Narcissistic children are those who display a pattern of behavior in which they overvalue themselves and underestimate the feelings and needs of others. This behavior can be present in different contexts, such as at home, school, work and in personal relationships.
5 parenting mistakes that produce narcissistic children
How parents can contribute to children being narcissistic
Parents can contribute to the development of a narcissistic child by overemphasizing success and achievement, insincere excessive praise, ignoring or minimizing their child’s feelings, and teaching competitiveness rather than collaboration.
Narcissistic children may have difficulty establishing healthy, lasting relationships due to their self-focus and lack of empathy for others. They may feel superior to others and expect to be treated as special and privileged.
To prevent the formation of narcissistic children, it is important that parents foster empathy, compassion, and respect for others. This can be accomplished through open communication, collaboration, gratitude, compassion, and fostering healthy self-esteem.
Parenting mistakes that make narcissistic children
Narcissistic children can be the result of upbringing and education received, but they can be prevented through the promotion of values that foster empathy and respect for others.
Overemphasizing success and achievement
By constantly emphasizing success and achievement, parents can send a message to their children that their worth as a person is based on what they achieve rather than who they are.
This can foster narcissism by causing children to seek the approval and admiration of others through their achievements.
Overprotect children
When parents overprotect their children, they prevent them from experiencing and learning from life. This can cause children to become more self-centered and less able to empathize with others, which can foster narcissism.
Excessively praising children
If parents praise their children excessively and insincerely, it can foster children’s belief that they are special and deserving of special attention.
This can lead to an inflated sense of self-importance and a diminished sense of empathy for others.
Ignoring or minimizing children’s feelings
When parents ignore or downplay their children’s feelings, they can send the message that other people’s feelings don’t matter as much as their own.
This can foster narcissism by causing children to become less empathetic and concerned about others.
Teaching competitiveness instead of collaboration
If parents emphasize competitiveness instead of collaboration, they can foster the belief in children that they can only be successful by beating others.
This can lead to an inflated sense of self-importance and a diminished sense of empathy for others.
Tips for parents to better educate their children
To raise humble children with values, it is important to foster empathy and compassion, as well as respect for others and teamwork. Here are some tips to achieve this:
- Encourage open communication: Listen carefully to your children and validate their feelings, even if you disagree with them.
- Encourage Collaboration: Teach your children the importance of working together and collaborating rather than competing against others.
- Encourage gratitude: Teach your children to be grateful and appreciate the good things in life.
- Teaching your children to be compassionate: Encourage your children to help others and to be compassionate instead of judging others.
- Promote healthy self-esteem: Teach your children to value their own qualities and abilities, but without belittling those of others.