The importance of NOT labeling children 2026

When adults refer to children by highlighting some of the behaviors that are repetitive, annoying, poorly viewed socially, or in which they stand out, what they do is use labels. Crying, clumsy, clumsy, the best, the handsome... These types of qualifiers that adults use to refer to children end up being their nickname. Despite doing it without bad intentions, the child is pigeonholed. Furthermore, you will come to assume that this is the case and will never be able to change because you feel limited by your defects or abilities.

Type of labels

There are different types of labels: Negative labels: with these the child is censored and disapproved. They contribute to the child's low self-esteem. These types of labels are defined with qualifiers such as: “fat”, “lazy”, etc. Positive labels: these are those that exaggeratedly approve of some of the child's abilities. These types of labels affect the child since many times they will not be able to reach the height of what they are intended to reach. What a child with a positive label experiences is that in order to get the approval of those around him he has to give up other parts of himself to get it. Your self-esteem is sustained based on the judgments you receive from the outside. They are defined by qualifiers such as: “you are the best”, “the most handsome”, “the responsible”, etc. Labels with double meanings: they are those with negative connotations but that are said with pride. Words like: “junk”, “rub” are the worst labels since they implicitly carry a contradictory message, since something that is classified as negative is valued and praised by adults

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Consequences of labeling children

Labels have a very powerful character since children act as a consequence of the expectations that adults place on them. If parents expect the child to do something well, the little ones will do it. If, on the other hand, parents don't expect them to do it well, they won't do it. For this reason, it is necessary for adults to put aside the use of labels since the qualifiers they use to refer to children can condition their behavior. Their use is really serious for the development of their personality, in addition to being dangerous for their self-esteem. It generates identity problems in the child. Especially when they are used to highlight physical or behavioral defects. This causes the child to adopt a lifestyle with a feeling of inferiority.

What adults can do to avoid labeling

Adults of reference for the child, such as parents, relatives around them, and teachers, should do everything possible to avoid using qualifiers that label the behavior of children.

• Make the child feel heard and understood by their environment.
• Teach the child to know how to manage their emotions assertively.
• Avoid using nicknames when addressing family members.