New research has recognised a disturbing link between endlessly praising children and child bullying.
Professor Toni Noble at the Australian Catholic University believes the link has to do with self-esteem.
“Some children who bully, they have an over-inflated sense of their own importance,” Professor Noble said.
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“Compared to a common misunderstanding that children who bully have a low self-esteem.”
And is not just Professor Noble. Child psychologist Doctor Michael Carr-Gregg has also seen the trend.
“If you create a culture of entitlement, a culture of indulgence, that's going to lead to them thinking they're entitled to anything and everything,” Doctor Carr-Gregg said.
The fear is that can sometimes lead to assertive and aggressive behaviour.
Many seem to agree with the experts in that any praise given to children must be realistic. So it's parents who are being urged to set boundaries.
“[It's] very, very important for us to understand parents should be in authority over their kids, we can't have the tail wagging the dog,” Doctor Carr-Gregg said.
It's claimed some children need a reality check but the message for parents is it's alright to make mistakes and fail.
“Failing helps us learn from our mistakes and that's absolutely crucial for learning,” Professor Noble said.
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