Things that you should not force your children to do

Parents, we have a huge desire to force children to do things: kissing, be nice, share, eat or stop eating, etc.

 

Why? Because that’s what we have seen since we were children and many times we are in automatic without thinking in what we are teaching.

 

When we were children, our parents forced us to do many things that we didn’t like, but we did them because “always listen to the elders“.

 

We have the idea that parents have absolute power over children because, of course, parents are adults and children are children.

 

But, don’t you think that there are certain things that should not be imposed on children? That they are “smart” enough to decide for themselves?

 

In today’s article, five directors of Froggies share with you three things that will never force their children to do. Discover them and think if you force your own to do them.

 

Froggies’ city directors tell us what they don’t make their children do.

 

Cristina Saraldi, CEO and soul of Froggies

 

– I wouldn’t force children into anything. I believe that the word “force” in itself is not respectful. I think that we should not force them to anything.

 

However, I do think we have to invite, to propose, to explain, to make us see, set boundaries, speak our needs and desires, how we feel…

 

 

– No es no. Kissing. It is an issue that really concerns me. No means no.

 

I think it also comes from a reflection of the jokes we play on children and how, when we hear the word “no”, we ignore it sometimes, even though they are laughing (laughter is just another tool, not a clear sign of something good).

 

– Food is another big topic.  How we strive to define how much children eat and at what time. I think we need to relax with the times and measures, and listen more to children, both in food as in much more.

 

We encourage you to listen to this song “Yo soy un ratón”, a band of music for children, suitable for adults. All their songs are a respectful look at childhood, a wake-up call, a cry from children asking adults to come down to their level.

 

Inés Calleja Silvestre, director of  Froggies Baleares

 

–  Children to be loving. Do not force them with the phrase, “give a kiss”. What if they don’t feel like it?

 

– Should not be forced to be something they are not: the shy one to be more talkative, the dynamic one to be calmer, …  Let them be as they wish, that’s what they’re children for.

 

– The word “obligation” is very dictatorial. At first, you shouldn’t force them to do anything if you present the rules and important needs to them as if they were a game.

 

 

Lucía Ucar, director of Froggies Bilbao

 

– Kisses: love must come from the heart. They are an intimate and very special act and, by forcing the children to give them, all their meaning is lost. Don’t you think?

 

– Eating: we can select the options of their meal so that they have a healthy and balanced diet, but they should decide when to stop eating. That way they learn to eat only what they need and to control their appetite.

 

– To be who they are not: one of my greatest challenges as a mother is to accompany my daughter on her path without pretending that she follows mine.

 

Ariane Casal, director of Froggies Zaragoza

 

– Giving kisses and hugs, because, if you require them to do so, we attempted to against their will and personality.

 

– Do what we want every time. Our children should be able to choose to do what they want, always within limits, of course.

 

– To eat: we don’t know how they feel or if they need what we think. They can decide if they want to eat more or less.

 

 

Laia Giralt, director of Froggies Barcelona

 

– To be who they don’t want to be. Although they seem small, they have the freedom to decide.

 

– Play with those who don’t want to play or with what they don’t want to play. Decisions are made by them, they do not need anyone’s help to do something or stop doing something that in that moment they don’t want. Of course, you can always try to talk with them depending on each situation, but always hearing their reasons.

 

– Kissing. If they want to give kisses, they will.  We must not force them to give kisses to everyone that we want to.

 

 

As you can see, five directors of Froggies coincide in the vast majority of things that we should not force children to do:

 

• To give hugs and kisses.
• To eat.
• To be as we want them to be and not as they want to be.

 

Do you share their thoughts? Do you agree?

 

What other things do you think that we should not be forced to do to our children? Share them with us in the comments below, we are looking forward to knowing your point of view.