importance of consent.

96points

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#10

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful You can get what you want if you’re nice.
It teaches children how to be manipulative & dishonest.

Instead, teach them to handle “No”.

Too many people grow up and get offended at being told “No”.

Teachers & Parents want their children to learn how to ask for things in a polite way - but not how to handle rejection.

My brother teaches children and he will actively tell kids “No” and encourage them to find alternative solutions that don’t infringe on someone’s decision.

CantAimMustPray , Boris Pavlikovsky Report

Final score:

178points

NeonEmerald 1 year ago

My parents did not teach me this and it caused so many issues later

41points

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#11

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful Family is everything. No sometimes their trash and need to be let go of.

Livid-Addendum707 , Patricia Prudente Report

Final score:

170points

Ches Yamada 1 year ago

Folks need to understand that all people can suck. Mothers, fathers, doctors, etc. Your title doesn't make you exempt from screwing up or being a bad human.

59points

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#12

that there are ‘things for girls’ and ‘things for boys’
(like colors, toys, etc)

Final score:

161points

Mulberry Juice 1 year ago

I’m still bitter that I wasn’t allowed to be the football goalie in reception. Reasoning was that “the boys will be too rough and may hurt you, and we don’t want to hurt your pretty face” that teacher was pretty sexist and infantilising towards the girl constantly

60points

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#13

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful Food pyramid as it is. It's wrong.

SorryIAmNew2002 , The food pyramid Report

Final score:

156points

ejfs 1 year ago

Aren't fruit and veg supposed to be in the bottom section nowadays?

5points

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#14

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful That it's acceptable to use devices in public loudly without headphones

Musashi1596 , Andrea Piacquadio Report

Final score:

146points

Raluca Neacsu 1 year ago

who teaches that?!

22points

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#15

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful That ugly = bad/evil. I partially blame TV animation for this one though. This often makes kids fear elderly people and make unfair connections between appearance and personality.

_kevx_91 , Victoria Akvarel Report

Final score:

145points

Ches Yamada 1 year ago

We need to redefine "ugly". Villians used to often have bown/dark hair, for instance. As a kid I remember hating the fact that all the evil girls had dark hair. I wasn't evil - and I knew plenty of lighter haired girls that were.

58points

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#16

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful That while they are special, they are not any more special than anyone else.

OrganicUse , Vitolda Klein Report

Final score:

142points

Tams21 1 year ago

Or any less (depending on what the child needs to hear).

46points

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#17

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful I don’t believe in forced apologies. They’re not legitimate apologies and the other child knows this. I also don’t feel adults should force children to accept an apology. Forced apologies and acceptances don’t have any benefits.

I am a 3rd grade teacher. My students know I won’t force an apology. Instead, I speak to the students about their choices and how it made others feel. I’ve found that, once students realize what they did, they do apologize on their own and the other student does accept it because they know the apology is sincere. Often times, students will even try to resolve the issue on their own. It’s common for students to ask me if they could speak alone in the hallway. They then return proudly stating that they resolved their issue.

Obviously, if something is not resolving itself, I’ll continue to help students through it. I will also step in for more significant disagreements. However, I’ve found that students are able to resolve issues an overwhelming majority of times. However, they are never truly resolved with forced apologies and acceptances of forced apologies because the underlying issue is still there.

ITeachMunchkins , Kat Smith Report

Final score:

140points

NeonEmerald 1 year ago

Thank you, forced apologies do more harm than good.

52points

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#18

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful That girls are weak or too emotional (I.e. crying like a girl or don’t be a p*ssy)

toooldforacnh , Dev Asangbam Report

Final score:

134points

Ches Yamada 1 year ago

The vernacular needs to change. P*ssies can push a child out - they're STRONG. Male anatomy, however? One tap and they're out. So why does everything female mean weak ..? Or "daddy issues" - that means the MEN in a girl's family FAILED her, and yet it's a term used to demean the female victim?

72points

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#19

Gender stereotypes.

My son asked me why he didnt have pretty dresses like me. I couldn’t answer his question, i asked him if he wanted to wear dresses like me. He said yes and i sew him one. He’s so happy!

Frosty_Limit7645 Report

Final score:

134points

The Doom Song 1 year ago

Nice! What colour was his dress?

35points

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#20

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful That Santa gives presents to "good" kids. When rich kids get a bunch of Christmas presents and poor kids don't, we're basically telling children that it is because the poor kids are bad and the rich kids are good.

filetemyoung , Taisiia Shestopal Report

Final score:

116points

Unwelcome guest 1 year ago

Just tell your kids that the rich people cheat and their parents bought the presents and hid the coal Santa gave them

53points

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#21

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful “Please” isn’t a magic word. It often won’t get you want you want.

“I’m sorry” doesn’t erase a wrong and is only one small part of an apology, which the wronged party is not obligated to accept.

GrnHrtBrwnThmb , Monstera Report

Final score:

115points

Tams21 1 year ago

But please is basic manners and is much more respectful than just demanding something. I think that makes it "magic" enough to be taught that way.

42points

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#22

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful To push down their feelings and never cry. You don’t heal unless you work through your emotions. Support them, don’t scold.

harrypotter62 , Antoni Shkraba Report

Final score:

113points

Ches Yamada 1 year ago

Can attest to the 'never heal' part. I was screamed at and slapped for crying. I just can't let go anymore. I still cry, but I am not able to let truly go anymore.

26points

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#23

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful Boys dont cry

ZhenKira16 , Pixabay Report

Final score:

108points

Ches Yamada 1 year ago

Look, everybody poops and everybody cries. It's a fact of life, lol

54points

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#24

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful They have to finish their plates, or they're being wasteful.

lnvalidSportsOpinion , Tanaphong Toochinda Report

Final score:

105points

Liz Reid 1 year ago

Eat til you're full, not til it's gone. (And if there is any food left, Daddy will probably eat it anyway! )

57points

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#25

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful That the size of your body (height included) is any measure of your worth.

jswoll , Sven Brandsma Report

Final score:

95points

Michael Mckeon 1 year ago

You know what they say? Big nose, big feet, big hands...........................................one funny looking fella

21points

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#26

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful kids learn by watching us. whatever we want kids to do or not do starts with grown-ups addressing our own hang-ups. full stop.

neuroboy , Taryn Elliott Report

Final score:

92points

Mulberry Juice 1 year ago

“Do what I say and not what I do” is very confusing to a small child

31points

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#27

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful To accept collective punishment. Whomever did something to get in trouble for is who gets the punishment.

So many teachers do this to kids and it just breeds resentment for both the teacher and the kid who keeps getting the whole class in trouble.

I dont want my kids to be prepared to accept this as adults, and just deal with it from the govt, society, their employer, etc.

mostlikelynotasnail , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

90points

BobTDG 1 year ago

Collective punishment just makes people hate the teacher and whomever keeps getting in trouble.

40points

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#28

Religion in public schools

PM_ME_UR_FEET_69 Report

Final score:

89points

RP 1 year ago

Teaching religion is a great idea in all schools... i.e. reading the actual holy texts of multiple religions so that they actually know what is in them. Practising religion in any schools should not be allowed.

70points

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#29

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful As a teacher, I'm always amused by the things people think we teach kids. "Stop teaching ______!"

You know what I spent significant time teaching this year? That soiled toilet paper goes in the toilet. That you can control how loudly you burp. That you have to charge a laptop computer for more than a minute to fill the battery.

Then you get the, "Why don't schools teach kids how to do taxes?" Yeah, kids love taxes. We couldn't get middle school kids to stop playing Fortnite long enough to focus on "The Human Body" unit for a week.

I'm just amused by all the things people think happen in schools.

And of course there is the notion that parents can teach kids, too. That's what we're doing with our son. If there's something important he needs to know, we're teaching it to him.

edgarpickle , note thanun Report

Final score:

87points

eeeeeeeee 1 year ago

Basic nutrition, simple cooking skills, finances, sewing/fixing the easy stuff....

36points

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#30

30 Things People Still Teach Their Kids That Are Not Only Wrong But Also Harmful That you need to be friends with everyone.

No_Calligrapher2640 , Toa Heftiba Report

Final score:

80points

Izzi C 1 year ago

In my home, my parents make a defined line between friends and friendly.

32points

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Note: this post originally had 34 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

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Indrė Lukošiūtė

I am a Visual editor at Bored Panda, I'm determined to find the most interesting and the best quality images for each post that I do. On my free time I like to unwind by doing some yoga, watching all kinds of movies/tv shows, playing video and board games or just simply hanging out with my cat

I am a Visual editor at Bored Panda, I'm determined to find the most interesting and the best quality images for each post that I do. On my free time I like to unwind by doing some yoga, watching all kinds of movies/tv shows, playing video and board games or just simply hanging out with my cat

Eglė Radžiūtė

Hi, I'm Egle! If you made it onto this page, you may want to learn more about me. Would recommend reading works by Edgar Allan Poe much more than reading this bio, but suit yourself. I have plentiful interests, starting from the things I studied in university (Propaganda & Film, Sci-fi Writing, Psychiatry & History of Mental Illness, etc.) and ending with an addiction to tattoos, documentaries, and dancing in front of a mirror at 3am. I'm also a budding artist; I dabble in painting and drawing random bits of chaos. My favorite desert is Tiramisu.

Hi, I'm Egle! If you made it onto this page, you may want to learn more about me. Would recommend reading works by Edgar Allan Poe much more than reading this bio, but suit yourself. I have plentiful interests, starting from the things I studied in university (Propaganda & Film, Sci-fi Writing, Psychiatry & History of Mental Illness, etc.) and ending with an addiction to tattoos, documentaries, and dancing in front of a mirror at 3am. I'm also a budding artist; I dabble in painting and drawing random bits of chaos. My favorite desert is Tiramisu.

What do you think ?

ejfs 1 year ago

Emotional intelligence should be taught as well. Learning to identify one's emotions, what caused them, how those emotions are making us think/behave. Of course, exceptions have to made for neurodivergent people but they can still learn this. It just takes longer.

4points

Michael Mckeon 1 year ago

I find the neurodivergent kids tend to feel intense emotions and often are concerned about how the other party is feeling. The other neurodivergent students will pick up on these feelings and start to get unsettled too. These kids feel

3points

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Summer Mason 1 year ago

As a mom, bullies exsist. And my children are trained to fight back. It's not okay for your son to push my daughter on the play ground. There for if it happens, she's allowed to punch your kid in the face. I really could care less what others think of this, but I will not raise my kids how I was raised. I didn't defend myself and was picked on till I became sucidiical at 8 years old. Finally one day I had enough and busted a kids nose with my back pack for touching my hair unsolicited and he treated me with suck distan I cringed hearing his name at roll call. Cory, your an a*****e, I didn't deserve to have my hair threatened to be chopped off cause your parents didn't raise you properly. I hope my daughter kicks your kids a*s too if it comes down to it. (Ltr, I had a bully who made me want to kill myself, I fought back and I will support my kids doing the same)

1point

brukernavn340 1 year ago

Déjà vu

1point

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ejfs 1 year ago

Emotional intelligence should be taught as well. Learning to identify one's emotions, what caused them, how those emotions are making us think/behave. Of course, exceptions have to made for neurodivergent people but they can still learn this. It just takes longer.

4points

Michael Mckeon 1 year ago

I find the neurodivergent kids tend to feel intense emotions and often are concerned about how the other party is feeling. The other neurodivergent students will pick up on these feelings and start to get unsettled too. These kids feel

3points

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Summer Mason 1 year ago

As a mom, bullies exsist. And my children are trained to fight back. It's not okay for your son to push my daughter on the play ground. There for if it happens, she's allowed to punch your kid in the face. I really could care less what others think of this, but I will not raise my kids how I was raised. I didn't defend myself and was picked on till I became sucidiical at 8 years old. Finally one day I had enough and busted a kids nose with my back pack for touching my hair unsolicited and he treated me with suck distan I cringed hearing his name at roll call. Cory, your an a*****e, I didn't deserve to have my hair threatened to be chopped off cause your parents didn't raise you properly. I hope my daughter kicks your kids a*s too if it comes down to it. (Ltr, I had a bully who made me want to kill myself, I fought back and I will support my kids doing the same)

1point

brukernavn340 1 year ago

Déjà vu

1point

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