The Power of Words: What Is The Impact That Your Words Have on your Children?

It is theorized that our basic personality is developed and set by the time we are about six years old. Many of us cannot even remember back that far, let alone decipher how our little minds took in information. Well let me tell you how we learned about the world and ourselves. We were virtual sponges. We took in all the information around us and we identified and made associations as each new bit came in, most of which occurred in our experiences. We were open little books, and those who cared for us were filling in our pages with thousands of bits of information that came to be who we are today.

Have you spent any length of time listening to how you or others talk to the children in your life? Odds are that you probably haven't. The truth is that the words that our children hear every single day by the people in their lives carry a very powerful punch, both from a positive as well as from a negative perspective. The words your children hear from the time they are born have a direct impact on the personality that they will have in adulthood. If these words aren't filtered, they can serve to create a chronically unhappy and negative adult. So, it is the responsibility of us as the parents, caregivers, and other influences to mindfully choose how we speak to the children and around the children in our lives.

Children have not yet developed the ability to separate themselves from the problems of everyday life. This means that they often see everything happening around them is "their fault" and begin to develop an enormous sense of guilt about it. They internalize the chaos that happens inside their families and make themselves responsible, leading to feelings of sorrow and despair. It is important to make sure we are always communicating with our children to make sure they don't internalize adult conversations or things that are said in the chaos of life.

In a nutshell, it is normal for parents to argue. It is normal to have some chaos in our homes. However, how we, as the adults, handle these normal ups and downs and what we say to our children or in front of the children must be carefully considered or it an can cause irreparable damage. It is our duty to teach children how to deal with conflict effectively rather than create an environment that leads them to believe that the normal chaos of life is their fault. If your child is reacting negatively or has taken on a pattern of behavior that is outside of the norm, it's time to get some professional help and begin the healing process for your child. Call Allison today to make an appointment to get help with your teen 760-223-5311. Or, to learn more about the services that Allison offers, please visit www.changeseeker.org today.

Allison is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Palm Desert serving the Coachella Valley. Visit ChangeSeeker.org today to learn more about the therapy services she provides.

Allison is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Palm Desert serving the Coachella Valley. http://www.changeseeker.org/MeettheTherapist.en.html and http://www.changeseeker.org/TherapyServicesProvided.en.html