Kids Will Be Kids: Myths That You Shouldn’t Believe

Growth and Development
kids will be kids
Canva
https://dailyparent.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/kids-will-be-kids-150x150.png

Before you have kids, you believe all the myths. You eat them up like candy and spread them like gospel. Then, sometime during pregnancy, the truth begins to unravel. You realize that although there are some commonalities, everyone has their own unique experience. The same is true with kids. Newborns have a reputation for waking every few hours, but there are some babies who start sleeping through the night very early in life. You soon learn that you’re likely to get the exact opposite of whatever you expect.

Here are some common myths about kids throughout their childhood that you shouldn’t believe:

Myth #1: Only children are spoiled and selfish.

This myth is not only damaging to the only child, but it’s also damaging to the parents who may not want multiple children. If you’re considering having two because you don’t want your only child to be a spoiled brat, you may take comfort in knowing that this is just a myth. Only children can be spoiled and selfish, but so can children with siblings. You can control how your kids are raised. It’s not arbitrary based on whether they have brothers and sisters.

Myth #2: Classical music will make your child smarter.

There isn’t any solid research to support the myth that listening to classical music will make your child smarter. So, be careful about buying into any get-them-smart-quick programs.

Myth #3: Kids will always grow out of behavioral issues.

If you’re a parent already, you’ve probably heard this one a thousand times: “It’s just a phase.” Sometimes, it’s not a phase. Behavioral phases are common in early development when children are learning basic skills and developing at lightning speed. As they get older, it’s dangerous to think of behavioral issues as phases. Although their behavior can certainly change, thinking of something as a phase makes you less likely to address it.

Myth #4: Study drugs aren’t as harmful as other drugs.

As your kids get older, there’s a chance they’ll experiment with drugs. We all hope they won’t, but it’s a possibility. There’s a dangerous myth circulating that study drugs—such as Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, Focalin, and Vyvanse—are meant to enhance school performance, and they’re not harmful. This is completely bogus. These drugs may help your kids stay awake and focused on one task at first, but they are just as dangerous as other drugs. Study drug use has many side effects and lead to addiction, which can have devastating consequences.

Have you heard of a myth about kids that isn’t mentioned here? Tell us about it in the comments section!

%d bloggers like this: