Many parents compare their child with other kids. The parents' reason for doing so is to challenge their kid and instill a sense of competition.
However, there are several negative effects of comparing a child with others, according to Being The Parent. These effects will bring down a child's performance instead of improving it.
1. Overwhelming stress
A child that is compared to other kids are overwhelmingly stressed. Comparison causes anxiety and even insomnia. When a child performs poorly, comparing him or her to others is not the answer. Try to find out what went wrong and happily devise a new plan together instead.
2. Self-esteem killer
Children who are constantly compared to other kids will gradually start to believe that they are inferior to others. Instead of trying to become better, many children will just quit and become too afraid to try new things.
3. Damaged self-worth
"Despite his efforts, if he still gets to hear that he needs to follow the other child to perform well, this breaks his confidence," the site explained. "The 'good for nothing' starts to settle in."
4. Social anxiety
Because the child already believes that he is inferior and a 'good for nothing' person, he or she will become too shy to socialize with other people -- thinking that he has nothing to be proud of.
5. Withdrawing from parents
Children who are constantly compared by their parents to other kids will gradually withdraw themselves from the family. These children withdraw because they do not want to cause their parents further disappointments and hurt.
6. Hatred and loathing
Children might start harboring secret hate and reluctance towards other children whenever they are constantly being compared to. "This may lead him to behave aggressively, pick fights, tease and even hit each other," the article shared.
Parents should not forget that these negative effects of comparing a child with others might become life-long problems for their kids. "Each child is unique and beautiful in his/her way," HubPages shared. "Parents ought to realize this thereby accepting, encouraging, and nurturing each child's individual characteristics and talents."
