Essay Sample on Criticizing Children

Most parents don't realize the type of effect criticism can have on children. The general purpose of this article is to help parents understand a way to send out better feedback when it comes to criticism. Criticism starts with the parents first which will eventually expand to the real world. Children will frequently receive criticism anywhere as far as school, workplace, etc. Parents are responsible for their child's mindset, and how they respond or react to criticism. Parents can encourage excellence in their child by their body language, the praise they give, and the new goals the child can formulate after lack of success. These points will be helpful in the way children deal with criticism. 

Body language is one of the most important factors when it comes to criticism. The reaction a parent may give off will mean everything to children. Most children tend to want to impress and make their parents proud, but sometimes they can underperform or fail at expectation. As a parent the way you come off and act can ultimately affect the way the child receives the criticisms. For example, if you are loud, yelling, obnoxious, or even seeming upset can downgrade the performance or productivity of a child. In other words if you are more calm, understanding, and showing signs of care the child may receive the message in a more positive light. The manner in which you are presenting the criticism goes a long way. Parents should always comfort their child in a moment of failure. Always being aggressive and making a child feel misunderstood can affect them in a bad way. Children will take that as deconstructive criticism going forward and will always think someone is trying to negatively critique them.  

In addition to body language, backing off constant praise will build the child into having better characteristics at a young age. As the author states in the article, “a growth mindset can protect kids from this sort of feedback as well”(Dweck). Being blunt and letting your child know that there's always room for growth is a way of backing off. For example, if a child is doing good in something as a parent, praise it but to an extent. Children should know that good is okay, but nothing in life is perfect. Too much praise can ultimately affect a child's way of doing things. If parents are praising their child too often the child will soon get cocky and feel they can do no wrong. The child will feel as if they don't have to prove themselves. Some form of criticism will be needed to mold a child’s personality instead of continuous praise. 

Lastly, Parents should help their child form new goals after lack of success. As a parent if you notice the way your child is going about something and it isn't working, challenge your child to new goals. For example, if your child is studying a certain way or has a certain habit to prepare. Challenge your child to a different way of doing things and maybe that will improve their performance. Now that the child has failed at the task that was asked of them, they can thrive off of those old mistakes. Doing that will help form new goals and regulate a system to not fall in the same trap and become unsuccessful again at the task at hand. The importance of the parent in the situation is to help the child with new goals and help to tackle the problem. Also, make sure your child's goals are achievable. Don't let your child make unachievable goals and keep them at a realistic state of mind, but don't down their goals either. 

All these points can help better a child's way of dealing with criticism. At some point in a child's life they will face criticism. As a parent you can help encourage the success in your child by the behaviors you present when giving or showing criticism.