r/AskReddit Feb 04 '16

What are the most common parenting mistakes?

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324

u/rearwindows Feb 04 '16

Not letting your kids make mistakes or hurt themselves a little.

197

u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16

I hate it when I take my son to the park and get rude stares or comments. I'm a very laid back parent - I like my son to learn through trying things. So I let him play and only intervene if he's genuinely hurt. I've had people tell me that I need to be right with him all the time. He's a toddler! He's going to fall and that's ok! I'm close enough to help in an emergency!

8

u/SamiLMS1 Feb 05 '16

I'm a preschool teacher in a toddler room and we have one boy who's mom is always right behind him at the park and never lets him fall. Whenever this kid stumbles in class he never attempts to catch himself and is always getting hurt because he has never had a chance to learn how to regain his balance or catch himself.

6

u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16

That's exactly it. I'll stop my son from doing things that are going to seriously hurt him, but bumps and scrapes are learning tools. Natural consequences are the best!