The Surprising Parenting Trait That Hinders Children's Success
Award-winning journalist and parenting researcher Jennifer Breheny Wallace, author of the book "Never Enough: When Achievement Pressure Becomes Toxic — and What We Can Do About It," advises parents to avoid adding to their teenagers' stress by constantly asking about their achievements. Wallace suggests focusing on non-achievement-related topics, such as asking about their lunch, to promote a healthier conversation. Being overly-focused on achievements can send a harmful message that a child's value is contingent on their performance. It is important for parents to separate their child's worth from their external achievements and to limit potentially stressful conversations, such as college applications, to designated times.