If you want your children to improve, let them overhear the nice things you say about them to others. Haim Ginott
The Detrimental Effects of Verbal Abuse and How to Stop the Cycle



"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."


That's just not true. Name-calling hurts -- especially when the person doing it is a parent, a teacher, or a coach. Yelling and screaming might have been the way you were brought up and you might think it worked for you, so why wouldn't it work for your kids? But did it? Remember how it made you feel. You probably felt belittled, devalued, and insignificant. You certainly don't want your own children to feel that way. It may cause emotional trauma that can result in long-term hurt. Among other things, verbal abuse can undermine your child's self-esteem, damage his ability to trust and form relationships, and chip away at his academic and social skills. Name-calling, swearing, insulting, threatening bodily harm, blaming or using sarcasm are all forms of verbal abuse.


What are the signs that a child is suffering from verbal abuse? They may have a very negative self-image. They may commit acts that are self-destructive, such as cutting, hitting or scratching themselves, as well as other reckless and dangerous activities. They may exhibit physical aggression, be delinquent in school, or display interpersonal problems. They may hit other children, frequently fight with classmates at school, or be cruel to animals. They may also exhibit delays in their social, physical, academic or emotional development.


Recent research suggests that children who suffer from verbal abuse are highly likely to become victims of abuse later in life, become abusive themselves, or become depressed and self-destructive later in life


It's normal for most parents at one time or another to feel frustrated and angry with their children. They may lash out verbally in these instances and say things they later regret. It's when these instances become more and more frequent that there is cause for concern. If this describes you, it's imperative that you seek professional help to learn more positive, meaningful and constructive forms of discipline, and for help in learning methods to control your anger. Remember to give yourself a time out if you feel an outburst coming on. Try to refrain from saying mean, sarcastic or belittling things to your child. Remember, your child learns what he lives. Don't be a bad example and teach him bad behavior early on.


Remember that your child is a precious gift and should be treated with love, kindness, respect and tenderness. If you exhibit these to your child on a daily basis, they will learn what they live and grow to do the same as adults.

Surrogate Parenting Center Of Texas

However, not all children bite.

Parenting

*polland-girl* posted a photo:

This is my sister-in-law Helen, who is a great mother. I learn a lot from all my family and I love the way they spend so much time with their children.

(Another birthday photo, this time for Helen)

But regardless of the situation, parents should always present a unified front and work together and not against each other in providing effective discipline for their child.
It can be a corner in their bedroom, a space on the kitchen floor or a special chair that's labeled specifically for time outs. When a child experiences respect, they know what it feels like and begin to understand how important it is. By standing firm you are showing there is not and that you expect them to do nothing less than take responsibility for their actions. Children or adolescents usually relate these stories with enthusiasm because they receive a lot of attention as they tell the lie. A child with low self esteem become frustrated and resort to self-depreciating behavior, such as calling themselves 'stupid' and vowing to 'never try that again.