Parenting Experts Say These Are The Topics You Should Never Discuss Around Your Children

Markham advises parents to avoid comments that compare one sibling with another. Such comparisons can breed competition between siblings and lead to increased conflict, she said. 

“That intuitively makes sense to us because we can see how it fosters resentment, jealousy and insecurity. But this is just as true for positive messages, which also set up competition,” Markham said.

For example, you might say to your child something like, “You’re my good boy. You never give me a tough time like your brother does.” 

Now your child not only feels pressure to hold on to his place as the “good” one but is also “motivated to keep his sibling in the role of ‘bad’ kid,” Markham said. “How else will he maintain his special place in your eyes?” 

4. Adult money issues

As pediatric psychologist and parent coach Ann-Louise Lockhart of A New Day Pediatric Psychology explained, “Kids don’t yet have the cognitive tools to fully understand adult finances.”

So when they overhear conversations about money-related stressors in adults’ lives, they draw their own conclusions, “often assuming the worst,” she told HuffPost. 

“Children may think, for example, that the family will lose their home or that they won’t be able to buy food, even if the situation is not that extreme,” Lockhart said. “This fear can lead to increased anxiety and, for some children, a sense of guilt that they’re a ‘burden’ if they need things like new shoes or supplies.”

That’s not to say you have to completely keep them in the dark if your financial situation has changed. Just keep explanations clear and concise and your tone calm. If money is tight, Lockhart suggested saying something like, “We’re sticking to a budget so we can make good choices,” which she said is “often more reassuring.”

“You can help them understand that adults have systems to manage expenses and that their needs will be met,” she added. 

5. Comments that glorify alcohol or drug use

Hughes warned that conversations “normalizing or glorifying” drinking alcohol and using drugs when kids are around can lead to “unhealthy attitudes toward these substances” down the line.

“Kids are impressionable, and hearing adults speak positively about drinking or using drugs, even jokingly, can set the foundation for curiosity or risky behaviors later in life,” she explained. “It’s important to model responsible behavior and avoid making these substances seem glamorous or harmless.” 

5 Things Adults Actually Can Discuss In Front Of Kids: