Child labeling: What's the impact? | Salsabilatuzzahra Jaha S.Psi. from BehaviorPALS Center| Kinderkloud

Child labeling: What's the impact?

impact of labeling to children

Have you ever said "you’re so lazy" to your child? Or do you often label your child with other labels? Either negative or positive labels. Did you know that it turns out to have a huge impact on children? So what impact will it have if you label children? See the following explanation!


What is labeling?

Often we don't realize that we have actually labeled other people and our children. So what does labeling really mean? Labeling is the giving of a stamp or label to someone who shows certain behavior. In this case, stamps and labels are given to the child. In general, there are positive and negative labels. Labeling is more familiar with negativity which is associated with deviant behavior or problematic behavior. Labeling is usually focused on the problem caused. A simple example is parents who label their children "lazy children" or "bad children". If you have ever heard the term "every word is prayer" then this is true too. Many think labeling is just a trivial matter. In fact, several things will happen due to labeling. The following will explain the impact of labeling, especially on children.

 

The impact of labeling on children

1. Children act according to what is labeled

How can this happen? Labeling a child will have an impact on the child's self-concept. Self-concept will explain "who I actually am". During childhood, self-concept is formed from experience and learning. Of course, by doing a negative label on the child, it will affect the child's self-concept. In the end, if the child is labeled negatively continuously, the child will conceptualize himself according to being labeled by others. If a child is labeled "lazy" then he will learn and claim himself as "lazy" as well. After that, the child will act according to his self-concept.

2. Interference with the development of potential talents and interests

When parents label a child because he made a mistake when he tried something, it makes the child afraid to explore further. Doing this label also applies to excessively positive labeling of children, this will make children stop in certain fields and only work on areas where they get these positive labels. For example, "you are really good at math" will possibly make children limit themselves to exploring fields other than mathematics.

3. Make others also treat what is labeled

Labeling a child also affects the child's environment. Other people can indirectly treat the child as what is labeled on the child. For example, if a child's parents label their child as "a child with a hard character", then other people who listen to them will also treat the child as a child with a hard character.

4. Decreasing children's mental health

The fatal impact of labeling a child goes to the child's psychological and mental health. Indirectly, the act of labeling a child negatively is similar to doing verbal violence on a child. Continuously and consistently giving negative labels can cause psychological disorders such as lack of self-confidence, distrust in others, and even depression. This will greatly disturb the child's mental health. Decreasing health will hinder the child's development.

 

Things parents need to do
So what should parents do to avoid label behavior? You can do the following :

  • Try to be more positive

Start giving more positive words to children. Maybe this is not easy to do. Try starting by looking at simple positive things. For example, when you see your child's room is very messy, instead of saying "You are so lazy, the room is messy like this" you can better say "How can you make it cleaner, huh?" You can also offer to help tidy up the shared room. Apart from not labeling it with negative labels, you can have better interactions with children.

  • Start with small compliments, but don't overdo it

Child labeling is not only negative but also positive. Positive labeling can also be said as a compliment. You can give your child positive labels such as “You are doing it right” or “You are a confident child”. It should also be noted that we should not give excessive positive labeling. This can cause the child to feel burdened with expectations or it will be difficult for the child to accept correction.

 

By Salsabilatuzzahra Jaha of the BehaviorPALS Center


Source :

Bernburg, J. G. (2009). Labeling Theory. Handbook on Crime and Deviance, 187–207. 

doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-0245-0_10

Lestari, A., & Huda, K. (2022). Loving Not Labeling: The Negative Impact Of Labeling On The Talent And Creative Development Of Children.Genta Mulia: Educational Scientific Journal, 12(1).

De Vega, A., Hapidin, H., & Karnadi, K. (2019). The Effect of Parenting and Verbal Violence on Self-Confidence.Journal of Obsession: Journal of Early Childhood Education, 3(2), 433-439.

 

Labeling, parenting, verbal, children

Children 4 Years - 6 Years / 4 Tahun - 6 Tahun / Parenting / Pola Asuh / Family / Keluarga / Child labeling: What's the impact?

Comments

Add Comment
photo of birthday tale book cover kinderkloud
Birthday Tale
Kinderkloud
Personalized book symbolizing that each child is special, wished for, longed for and play for and all the nature celebrate them together. Children will be introduced to various animals in their natural habitats along the journey.
photo of dream high book cover kinderkloud
Dream High
Kinderkloud
Personalized book to help Children imagine the professions in the future through their lens and encourage the little dreamers to explore and pursue their passion because the future is in their hands.
photo of prayer warrior book cover kinderkloud
Prayer Warrior
Kinderkloud
Personalized book to explain and the concept and importance of prayers to children and continuously remind our future generations to be mindful and thankful even for the smallest things in life. A guide book for our little prayer warriors to pray every day, everywhere and in every way.
photo of 5 colorful balloons book cover kinderkloud
5 Colorful Balloons
Blubridge Center
Balonku ada 5.. Rupa Rupa Warnanya..
Taking this classic to another level by combining this seemingly simple songs with Plutchick's Wheel of Emotions to introduce children to understand and express their feelings positively with introduction to Manners and Values in every step of the way for everyday life.
photo of starry starry paradise book cover kinderkloud
Starry Starry Paradise
Kinderkloud x Marianne Rumantir
Are you team mountain or team beach?
Personalized book to trigger the imagination and curiosity to discover the wonders of our wonderful Indonesia. The food, music, fashion, language, landscape and the culture. They all never fail to amaze us. What better legacy can we pass on for Indonesia than by instilling nationalism to the future generation of this part of the planet called heaven on earth.
photo of journey to the top book cover kinderkloud
Journey to the Top
Kinderkloud x Marianne Rumantir
Are you team mountain or team beach?
Personalized book to trigger the imagination and curiosity to discover the wonders of our wonderful Indonesia. The food, music, fashion, language, landscape and the culture. They all never fail to amaze us. What better legacy can we pass on for Indonesia than by instilling nationalism to the future generation of this part of the planet called heaven on earth.
photo of cerita di festival ceria book cover kinderkloud
Cerita di Festival Ceria
Kinderkloud | Parentalk | Good Enough Parents
Tidak ada dua yang sama persis, setiap anak memiliki kegemaran, keunikan, dan karakterisitik yang spesial termasuk Kakak dan Adik. Ikuti perjalanan mereka dalam sebuah kisah akhir pekan yang berkesan di Festival in the Jungle untuk mengeksplorasi dan mengenal diri mereka masing-masing lebih dalam lagi.
photo of preparing for a sibling book cover kinderkloud
Preparing for a Sibling
Regina F. Amal
A heartwarming story where child learns what it means to become a bigger sibling. Featuring both children, in one delightful story! Meanwhile, parents are assuring that each child will always be loved just the same. There will always be enough love for everyone.
photo of being a good sport book cover kinderkloud
Being a Good Sport
Sigi Wimala
In the heart of this whimsical THE GREAT FOREST GAME, your loved ones discovers the true essence of sportsmanship: the cherished value of friendship that outshines any victory. Experience the joy of camaraderies and empathy as your loved ones embraces the spirit of being a good sport, leaving a lasting impression on young hearts.
photo of birthday wishlist book cover kinderkloud
Birthday Wishlist
Kinderkloud x Mama Ani
This year, on a memorable birthday occasion, a caring Mom considered sharing the importance of delayed gratification. Join your loved one in crafting a birthday wishlist and discovering the Power of Patience to make each birthday genuinely extraordinary.
photo of christmas wishlist book cover kinderkloud
Christmas Wishlist
Kinderkloud x Mama Ani
This year, on a memorable christmas occasion, a caring Mom considered sharing the importance of delayed gratification. Join your loved one in crafting a christmas wishlist and discovering the Power of Patience to make each christmas genuinely extraordinary.
photo of bersuara untuk udara
 book cover kinderkloud
Bersuara untuk Udara
Bicara Udara
Langit biru adalah hak semua orang. Kita semua dapat berkontribusi menjadi pahlawan udara bersih melalui tindakan kecil sehari-hari. Buku ini mengajak anak-anak untuk memahami pentingnya menjaga kebersihan udara dan bagaimana mereka dapat berkontribusi.
photo of dream jar : introducing money skill for kids book cover kinderkloud
Dream Jar : Introducing Money Skill For Kids
Evander Shine Sidarta & Aline Wiratmaja
Child and his/her "dream jar" teaches basic money management, through separating savings into spend, share, and save categories. Your beeloved even learns about stocks, understanding they represent company ownership and can grow over time. Parents are encouraged to have open conversations about money, take children to banks, and prioritize quality time to build strong financial habits and values.