Should we not tell children that they are smart? I mean i don't want them getting it over their heads and start talking back at grown ups or treating everybody else like they're stupid. I got no problem with kids getting really smart for their age but it is bothersome when they get the whole, "I'm so smart!" over their heads. What do you think?
2007-12-03 10:42:47 · 25 answers · asked by mystic_lonewolf22 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
It's good to tell children they are smart, but you also need to remind them what it means to be humble. You also need to tell them that they can only stay smart if they understand how much more there is to learn.
2007-12-03 10:51:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Many kids who are dumber than a pile of rocks have been told that. Teachers in schools now are not allowed to say, " No, that answer is wrong". They are encouraged to say, " Good thinking, Muffy, but try again". Muffy tries and tries again, but is still rewarded for being so smart. I grew up in the top reading and math groups in my school. Made all A's and B's. All my parents ever said was<" You're doing a good job". That was pretty much it. It wasn't until I reached university level that I realized what being " smart" really was.
2007-12-03 18:50:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
There's nothing wrong with praise, especially when it's honest. Telling a child he is smart is not the same as telling him he's better than everyone else. Building up a child's self esteem is great, and not the same as turning him into an arrogant brat.
2007-12-03 19:01:10 · answer #3 · answered by SoBox 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think telling your child he/she is smart is a confidence building tool.
When you distinguish between being smart and acting like a smart alec, you are doing your job as a parent. Instill good values and keep them in check so they won't mouth off to you or anyone else. There is no substitute for good manners.
2007-12-03 18:48:13 · answer #4 · answered by Juanitaville 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Always be honest with your children & give them confidence.
Just don't over do the "You're so smart" thing or they're in for a huge let down later in life.
2007-12-03 18:47:05 · answer #5 · answered by >>Phoenix<< 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
You should always praise children for all that you can in order to build their self esteem. It is up to the parents to teach them that the praise they are getting does not mean that they are better than others and they are still to treat everyone with respect. That is where the problem comes in. If they are taught as they are given praise and compliments, then you will not have that problem to begin with.
2007-12-03 18:52:31 · answer #6 · answered by Angelic Valentine 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Being smart does not give you permission to be rude or disrespectful.
It's not hard to teach kids the difference between polite & rude - especially the smart kids :D
2007-12-03 19:57:15 · answer #7 · answered by Maureen 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think there's a happy medium between letting it go to their heads, and making sure they're self-confident. Kids need to hear from adults that they're doing well, which includes giving them compliments...they also need to hear when they're not doing the right thing, which means sometimes they need to be reminded that they shouldn't get sassy (especially with grown-ups).
2007-12-03 18:52:25 · answer #8 · answered by abfabmom1 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
if a kid is smart it means that they have a greater need to be challenged with things that stretch them more
the more we are handed the greater the expectations from us too - THAT is a great leveler
my son is smart but he doesn't get above himself because he knows that the more he has the more will be expected of him
2007-12-03 19:40:02 · answer #9 · answered by Aslan 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you have to make sure that they know that their elders MUST be treated with respect. I don't think you should tell them they are smart for their age, they might start trying to grow up to fast. That doesn't mean that you can't give a little boost in their self-esteem by telling them that they are smart.
2007-12-03 18:47:51 · answer #10 · answered by "d" 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋