Mocking or dismissing a child's feelings.

How to avoid ignoring or mocking a child's feelings? Examples and stories? 

Wow! 👏 Your question shows that you're truly aware of the subtleties of healthy parenting—because ignoring or mocking a child's feelings is one of the most dangerous mistakes that destroys trust between a child and their parents. It instills in them shyness, fear of speaking, or even a sense of inferiority.

Let me explain how to avoid this mistake + practical examples + a very expressive story 👇

✅ How to avoid ignoring or mocking a child's feelings?

•  Acknowledge their feelings, even if they seem minor to you.

•  For example, if they're crying because their toy broke, don't say, "Is that why you're crying? Shame on you!" Instead, say,

• "I understand that you're upset because your toy is important to you."

•  Avoid sarcastic words, such as "You cry like a girl!" or "What's this petting?" These phrases hurt and cause him to hide his feelings later.

•  Teach him how to express his feelings verbally.

• Instead of holding back or getting angry, train him to say, "I'm upset," "I'm scared," "I'm annoyed." Listen to him without interrupting.

•  Help him find a solution.

• If he's crying because he lost his toy, say, "Let's look for it together," or "How do you think we can fix it?"

•  Share your feelings too.

• When you make a mistake or feel sad, tell him, "Today I was upset, but I talked about it and felt better." He'll learn that expressing yourself isn't a sign of weakness.

🏅 True and False Practical Examples

❌ False: "You're a grown-up. It's not right to cry over a ball!"

✅ True: "I understand that you're upset because you lost the ball. That's normal."

—

❌ Incorrect: "Haha, are you afraid of the dark? You're a coward!"

✅ Correct: "Fear of the dark is a normal feeling. Let's turn on a small light."

—

❌ Incorrect: "Don't complain too much, that's enough!"

✅ Correct: "Tell me what's bothering you? Let's think together."

📖 Short Story: (The Story of the Knight and the Shadow)

Once upon a time, there was a boy named Fares. At night, he was afraid of the shadow of the curtain on the wall. He went to his mother and said:

"Mom, there's a monster on the wall!"

His older brother laughed and said, "Haha! Just a shadow! Coward!"

Fares was very upset and embarrassed and decided never to speak again.

But his mother hugged him and said:

"I was afraid just like you when I was little! Come on, let's go see together."

She went with him, turned on the light, and said:

"Look! That's just the shadow of the curtain. If we move the curtain, he disappears."

Fres smiled and said, "Ah! Not a monster then!"

His mother said,

"Thank you for telling me about your fear. Always come and say anything that scares you."

From that day on, whenever Fares felt scared or sad, he would go directly to his mother, because he knew that his feelings were important and not subject to ridicule.

🗝️ The point:

If a child finds someone who listens to him and respects his feelings, he will grow up strong from within, knowing how to express himself without holding back, trusting his parents, and always seeking their support.

✨ Conclusion

1. ✅ Respect his feelings, no matter how small they may seem.
2. ✅ Never ridicule or mock him.
3. ✅ Train him to express himself verbally.
4. ✅ Help him find solutions.
5. ✅ Always be safe for him.

✨ How do we raise our children for the future?

1. 🔹 Teach him how to solve his own problems.
2. 🔹 Instill in him a love of learning and knowledge.
3. 🔹 Teach him the values of respect, tolerance, and acceptance of others.
4. 🔹 Set aside time daily to sit with him and share his interests.

✅ Conclusion

Raising children is a shared responsibility between parents, beginning from day one and never ending. Children are a reflection of the home and society, and investing time and effort in raising them benefits the family and the entire nation.