6 Topics Parents Should Avoid Discussing With Their Children

Parents frequently want to share everything with their children, especially as they grow older and more interested in the world. Certain topics, however, are not appropriate or beneficial for children to hear from their parents. These topics can cause children to feel confused, anxious, resentful, or distrustful, eroding their bond with their parents. Parents should avoid discussing these six topics with their children and offer some alternatives.

Parents may believe that confiding in their children about marital problems will make them feel closer or more mature, but this can backfire. Children may feel burdened, guilty, or under pressure to choose sides or solve the problem. They may also lose respect or trust for one or both of their parents, as well as develop a negative attitude towards marriage and relationships. Rather than involving their children in their marital problems, parents should seek professional help, speak with a trusted friend, or work on their communication and conflict-resolution skills with their partner.

Parents may want to be open and honest with their children about their financial situation, particularly if they are struggling to make ends meet or are in the midst of a crisis. However, this can cause unnecessary stress and worry for children, who may not understand the problem's complexities or solutions. They may also feel guilty for asking for what they require or desire, or they may develop a scarcity mindset or a fear of money. Instead of discussing their financial difficulties with their children, parents should reassure them that they are doing everything possible to provide for them, as well as teach them the value of money and the importance of saving and budgeting.

Parents may believe that sharing their insecurities with their children will make them more relatable or empathetic, but this is not always the case. Children may lose confidence or admiration for their parents if they feel insecure. They may also feel obligated to boost their parents' self-esteem, or they may develop unhealthy habits or behaviours to cope with their own insecurities. Instead of exposing their insecurities to their children, parents should work on developing their own self-love and self-acceptance, as well as modelling positive and realistic body image and self-talk to their children.

Parents may want to express their frustrations or anger to their children about other people, such as relatives, friends, neighbours, coworkers, or strangers. This, however, has the potential to teach children to be judgmental, critical, or disrespectful of others, as well as to adopt their parents' prejudices or biases. If they have a different opinion or experience with the person their parents are criticising, they may feel conflicted or confused. Instead of expressing negative attitudes towards others to their children, parents should model tolerance, compassion, and forgiveness, and encourage their children to form their own opinions while respecting the differences of others.

To warn or bond with their children, parents may want to share their past or present mistakes or misdeeds, such as drug use, alcohol abuse, cheating, stealing, or lying. However, this can undermine their authority and credibility as parents, as well as encourage their children to follow in their footsteps or justify their own wrongdoings.

They may also lose the trust or respect of their children, or expose them to unnecessary risks or dangers. Parents should admit their faults and apologise if they have hurt or harmed anyone, and seek help or change if they have a problem or addiction, rather than disclosing their inappropriate or illegal behaviours to their children.

6) Their personal sexual experiences and preferences

Parents may want to educate their children about sex and sexuality, or they may want to share their own sexual experiences or preferences with them in order to be open and honest or to show their support. This, however, can make children feel uneasy, embarrassed, or violated, or provide them with too much or too little information for their age or maturity level.

They may also feel pressured or confused about their own sexual identity or orientation or develop unrealistic or unhealthy attitudes or expectations about sex and relationships. Instead of discussing their sexual experiences or preferences with their children, parents should provide age-appropriate and factual sex education to their children while respecting their privacy and boundaries.

Parents should concentrate on topics that foster trust, respect, love, and communication between them and their children, such as their children's hobbies, interests, dreams, goals, feelings, thoughts, and opinions. They should also remember that they are not only their children's parents, but also their role models, mentors, and guides, and that their words and actions can have long-term consequences in their children's lives.